The Taking of Eleanor Ainsworth

Chapter 29

She was defenceless.

Wrapped in a deep sleep, her face contorted as she struggled to escape her never ending nightmare.

She was running, the rain violently whipped at her face and the wind fought against her, slowing down her pace and bringing her closer to her pursuer.

"Eleanor" he sang, his voice carrying over the patter of the rain.

Thunder rumbled overheard and the world around her began to shake and vibrate. The air became stagnant and smoky and she could have sworn she smelt bacon.

She kept running as the trees either side of her cracked and splintered and the road in front of her split apart and raised upwards. Abruptly, she stopped on the edge, peering over and into the darkness below.

"Eleanor my love."

She looked to the other side, judging the distance with her eyes.

If I jump ...

She looked back, he had already began to close the distance between them. She turned back around

I can make it if I jump ...

She took a few steps back and began to run, holding her breath as her feet left the edge.

I cant die in a dream right ?

She barely made it to the other end before gravity set in and sent her plummeting downwards.

"Eleanor"

All of the air rushed out of her lungs as her body fell, she scratched at her throat, fighting to supply oxygen to her lungs.

"Eleanor stop ...."

A firm slap to her face, woke her up from her nightmare. Immediately she sat up and began to splutter and cough, leaning over the side of the bed and inhaling.

Everything hurt. Her face felt swollen and her mouth tasted of blood. The smell of bacon and eggs in the room made her stomach churn and bile slowly creep up her throat. She swallowed it back down and looked everywhere but at the man sitting down beside her.

She focussed on his white socks and wandered how he managed to keep them so white.

"You were having a nightmare." He said, wiping a strand of brown hair off her forehead. She flinched from his touch.

"Eleanor." He hissed, grabbing her cheeks with his fingers and stabbing his nails into her flesh. She gritted her teeth as his nails dug deeper.

"Don't think I haven't forgotten about your little escapade." He snarled, raising her face upwards slightly. She didn't know whether it was the fear or the smell of bacon but something churned her insides and made her throw up all of Theo's hands and her bedsheets. Vomit dribbled down her chin as Theo quickly let go.

"Oh for fu-"

"Uncle Theo."

They both turned their attention to the door where little knocks on wood could be heard.

"Uncle Theo ? Are you in there ?" Theo turned his attention to Eleanor a smirk playing on his lips.

"I'll be with you both in a minute go and sit down." He replied, standing up and laughing at the horrified expression on Eleanor's face.

"Get cleaned up and meet me in the kitchen.... We have company." He grinned, stalking towards the door, opening it and slamming it shut behind him.

She tried to process what just happened but the smell of vomit mixed with food became too overwhelming. She scrunched her nose and threw the duvet off, wincing as the material ripped the scab off her leg. She looked down at all the cuts and bruises lining her body and began to pick at the bits of fluff that had gotten stuck to her cut.