Endangered
1057 Words
Elena rode with her husband and his mistress in their sleek limousine car, one of the many luxurious wedding gifts from Alex Caine.
She sat quietly as the tag-along wife that she had become, and stared outside the window, watching the free citizens on the streets of Oakdale, all through the drive.
“You will speak to no one and keep your distance from us at the party”.
Mark warned her sternly. “Or else, you will face the consequences”.
She kept mute, her eyes fixed on the streets.
“Do you understand me?”. His tone was beginning to rise in anger.
She nodded slightly and, without turning to face him, replied. “Yes, I do”.
Elena took in the cool evening breeze as she stepped out of the car.
Finally, a change of environment.
She was dressed in a blue evening gown that clung majestically to her curves. Although she looked stunning, she had no confidence left in her.
The ancestral mansion of the Caine family buzzed with celebration as Alex Caine celebrated his 65th birthday.
The magnificent grand hall was draped with gold and black. Crystal chandeliers glowed over the elite guests. There were politicians, business associates, and more from every corner of Oakdale City and beyond.
She found her way to the balcony and stood, clenching her fingers around her untouched glass of champagne.
“We meet again”.
A familiar merry voice, laced with a quiet kind of comfort, came from behind her, startling her back to reality.
It was Spencer Caine.
He stood by her side with a warm smile. He smelled fresh, and his silky hair shone under the lights. He bore a kind of authority, but not the type that kept her on her toes.
“Hello, Mr. Spencer”.
Elena replied, forcing a shallow smile.
“You look like you don’t like it here”. He said, with a quizzical look on his face.
“Oh, I do. It is a nice party. I…”.
She wanted to tell him her husband warned her to stay away from the guests, but she held back.
Spencer’s eyes searched her face and lingered on her bruises, masked by heavy makeup.
He clenched his jaw, but maintained his smile.
Then, he spoke.
“You know, I grew up in this mansion with Mr. Alex, and this was my favorite spot. Since the passing of his wife, he never allowed Mark and me to leave the estate. So, I would usually come here to look over the garden and feel free”.
“Yes, sometimes, your freedom isn’t always up to you”. Elena replied.
There was a comforting moment of silence between them. Spencer stared longer at her, and in these few seconds, she felt seen.
“Just a few hours into the party and you are already disobeying me!?”. Mark’s harsh voice cut through the comforting silence.
He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away.
“Go sit in the car until the party is over!”. He yelled.
She ran out of the hall and into the car, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Spencer watched keenly, but made no remark. He and Mark exchanged pleasantries and talked about business.
Elena spent the rest of the night and the days that followed, reminiscing on the short moment of kindness and comfort she had experienced with her uncle-in-law and wished her husband would one day look upon her like that.
One fateful evening, Elena took a walk around the mansion, as it was her daily norm, to rid her mind of her agonies for a while. But unknown to her, the greatest shock of her life was awaiting her upon her return.
She was lost in her thoughts as she went up the stairs towards her new bedroom. But as she approached her matrimonial chambers, now inhabited by Mark and his mistress, she heard them talking in hushed tones from behind the slightly open door.
She paused to listen.
“What is causing the delay?”. Sally’s voice was urgent and desperate.
“Oh, be patient. By tomorrow, I will put a few drops in her tea, and in a few days, she will be dead. And you, my darling, will be my wife and bear me an heir”. Mark replied.
Sally’s evil giggles resounded like a bad omen.
“I can’t wait to rule this empire”. She said, her tone thick with excitement.
Elena’s blood froze in her veins, and hot tears blurred her vision.
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her husband was conspiring with his mistress to kill her!
A soft gasp escaped her lips as her legs wobbled and she staggered backwards.
The voices stopped.
“Who is there!”. Mark called out.
“I think she heard us”. Sally whispered.
Elena’s eyes widened in horror, and she knew immediately that she was no longer safe in that house.
She dashed into her room with trembling legs and bolted the door behind her.
Mark banged on the door.
“Open the door, Elena!”.
She did not respond. She reached for her phone, but she held it for a while and could not decide who to call for immediate help. The Caines had the police under their influence, and she had no friends.
“Elena, I know you are in there, open the damn door!”.
Mark banged the door even louder this time and began to ram it violently with his body.
Her heart throbbed loudly in her ears, and she began packing. She was so confused and scared, she did not know what exactly was important to pick.
The ramming continued with a dangerous force.
She took a few clothes and some cash she had been saving. She shoved them in her bag, and then she heard a cracking sound.
The door frame had cracked, but still held.
She froze. What was she going to do now?
Her eyes darted around in horror and towards the balcony. Instantly, her survival instincts kicked in.
She had a dangerous idea. She was going to escape, jumping down from the balcony.
But would she make it out in time?
- Writer
