The Price of Safety-Part 3

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 read the last two weeks for the complete story.

Spencer was waiting for Maggie to finish showering. He had a short sundress laid out for her to wear for the ride home. There was no need to pack any of her belongings, she wouldn’t have to need for owning things anymore. He knew Cole was finally in town. He would be picking them up in just a short time. There was one item from the house that he had decided to take with them. Maggie attempted to talk back and refuse him this morning. So, a little incentive would be good for her. He took the biggest knife out of the butcher block. He decided that she should be done by now and went to get her out of the bathroom. He messaged Cole to be out front in ten minutes. Opening the door, he saw Maggie staring at the wall in front of her standing under the water. She didn’t even react when the door opened.

Spencer made her get out and put on the sundress. He didn’t even give her undergarments. He would need easy access in the car after all. He also had her put her hair in a braid so that he could grab her quickly if he needed to. He took her out to the front of the house and noticed Cole hadn’t messaged back yet. He walked Maggie outside.

That’s when everything he had planned came to an abrupt halt.

Maggie had finally gone numb that morning. Spencer had bitten her hard on the breast and she yelled out in pain and tried to push him away. He threw her head against the wall screaming that she wasn’t allowed to refuse him. When she became conscious a few minutes later, he was on top of her again and she felt nothing. She was tired of fighting and crying. If no one had come to save her by now no one ever would. And Spencer had finally proven that running away and fighting was pointless. So, she took her shower and got ready exactly as Spencer said.

Spencer walked Maggie out the front door and stopped suddenly. Maggie could see why but felt nothing. At least a dozen cops were surrounding the house with their guns pointed at Spencer and her. She knew there would be no point to this. Even if they managed to arrest Spencer his dad would have him out in no time. And this whole nightmare would start over again.

Maggie saw Deputy John talking. She was so out of it though that the words were just sound at this point. She could also tell Spencer was shouting back. He had a hold of Maggie around her neck, waving the knife in front of her. Maybe if she stayed still enough, he wouldn’t take his anger out on her later.

Maggie felt like this stand-off went on forever. Then everything speeds up. Somebody yelled “now” and Spencer swung the knife down right into Maggie’s stomach. As Maggie cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground, she heard gun shots going off. She looked over and saw Spencer hit the ground. He had a dark red hole between his eyes with blood coming out of it. But Maggie was starting to slip into unconsciousness fast. Before she lost it completely, Deputy John was at her side. She heard him say “it’s over” before letting go.

The doctor hadn’t waited at the clinic like John thought he would. But there was no complaint about that as soon as Maggie had stepped outside with Spencer. She was almost one big bruise. She had cuts on her face and arms. The look on her face was completely blank. Maggie may be lost to them for quite some time after all this. Though first he would need to get her out alive.

The stand-off lasted about fifteen minutes. Each officer had taken a turn trying to talk Spencer into surrendering. When it became clear that Spencer would not go anywhere without Maggie. He started to spiral fast and it was clear that Maggie’s life was in intimate danger. That’s when the sheriff shouted “Now” and John and the other deputies placed some well-aimed shots into Spencer. Unfortunately, he managed to swing the knife down into Maggie’s gut before the command was completed. John sprinted to Maggie’s side and begged her to hold on. She couldn’t though and lost conscious quickly.

The doctor started working on her immediately. There was an ambulance on the way, but everyone was too worried that it wouldn’t get there on time. The doctor and John put Maggie in the cruiser and raced to meet the ambulance.

At the hospital, the doctors were able to save Maggie’s life, but she had to be placed in a coma to let her body heal. Her hospital room was a rotating door of visitors so that she was never left alone. Especially Deputy John spent the most time next to her. He had confessed to Miss Ann and Mrs. Ruth that he felt guilty for not taking their concerns more seriously the day before. He felt like he had broken a promise to Maggie to protect her.

When Maggie woke up two weeks later Miss Ann was in the chair next to her. And Maggie couldn’t help herself but cry.

“Welcome back dear. I’m so happy your awake.” Miss Ann’s smile was just as warm and inviting as the day Maggie met her.

During recovery Maggie learned that Spencer had died from the gunshots he received. While combing the house for evidence of what Maggie went through, they found Spencer’s phone and couldn’t explain some of what they found. Eventually they brought a consultant from the FBI in, and they were able to start a case against Spencer’s father. It took years for that case to be built but several men round up in federal prison on charges of assault, fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion and in some cases murder.

Maggie was on the witness list for Spencer’s father’s trial. In the end though the prosecutor had such a strong case that Maggie didn’t need to take the stand.

It took a long time for Maggie to want to try and live her life again. With lots of therapy and the support of all her friends she slowly found the will and reason to be happy again.