Dreams Can Come True

86. Run

After Elise's tap on my forehead, it felt as though my consciousness was slowly returning, like a fog lifting to reveal reality. The dark room I was trapped in suddenly seemed less suffocating, less terrifying. Gradually, I began to realize I was back in the real world. I held my breath as I heard David's footsteps echoing through the room.
I kept my eyes tightly shut, my breathing inaudible as I kept my consciousness sharp. I had to remain alert, not betraying that I was awake again. Slowly and cautiously, I tried to move my pinky finger, a small victory that reignited my hope. I had regained control over my body, a power I was determined to use to escape this nightmare.
As I listened to the sound of David's footsteps, I tried to determine his location. He wasn't directly next to me, which brought me some relief, but I couldn't rule out that he might have already committed his vile act. I waited patiently until I thought he was farther away, my senses taut as a bowstring ready to be released.
When I thought it was safe, I quickly opened my eyes and blinked a few times to sharpen my vision. In a flash, I saw David pacing around the room, his thoughts presumably elsewhere. My heart pounded wildly in my chest when I saw the keys lying on the table, a chance for freedom seemingly within reach.
I was still sitting upright on the couch, which gave me a head start if I needed to run. With one last glance at David, who was still absorbed in his own thoughts, I waited for the right moment.

The minutes stretched out like endless strings of time, each second filled with tense anticipation as I waited for the perfect moment to act. My breathing was erratic, my heart pounded wildly against my chest, a symphony of nerves and fear coursing through my body. The room seemed to shrink as I sat there, my senses sharpened like a knife ready to cut, while I listened to every move David made.
Then I heard David's footsteps quicken, followed by the gurgling sound of a toilet flushing. This was my moment, my chance to escape the clutches of my captor. With a swift motion, I opened my eyes, which slowly adjusted to the dim light in the room. My gaze darted around, searching for signs of his presence. With a surge of adrenaline, I sprang from the couch, my muscles tense as steel wire, and darted towards the table, my hands trembling with nervousness as I grabbed the keys.
My heart pounded like a storm in my chest as I hurried to the front door, my breathing almost audible in the quiet room. My hands shook as I inserted the key into the lock, my fingers fumbling with the tension. With a sigh of relief, the door gave way and swung open, the cool air from outside brushing my face like a refreshing breeze.
But my relief was short-lived, for at that moment, I heard David's voice behind me, sharp and threatening.
"Elise, damn it, where do you think you're going?" he bellowed, his voice filled with rage and frustration.
A wave of panic shot through me, but I pushed the fear deep down and focused on my mission.
With a steady hand, I pulled the door closed behind me and locked it with a swift turn, my heart pounding like a war drum in my ears.
The pounding of David's fists on the door filled the hallway of his apartment, his voice filled with anger and frustration. But I stood rooted to the spot, my muscles tight as steel wire, as I held the door with white knuckles.
"Give her back to me!" he shouted again, his voice filled with fury, but I refused to be intimidated. My determination burned like a fire in my chest, my will unyielding as a rock in the surf.
"Never, David!" I shouted back, my voice sharp and piercing in the still night. "She's gone, and I'm staying here. And you can't have me, bastard!"
"We'll see about that," he yelled back.
A mix of triumph and fear surged through me as I heard him insert the key into the lock, his voice muffled by the wooden door that separated us. I knew I had to get away, my body trembling with adrenaline as I raced down the stairs, my feet heavy on the steps.

Outside on the street, I was greeted by the first rays of the morning sun. The world was slowly waking up around me, but my mind was still entangled in the darkness of the past night. I didn't know where to go, but I couldn't stand still. So I began to walk, driven by an inner urge to flee from the nightmare my life had become.
The streets were quiet and deserted, and the morning air felt cool against my skin. I passed empty cafes and silent alleys, without any idea where I was going. My thoughts were a jumble of emotions: fear, anger, sadness. But above all, I felt a burning desire for freedom, to escape the grip of David and his dark world.
Minutes passed as I kept walking, my feet blindly following the rhythm of my heartbeat. I didn't look back, didn't dare to stop, afraid of what might catch up with me if I did. The world around me began to blur, the streets merging into a haze of gray outlines.
And suddenly, just when I thought I couldn't go on, I felt my legs give way beneath me. The ground hit my knees and everything went black around me. It was as if the world held its breath, waiting for what was to come. And then, very slowly, I felt myself sinking into the darkness, like a ship slowly sinking into the depths of the ocean.