Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 35

Emily slowly opened her eyes to find Lucas tapping her.

"Mummy, are you fine?" was the first thing she heard from him. Still very sleepy and tired, it took some grunts and struggles to open her eyes. She noticed her back was against the door, then immediately remembered she had slept using her body to block the door to the room where Lucas and she stayed, to avoid any interruptions from Mark. Rays of sunlight peeking into the room through the openings in the curtains alerted her that morning had come.

"Lucas," she reached to embrace him. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, mummy," he said, his voice sounding energetic. It was like he hadn't been recovering from waking up, just like her. He was still a child, anyway. She smiled.

"That's good," she pecked both his cheeks simultaneously and released him from her grip.

"Is the bad guy my daddy?" Lucas proceeded to ask immediately, not giving her a chance to breathe.

Emily squinted her eyes while staring at him. "What's the problem?"

"Is he my daddy?"

"Lucas, listen, we need to first get out of here before we think of having any discussions. That is of no importance to you," she gently patted his head and leaned forward to peck his forehead softly. "Okay?"

Lucas nodded.

"That's my boy. Now, let's find a way to leave this place before..." Her sentence couldn't be completed as she heard the door unlock behind her. She quickly moved away, keeping a safe distance from the door, holding Lucas tight near her, and turned to see Mark pushing the door open.

He had locked them in the room while they slept. She didn't even notice. She had almost fallen asleep in front of the locked front door of the house, but her instincts were to protect her son, so she went to lay in the same room with him to protect him from this monster standing in front of them. He must have come in the middle of the night to lock them inside the room. How did she not notice?

"Beautiful morning, isn't it, Emily?" He said while she stared at him dumbfounded. "You look better already, poor thing. You must have been pushing yourself to the limit."

"Why would you lock my son and me in a room? This is kidnapping, and the cops won't take it easy on you."

"You should greet your husband before starting the day. That should be the first thing you do every morning, like Emily Smith did 7 to 8 years ago," she watched him correct her kindly with an eerie smile not leaving his face.

"Let us go," Emily said.

"I guess that Emily is dead now, and I have no idea how to bring her back to life," he thought out loud to her hearing. She continued to stare at him with caution, keeping her distance as he stood by the door. "Luke, how are you?" He diverted his attention to his son, who stood beside her. Lucas immediately ran for cover behind his mother's back.

"He doesn't want to talk to you. He doesn't like you. Why's that so hard for you to see?" Emily stared at Mark, wondering why he was so adamant.

"Emily, it's time for breakfast. What will we be having?" Mark ignored her question and began to speak.

"This is not funny. Let us go. I'll eat outside. Don't bother about me and Lucas," she maintained.

"Luke is very hungry. He has only eaten small portions of his food. I'm sure he was waiting for you to come so he could taste his mother's cooking. There is no need for you to refuse him food."

"Lucas is fine! He's not hungry! We'll eat when we get out," Emily said, rising on her feet and picking up Lucas. "Now if you'll excuse us..." she marched forward toward him and tried to pass, but a strong force held her back, and for a moment, her right wrist was numb. She looked to see him gripping her hand firmly.