oblivion(#wattys2015)

Chapter 3: The mansion

A yellow cab stopped in front of me before the tiny smile had had enough time to wear off. I was relieved, if I was to get away in time, I estimated that I had about at least two more minutes till Jason realised that I had gone away, of course it could be more than that, but I had a head start of a minimum of two, and though I was tired and yearned the warmth of my bed, which made it difficult to keep the brimming tears at bay, I had never in my life been more excited or more pumped with adrenaline, every inch of my body ached, but every cell in my brain was racing.

Excited and nervous and tense and curious, I sat quickly in the cab, giving the cabbie the address to Stella's house. It was, on the opposite end of the city, atop a hill, beautiful and magnificent. I began to yearn the feeling of at least being able to sleep in a bed at her place but I knew that wasn't possible at all. Once Jason knew I had left my place, his second thought would be Stella. Suddenly I felt stupid, I didn't have to change at my place, Stella wouldn't have minded lending me her clothes at all if she knew my situation, which reminded me, that she totally did not know my situation. I checked my watch. It had hardly been a minute since I had sat in the cab. I still had at least a minute before Jason realised. The drive could take from 15 minutes to half an hour, so a head start of two minutes couldn't mean much, just meant that I had about two minutes around Stella's place. The thought almost made me cry and bawl and scream. Almost. I controlled myself and decided to call Stella and tell her everything.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket, dialling Stella's number from memory. She picked on the second ring.

"Cloud?" Yeah that's what Stella called me, always, it's a long story, this was developed somewhere around the time when people called me Sky, hearing her voice gave me a fit of sobs as I realised that I would probably see her for the last time today. I steadied myself and headed into my story without a second thought.

"Stell, listen, it happened, with Jason." I heard her gasp and closed my eyes to control myself then I glanced at the cabbie to make sure he couldn't listen. A single look told me that the music was obscuring whatever I was saying. For once, I was pleased that loud music that sounded like bashing metals, was playing in the cab.

"Cloud, oh I -" I cut her off mid-sentence, it was no time for collecting pity and for comfort and I had to communicate to her my plan. I reminded myself that I had to be strong.

"Stell, look, it's okay, don't be sorry, I had it coming, I shouldn't have been with him in the first place, but that's not the issue, I couldn't care less about us ending it, that's the good part. But the bad part is, he's not happy about it, cause I.... well... he showed me.... he would have killed me," another gasp, the breath intake informed me that she was going to say something but I cut her off before she could begin,

"Look, the thing is, I went to my place and got my passport and credit card and... Stell.. I ran away from him - so don't worry, anyway, I... well... I am planning to fly out of this place- no it's for the better- stop gasping- stop trying to speak- let me tell you what I am thinking," I was crying full on now, it was good that the driver was too busy to notice, and I uttered between sobs,

"Stell I am gonna get out of here, and I need you to help me, I need you to find a hotel for me for a night, because...." I was sobbing quite heavily now,"... because... Stell. .. I have to make make a few arrangements, and no.... no... I c-can't stay at yo-your place because he'll know... so p-please ask your dad if if he can make a reservation for me.. I am coming over to your place now.. I-I will make it... alright..??"

"Cloud," she was sobbing, just like I was, "where are you going to go? Just stay at my place, with us, he can't hurt you here..!?!" Her voice hollered as a new set of tears pooled over my eyes, I tried to blink them away, unsuccessfully.