Skeletons in the Open
1398 Words
Another message popped.
“Fifty thousand dollars in exchange for my silent.” I read out loud.
What!!.
Where was I going to get that money with my current situation.
Trying to keep calm. I slowly set my phone down and let my fears consume me.
That night, Marcus came back home drunk at 5:00am. I had stayed up the whole night waiting for him.
When I asked where he had been, he just snapped. He insulted me, reminded me how cheap and simple I was. He hit me twice then went to sleep but blacked out in the hallway.
I tried to console myself that he did that because he was drunk, that he punched me in the face and chest because of the alcohol, but it didn’t hurt any less, I was so angry at him, I was tired of waiting for him to quite drinking, tired of waiting for us to be perfect the way we used to be.
So I left home, I needed to vent, to make him pay for what he did to me, to give him some sort of twisted revenge and pain.
That’s when I saw a strip club a few blocks away. I entered there and sat down, trying my best not to look out of place but this one stripper noticed me and came to me, he started to dance on, me, rubbing at me but it dint feel right.
I couldn’t bring myself to be a cheat on the man I loved for years.
However much he had changed, I still loved him.
I left and rushed home but still feeling that emptiness in me.
This video was dated within the same period as my pregnancy, 2nd May. Exactly 6 weeks ago. The same time Marcus got me pregnant.
If Silas saw this, he would entirely doubt this baby and would terminate our contract then throw me back to Marcus.
I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t possibly watch my life fall apart for the second time.
“What if I told him the whole truth.” I spoke to myself.
He wouldn’t believe that I went to a male strip club and walked out empty handed. He would call me a liar, that I cheated on Marcus first.
It was too risky to tell Silas, he was only helping me because this benefited him.
“What if the video goes public? Noo. That would be the end of me.
I had been pacing around so much that a sharp piecing shot through my left leg.
“Ouch.”
I think I hurt my ankle.
Carefully, I sat on the bed to rest it and think of a solution fast.
I pulled out my phone and tried to delete the message one more time but it pooped right back on my screen. Like my skeletons were finally out the closet and there was no turning back.
Suddenly, the bedroom door pushed open and someone entered.
Without thinking, I hid the phone under my leg and pretended I was massaging it.
Looking up, I acted surprised to see Silas.
He had changed into plain back t shirt and sweats. He resembled a sexy predator
I coughed.
“You look like you have seen a ghost. Or did Marcus find a way to message you again.” He calmly asked.
I didn’t know my face was that readable.
“Are you ok?” He pushed
“Yeah, I just have a really bad headache, I am going to sleep it off.” I lie.
“Is that why you skipped diner?”
I skipped dinner?
“Ahh, yeah. I am still full actually. I had my lunch quite late.” I smile at him.
He is silent for a minute before he pulls out his phone and orders someone to bring my dinner up stairs before adding.
“I thought I was clear with where you will be sleeping.”
“ Silas, can I just have this time to myself? I have barely sat down today please.” I pleaded with him.
I didn’t have the courage to face him right now, at that sleep in the same room as him.
Plus I had to find a way to meet my blackmailer and it would be impossible with Silas breathing right down my neck.
“I like my privacy more than anything Elara, do you think I am enjoying this? Enjoying sharing my personal space with you?.” He sounded strained, uncomfortable with whatever was happening.
I couldn’t blame him.
“Take the master room, I will another.” He says and leaves the room.
I needed a good cry.
Heading to the master room, I went to the bathroom and set the water temperature to my liking then slid in the tub.
Weeping while holding my mouth, my body starts exhale and I can feel my tense muscles relaxing.
To be honest, when I found out I was pregnant, I was quite excited. I imagined this beautiful family of Marcus , I and our baby. I knew a baby coming along would maybe make Marcus quite his drinking habits, make him a more responsible father.
I didn’t know that I would be gambling my child’s identity for the sake of our future. I didn’t think i would be planning to meet a mysterious black mailer to pay his silence for my mistake.
Ending my bath, I found a tray of rice and fruit placed on the night stand. I didn’t have an appetite but I forced down a few spoons.
As promised, Silas had left the room
for me and this gave me time to check through my bags for something I desperately needed.
After searching for a while, I landed in the necklace, it was given to me by Dad when I finished my business school.
This one had to work for him.
Gently placing it back, I carried its box and hid it under the mattress then softly laid my body down.
The bed was smelling like Silas, the pillows all smelt like he was next me and I had to swallow back my growing guilt.
At exactly 2:00am, my alarm went off and I jacked awake, ready to redeem my name.
I threw on a pair of boyfriend Jeans, an oversized sweater and black boots in case it rained, packed up the necklace and threw in my pepper spray just incase things were to get out of hand.
I double checked the few dollar bills I had left under my phone case before I quietly left the room.
Making sure not to make any noise, I slowly descended the stairs and to the front door and opened it as quietly as I could.
It jammed.
I tried the second time and got the same result.
It was locked.
Shit
What now!!. If anyone woke up and found me, I would be as good as dead .
I turned and headed for the kitchen door.
It was locked too.
My heart didn’t waste a second in throbbing faster than a running machine. I closed my eyes
and my shaking hands covered my mouth to stop any protests from escaping and calm myself at the same time.
I needed at plan B fast.
I got an idea and headed for the garden doors. With a shaky breathe, I pushed the door.
It produced a little cracking sound and split open.
I signed relief, almost kissing the ground outside.
The cold night breeze hit my face before I was prepared but I couldn’t care less.
Quickly, I bolted for the second small gate I had seen behind the mansion and slowly opened it then walked for about five minutes to the main road.
“Where should I find you.” I texted person on the other side of the mystery messages.
“Thompson road. Opposite Ally bakery. Street no. 573.” They replied back.
That was faster than I expected.
Taking one finally breath, I hailed a taxi and jumped in.
“To Ally Bakery, Thompson road.” I directed the and sat back.
Closing my eyes, I placed both my hands on my belly.
This had to be the only way of pushing back these spilling skeletons from my past.
I had to protect my baby and I even if it meant bending the rules a little.
- Writer
