Do You Want To Be Trapped

28

Gage

I'm getting Etta changed when I hear Holly cuss for the second time in the last two minutes. that's not normal for my girl, so there has to be something going on with her. I pickup my sweet girl and walk into the living room to see Holly pacing.

"What's wrong little mama?" I say. Holly turns to me and I see the worry all over her face.

"He's late, and he's not answering his phone or my texts. Earlier today he texted he was excited to see her, but now there's nothing. I have a bad feeling Gage. After seeing Anna in town, I can't help but fear something bad's happened."

Holly was biting on her thumbnail and I knew she's worked up by doing this. I walk over and pull her in my free arm and hold her and Etta close. Collin isn't my favorite person, but I wouldn't want anything to happen to him. Holly wants to give him a chance with Etta and I'm doing all I can to make that happen. Right now, though, I feel like I'm losing the battle when we can't pin down what's really going on with him.

"Try calling his parents. Maybe they've talked to him. He could have had a flat or something. Don't immediately go to it being something bad." I say to her as I sit Etta in her bouncy seat.

I hear her little gurgle of delight when she bounces herself a little. I wasn't too thrilled with the seat until I learned there was no way my little girl couldn't fall out. Laying back with all the straps, she's perfectly safe, and she likes it. The older she gets the more independent she's becoming. She doesn't like to be held all the time and the more mobile she gets the more I know we're going to have our hands full when she gets to walking.

"Hi. Yes, it's Holly. Have you heard from Collin? He was supposed to come over tonight for dinner and time with Etta."

Holly's back to pacing and I see that thumb starting to inch its way closer to her mouth. That is the one nervous habit that I've seen Holly stick to since we've gotten together. I hate seeing her upset like this. I have to do something to help her. I pull my phone out and text Shep.

Me: Hey man, can you check in with the cops and see if there were any accidents?

Shep: Sure. Is everything okay?

Me: Collin hasn't shown up. Holly's worried because of how weird Anna's been.

Shep: On it!

I look up and see Holly standing there, looking at her phone. She's pale, and it's starting to scare me.

"Hey. Baby, let's get you sat down. You're not looking so good. What did they say?" I ask leading her to the sofa.

"They said he should have been here by now. He left their house a while back. He had picked up a gift for Etta from them."

"I've got Shep checking in with the police about any accidents. Try to not worry so much." I say, kissing her forehead.

The doorbell rings and I go to open the door. I'm hoping to find Collin standing there with a sorry look on his face. I open the door. There stands a soaking wet Anna with Collin standing next to her. The look on his face tells me all I need to know. Something isn't right here.

"Anna? Is everything alright?" I ask gently.

After the way Holly described her from when she saw her in town, I didn't want to risk upsetting her. It's obvious when you look at her she's in a frenzied state. She doesn't seem in control of herself at all. Her eyes have dark circles under them and she looks like she may have been wearing these clothes for a while.

"Can we come in?" She says in a small voice. She looks all around like she's afraid someone is watching her. I know that I need to keep her calm.

"Of course. Holly's been expecting Collin." I answer a little louder than needed. I hope Holly catches on to what I'm trying to say,

When we enter the living room, it's empty. Holly's moved Etta. Thank God. Holly walks out from the hallway with a smile on her face.

"Etta feel asleep so I put her down for a minute. She can get cranking if she doesn't get her power naps." She says lightly.

My girl is amazing. She knew something was wrong, and she got Etta out of the room. She is the most important in all this. She needs to be safe from whatever is going on here. I pull out my phone, pretending to check the time and send an SOS text to Shep.

We've had this secret code since we were kids for when one of us is in trouble. I only hope that he's able to get help here before something happens. A mentally unstable person isn't something to mess around with. I want my girls safe from this woman.

I'm lucky and no one has noticed me with the phone. I can't have Anna getting all worked up too soon. I have to keep my family safe.

"So what brings you by Anna?" Holly asks, inviting them to have a seat on the sofa.

Collin has yet to say anything and looks like he's about to breakdown at any moment. He's so stiff that I feel like he's being held against his will. She's got to either have a knife or a gun. I look over at Holly and see her looking at me as well. I think she's understanding everything I'm trying to tell her with my eyes.

"Collin and I needed to have a talk, and you were nice to me the other day and I thought it would be best if we did this with you here. You might be able to make him listen to me. Maybe if he listens to you, tell him that you're not going to take him back. He'll finally listen to me." She says.

"Collin, are you willing to listen to her?" Holly asks. I can see it in her eyes that she's pleading with him to listen to what she's saying.

"Yes. I'll listen," he says and winces. I realise now that I can't see Anna's other hand. She's got whatever weapon she has pressed to his back.

He's in obvious pain, but I have to admit he's holding it together better than I thought he would. I'm doing my best to stay calm, knowing that there is danger right in front of me. There's a woman in my home who could potentially hurt my woman and my daughter.

"Collin, there isn't any chance that the two of us are going to get back together. I think you should listen to what Anna has to say." Holly has managed to keep her voice calm while saying this.

"You heard her, Collin. Why can't we be together if she doesn't want you any more? What have I done that's so bad that you can't love me?"