The Prison Project Novel

Chapter 96 Margot's POV The bathroom door clicked shut behind me like a lifeline snapping taut , cutting me off from him , from the storm of his voice still vibrating against the walls . My hand lingered on the lock a moment too long , trembling fingers gripping the cold metal as if it were the only thing anchoring me . My chest heaved , lungs scraping against bruised flesh every time I pulled in air . I bent forward , forehead resting against the back of my hand braced on the door , and only then did I let the first shaky breath escape me . " Fuck !

" I breathed out , relieved and unable to process it all . It was definitely morning now . The pale light had crept in , curling through the slits of the narrow window , a faint silver hue brushing across the tile floor . Soon , breakfast would be called . Soon , I'd have to step out of here . Step back in front of him . But not yet . Not yet . I forced my legs to move , dragging myself toward the mirror above the sink . My reflection wavered as though I were already drowning , and for a moment , I didn't recognise myself - not the fresh girl who had returned from her day at the salon ...

Oh no ... My once styled hair was a messy mop of tugs , my face pale , my eyes rimmed red , lashes clumped together from dried tears . My lips parted slightly , breath shallow , as I didn't quite believe how quickly I had returned back to this ... Back to being broken ... And then , I slowly peeled the shirt off ... The sound of the fabric dragging against my raw skin felt louder than it should have , like it had scraped against raw bone . My throat burned before my gaze even met the mirror to see it ... 1/5 3:40 pm P SDD . Chapter 96 I gasped .

My knees almost buckled beneath me at how bad it actually was . The bruises had already begun to bloom across my skin , livid and ugly . They climbed around my neck like a strangling hand frozen in time , each finger outlined , each press of his grip scorched red into my flesh as a reminder . Five large distinct bruises etched into me like a brand - covering the entirety of the area . I reached up with trembling fingers , tracing the marks . My skin was hot , swollen , the fire radiating outward .

I pressed too firmly without meaning to and hissed , jerking back , tears pricking at the corners of my eyes . The pain was sharp , a flash of lightning that seemed to pierce not only skin but the space between my ribs . Everything began to hurt as the adrenaline drained from my body . Breathing felt like swallowing glass . Turning my head was impossible without a wince . Even swallowing made my throat pulse and flare . The simple act of existing was suddenly unbearable . I leaned both hands against the edge of the sink , my reflection a mess of wet eyes and trembling lips .

My vision blurred as the first tear slid down . Then another . My chest tightened , my breath caught , and I bowed my head as silent sobs shook through me . But I couldn't stay here . Couldn't give up . I went through the motions instead ... Toothbrush . Toothpaste . The simple , mundane act of brushing my teeth was grounding , almost laughably so . The bristles scraped , the mint burned , but it was real , something small I could control . I spat , rinsed , and turned to the shower like it was salvation .

The water hissed to life , cold at first , then warming , steam unfurling across the mirror until my bruised reflection vanished into a blur . I stripped the rest of the way , skin prickling under the open air , before stepping into the stream . 2/5 3:40 pm P SDD . Chapter 96 The water struck me like fire . 4 As cool as it was , my skin screamed as though it had been laid bare to flames . I let it pour over me anyway , let it rush across my shoulders , my throat , my chest , and I tilted my head back , eyes shut tight . Deep breaths . Slow . In . Out . I whispered it to myself in my head .

It's okay . I'm here . I'm still alive . He didn't mean it . But then another voice cut through . Maybe he did ? Maybe his warning was true after all ? Coban was dangerous . Capable of hurting me . I knew that now . His fingers had been wrapped around my throat , and if I hadn't fought ... if he hadn't woken up enough to see me ... The thought twisted , coiled , turned my stomach . Was it fair to hold it against him ? He'd been dreaming , disoriented , trapped in his own hell . He said he blacked out . Hadn't even known it was me . But what if it wasn't just sleep that could trigger it ?

What if every time his temper snapped , that same monster rose up , blind and merciless ? Would I survive him next time ? I pressed my palms against my face , letting the water disguise the tears spilling free now . My chest heaved . My throat ached . I cried until my body shook . Had I made a mistake by coming here ? 3/5 3:40 pm Chapter 96 All the promises of money , bonuses , escape ... none of it mattered if I didn't live long enough to see the end . What was the point if I left in a body bag before I ever left this prison ?

The water grew colder , biting against my skin , forcing me out of the spiral . I grabbed the soap , scrubbed at myself until my skin stung , until it was redder than the bruises . Then I rinsed it all away , watching it swirl down the drain . When the water shut off , silence hit like a blow . My sobs echoed louder without it . I stepped out carefully , towel in hand , dragging it across my body , blotting the droplets clinging to me . It scratched against my neck , and I flinched , biting down a cry as it pressed against the bruises .

My hair clung to my face in wet strands , sticking to my cheeks until I wrapped the towel around myself tightly . Then reality hit like a cruel reminder . Crap ! I didn't have any clothes ... I stared at the door , breath coming faster . To get them , I'd have to step out there . Back into the cell . Back into the same space as him . My pulse skipped . Enough time had passed , long enough for him to cool down ... Right ? He wouldn't lash out again . Not like that . I told myself the words , even if I didn't quite believe them . Hand on the door , I twisted it slow ... He was still there .

Coban . Seated on the floor , his back against the wall , his head tipped back , eyes shut . His hands hung loose at his sides , his knuckles still raw , blood smeared across the carpet where he'd dragged them . His chest rose and fell , steady , but his jaw was still clenched . 3:40 pm PSD D Chapter 96 He didn't look like a man who had calmed down . He looked like a man who was on the brink of a breakdown ... And here I was , towel wrapped around me , staring at him , my heart pounding so hard it drowned out every sound in the room . " Why are you out ? I didn't say you could come out .

" His words came , but his eyes remained closed . Shit , was it too soon ... 1 Daviswa The Prison Project Chapter 97