Ellen agreed and handed me her iPhone. I took it and walked into Alex’s room. I glanced at Alex, he was looking…better. Surprisingly, as the healing had completed, his tired look had decreased. It was still evident but he didn’t look like a corpse or whatever. Now, he just looked…sick. He wasn’t yellowish or pale anymore, the colour of his cheeks had returned. I walked over to where he was sitting. I ran my hands through his thick lustrous brown hair and kissed him on the lips. I grabbed his hands and I almost fell off my chair when I felt him squeeze back.
I squealed in joy, he was coming back. MY BABY WAS COMING BACK! I kissed him on his cheeks again, leaving wet trails. My tears had begun to flow again. But this time, they were tears of happiness, not tears of sadness. I knew he would come back. I beamed, I was so happy. But then the cool feeling of Ellen’s phone reminded me of what I had to do.
I dialled Hellenia’s number, she picked up on the first ring, “Milania?” She breathed out, she must have been really worried about me. I laughed, “Hey sister! How are you?”
“Fuck you! Where the fuck are you!” She growled on the phone, and then suddenly her voice whispered, “Milla, mum and dad have been worried sick. Please tell me what has happened…this isn’t like you. Why did you do this? Do you know how worried I have been?” I kissed Alex’s hand, “Hellenia, Adrian’s back.” I whispered.
“WHAT THE FUCK!” I heard her screech and I had to hold the phone away from my ear in fear of bursting my eardrums. “Milla, you can’t be shitting around right now! Are you sure?”
“Hellenia, he’s the reason I haven’t been able to contact you. He’s kept me under lock and key at his place.”
“Oh my, God! Milla, has that fucker done anything to you? So help me God, if he hurts you again…oh no!” Hellenia wailed and I could hear her cry. My own tears increased, “Hellenia, he’s still the same…he raped me and oh God! It’s the same thing all over again.” I banged my fists on the bed.
“That’s it! I am coming to get you. That lousy son of a bitch has gone at it again and I can’t bear this.” Hellenia said.
“Hellenia, but what about Alex?” I asked her and then told her about the plan I had already told Ellen. Hellenia must have smiled because this time her tone was jovial, “The plan’s perfect, now all we gotta’ do is make it work. I’ll talk to Caleb. He has powerful contacts all over the world and I am damn sure that he will do anything to help his sister-in-law, otherwise no sex for him till he begs on his knees.”
I fake gagged over the phone, “Really? Really? You really had to mention that, didn’t you?”
“Of course, I am the minx of the family, not you. You’re the runt of the litter.” Hellenia mocked me, I rolled my eyes, “Runt? Hah! Pfft! Load of bollocks, if you ask me, you moan like a porn star rather than a normal female.”
“Ah-ha, but that is because I am not a normal female. But, Milla, how will you escape without letting Adrian know anything? Cause’ I am pretty sure, you don’t even have a phone.” Hellenia said, I smacked my forehead, “That, is something, I have to think about. I don’t know, Hellenia but look, me and Alex were staying at a suite at the Langham, take the same one and stay there. I will find a way and come to you.” I quickly told Hellenia the suite number and address and waited for her to finish writing before I spoke up again, “I am pregnant, Hellenia.”
I heard Hellenia’s breathing hitch, and she didn’t reply. I bit my lip and swivelled in my chair. “Hellenia?”
“Well, that’s…great.” Hellenia said but her voice lacked enthusiasm, I replied, “What’s wrong?” I pulled myself away from Alex and walked to the sofa and sat down, “Hellenia, you can tell me.”
“I am scared for you, Milla. You are my baby doll and you know that. I presume the child’s Alex’s?”
I said yes and she continued, “Milla, you have to be extra careful now. He’s an animal, you and I both know it.” ‘He’ referred to Adrian. “Adrian will kill you, if he comes to know the child isn’t his. Milla, I am begging you, please be careful. I will get what you asked of me, and I will hand it to you, when I meet you. I’ll come day after. It’ll give Caleb enough time to get the documents and the ticket ready. You prepare yourself, because history is about to repeat itself.”
“I know it is. And I hope it works out. Stay at the suite, I may not have a phone but I will drop by alright?” I asked Hellenia. Hellenia sighed, “Oh mia Milla, you don’t deserve this. I am so sorry and I feel even worse for Alex…but wait, hold on. Milla, are you going to tell him about this?”
I exhaled sharply, “That is a story for another day and for another time. Let’s get shit done first.”
“Milania, you will have to tell him this.” Hellenia warned, “If you don’t I will.”
“Get me out of Adrian’s clutches first and then we’ll talk about this okay?” I snapped.
“If you don’t tell him, and he finds out in another way, he will be shattered. I think he loves you enough to listen to you. Speak to him after he recovers. He needs to know. If you won’t I will and that’s an ultimatum for you. I have to go now, time is precious. I need to call up Caleb and tell him the situation. Only then can it begin. I will talk to you later.” Hellenia said.
I nodded in agreement, “I will tell him sissy, just not now. In a while. I love you, I am sorry I was snippy to you. I love you, Hellenia.” I sniffed.
“I love you so, so much Milla. God! To see you go through this again is nerve wracking for me…I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” Hellenia said. I whispered, “Bye, sister.” And Hellenia cut the phone.
“Oh baby,” I whispered as I got up from the chair and walked towards Alex. I kissed him on the lips and began to exit the room when I heard Ellen call from outside, “Milla, are you done?” I wrapped my fingers around the handle, shot one last glance at Alex and left the room.
I handed Ellen the phone, thanked her for it and left. Zara glared at me throughout, the mark of the slap standing prominent…but I didn’t care.
Now, I realized that a battle had begun and only the strong would survive. I had to be strong and I had to survive. It couldn’t be one without the other. I steeled myself for Adrian, grabbed the groceries that were left discarded outside Alex’s room and walked towards the exit. Soon enough, another exit would take me to a different place…a different country. Away from Adrian and away from everybody else here that had hurt me in any way. I would be free. My days with Adrian were numbered. And the backwards counting had begun.
YOU ARE READING
Repressed (Wattys 2014 Winner)
ChickLitMilania Harper Devonian, thought that she had left it all, when she ran away from her abusive boyfriend in the middle of the night. One year has passed and she has recovered. Coming back stronger and harder as a Victoria's Secret model. An assignmen...
