Sealed away from the outside world. Stella remained in a glass tank. There was barely anything in there, aside from the blood-stained rag she used as a bed. Being kept in a small tank for all day drove her closer and closer to insanity. She often felt like the walls were closing in on her. She could only look out into the world, but she could not interact with it...

Unless Mike decided it was time to play.

Fresh cuts replaced the old ones on her body. They were a punishment for escaping. Looking at the scars made her want to claw her skin off so she could never see them again, but she couldn't hide from them, because he took all the sweaters she had accumulated over the past 2 months. She was only left with that little black dress he loved to make her wear. He wanted her to always see what would happen if she tried to escape again.

How long had it been since Stella was captured? The days blurred since she arrived back in hell, she wanted to give up at first, and accept that Mike would never let another chance for Stella to escape happen again, but then she heard the wooden floor creak that first night when he walked her into the living room. He never found out how she escaped. Stella still had a chance to be free again, she just needed to bide her time for now.

The sun began to set, taking away all the light source from the living room. Mike had been dealing with Ed these past few weeks, his alcoholism was getting worse. He was now spending almost all of his money on alcohol. So Mike has been sent to drag him out of the bar after work. At least it meant less time of being tortured by him.

The door knob clicked and Stella's heart sank. Her period of safety was over. She watched as Mike walked into the living room muttering curses about his brother under his breath. His hair was slightly disheveled and she could see bags under his blue eyes, a long day at the bank and then going to deal with an alcoholic older brother never did any improvements on his mood. Normally, this would have terrified Stella, but when she noticed the bottle of whiskey gripped tightly in his hand, she found her fears began to melt away. Mike was always more rough with her while intoxicated, but he was forgetful; he was too drunk to remember to put his human pet back in the tank before stumbling off to bed. That's how she escaped that night, and that's how she will do it again. All it took was one glass to send Mike into an uncontrollable addiction.

Mike disappeared into the kitchen with the alcohol. Stella couldn't help but press her face up against the glass, anticipating the sounds of him making a drink. She could hear him rummaging around the kitchen, silverware clashed together, water splashing into the sink and then finally, the sound of a liquid being poured into it. Stella almost cheered when she heard that. He's gonna drink tonight, she was finally going to be free again!

When Mike stepped out, with a boning knife in one hand, and a drink in the other. He brought the glass to his lips and took a large gulp. That's when Stella could see that it was not alcohol, it was milk. Panic started to settle inside Stella. Why wasn't he drinking? Did he pour some of that whiskey into his milk? No, that wouldn't taste right. If he wasn't drinking alcohol then why does he have it?

Stella stumbled back into the furthest corner as Mike began walking towards her prison. He stared down at her at his full height, not saying a word for a full minute. This was no new tactic, Mike knew that doing nothing would scare Stella just as much as mutilating her. She didn't want to give him that satisfaction, but her body began trembling. There was no way to hide her fears.

Mike slammed his glass on the table as hard as he could, stella suppressed a scream but couldn't resist flinching. Mike leaned down to her level, gazing at her with those cold blue eyes. "You've gotten tough."

Stella laughed dryly. "Or maybe you're just not that scary anymore."

Mike clutched his chest. "Aww, I'm hurt that you'd think of me as scary, Stella. When I am nothing like my brother."

Stella gritted her teeth. Mike always loved putting on an act, he didn't just do it to Stella though, he did it to the world. Whether it was appearing richer, younger, or nicer than he really was, being fake was amusing for him. Stella fell for it, and she learned very quickly who Mike really was. But Mike didn't care if she could see through his bullshit, he still liked to pretend he was a good guy, because if she lashed out at him in anyway, he would not hesitate to punish her harder.

She took a shaky breath, wanted to sound as calm as she possibly could. "What's with the alcohol?"

Mike sighed, fogging up the glass that separated him from her. "My dumbass brother is drinking so much, that his manager is threatening to fire him the next time he comes into work drunk again. And if he's outta work, He's gonna have to live with me. I figured taking away his home supply would reduce the chances of him ruining our time together."

Stella shivered, she wasn't sure what was worse; being around both her abusers, or just Mike.

"Why do you ask?"

Stella's eyes widened. She forgot to think of an excuse. Her brain went haywire, trying desperately to think of an answer but it was too late.

"Did you think I was going to drink tonight?" Mike chuckled. "Oh no deary, I have learned my lesson. As long as you're with me, I'm never touching a drop of alcohol again. You're never going to leave again."

Stella's blood ran cold, everything out there was going to be locked away for the rest of her life. The world could have ended tomorrow, and Stella would never know because she was going to be trapped inside this tank looking at the same green couch in the dark room. The creek in the wooden floor was only going to mock her until Mike notices it and nails it shut, then her fate would be permanently sealed.

"Even now, you're still thinking of escaping."

Rumbling above caused Stella to break away from her thoughts, to her horror she could see the lid was completely gone and Mike's hand reached down to grab her. There was nothing she could do to escape. Her heart banged on her chest as she was plucked out of her tank. Piercing blue eyes froze her in place. She was so uncomfortably close to his face.

"How about we strike a deal, my dear." He walked over to the couch and sat on it. "You tell me how you escaped, and I won't punish you tonight."

No, she couldn't tell him. Stella couldn't lose her one small chance of freedom. No matter how unlikely it would be to get it again, she had to hold onto what little hope she had left.

"I waited by the door until you left, then I slipped out."

"Bullshit!" Mike slammed her down on the night stand by the couch and pin her down with his thumb pressed up against her torso, forcefully pushing out the air out of her lungs. "I searched everywhere for you, and there was no sign of you, so I'm gonna ask you again: how did you escape?"

Stella gasped out for air. "F...find out... for yourself."

