Chapter 4
1184 Words
Emily'S POV
My hands trembled as I furiously tapped on the screen to see the post that had my photograph attached to it on social media.
"RIP Emily. We are still trying to process the loss of our beloved sister, who struggled with addiction and personal demons. Her tragic descent into p**********n and gambling ultimately led to her premature passing.” I paused reading it to take a shaky breath to steady myself before I continued reading.
“We will always remember her for the good times before her darkness consumed her. May she finally find peace." I finally finished the post, and my heart clenched. What the hell was this?
Who had even posted this?
I squinted at the usernames: “posted by @Anna and @Daniel.”
I kept looking at the message over and over, sure that there was a mistake, but no, it was there clear as day.
Sliding down to the marbled bathroom floor, I placed my head in my hands. Tears started to flow down my face as I read it again and again. I had decided to check my social media, and I saw this. My step-siblings had done this; was erasing me not enough? The only thing I had left was my identity and dignity, and they were already sending obituary messages all over.
The thought of all the people who would see this broke my heart even more, and I started to sob, throwing the phone face down on the bathroom marble floor.
To hell with all this.
Why were they this hell-bent on not only erasing me from history but also tarnishing my already frayed reputation?
I went to bed that night with puffy eyes and a restless sleep.
They had managed to make my life another hell even though I wasn't with them anymore.
Waking up the next day, I somehow discovered that something big was happening that day. In the night exactly, I had no idea what exactly. But everyone in the mansion had been walking around nonstop.
Unlike every other day that I stayed locked up in my room, oblivious to the happenings around me, today was different. I was taken to the forest just behind the house for what I guessed might be a tour. But for over twenty minutes now, I had just been seated beneath a tree, reflecting on my life.
Since no one had come to get me, and I was starting to wonder if they planned on leaving me behind in the creepy woods, it occurred to me that Jarek, that man, had left me to go answer a phone call.
I was about to scream for help when...
Suddenly the sound of crunching leaves reached me, making my heart skip a beat. I turned in time to see someone walking toward me with wobbly legs.
My eyes widened as I failed to immediately recognize the person, but after close observation, my eyes widened.
“Amelia?!” I exclaimed, rushing to her and catching her before she could fall.
She raised bloodshot eyes to look at me, and shock filled her features. “Oh my god, you're alive!” She exclaimed, hugging me tightly.
I held her close, my eyes panicked. What had happened to her?
She looked wretched, her robe a size too big for her and angry red welts covering her pale skin.
“What happened to you? My goodness! You're alive!” I whispered, tears brimming in my eyes as I pulled away.
“We don’t have much time. You have to leave. Run and don’t turn back. Those guys aren’t good people...” she blurted out, holding me tight, urgency in her gaze.
I frowned at that. “What... what... are you talking about?” Holding both her hands, I dragged her to the shade just behind us before turning my full attention to her.
Damn! She looked like a bereaved ghost! What had they done to her?
How the hell did she even get here? What...
"Emily! Emilyyyy!! Are you listening to all I’ve been saying?" She boomed, snapping her hands across my face.
"Huh?... Amelia... come on... you’re not making sense..." I shot her a bewildered look.
“You need to leave... one way or another!” She yelled, tears streaming down her face. “You can’t stay here. This luxury... it’s only temporary! You can’t be happy here. They’re just trying to make you feel safe,” she hissed at me.
“No, Amelia. He’s different. I can feel it... he looks after me...” I countered, trying to reassure her. Or reassure myself. I wasn't sure either.
Why was I even defending him? I shouldn't be defending him; I barely knew the man.
She groaned and held me tighter, her eyes shining. “So what? You can stay here happily?! Listen, carefully... there’s a big consignment coming up in Atlanta; they all will be gone for some time. Use that as your chance to get away. Run! You have to run as far as you can! Don’t be deluded. You are not special. Believe me.” She explained in a rush.
I couldn't still understand what was happening, but I tried to keep up. “What about you? Who are you with? Why do you look so...”
“You’re lucky; I’m not. The one who sold me... he... you know the man who yelled out loud enough? He has my family, and he is going to kill them if I run, but you have a chance. Promise me you will go!” She held me tighter, looking for a response.
The sound of footsteps nearing us could be heard, and her eyes widened, her arms gripping me tighter. “For f**k's sake! Promise me!” She whispered yelled, her voice tight with pain.
“I promise, I’m going to miss you so much... I...” I said, hugging her just as the figure came into view. Jarek!
“Okay, time’s up,” he said, pulling her up gently and leading her away.
I couldn't believe what I had just heard.
Hours later, I lay tossing and turning in bed, trying to come to a decision.
No, I had made a promise. I would escape from this place. She was right. I just had to bide my time.
*****
Arnold'S POV
I puffed on my cigar, eyes fixed on the security feed in front of me. Emily's room. She was restless, tossing and turning in bed. My gaze narrowed as I watched her silently over and over.
Suddenly, she sat up, her eyes staring blankly at the wall, and the phone clutched to her chest.
Leaning back, I kept the cigarette between my palms as I looked at the monochrome feed. This had better go well. It was the only chance. The hunt would soon begin, and I had to have my head in the game.
I took a drag, exhaling slowly as I picked up my phone and dialed a number.
The phone was picked up almost immediately. Without mincing my words, I told him, "Get her prepared..."
- Writer
