Silent Emily

Mother

He stared down at me, that same smile on his lips. His nose was covered in a bandage pulled to the side.

I broke it.

I felt a twinge of guilt but it disappeared instantaneously when I remembered the girl on the hook.

I beat my fists on his chest, screaming as he watched me. He didn't move, let me hit him as his smile grew.

"You're a fighter, girl." He said, putting his hands on my wrists and stopping me. "I like that in a woman. You almost got away. Damn tree."

His grip tightened on my wrists as he drew my arms down to my sides before removing his hands and bringing one to my face. I looked to the side shutting my eyes hard as I prepared for another smack.

His thumb rubbed my cheek, softly caressing it as his other hand found the other side of my face. He forced my head toward him. "Open your eyes."

I shook my head, using all my strength to keep them shut as he continued to rub my face.

I felt sick, wanted to throw up all over him and run out the door again. Wanted to reach the tree line and never look back. Find the police and tell them all about the girl on the hook.

"Open them, Emily." He whispered. His voice was soft now, kind. It sounded so different than what I had heard before. I opened them, finding his own on me as I looked at him with disdain. "Don't be so harsh now. I'm letting you live."

Live?

The girl on the hook flashed through my mind, her screams taking over my brain. I stepped away from him, his hands dropping down as he looked at me. "That dress fits you well. I like it."

I wrapped my arms around myself, I didn't want him looking at me.

He was sick. His whole family was sick.

I felt a tug on the dress. I turned, my hand tied in a fist as I looked down into the green eyes of one of the girls. "Mother, when will you make dinner?" Her hand was clutching the fabric, pulling up and down as she looked between my face and my clutched hand.

Mother?

I felt sick again, stepping back and shaking my head. No way. I wasn't anyone's mother. I put a hand over my mouth, swallowing hard in an attempt to keep it down but I lost. I threw up again, coating the wood floor as I cried.

Axel ordered the girl away, his hand sliding onto my back as he patted it. "It'll be okay, Emily. You're safe now."

I cringed under his touch, slouched onto the floor as I buried my face in my hands.

No way this was happening.

Was this reality?

Axel knelt beside me, pulling my hair out of my face and forcing a finger under my chin. He pulled my head up and he placed a kiss on my forehead.

I gagged, laying back on the floor and dragging myself toward the door. I heard Axel's footsteps go around me and he knelt back down in front of me.

"Don't do it, Emily," He whispered. "You will regret it."

I forced myself to stand, looking back at the little girl that sat on the top of the stairs before pushing Axel out of the way. He moved, let me open the door and run outside. I made it to the tree line again before I heard him behind me.

"Emily... Emily. If you stop now, it won't be bad." He yelled. Goosebumps crept over my skin as I continued running, never looking back at him.

"Emily for fucks sake, stop."