IN HIS EYES

FIVE

I wake to a sudden flash and the sound of a vintage Polaroid camera.
I look up and see Kevin crouched in front of me.

"What are you doing?" I jump up and fall right back down feeling something around my neck. I grab onto my neck, feeling my way back, and notice I have some sort of belt around with a lock and chain. I turn around and see the other end of the chain is bolted to the wall behind me.

"YOU CHAINED ME!" I grab onto the chain and try to pull it out of the wall.
"KEVIN! YOU LET ME GO RIGHT NOW OR I SWEAR I'LL-" I stop as I swing around to look at Kevin and see a tall standing mirror in front of me.

WHAT!? What happened to my hair?

I slowly weave my fingers through it seeing my once blond hair that reached the small of my back now dark brow and just below my shoulders. I walk to the mirror and notice my blue eyes are brown with my eyebrows neatly trimmed and my hooped earrings exchanged for small diamond studs. My face neatly freshened up with natural makeup and soft nude lipstick.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" I turn to Kevin seeing him standing next to the mirror with a look of satisfaction.

"You are beautiful..." His eyes grow darker.

"Why did you change my hair? My eyes! Contacts!? What are you doing?" I grab onto the chain trying to free myself.

"Come... Let us have some dinner." He walks over to the steel bed-type table I was on and picks up a plate, walking back to me. He holds the plate out in front of him and I see it is filled with meat, potatoes, and mixed vegetables. Looking back at his eyes, I smack the plate out of his hand.

"YOU UNGRATEFUL-" He storms toward me, firmly wrapping his hand around my already constricted throat. Walking with me and pressing me up against the wall.

"YOUR BEHAVOUR LIKE A DAMN ANIMAL IS OVER! I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR PAST NONSENSE. HERE, YOU WILL BEHAVE LIKE THE LADY YOU ARE, MADELAINE!" His spit splatters against my face.

Did he just call me Madelaine?

"What are you talking about? Just let me go, please! I am Tarah!" My voice strains.
"Your name will be Madelaine from now on." He continues to squeeze.

"No-"
"-And you will learn to act like my sweet Madelaine... I'll teach you... Don't worry, soon you'll be just like her." My toes barely touching the ground.

"Please... Just let me go Kev! Please!" My begging sounds strained.

He drops me to the floor and quickly leans in to help me upright.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" I fall back onto the small mattress next to the wall and kick his hands away.
"LET ME GO!" I continue to shout as he lunges forward, forcing me down by sitting on top of me and pinning my hands above my head.

"PLEASE! Please just let me go... I won't say anything please!" I cry.

I feel him wrap his one hand around both my wrists against the mattress as he brings his hand behind his back, pulling out a small pocket knife.

A knife!?

"KEVIN! Kev, please I am sorry! Please don't kill me... Please I am sorry!"
"Why does it always have to come to this? Hmm? Why can't it never just be easy from the beginning?" He presses the blade against my cheek.

My wailing intensifies.

"Please don't kill me, Kevin! You know me! Why are you doing this to me? Please... I'll do anything just let me go."

"Are you going to listen?"
I nod my head quickly.

"Are you sure?" He leans closer.
I nod again.

He lets go of me while flicking the knife shut and pushing it back into his pocket. "Thank you." He gets off me and stands up. I quickly push myself up and move against the wall, hugging my legs.

"I am so sorry for my outburst my darling. I hate it when I get so worked up but you really pushed my buttons." He fixes the collar of his shirt.

"Why are you doing this Kevin?" I whisper.

"Why am I doing what?" He walks over to a plastic chair and drags it behind him until he's in front of me. He sits.
"This... All of this... You killed her, didn't you? The girl I saw in the fridge?" My tears stream down my face.

He leans back while rubbing his hand over his hair and places it back on his knee.

"Well... She made the wrong choice."
"The wrong choice!?"

"She did not listen and didn't do what I asked. So I suggest you listen." He grins.

"You are going to kill me, aren't you?" I sniff hearing my voice faint.

"No... Not at all my love. I want us to be together like we were all those years ago." His eyes turn soft.

"I don't understand..." I cry feeling my lungs starting to deflate.
"Oh no! Look at your wrist!" He jumps up and makes his way down towards me.

"NO!" I shout pulling my hands against my chest. He stops with a startled look.

"I have hurt you." He says and stands upright. "I am so sorry my love... I did not mean to hurt you! Forgive me please." Desperation swimming in his eyes.

"Can you forgive me please?"
"Let me go!" I squeeze my hands together tighter.

"I should have known this is why you are being so hostile. I am so sorry. I will not let this go unpunished." He turns around and walks toward the door. Taking out a bunch of keys he unlocks the door, opens it, and shuts it behind him. I hear the sound of the key turning and footsteps fading.

My breathing starting to ramp up I grab onto the chain again.

"NO! KEVIN! LET ME GO! KEVIN!"