Man Clad in Green

Chapter Five

I'm not staying here. I can't stay here. He's driving me insane. I can't live like this. The dreams have stopped, but the reality is what is worse. Now, I hate opening my eyes. I hate waking up to the reality of my situation.

I'm going to escape this house and contact the police.... Or someone. Someone that can help me.

He took my cell phone, so I can't discreetly send a message to anyone. The house phone is out in the living room where he spends most of his time, so that's out of the question. I don't know what to do.

Maybe I could-

She frantically shut the small journal. It was shoved under her bed. She had to move it from the drawer of her nightstand, just in case he got suspicious.

She heard a knock on the door and a man barge in. He didn't care to know whether she would let him in or not. She didn't know why he bothered to knock.

"What are you hiding from me, little bird?" Loki asked. His eyes were a sharp knife cutting through her defenses. He knew.

"I have no idea what you're referring to." Cordelia's voice cracked. She internally cringed. She was a goner.

Loki tsk'd. His eyes staring pointedly at her. He wanted to watch her squirm.

"Do you take me for some fool?" His voice stayed amused, though a hint of anger was apparent.

"I'm not hiding anything from-"

The sound seemed to ricochet off the walls. Cordelia cradled her cheek, trying to soothe the sting. She was so shocked by the sudden smack that all sense lost her. She dropped her gaze and tried to stop the tears from falling.

"Do not try to slip past me, my dear. I'm the god of lies. Did you not think I would know when you're lying to me?"

She had nothing to say, though she suspected he didn't wish for her to speak. He wanted her to cower. And she hated herself for giving him that satisfaction.

"Now," he began, "tell me what you're hiding."

Cordelia removed the hand from her cheek. She kept her eyes trained on the floor. "It's just my therapy journal. I'm supposed to write in it."

Loki stepped close like he was going for another slap, so Cordelia cowered away. He only kneeled down in front of her. He wanted to make sure they were face to face.

"Look at me." He commanded.

Cordelia's eyes slowly lifted to meet his piercing gaze.

"Just tell me the truth love. This could all be over when you speak the truth." He spoke like a mother trying to comfort her child, but she knew better than to fall for it. She took a shuddering breath, trying to come up with some clever lie.

"Don't try to lie to me again, darling. I would hate to bruise such a pretty face."

"Just kill me. It'll be quicker. Please." Cordelia pleaded. She hated to sound so desperate but she was. She was desperate. Desperate to leave the world. Desperate to die.

A slender finger ran along her jaw. "My dear, we all do not get the satisfaction of a quick death. We all live in a slow torture."

Tears burst through and she was gone. She sobbed in front of him. She looked like a sad excuse for a human being. But how could she stop the impending depression she felt? She felt stuck in this hole. Her own grave that she couldn't escape.

"Why are you doing this to me? What have I ever done to you?" She voiced through her tears.

He withdrew his hand and chuckled. "I keep forgetting that they took your memories. Perhaps I should be more merciful since you cannot remember, but I will not."

He stood up then, towering over her. He cast a shadow over her. He looked terrifying standing up. He leered down at her and she wished she could disappear.

"Perhaps story time is for later. You seem to be busy."

She wanted to be angry at his mocking, but she felt too sorry for herself. She felt too overwhelmed with the reality. She felt everything all at once like a dam that had broken. The flood flowed through her and engulfed her. She was drowning in her own pain and darkness. She was alone in this.