Trapped

Chapter 25-Emi

Lynn had found out about everything. How was I going to respond? Should I trust her? I waited for her to say something. She spoke,
"I can't imagine the suffering you might've endured,and still are dealing with," she sighed.

"Do you think I should try and get out?" I asked, testing her loyalty.

"I think am you should've tried long ago," she answered smiling at me.

I gratefully smiled back at her and came to her. I hugged her tight, as I whispered, "Thank you." She let go of me and squeezed my shoulders. "I'll see you back in Illinois" she said with a merry winkle in her eye.

I looked at the clock. 6pm. It would take me about an hour to get to where Jake told me to go, and I wanted to be there on time. I smiled at Lynn and went upstairs. I opened the door to my room and grabbed the duffel bag. As I was leaving, I looked at the room one last time. The crisp blue walls, the crown molding details, the white marble floors, and lastly, the pink-laced curtains. Flashbacks of all that I endured in this room came running back to me.

It was a beautiful room and a beautiful house indeed, I thought. It was a bit saddening to think that I was leaving this house under the conditions that I was, but that was a small price to pay for my freedom.

As I touched the railings of the stairs one last time, as I got downstairs, I took a deep breath. In front of me was my home. The home I had spent crying, suffering and mending myself after Wills constant torture. A small tear went down my cheek as I looked at it one last time. Lynn was standing in the hallway near the living room, wiping a tear from her eye as well.

"Go on," she said as she saw me standing. I nodded and opened the front door. I gently closed it behind me and made sure that I had Jakes note in my hand. I reached into my other pocket and found $50 that Lynn had given me.
"It's all I have right now, but use it as you need," she had said when she was giving it to me. Will left no money open around the house, and any check I wrote, he would see on his account. I put the $50 back in my pocket and headed for the main gate.

I reached the black gate and grasped it with my hand. It felt cold. I pulled it back, revealing a bright and sunny day outside. I stepped out of the gate and stood outside for a minute. The sunlight poured onto my starved skin and filled me with warmth. I scanned the road, deciding which way to go. Public transport was too risky, I didn't want any surprise attention. I thought to take a cab instead. I started walking down the block.

I tried hard to think of where the nearest cab rental would be. I had no phone or nap, and had to purely rely on my memory. I thought back to the times will had taken me out in his car. I tried to remember the direction he drove in and what places there were on the way.

Suddenly, I thought back to the day we went to Pilligrini. There was a cab rental service right near the restaurant! Feeling relieved, I started walking east, trying as fast as I could to get to the restaurant.

About 30 minutes later, I saw Pilligrini down the block. Breathing a sight of relief, I continued onward. When I found the cab service, I rang the doorbell and went inside. There was a chubby middle-aged man sitting behind the welcome desk on the phone with somebody.

"Yes ma'am. There's a bit of traffic on the highway on route to your location. Our driver will be with you in about 10 minutes," he said checking the monitor on his desk. I waited patiently for his call to end before introducing myself.

"Hi, my name is Em- um, Bridget," I began. He looked up at me and squinted.

"Ok, so?" He spoke rudely. I felt like telling him off, but I couldn't. I had no other way to get where I needed to go.

"I'd like to rent a cab please." I said.

"You're not traveling on the highway are you?" He asked me.

"Uh, I'm not really sure," I told him as I handed him the note from Jake. "I need to get to this address here," I said pointing at the address he gave me.

The man squinted at the sheet of over and looked up, thinking to himself. He closed his eyes at muttered to himself,"Ok, so if you go around the school building.." Finally, he opened his eyes and said,"Ok you're all good to go, have a seat over there and the drivers gonna come soon," he said as he gestured to the small sofa behind me. I thanked him and took a seat.

After about 5 or so minutes, there was a honk outside on the road. I looked up to the man and he nodded, signaling that it was my cab. I thanked him again and headed outside. The cab was shiny and black, with a "Joe's Cab Service" logo painted on the side door. I opened the door and got inside.

It smelled strongly of car freshener and apple pie inside the car. I said hello to the driver and read out the address to him. He nodded and shifted the gear. He sped off as I watched the streets fleeting behind me.