Trapped

Chapter 8- Emi

I awoke the next morning sluggishly. I woke up in a very awkward position, with my legs bent on the side from last night. I winced as I slowly inched them forward. Being in that position all night made it almost impossible to ignore the soreness that lie in them. I rubbed them vigorously trying to bring back feeling in them. After about two minutes, they began to feel normal again.

I slowly climbed downstairs, still in the white dress from last night. My nose still bore the stench of the cigarettes I had been tortured with last night. I didn't bother to look in the mirror, afraid of what I would look like. I went over to the kitchen and took out a frying pan, ready to make breakfast. I peered through the window above the sink, and saw a bunch of figures in black and navy blue. At first I thought it was a mirage, and rubbed my eyes. But no. The figures were still there. I narrowed my eyes and saw a bunch of elderly women and men, wearing black dresses and ties, their faces anguished and their eyes teary. One woman was sobbing loudly, with her husband trying to clam her down by rubbing her shoulders and patting her back. What's going on, I thought. It looked as if they were mourning. Then suddenly, my stomach started to turn, is that why these people were here?

My thoughts were interrupted by someone knocking on the door. I was momentarily startled as I looked at the red door, wondering who was behind it. There came a knock again. I went to the door and slowly opened it halfway, for the other person to be able to peek at my face. I slowly brought my head up in front of the door, to see a man-dressed in a black suit, holding a white rose in front of me. My eyes traveled to his face, to see a young man, about as old as me, his eyes red from the aftermath of intense sobbing. He looked up to see me, and become momentarily startled. I stared at him with a blank face, waiting to see what he had come for, but he just looked at me. Our eyes locked for what seemed like forever, none of us saying a word. The wind blew a tress of my hair across my face and I broke the gaze between us by tucking it behind my ear. I cleared my throat and spoke,

" Yes? Do you need something?" He shifted and looked away from me immediately.

"Uh yes, sorry, I-I'm Jake, Jake Monroe. I'm Mrs.Monroe's grandson. I just wanted to inform you that she passed away." he said quietly.

His eyes began to well up with tears, as he put his hand to his mouth and quietly made out, "sorry." I was dumbfounded. Although I hadn't seen Mrs.Monroe that often, the few times I had met her, I had loved her deeply. She was a kind and loving woman, who often called me her "dear" and said that I reminded her of her daughter, who had passed away at a young age. She had come over for tea about two time before and I had had the most wonderful time with her. I couldn't believe that she was gone. I suddenly felt that the one other person who had given me comfort in this captive state had also left me, I was now completely shattered. I fell back a little, holding the door for support. Jake reached out to catch me by the arm, and helped me stand up straight again.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a surprised and concerned tone. I was unable to respond. I couldn't bear to speak. I felt like collapsing into the ground and never getting back up. I felt sympathetic towards Jake, and I knew that I should be the one sending him condolences, but I just couldn't manage. When I felt stable, I made out,

"I'm very very sorry for your loss. Mrs.Monroe was truly a great person. Everyone on the neighborhood loved her, she was always available for everyone's concerns. I will surely miss her deeply, as I'm sure everyone else will as well."  I couldn't say anything more. I wanted to-but couldn't. Will would be furious if he found out that I had invited someone in, or else I would've. I wanted to comfort Jake, as he looked truly distraught, but I felt so helpless that I could do nothing more.

Just then, Wills footsteps came behind the door. I spun around teary-eyed to see him standing on top of the stairs, confused.

"Will this is Mrs.Monroe's grandson. She passed away last night." I told him as he was coming down. Will kept us eyes squarely focused on Jake. He came to the door and held my arm tight, pulling me behind the door slowly, as he told Jake,  "We're really sorry for your loss, Mrs. Monroe was a brave woman. We-uh, we would really love to stay and chat but we have to run. Nice seeing you Jake." And with that, he hurriedly closed the door in Jakes face. When we were completely inside, Will let go of my arm.

"You liked that didn't you?" He said viciously.
"Like what?"
"That conversation. You liked him paying attention to you like that don't you?"
"Um, no. I'm not sure what you mean?"
"Don't pretend I didn't see you. I saw they way you were lingering around the door when he came. And how desperate you were to end the conversation when I came around. What are you tying the get rid of me?"
"That's nothing like what happened. He was here for his grandmother!"
"And that was your excuse to get his attention, but don't worry, you won't need anyone else's attention after I'm done with you."

He dragged me upstairs, not caring if I fell on the steps along the way to our bedroom. He opened the door and threw me on the bed. Before I had time to get back up, he slapped me across the face. It stung hard, as if a thousand volts of electricity shot through my cheek. Then, he got on top of the bed and held onto my throat. He gripped my neck with both of his hands and pressed down hard. I lurched back up and tried to pry his hands off of me. I coughed, gagged and my eyes bulged, but it meant no difference to Will. 

"Please stop!" I managed to choke out after he finally let go.

"You like getting attention from other men don't you? Think you're all that?!" he angrily asked.

"That's not true! He was just hear to grieve about Mrs. Monroe," I said scratching my throat.

"I know all your tricks! You try to get their attention, twirling your hair and smiling at them, trying to find a way to leave me!"

"Will why don't you believe me, I won't leave you, I'm not trying to get away!"

"You can't be trusted anymore."

He ran into the kitchen downstairs and clammered some things. I heard him pull something out of the drawer. He came running back up with something shiny in his hand. A butcher's knife. My eyes widened as I crawled backwards on the bed. 

"No Will-please no!"

He came towards me, slowly, like a cunning animal, his eyes filled with craze. He raised the knife above my head, preparing to come down with it. 

"NO!!" I screamed as I leaped off the bed. The knife came slicing through the sheets, as Will huffed enraged that he had missed. I looked at him bewildered, and then ran to the door as fast as I could.

Next thing I remember, I was running down the stairs like a madwoman, everything blurry in front of me. I ran into the basement, and locked myself in it. I was panting, sweating, my hair matte on my face from the chase. I can't believe he tried to kill me.  I knew Will could get violent, but never in these three years had he tried to kill me. I have to get out here, I thought to myself. The urge came over me like a rush of cold water. I paced back and forth, thinking of what to do madly. The thought of stabbing Will with that knife came into my head, as did poisoning him, and so did just plain running away. But where would I run to? Would anyone recognize or believe me?

Just then, I began to feel dizzy, my vision blackened and I fell to the floor.