you're mine

Chapter 57

Emelia's point of view

My whole body aches as fear takes over. I run on adrenaline, almost unaware of my own actions. I run through the whole house before I find a small two ended closet. The door creaks open, shining moonlight into the room as I enter the slim closet and stand right in the middle of the walk way, between a mop bucket and an old mattress fit for a toddler. The smell of dampness and mould hit me, growing stronger the longer I stand.

I try not to cry but it doesn't work, tears fall down my face and I cry out. Sighing, I suck in a breath and cover my mouth to quiet myself; Though my breathing is still loud and shakey through my nose.

Inside the closet is pitch black after I closed the door. There is an eerie feeling of being in here, but to be totally honest, I don't think I ever got over my fear of the dark. But right now, that's the least of my worries in a house of dead people and an even scarier alive one.

I don't hear any movement outside of the closet, which surprisingly makes me feel even more scared. Not knowing what he's doing out there almost is enough to make me go and see for myself. But I stay put, knowing that it's the worst possible decision I can make.

None of this would have happened if I was smarter. I'm so stupid. All the moments where I could have escaped play in my head over and over. The times when we were out in public and I could have told someone. The time I spoke to the cops. It all could have been over if I was smarter, and I hate myself for that. Something tells me I'm never getting out of this, I will never see my parents again.

Just before I can cry again, I hear heavy footsteps from behind me.

"Emily! Come here." Luca calls out.

I almost scream in terror, but my body doesn't let me, thankfully. I know he's close, his footsteps become louder with each step, passing the door to my left. My body turns to face the door on the right, getting ready to run that way. A few seconds pass and his footsteps grow quieter.

I sigh a breath of relief, thankful he didn't enter. I'm unsure of what I will do when he does. Will I fight him? Will I keep running until sunrise? Or will I find another place to hide and wait for him to find me again? God, I wish it didn't have to be like this. Maybe I should just give in. Let things go back to normal. No. I scold myself at the thought. This was never normal. Luca was never normal, our relationship was never normal and I was never normal around him. He's completely screwed my mind. It's hard to think right around him, he consumes my thoughts and emotions and makes me have a mindset perfect for him. It's like breaking through a spelled barrier; It's so draining to do. I won't lie on the fact that I enjoyed spending time with him. I enjoyed going somewhere, not having to worry about my parents or their expectations of me. But the things I'd do right now to be with them are unimaginable. I enjoyed Luca's company most of the time, but he terrifies me more than anything ever has. And I finally realise that again.

He's dangerous. Not because he kills people or because he has no conscience about it, but because he can make you think exactly what he wants you to. He can make you believe you love him when you don't. And I truly believed that I did love him. I thought he was protecting me, doing this all for me. I excused his actions. How could I do that when his action was murder? How could I be so insane to think that was ok? I thought i believed it wasn't that bad. I thought because I didn't know the people he was murdering that it shouldn't matter to me. It took for him to kill people I like for me to realise that all murder Is bad. So many people got their lives taken by him. The man I claimed to love. The man i genuinely believed I was in love with. Not only that, he has no penitence or shame on the matter. And I was ok with that? That makes me a horrible person.

The left door swings open and I scream. I turn around and run out the door to the right, avoiding things scattered on the closet floor.

"Come on! Don't run from me, Emily! It'll only make things worse." He chases after me.

The wood floor hits my feet hard as I run through the house, trying to create distance between me and Luca but he gains on me quickly, only centimetres between us.

Involuntarily, tears stream down my face and I cry whilst running through the house. I get to the kitchen and run round the island, going back the way I came. Now making a full loop, I realise I'm not getting anywhere with this and I will probably grow tired before Luca. I run for the window in the room separating the kitchen and dining room and yank on the handle. It doesn't budge, just like the last time I tried. I keep pulling, not wanting to give up.

My head turns and I look over to Luca who is staring at me with a chilling smirk, slowly walking closer.

I turn back to the window and punch the glass, attempting to break it. Blood starts to coat the glass but it doesn't hurt. My knuckles split and gush with crimson liquid. The window shatters and leaves a spiralled crack in it, mirroring a spiders web.

An arm encircles my waist, pulling me close into a solid figure. "I warned you not to run." Luca whispers in my ear. Before I can respond, a knife is being pushed into my abdomen. I try to gasp, but I'm unable to. I feel all my energy slipping, the adrenaline I was running on leaving my body after the intense pain. It feels impossible to breathe.

My small shallow breaths grow further and further apart, until everything goes black.