Endlessly

Chapter 8

Game Over: Part 2

After following numerous different carvings I stumbled upon one that said 'A + M' in a heart. I didn't even know how to feel about this but my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of foot steps.

Before I could even think about where to go my legs were moving. I started running as fast as I possibly could. I didn't know who or what was behind of me but I didn't take the chance of looking back. I kept running until I tripped over God knows what. I was out of breath and I couldn't move because of the sharp pain in my leg. When I finally gained the energy to get up again I was stopped by someone gripping unto my arm.

It was one of Aaron's goons; Roger, I think his name was. I tried to pull away but he was too strong. "Just let me go please just fucking let me go!" I screamed.

"Marina, shhh," He was trying to calm me down and this made me highly confused. "I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help you."

"But why?"

"Don't question it just go with it. You're a smart girl. I figured you'd escape while you had the house cleared." He stated as he took his backpack off of his back. "Take this it has a bit of food, money and some of your stuff. Just keep following this path and make a left until you're on the main road. Take a bus back home and never look back Marina. You can't tell anyone I helped you. Pretend like you never even saw me. Okay?"

I just nodded mainly because I was at lost for words. As soon as he started walking away I spoke, "Hey Roger," He turned around swiftly. "Thank you so much, for everything. Not only this but also thank you for being the only guy that respected me enough not to rape me or attempt to."

He walked back over to me, stopping when he was only inches away from my face, "Marina, you never deserved anything you got and I'm sorry it all happened you're a great girl. Just go, live your life and try to be happy again."

I gave a weak smile. My first smile in months. At that we both turned our separate ways and walk away. As I walled away I felt relieved. With each step I took I felt a little bit of the weight being lifted off my shoulders. The further it got from that house the more I felt like there would actually be light at the end of the tunnel. It was like in that moment I could finally breathe after being suffocated by Aaron.

I continued walking until I reached the bus stop. When I did I put on some shoes and proper clothes. I got a few odd stares from passersby but after what I had been through I honestly didn't care much. I waited impatiently for the bus to arrive. I thought about what would happen if Aaron ever found me again. I was getting very nervous and worked up. In the year that I was with Aaron I had never known him to quit; he was persistent and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. To get my mind off of things I decided to think about where I would go. Home. The answer to that question was a no brainer for two reasons. I had to go home to find out about my mum and I had no where else to go. My thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the bus. I got on quickly and took my seat.

I felt a few jabs to my right shoulder. I opened my eyes realizing that I must have fallen asleep. The person to my right was asking me to move. I'm my hazed state I got off of the bus also. For a moment, I took in my surroundings. I was only a few blocks away from my home. It looked like I haven't been here in years. I began walking and I walked and walked and walked until I was finally at my house.

• • • • • •

I knocked on the door expecting my mum to answer but I heard nothing. I went to the back door but I still got no answer. I ran to the kitchen window and as my luck would have it, the window was locked. I reached into my bag with a grunt and wrapped Aaron's shirt over my had. Using all my force, I successfully punched a hole into the window. I kept the shirt around my hand a broke out a few more pieces so I would be able to pass through without out that great a problem. I jumped through and started making my way around the house. "Mum!" But there was no reply. I hollered again but still heard nothing. I made my way up to my mum's room. The bed was empty and the room looked like it hadn't been slept in for weeks. The was a thing layer of dust covering the dresser and the bed posts and the vanity no longer showed a reflection. I ran an idle finger over the top of the dresser piking up a trail of dust in its wake.