Past and present
1061 Words
Ruth's eyes narrowed, “what if I refuse?“ Caleb's veins popped out in anger,
Before she could react, he pushed past her and stepped into the apartment.
"Caleb!"
He ignored her completely.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Ruth stumbled backwards, anger flashing across her face.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snapped. "Get out of my house. Right now!"
Caleb slowly turned to face her.
There was no warmth in his eyes, only amusement.
"As always..." he said calmly. "You never know when to listen."
"I said get out."
Instead of answering, he walked toward the couch and sat down as though he owned the place.
He crossed one leg over the other and brought out a brown envelope.
“Have a look.”
Ruth frowned when she saw it.
"What the heck is that?“
Caleb looked at her for a long moment before opening the envelope.
He slowly pulled out a few photographs.
"I was hoping you'd come back with me willingly," he said. "But since you refuse to cooperate..."
He spread the photographs across the table.
"...I suppose I'll have to do this instead."
Ruth's eyes fell on the first picture.
The colour drained from her face.
"No..."
Her mouth opened slightly as her hands began to tremble.
It couldn't be.
She grabbed one of the photographs with shaky fingers.
It was her.
A much younger version of herself.
The next picture...
Then another, every single one showed a part of the past she had spent years trying to bury.
Years she had made sure they were gone.
Every last one of them.
How… How did he get these?
Her lips parted.
"How did you..."
Caleb chuckled.
"That's a wrong question to ask."
He stood and slowly gathered the photographs again.
"The question you should be asking is what I'm planning to do with them."
Ruth finally found her voice.
"They're fake."
She forced the words out, even though they sounded weak.
"You fabricated them."
Caleb smiled.
"Really?"
"You can do whatever you want." She uttered as she folded her trembling hands into fists.
"I'm not going back with you."
His smile slowly disappeared.
"I'll give you two days.. If I don't see you by then..."
He slipped the photographs back into the envelope.
"...I'll hand these over to the police."
Ruth stared at him.
"You wouldn't."
"Try me."
He took another step toward her.
"They'll reopen the case."
Her heartbeat became uneven.
"You'll be arrested."
Another step.
"You'll be charged."
He stopped directly in front of her.
"And trust me, you'll rot in prison."
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Ruth refused to lower her eyes.
She wouldn't give him that satisfaction even though her heart was beating so loudly in her chest.
Finally, Caleb turned toward the door.
He reached for the handle before pausing.
Without looking back, he spoke.
"Oh..."
He glanced over his shoulder with a small smirk.
"Think carefully. What happens when your beloved friend discovers what you really did?"
His eyes lingered on her frightened face.
"She won't look at you the same way ever again."
Then he opened the door and left.
The apartment fell silent. Ruth didn't move.
She simply stood there staring at the closed door.
One second, two, three, and then her legs suddenly gave way.
She sank onto the couch, and her breathing became shaky.
Her mind replayed the photographs over and over again.
How had Caleb found them?
She had spent years making sure nothing connected her to that night.
Everything had disappeared or at least… She thought it had.
She pressed both hands against her forehead.
"No..."
This couldn't be happening.
Not now, not when she had finally managed to escape him.
Not when she was trying to rebuild her life.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
For years, she had convinced herself the past was buried, that no one would ever bring it back.
But Caleb had done exactly that.
He had found the one thing she feared most, and now he was using it against her.
A tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.
She inhaled deeply, then another.
Slowly, she stood. She needed to think.
There had to be a way out of this.
There had to be.
Just then, the front door opened.
"Ruth?"
Rinna's cheerful voice echoed through the apartment.
"I'm back.. And I bought a lot of your favourites!"
Ruth immediately straightened.
She quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand.
Rinna walked into the living room carrying so many shopping bags.
The smile on her face slowly faded when she saw Ruth's expression.
"Are you okay?"
Ruth forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
Rinna raised an eyebrow.
"You don't look fine."
"I'm okay."
Rinna placed the food on the table.
"Did anything happen when I left?"
Ruth hesitated.
Her heart was still pounding.
She couldn't tell Rinna.
Not yet. She wasn't even sure what Caleb's photographs could do.
"I..." Ruth looked away.
"I just saw a huge spider."
Rinna blinked.
"A spider?"
Ruth nodded quickly.
"It scared me."
For a moment, Rinna simply stared at her.
Then she sighed dramatically.
"I knew it, this apartment has officially been taken over by animals, come on, I left for just a month."
Despite everything weighing on her heart, Ruth managed a weak laugh.
"I think you're right."
"I'm calling pest control tomorrow."
"You definitely should." Ruth muttered.
Rinna smiled again, completely unaware of what had happened only minutes earlier.
"Forget the spider. They won't bite you."
She lifted one of the shopping bags excitedly.
"Come and see what I bought. Food first, then your outfits.." she squealed.
Ruth followed her toward the kitchen.
Rinna happily unpacked containers of food while talking nonstop about discounts she had found on the way home.
Ruth answered whenever necessary, but her mind wasn't there.
Not even close. All she could see were those photographs.
All she could hear was Caleb's voice.
Two days. You'll rot in prison.
Her stomach tightened.
What did Caleb really want?
If all he wanted was for her to return...
Why now? Why after throwing her away?
None of it made sense.
She had the gut feeling that Caleb wasn't telling her something
And whatever it was...
She had only two days to find out before her past came crashing into her present.
- Writer
