Escape

Chapter Twenty-Nine

He slumps over me, finally passing out from the liquor. I try to drag myself out from underneath him without waking him. His dead-weight is so heavy on top of me, I can barely breath. I manage to get myself free and run out of the room. I run to the backdoor and bolt out of the house. I wince as I run on the gravel in my bare feet. I can hardly see where I'm going due to my tears obscuring my vision. I get to the end of the street and slump over, trying to catch my breath. I look around and there is no one in sight. The streets are so calm, it's eerie and uncomfortable. I stand back up, wiping the tears from my face. All of a sudden, I feel a heaviness behind me, an evil. My head turns slowly, like it's full of rust and must be forced to move. Finally, my eyes meet his. He smiles and clutches my throat, "I'll always find you."

My eyes shoot open, the room still dark. My heart is racing, and my eyes scan the bed. He's still here, Sam is still here. I take a moment to bring my breathing back to normal. It's just a nightmare. Typically waking up from these nightmares gives me a feeling of panic, but having Sam next to me brings me back to a safe place. I study him as he sleeps, admiring everything about him. Even in his sleep he is still the darkest yet most beautiful man I've ever seen.

I get up from the bed and throw on Sam's shirt that laying on the floor. I need a glass of water after the night I've had. I smile as I reminisce the evening we had, but then I begin to think too hard and I become overwhelmed with sadness. Careful not to wake Sam, I walk down the stairs trying not to make the stairs creak too loud and make my way into the kitchen. It's so dark I can hardly see a thing, but I manage to make my way to the kitchen and fill a glass of water. I turn to take it upstairs when I see a dark figure stand from the couch. I drop the glass, sending shards everywhere. The air feels like it's been sucked out of the room.

"Payton," the dark figure growls as it takes a step towards me. I try to take a step back but run into the countertop. My heart is beating so fast I can hear booming in my ears.

"I finally found you." The dark figure stops, "I always find you." He's here.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," his voice cracks. My voice is gone.

He takes another step towards me, "I'm so sorry baby, please, come home with me." He pleads. I grab the countertop behind me so hard I can feel my knuckles turn white. I want to scream so Sam can hear me. But I can't find my voice.

He takes another step, and settles about three feet away, "Please, forgive me. And come home."

"I can't," is all I can muster.

"Why?" He growls, "because of him?" He points his entire arm towards the stairs, "You're my wife, not his." He takes another step, stepping on a piece of glass, crushing it under his boot. I can smell liquor on his breath. I close my eyes, tightly, and reopen them hoping this is just another nightmare. But here he is, still standing in front of me, growing impatient.

"Because of you," I whisper. He closes the gap between us and puts his dirty hand on my throat. He rips me from the countertop and throws me to the floor. I land my hand on a piece of glass, slicing my palm open. I close my hand into a fist and watch blood start to ooze between my fingers.

"Because of me?" He booms, "Everything you've ever had is because of me. I gave us a life!" He walks over to me, towering above me. He grabs me by the wrist of my now bloodied hand and yanks me up.

"I gave you a chance to come home with me on your own, now I'm not giving you a choice." I struggle in his grip but he's too strong. He tightens his grip, turning my fingers purple.