The Price of Safety-Part 1

What does freedom mean to you? That was the writing prompt that inspired me to write about Maggie and Spencer. I know that a story of abuse has been told a million times before, but I wanted to learn more about how far I could push my own limits. This is the final in the series for Maggie and Spencer. To catch up on the story read Leaving Spencer and Finding Maggie. This final story was so long I have decided to split it into three parts so come back for the rest of the story.

Maggie didn’t know what to do when Spencer fell asleep. Last night felt like Spencer was trying to make up for the last six months. She knew too well that there was no way he was done. Maggie was exhausted, but she couldn’t give up, she got away from him once she could do it again.

Maggie looked around. All she wanted to do was panic. Maggie yelled at herself to concentrate. She knew her phone was in her purse by the door. Spencer had her hands bound so tightly though, and her feet were in no better shape. The neighbors on either side of her were far enough away so that if they hadn’t heard her all night, they wouldn’t have heard her now. Twenty minutes of going through everything she could think of, trying to get out of the ropes around her hands, and Maggie’s body finally gave up. She passed out thinking that Spencer was right, he would always win.

Deputy John walked into the diner for his morning coffee run. He automatically looked over at the corner booth where Maggie could always be found eating breakfast before her morning shift at the bookstore. John was a bit taken aback when he saw the booth was empty, but knowing how hard Maggie had been working since she arrived in town, John figured she just took a day off and was getting some well-deserved rest. Miss Ann handed John the coffee order and he went to the sheriff’s station.

Miss Ann had also noted Maggie’s absence this morning. she wouldn’t put much thought into it except her mom, Mrs. Ruth, had mentioned a young man that had been around for a few weeks now. Mrs. Ruth had voiced concern about the boy’s easy charm, Miss Ann had been swayed by it herself, and his story about wanting to travel to different small towns seemed plausible. no one in town looked too closely at the new guy. He had been polite and generous with everyone he had encountered so far.

About 10:30 that morning Ryan, the owner of the bookstore. came into the diner with his phone to his ear.

“Miss Ann, have you heard from Maggie this morning. She never showed up today and she is not answering her phone.” Ryan asked after looking at Maggie’s empty booth.

“No Ryan, I haven’t. I thought she took a day off or something.” Miss Ann replied.

By midafternoon Ryan and Miss Ann were thoroughly worried. They had called all Maggie’s friends, they called Mrs. Ruth at the inn, and they called the clinic and talked to the nurse. Maggie wasn’t anywhere to be found. They called the sheriff’s office and spoke to Deputy John.

“Look I will go by her place for a wellness check, but she is probably fine. I’ll give you a call once I have news one way or another.”

When Spencer woke up it was nearly one in the afternoon. Maggie was still tied up right where he left her. He figured he would eat some food before having her again. Besides, it was always better when she screamed. He called Cole as he put the frozen pizza in the oven.

“Mister Spencer, how can I help you?” Cole answered. Spencer’s dad must have informed him that Maggie had been found.

“I need picked up. I’m in Carsontown, PA.  It should take you about a day to get here. I’m bringing Maggie home, even if my father doesn’t approve.” Spencer had decided that he would keep Maggie around as his plaything even if his father forced him to marry Briddgette.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can sir. I’ll call when I’m an hour out.” Cole hung up the phone as efficient as always.

Spencer heard Maggie stir. He plated the pizza for both and went to untie her.

“Now listen here, Maggie dear. You’re going to be a good girl and eat this food. I need you to have your strength before I make love to you again. Do you understand?” Spencer spoke softly as if speaking to a small child. Maggie had tears running down her face but nodded at him.

“Good now let’s get you up. We need to go over what the future will look like.” He escorted her to the table and sat down really close next to her. “Now obviously, father won’t allow us to marry any longer…”

“Then let me go. I won’t say anything, I promise.” Maggie cut in. Spencer slammed his fist on the table so hard it’s a wonder how there wasn’t a hole put in it.

“NEVER INTERUPTE ME!” Spencer shouted. “You should have learned your role by now. I’m in charge. Your purpose is to keep me happy. I have every intention of keeping you around because you’re the only one I want. But because I gave to marry Bridgette, it means you will now become my personal plaything. We will disguise you as the help, probably a maid, but you will be at my every disposal when I need satisfied.”

Maggie just stared at him. Spencer took that as compliance at last. When he finished eating, he pushed everything onto the floor, pushed Maggie onto the table and slid inside her again. He smacked her in the face as he did just to hear her scream again.

By dinnertime Deputy John had not been able to drive over to Maggie’s place yet. There had been a bad car accident reported right after the call from Miss Ann. John finished up his repot of the accident and was ready to go home. When the phone rang again.

“Hello? Shariff’s office.” John answered

“Yes, Deputy. It’s Mrs. Ruth from the inn. Ann told me that no one has heard from Maggie today.” She waited for a response.

“Yes ma’am. I got called out for an emergency earlier. I can stop by her house on the way home.”

“Okay, I’ll let her know. Please call her as soon as you can. We are getting worried.”

“Will do, you have a good night.” And John got in his car and drove to Maggie’s house.

When he got there the house was dark. He spent half an hour walking around the house knocking on doors and windows and trying to call Maggie a few times. He was so tired, he decided to he would come back in the morning. Besides, there was no indication from the outside that anything was wrong. He called Miss Ann and updated her. Miss Ann was not happy with this news but understood that there wasn’t much anyone could do at this point.