"NO ONE CAN RUN FOREVER, VERONICA"
1264 Words
It had been two days since I came to live with Glazer, and I wasn't still able to rack the mystery of her life. She left for work as early as 6am, and returned by 7pm, looking just as fresh as she was when she left. She never told me what she did for a living. But this morning, I wasn't going to let it pass.
She was about to drive off in her car when I ran out. "Hey, wait, Glazer!"
She stopped, and of course, her face was as expressionless as Harrison's would be when speaking to me. But there was an apprehensive tinge to her expression now, which she tried to cover. "What is it, Vera?"
"I need to talk to you," I said, scratching my scalp and looking at her almost flat chest; she purposely pressed down her breasts with an inner tight tube. I never knew why.
"I am running out of time, Veronica," she said, glancing at her wristwatch. "Can't this wait till I return?"
"I'll be very quick. I want to ask, what do you do a living?"
She stared at me with killer eyes, as though convinced I had gone crazy. "Veronica, I don't have time for this." She pulled at her car door, but I held it open.
"I need an answer, Glazer." My voice was breaking. Getting in bad terms with my "saviour" was very risky, but I was getting pretty tired of being left in the dark, like a homeless teenager. I had a life to live for goodness's sake. "I am getting uncomfortable. When will all this end?"
"It's barely two days," she snapped, hitting the steering wheel. The horn sounded, splitting through the silence of the valley. "What is that that you don't understand? I'm keeping you safe from Harrison and those who want you. How do you not get this?"
I winced. Her point was valid, but I needed to really know what I was doing. "I am getting really bored here, walking from my room to the living room and staring at lifeless walls and unapproachable rooms and drawers. With nobody to speak with."
Glazer was shaking her head in disdain, and I saw something that looked like a long thin scar just behind her ears. It was kind of weird but I ignored it.
"I saved you from those demons," she said, "shouldn't that be enough for you?"
I almost palmed my face. "You know that is not what I mean. I am very, very grateful for what you did that night, and you know it. But I need answers. I cannot be kept here for this long."
"You want to go back to Harrison Templeton?" she asked, throwing me off balance. "Is that what you're trying to tell me?"
But when I tried to answer no, I couldn't. She came out from the car and crept closer, frowning at my delay. "You really want to go back to him?" she asked again, watching me closely. "I can see it in your eyes. You miss him!"
"No, I don't," I retorted immediately. But my heart was already pounding hard. The thought about Harrison had been prickling my heart so badly. Last night, I dreamt of him knocking on the door and falling down at my feet to apologise for all he did. And shockingly I felt this strong, stupid connection to run back into his arms.
"You miss him, Veronica!" Glazer said again, splitting through my thoughts. "Isn't this the most disgusting thing I've ever heard? Someone who doesn't give a dime who or where you are. Since you got abducted, has he called you?"
I was about to say yes, that he did call, and I would stare at it till the call ended. But Glazer didn't let me speak.
"If he wants you back, it is only because of your pregnancy! Get that straight. And that isn't even his problem. He can have any random woman give him a child."
"But he chose ME!" I shouted, surprising even myself. "He decided to let my father go free, just so he'll have me. What if he goes back to throw my father into jail? I need to —"
I didn't see it coming. The slap. It crashed into my right cheek: Glazer was left-handed. A flash of pain made me stagger backwards. I didn't expect to be slapped.
Holding my cheek, I turned to glare at her. "Was that necessary?" My chest rose and fell as I waited for whatever she had to say to explain this madness.
Then her eyes fell. "I am sorry, Vera. I didn't mean for that to happen. But it pains me when you talk about Harrison's foolishness like a trophy. The dude had no f*****g reason to do what he did. His own twin sister! To me, that's the greatest form of inhuman wickedness. And whoever did that deserves naught but to die."
She turned to cast me a meaningful gaze. "And that is the kind of man you want to go back to? Do you know what he'd do to you if he's done using you?" Her voice was shrill. After a long pause, she said, "Wait a second."
She reached for a drawer in her car and took out a paper and pencil, with which she wrote a series of numbers. She handed it to me.
"That is the password to the gate," she said. "You can leave if you want. Thank you."
With this, she entered her car and drove away.
I stood there in the middle of the compound, astounded. The gate still swung open, waiting to be pressed close. I decided to leave it open and ran inside. This was my chance to leave this place and maybe go see my brother. I missed him.
In my room, I glanced about; there was nothing much if value to pack. Besides I had come with nothing, and my two changes of clothes were provided by Glazer.
"They're awfully large," she had said tossing me a gown, "but they'll suffice for your growing belly."
But, right now, I couldn't wait for my belly to grow. The bulge was becoming visible already, though. And each time I woke up with the morning sickness, all I had on my mind was the face of Harrison, the father of my foetus.
And one question would be on my mind: What have you done to me, master?
It was when I decided to go grab a cup of tea that I heard the distant sound of the gate humming open and closed.
I stopped in my track, realizing my foolishness. Someone had entered.
I listened carefully. There were footsteps approaching the front door. To my horror, when I peeped out through the kitchen door, I saw that the front door was open too! Just how much more careless could I be!
I didn't wait to see the figure of a bulky man walk in. I hid behind a wall, my nostrils getting choked up. The fear spread through my body, breaking my limbs and joints. Pushing urine to my bladder.
Who could that be? Harrison? One of his bodyguards? One of Glazer's gang rivals?
I looked around; my eyes fell on a frying pan. I was about to reach towards it when a hand grabbed my face from behind. When did he reach here?!
"Shh, make no sound," the man grunted. "No one can run forever, Veronica. Not even Usain freaking Bolt. Shh..."
I could taste my fear on my tongue.
- Writer
