daisy

His strong heartbeat comforted her, muffled under his sweatshirt but it was still there, a constant to focus on. It was confident and real. It reassured her that he was really there stroking her bare back under her clothes, his rough hands providing warmth.

Seth had told her many times that he was there, and he wouldn't leave her ever again, sniffling into her hair as he did so. She believed him, she really did. If she didn't, he definitely seemed determined to smother her until she did so.

It was almost like she had to comfort him with how remorseful he was. But of course, Daisy didn't give him that satisfaction. She just allowed him to repeat his sorry words and relished in his coddling, giving herself permission to feel safe in his arms.

There was nothing but the faint sounds of prisoners talking. Daisy and Seth hadn't said anything for a while now. He had now stopped incessantly apologising and she was zoned out - eyes stinging and swollen shut, lips chapped and cut from her self-inflicted injury and nose sore from wiping the snot on the many wads of tissues beside her.

She was vaguely aware of what had happened after Seth came to save her, but the memories were cloudy. After a while of uncontrollable cries into his chest, she slowly grew tired of the action, exhausted and drained. He carried her to his room - her old room. She recognised the smell and the stuffed cow toy that greeted her, unaware of what she had been through.

"Angel, baby, I'm sorry. Do you understand?" He desperately asked in her hair, holding onto her tighter. She didn't say anything but nuzzled her nose deeper into him, preferring to delay talking about the situation and would rather ignore it altogether. He didn't let her though. He halted his strokes, which made her whine and do a little shake, indirectly asking him to do continue.

"No more until you answer me, love. I'm worried if you don't say anything you'll turn mute." She wondered if that would be such a bad idea. Her past life didn't involve making her opinions known. It was only Seth that actually liked listening to her. "Words, Angel. Speak," he begged seriously now.

Sighing, she swallowed some saliva to wet her dry throat and managed to croak out, "it's not your fault."

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course, it is my fault." He seemed insulted that she said otherwise. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been anywhere near that scumbag. I would've been able to protect you. I thought they'd put you in a cell alone. I told them to put you in your own cell." Seth held her firmly closer to him as he explained, getting angrier as he recounted his experience.

"Y-you couldn't have known what was going to happen," she whispered. Daisy didn't put more effort in comforting the man. She was there for solace of him, not to ease Seth of his guilt. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to lie to him and make him feel worse than he already clearly does - it wasn't in her nature.

"It only happened because I was jealous and angry. I refused to listen to you because of it," he admitted honestly. "It's like I had something pure that made me feel happy for once in my life and I couldn't believe it. I self-sabotaged and believed all the wrong thoughts in my head."

He wasn't wrong. Daisy was in no way mad at him about the attack, but she did resent him a little for breaking up with him and letting his jealousy ruin them. "You don't trust me. I am mad at you about that."

"You have every right to be mad at me little angel. I'll prove to you that I do trust you, I promise. It was my insecurities. I saw this guy that was out, free and ready to give you the world whereas I can give you nothing. You are my everything Daisy but I worry I can't be yours."

She scoffed. "Now who's b-being ridiculous." But that was the thing with insecurities, everyone had them and it's almost impossible for anyone to be rid of them. She would just have to reassure him that he is everything she'd ever need and more. However, reassuring Seth was low on her list of priorities at the moment. "Just leave me alone," she groaned defeatedly. Though she then contradicted herself by snuggling into his chest more, taking comfort in the man that annoyed her.

"Daisy!" yelled the Governor through the cell doors. They didn't open though so she was glad they could speak through the steel frame.

She rolled off Seth and emotionlessly looked at the shame ridden, uniformed man. He walked closer to the door to whisper, "ah Daisy. I just wanted to see you to personally apologise for what happened - the prison guards told me. I'm extremely sorry for the role we had in this. Please let me know if there's anything at all we can do for you." He seemed sincere in his apology.

But like she said to Seth, she repeated plainly, "you couldn't have known what would happen."

And just like Seth, he didn't seem to accept her words either. "Well, I've made the arrangements for you to stay in this cell again and counselling is available to you any time. It would be with Maria and I really recommend it." Daisy imagined she'll consider counselling when she's out of prison. Maybe she'd get a bulk discount after all the trauma.

He proceeded to say she wouldn't have to work today, which Seth took as them both taking the day off. The Governor didn't dare to argue. Seth was not only furious with himself, but with the entire staff, specifically the head of the prison who approved the transfer of cells.

Apparently, the man that attacked her was only in prison for a white collar crime so it understandable he was chosen to be her new cellmate. It simply shows no one ever knows the true darkness deep inside a person.

