Trapped

Chapter 2-Emi

It was finally over. The whipping had stopped. Will had left the room. Emi slowly put her hand to her cheek,where she had first been hit. It was sore. Her face winced in pain as she touched the swollen surface. I should know better-she thought. I know it's going to hurt, but I touch it anyway.

She got up off the ground with the support of the armchair. She cornered herself to the wall and sit still, looking at the curtains. Nobody saw anything again, she thought glumly. Would anyone ever notice the horrors beyond this window, she thought.

Where was Will? She heard some ruffling of pots and pans from the kitchen below. Coffee time.

Her mind reflected back to that first day. She was 19, first year in college. She had gotten a prestigious scholarship to Bradford Tech college to study electrical engineering. Her parents were really proud of her and she was of herself too.

She remembered that night at Tammy's Turf restaurant, where she worked as a waitress. She went over to table 10, with her notepad ready to take the order. There was a young man with disheveled brown hair in a plaid shirt. He said his name was Rudy, when she asked him his name and order. She responded Bridget with a smile when he asked for her name. He ordered grilled fish and a glass of wine, she recalled.

She went to the kitchen and placed her pad on the desk. She remembered delivering his food about 15 minutes later and setting it neatly on his table. He had looked at her funny- when she set his plate down, she saw him looking at her face from the corner of her eye. She began to feel red and hot in the face. She always got uncomfortable when someone was staring at her. She walked back quickly and resumed her duties.

Almost an hour later, 15 minutes before closing time, she came out of the kitchen to find Rudy still sitting there, finishing his meal. She remembered thinking to herself, " How long does it take for him to eat?"  When he saw her come out of the kitchen, he stopped to stare at her again, this time, making her even more uncomfortable. His light but piercing eyes sinked into her skin almost. She shifted under his gaze trying to look for something to do.

Just then, her boss came in and said "Bridget, I need you to close up tonight," and threw the keys to her. Her boss also looked at Rudy and gave him a questioning look. "Everything okay sir, we're about to close" he had said. "Yes of course, I had to step out for a while for a matter and got a bit slow on finishing my meal I suppose" Rudy replied bashfully. "That's alright sir take your time" her boss replied.

Bridget said goodnight to her boss and started wiping down the other tables. She was tuned out in her work, until she heard someone behind her say, "Care to join?" She turned around and saw Rudy holding up a glass of wine in his hand, gesturing it to her. "No thanks," she said trying to draw the conversation away.
"It's a shame. Such an expensive bottle and no one to share it with" said Rudy. Bridget stayed silent. She knew it was best to just mind her own business.
"Hey by the way, do you go to Bradford Tech also? I think I've seen you around campus before."
Did he? Did he go to Bradford too, she thought. She turned around and tucked her hair behind her ear and replied "Yeah, do you go there too?"
"Yup, I'm a junior. I'm there studying English, you?"
"Electrical engineering."
"Whoa!! Impressive. Not many girls go into engineering," he said with his eyes lit up.
"Yeah I've always had a knack for wires and parts," Bridget said smiling.
"That's very cool, I wish more women would go into engineering. Who knows how far we'll go" he said, sipping his wine.

Bridget began to feel more comfortable talking to him now. He was a student, and seemed academic by his conversations. She wanted them to talk more. Not feeling uncomfortable anymore, she noticed the crooked teeth in his front row, and how that made his smile even
more attractive. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at the empty seat in front of him.
"The offers still open," he said gesturing to the chair in front.
She laughed quietly and took a seat. She tilted her head back and rubbed her neck.
"Tired?"
"Yeah, it's been a long day."
"Tuition?"
"Yeah. I have a scholarship but it only pays for about half. And the other half comes from here. "
He poured a glass of wine for her to drink and moved it towards her.
"Here's to you- a reward for a hard days work." She took the glass now and sipped. It tasted good-refreshing. He looked at her and smiled.

"So what about you? Are you on scholarship too?" She asked to break the awkward silence.
"I don't deserve one. My grandfather can afford to pay for it."
"Wow, paying Bradford in full, you must own an oil field or something."
" Close. We own a winery in California."
"Oh that's nice."
"How's the taste?"
"It's actually great. I haven't had wine or anything that lux in a while"

They talked for about half an hour before Bridget began to feel dizzy. Her stomach started to hurt and the lights above the table started to swing. She held her temple as she reached out to alert Rudy. He was watching her, with a cold stare. She tried to talk but no words came out. She started to spin and then fell to the floor.

The next time she regained consciousness, she was in a lavish room, with light blue walls and and marble floors. She was on a bed. She was still wearing her waitress apron. She sat upright on the bed and started to panic. There was a window with a pink-laced curtain. She ran up to the door and banged on it. She turned the knob to no avail. "Help!!!! Get me out of here!!" She screamed. She heard a key turn and a man come in. It was Rudy.

"Rudy! Where are we? Let's get out of here! Why am I here?"
"No need. This is home now Emi"
"Who's Emi? And what do you mean?! Let me go Rudy!"
She tried to run out but he grabbed her shoulders with great force and pulled her back. "Where to love?"
She clenched her teeth and hysterically started to cry. "Why did you bring me here?!"
"To be together. You're mine now. We'll be happy I promise."
"Rudy stop you're scaring me!"
"Its Will. And from now on, you're Emi."
She beat his chest with her fists, which he now held.
"Shhhhh, or else the neighbors will hear." Will said. "Emi trust me, I will make you so happy. I'll give you everything you want. I love you."
Bridget looked at him with bewilderment. She screamed. Will widened his eyes and pushed her on the cold marble floor. "Don't scream again," he said.
She got back up and tried to gnaw her way to the door but his grip was too strong. When she resisted, he grabbed her by the hair and threw her towards the bed frame. She knocked her forehead on it and crashed. She was whimpering now, still shocked at the circumstances.
"You're Emi and I'm Will. You are my wife and this is your home. Don't resist and don't try to get out." Those were his last words to her on that day. She watched him leave and lock the door. She lay down slowly on the cold marble as tears slid down her face.