Lena's breath came in shallow, desperate gasps. Blood trailed from the cut on her forehead, dripping steadily onto the cold floor beneath her. Her lip was swollen, her ribs screaming with each strained movement. She crawled slowly, fingertips slick with crimson, struggling to keep her vision clear.
Her phone was just inches away. It felt like a lifeline, though she could barely see the screen through the haze. With trembling fingers, she tapped it, each digit a blur beneath her touch.
V.O.Riley (on phone): "Hello? Lena? Good afternoon?"
Her voice was hoarse, barely more than a whisper.Lena: "Riley… please… come… over. I'm… bleeding…"
The panic in Riley's voice was immediate.Riley: "What? Lena?! What happened—are you okay?!"
But Lena couldn't answer. Her body betrayed her, her hand slipping from the phone, sending it tumbling to the floor as darkness crept in around the edges of her vision.
BLACKNESS. SILENCE.
Then—
FLASHBACK – INT. LENA'S APARTMENT – EARLIER THAT DAY
The sound of running water in the bathroom filled the silence of the apartment. James was in the shower. It was supposed to be an ordinary afternoon.
Lena sat on the couch, her gaze drifting to James's phone on the table. It buzzed with an incoming call—Unknown Caller—and for a moment, hesitation tugged at her. But it was just a phone call, nothing more. She picked it up quickly, answering without thinking.
Lena: "Hello, James is in the shower. Can you call back later?"
She hung up, going back to her thoughts, unaware of the storm brewing behind her.
A moment later, she heard it—his voice, sharp and furious, cutting through the air.James (offscreen): "What the hell did you just do?"
Lena whipped around, startled.Lena: "I just told them to call back. You were in the shower…"
Before she could even finish her sentence, the slap came.
The force of it spun her sideways, the sting igniting a sharp, blinding pain across her cheek.
James (furious): "I told you never to touch my phone! Are you stupid?!"
Her hands shook as she raised them, pleading, backing away.Lena (softly): "James, please… I didn't mean it. I was just trying to—"
But she couldn't finish.
He grabbed her by the arms and slammed her into the wall with a sickening thud.
Her head cracked against the plaster. The pain was instant, dizzying.
James (yelling): "You always do this! Always pushing me!"
Her breath hitched, and she tried to crawl away, to escape the storm that was growing inside him. But another blow came—his foot connecting with her ribs.
She crumpled, the air knocked from her lungs. She couldn't breathe.
His voice, cold and guttural, seemed to echo in her head like an insidious mantra:James (taunting): "You made me do this…"
Then—darkness again.
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT
Lena jolted awake with a gasp, her heart hammering in her chest, the weight of the memory still clinging to her skin.
She blinked rapidly, trying to focus on her surroundings. Harsh fluorescent lights above her made her eyes sting. Her body felt like it had been crushed, every inch of her screaming in agony. Her head throbbed in a steady, painful rhythm. Her chest burned.
A familiar voice whispered, breaking through the haze.Ethan: "You're awake…"
Lena turned slowly to see him sitting by her bedside, his face drawn, eyes shadowed with concern. Behind him stood Riley, her face pale and her eyes red-rimmed, clearly fighting tears.
Riley stepped forward, her voice trembling.Riley: "Lena… Oh my God, you scared me. You were barely breathing when I found you. I thought…" She choked on her words.
Lena lowered her gaze to the sheets, unwilling to meet their eyes.
Lena (softly): "I didn't mean to cause trouble. It's my fault…"
Ethan (frowning): "What do you mean? Lena, what happened?"
She hesitated, her mind struggling to piece together the words.
Lena (whispering): "He got angry because I picked up his phone…"
Riley looked confused.Riley: "That's it? Over a phone call?"
Lena nodded slowly, almost ashamed.Lena (softly): "I just told the person to call back… He was in the shower. I didn't even check who it was…"
Ethan's expression hardened, his jaw tightening.Ethan: "So he almost beat you to death over that?"
Lena didn't answer.
He stood up abruptly, pacing, the tension in his movements palpable.Ethan: "You're not even married, and he's doing this? That's not anger, Lena. That's abuse."
The door to the room opened, and James walked in.
His clothes were clean, his face disturbingly calm, as though nothing had happened. His eyes softened when he saw Lena, a fake warmth to his gaze.
James: "Lena…" His voice was soothing, almost too soothing. "Thank God you're okay."
Lena stiffened.
He took a step closer, placing a hand on the bedrail as he lowered his voice, his tone laced with feigned concern.James: "I didn't mean for this to happen, baby. You know how much I love you. But when you touch my phone, you trigger something in me… You know I'm trying to be better."
He reached out, gently grasping her bruised hand in his.James (softly): "You bring out the beast in me, but I swear I'll do better… if you just stop pushing me."
Lena's voice was barely a whisper.Lena: "I won't do it again…"
James smiled, brushing his lips across her bruised hand with practiced tenderness before turning toward Riley.James (coldly): "Thanks for being there for her."
He shot a quick, dismissive glance at Ethan and left without another word.
The silence in the room was suffocating.
Ethan's gaze remained locked on Lena. His voice dropped low, full of quiet urgency.Ethan: "You're not safe with him."
But Lena didn't respond. She couldn't.
Her eyes drifted to the door James had just walked through, her breath shallow, her mind a mess of confusion, fear, and shame.
James's words echoed relentlessly:James (taunting): "You bring out the beast in me…"
Her bruises ached beneath the thin hospital gown. Her chest felt tight, the weight of his control pressing on her.
If this isn't love… then what is it?
If she leaves… where does she go?
And if she stays… will she survive the next time?
The phone buzzed on the side table.
It was a message from James.
"Don't talk too much. Rest. I'll pick you up soon."
Her heart skipped.
Quickly, she turned the phone face down before Ethan could see it.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.Ethan (sharp): "Was that him?"
Lena forced a weak smile, shaking her head.Lena (hesitant): "Just the nurse. I think…"
Her voice trembled, betraying her.
Moments later, a nurse entered, checking Lena's vitals. She paused, studying Lena for a moment before speaking in a low, knowing tone.Nurse (softly): "Lena… is this the first time you've been hurt like this?"
Lena opened her mouth, but no sound came.
The nurse gave her a sad, understanding look before silently recording her vitals and stepping out.
Ethan's gaze never left Lena, his concern growing.
But Lena didn't look at him, or at Riley. She only stared at her trembling hands, feeling more lost than ever.
Even her heartbeat didn't feel like her own anymore.