Daisy didn't even know his name. If it was mentioned briefly, she refused to listen and was reluctant to ask, feeling it would make him feel more of a human. It should be impossible for any other human do what he did to her. He was a monster, plain and simple.

~~~

She hadn't moved all day and the next day. She was sure there must be a c-shaped dent in the bed of where her body lay. The guards must've been ordered to leave her alone because nobody disturbed her. All she wanted to do was lie there. She wasn't aware of anything happening around her because she didn't care to tune in. With no thoughts in her head either, she was empty.

Being empty was a lot better than the occasional flashes of dark black hair, the feel of harsh, prickly stubble, the phantom whiff of body odour...

Her eyes clenched at the thoughts came back to her. It's over. It's over. After deep breathes, her face relaxed and her body untensed. The thoughts left once again. This repeated often.

She wasn't sure how often because she wasn't sure what time it was. It was definitely after lunch because Seth had came back with some food. After a few measly pinches of bread fed to her, she refused any more on account to having no appetite at all.

It felt weird being around him now. He didn't push her to use words like he usually did. He didn't touch her unless she reached for him for the occasional cuddle whenever she wanted it. Since the other day, he had spoke about everything other than the attack and it infuriated her.

Her eyes glared at him suddenly. He was sat against the wall opposite her, waiting patiently for her next call for cuddles. His eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "You passing gas?"

Daisy rolled her usually soft blue eyes at him and rolled over to glare at the wall.

"You hungry now? I saved you some pudding. I know how much you like these cheap little pudding cups." She ignored him but he carried on, just as he has been doing all day. "For such a good little baker, I can't believe you like this crap." There were sounds of his feet on the cold ground before his shadow loomed over her, careful not to touch her without an invite.

An unmistakable loud sound of annoyance escaped her.

"Huh? You say something, Angel?"

"I said..." after a pregnant pause, she emphasised with as much force as her petite body could handle, "UGH!"

There was a moment of silence and then Seth said, "um, ok? Is something the matter?"

Daisy spun around, narrowly missing the top bunk and stared up at him through scowling eyes. "Yes Seth. Something is the matter!" It almost made her laugh when he jumped away from her. "Why are you being nice?" she said in a strong falsely curious tone.

Again with his annoyingly perfect face looking confused. "Why shouldn't I?"

"Because you broke up with me!" She shouted loud, tears brimming in her eyes. The emotions she kept tightly in a locked jar was now overflowing and it made her more furious with herself. "Because- because I was attacked."

"I know Daisy, I know! F*cking hell what do you want me to say," he shouted back.

Seth raised his arms in exasperation but once he locked eyes with her, they were glistening with matching tears. She didn't respond, too busy sniffling the snot back up her nose. Thankfully, she wasn't feeling particularly self conscious, despite being a self-proclaimed ugly crier.

"I know I broke up with you over something so f*cking stupid. I'm being nice to you because you were attacked! You're a victim of something evil and that guy shouldn't be alive right now. He still breathing but I swear Daisy, I f*cking swear, next time I see that guy he's dead," he finished through gritted teeth.

"It's not about you Seth!" She finally screamed, angry fists balled on either side. "It- it's about me! I was the victim! That guy attacked ME!"

"Angel-"

"I'm going- I'm going through all this while heartbroken!" she choked. "B- but I'm not because you're here. I'm so confused. It's not fair, Seth!"

"I kn- "

"It just makes me so angry that THAT guy touched me. He's not you and he touched me and- and it should never have happened. Why did it happen?! Again! It- it's not my f-fault." She looked down at her dull grey sweatshirt, Seth's one because the other was taken into evidence against the attacker. "Is it w-what I was wearing," she whispered.

"No Daisy."

Her head snapped to him. "I know it's f*cking not because it doesn't m-matter! I- I want to rip m- my skin off! I can't s-stop smelling him. It's l-like he's on me. It's like he's still on me Seth. I c- can feel him. I- I- I-," she was hyperventilating now, retreating into herself like a scared animal. She dug her nails into her elbows, clutching tightly to her chest in fear that she really will rip her skin off.

Seeing this, Seth jumped to scoop her into his arms and rocked her back and forth. In the softest voice that was audibly possible, he said, "feel my skin touching yours, love." He rubbed her wet cheek, her breathing still laboured. "Smell me, Daisy. Breathe in and out. In and out with me..."

She followed his instructions. With her eyes closed, it was easier to focus on what was happening there and then, rather than what had happened in the past. She felt his kisses on the crown of her head.

"Will we have to do this ever t-time I think about it?" She quietly asked, sad and embarrassed that it may be a likely possibility.

Following another long loving kiss, he said, "I will do this for the rest of my life if you need me to. I'll never leave you again my Angel. You have my word."

"We're not even boyfriend and girlfriend because you broke up with me you- you ass." As soon as she finished the word, she received a swift spank on the butt and a disapproving look from him. It only made her smile though because a glimpse of her Seth was back.

"I apologise, ok? Will you please be my girlfriend and the love of my life again?"

"Ok," she accepted his truth with a poke on his chest and finished saying, "but you're my slave for like a week."

After a light chuckle vibrated through Seth, he agreed happily.

They spent a while in the same position, neither one of them wanting to be the first to move in fear they'd go back to square one - her being angry at him and him being too awkward to make the first move. The thought made her giggle to herself, her scary Seth being awkward.

She spent the rest of the day happily cradled in his arms listing off all the things she wanted to make him do to make up the pain and anguish he caused her. They got more and more ridiculous the more she thought but the idea was enough for her, especially since he agreed to each and every one. She wondered how far she could push him.

Once they got more relaxed, Daisy's stomach rumbled, finally feeling the empty space make itself known. "I'll see if there's any food left," Seth said.

He looked at her with such a love in his eyes it was strange to think he had broken her heart just a few days before. However, the break up was much easier to understand when she thought of it through his eyes. Embarrassingly, she could be just as jealous as Seth.

It was strange to her how people could be insecure and so clearly infatuated with each other at the same time. When Seth came back to their cell, with a confident, proud smile from stretched ear to ear and a packet of sour sweets in his hands, she could only push any insecurities aside and return a loving grin.

~~~

Thank you for reading!

Such heavy chapters since I've been back. What do you think of them? Thoughts?

Do you think Daisy's going easy on Seth?

What would you get him to do for a week besides grovel and beg?

Sorry if you've been waiting for chapters as well. I've got FOUR whole ongoing books right now. Yikes haha. Are you reading any besides Innocent Prisoners? If so, which one?

You can read Chapter 20 early on Inkitt for free now! If you want to read Chapter 21 even earlier, check out my page on Good Novel

WORD COUNT: 2516

Much love <3

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