"You never were that bright, huh?" Mike stared at his blade, pondering what he was going to do. Then he brought it to her face, the point just inches from her cheek. "I really hate to ruin such a pretty face."

Stella remained silent, she was going to remain strong. He could cut out her eye if he wanted and she still wouldn't budge.

"But you won't learn from that." He lowered his knife to her chest. The blade hovered over her heart. "Maybe I'll just kill you instead. You're not as fun to mess with, I could always just find another broken little pet to play with."

Dying was not a part of Stella's plans, she didn't want Mike's cruel smile looking down at her to be the last thing she saw before death, but killing her would have been the nicest thing he would ever do to her, so she didn't object.

Mike pulled the knife away and shook his head. "No, no, that's too easy. I want to make sure you'll never leave me again." Mike adjusted his hand so Stella's legs were pinned to ground. He drew the knife towards her thigh, the blade was cold to her bare skin. Stella's eyes widened in horror. No he can't do that! If he cut off her legs, she'll never be able to escape, but telling him about the floorboard would seal her fate just as much as chopping off her legs! She tried squirming away, but it didn't make a difference.

"I don't get why you try so hard to leave, there's no one out there for you."

His words stung, but she blinked back tears. She couldn't give him the satisfaction of hurting her anymore then he was already about to. That's why even now, she wasn't going to tell him how she escaped. If he wanted to seal her away forever, he's gonna have to find out for himself.

"This is going to be slow and painful for you." He warned.

"Everything you do is slow and painful." Stella snapped.

"You're really going to lose your legs for your escape route?" Mike scoffed. "You'll never be able to run again."

Stella's glared up at Mike, her green eyes locking onto his blue ones. "I'll crawl."

"Sure you will."

The blade dug against Stella's thigh. Blood began to ooze out of the cut. Stella bit her lip to suppress a scream, this was only the beginning and it was already painful. His blade slowly inches his blade deeper into her thigh. Stella squeezed her eyes shut and braced for the inevitable agony she was moments away from facing.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

"MIKE! OPEN UP!"

The banging and yelling at the door startled both Mike and Stella. He ripped his knife away from his victim's thigh and withdrew both of his hands. Stella let out an agonized cry as she pressed her hand against her thigh in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

"Why the fuck is he here?" Mike growled. He stood up to his full height and glared down at Stella. "Don't you dare try to scream."

Stella just nodded and curled up in a ball. That was Ed's voice. His enraged voice sent a wave of fear through her body. What would happen if he saw her in this state? Did he ever know what his little brother did her? Stella could only watch as Mike stomped over to the door and answered it.

"What do you want, Ed?"

"Where the fuck is my whiskey?!" His words were slurred.

"You've had enough for tonight!" Mike hissed. "You drink anymore and you'll lose your job."

"That's not your problem!"

"I'm trying to save you from losing your home and asking to live with me!"

"I want my fucking whiskey!" Ed shoved his way into Mike's house and stumbled his way into the living room. His eyes scanned the room and then locked onto Stella. His eyes widened in shock as he watched her scoot further back onto the small table. "When the fuck has she been back?"

"That is none of your concern!"

"She was my pet before you took her, so yeah it is my concern!"

"Your pet nearly starved to death when living with you!" Mike snapped. "I saved her from you!"

"Well she's covered in scars from you, jackass!"

"She's being punished. Every scar on there is something she deserved." "And what did she do this time?" Ed growled.

"Tried to escape."

"Well, it looks like she doesn't want to be with you, so maybe I should just take her."

Stella froze. She can't go back to Ed, if she did she would be locked in that cage again, starving to death, and there would be no way to escape since he barely ever took her out. It would be just as bad as Mike cutting off her legs or nailing the floorboard shut!

As Ed began moving towards Stella, Mike stepped in front of him. "You're not getting her."

"You can't do shit." Ed laughed as he attempted shoved Mike to the side, but Mike's knife pierced his brother's arm, stopping him from walking any further. He stared as blood dripped down to the floor. The cut may not have been deep but it was enough to anger him even more.

"You fucking idiot." Ed lunged at his brother and shoved him against the wall, knocking over several pictures. Mike tried to stab him again, but this time, Ed grabbed his wrist and bent it back. A snap could be heard. Mike screamed out but his wails were cut short as Ed drove his fist into his face.

RUN!

It was her chance. Stella stood up, and began scurrying over to the couch and began climbing down it. Her leg seared with pain but she knew she couldn't stop for even a second. Her feet hit the floor and she dashed over to the floorboard. She crouched over and began digging her nails underneath it in an attempt to open it. She could hear Ed hitting harder and harder, it drove her into a panic. What if he catches her, what if she's next?

The wood creaked as she pulled it up above her. Stella gasped in success as she dropped into the crack, but just before she sealed herself away, she glanced over to her abusers and the last thing she saw was Ed raising a bloody fist again. The floorboard closed over her sealing her in darkness.

She could still hear Ed beating Mike to death above her as she ran like hell. Everything was pitch black, she was scared she had forgotten the route to the exit, but then she felt a breeze and followed it. Running through dust and cobwebs until finally, she reached the exit.

Stella fell forward onto the grass and panted heavily. The winds welcomed her back by kissing her bare skin with an icy kiss.

She sat up to examine her cut. Her leg was soaked in blood and it stung, but fortunately, it wasn't as deep as she thought, the wound will easily heal. It could have been so much worse. For once, Stella was thankful for Ed's awful temper.

Stella knew she couldn't stay here for long. She had to find food, water, clothes, and shelter soon. The last thing she wanted was to be caught by Ed. She pushed herself up and started to walk down the streets. Without an idea of where to go. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't believe it, no more abuse, no more giants to watch over her. Stella could finally live life how she wanted to!

Free.