Trapped

Chapter 24-Emi

It was almost 5pm, I thought. The time for my freedom was drawing closer. I started at the small duffel bag I put in front of me on the bed. What should I pack? Where was I going? How long would I be with Jake? A million questions lingered in my head before  I thought, no more wasting time. I went to my closet and pulled out a couple of sweaters, a pair of jeans, black leggings, a faux leather jacket and a shirt dress. If I didn't have anything to wear, I wouldn't even take these clothes, I thought. I want no memory of Will in my life anymore. I quickly put all the clothes in my bag and closed the zipper. I bit my lip as another question came into my mind-what would I tell Lynn? I didn't want her to take Will's heat when he got back. Poor Lynn has no part in this, I thought. I paced back and forth trying to think of what to say, and running short of ideas, I went downstairs and decided to tell her whatever popped into my head first.

When I got downstairs, she was busy dusting the paintings hanging on the walls. 

"Um, Lynn, can I talk to you for a second?" I asked politely. She spun around swiftly and smiled, her eyes crinkling as she did.

"What is it dear?" she asked.

I fumbled my fingers, as I thought of what to say. I couldn't tell her to leave, because she wouldn't without Will's permission. Suddenly, she spoke.

" You're not really his wife, are you?" she said tilting her head to look at me.

I gaped at her. I didn't know if I should affirm her speculation or decline it. And even if was was true, how would she know?

"W-Why would you say that?" I stuttered. 

"You're that girl, Bridget Wiley, from Illinois. The one who went missing 3 years ago." she said without hesitation. My heart started to beat wildly. I felt dizzy, as if I was about to fall. My mouth turned arid dry and I wiped sweat off my temples. 

"How do you know me?" I asked finally.

"I'm from Illinois myself, moved here about a year or so ago," she said continuing her dusting. "The news reported you for a good 2 months or so back in Illinois when you went missing. But they posters-oh the posters," she spoke. "There are still posters of you hung around every block of the neighborhood. I owned a bakery downtown and every month, a young girl would come around and ask to put your picture inside the bakery in case anyone ever saw you. Come to think of it-she looked like a younger version of you!" she said.

My sister, she was talking about my sister Shaina. My eyes started to water as she talked. 

"So they're still looking for me?" I asked with hope.

"They never forgot you." she spoke.

"When did you realize, that I was Bridget Wiley?" I asked her.

"Well, I do admit, at first I was skeptical. I knew you looked familiar when I first saw you, but I couldn't figure out where you were from. It wasn't until I heard you and that boy Jake talking about your plan," she said smiling.

I looked at her with surprise. Was she going to turn on me?