Short Stories

2. The Billionaire Psychopath

"Mum," I called loudly as I pushed inside the house.

"Oh my God, Scarlet, is that you?" she said, coming out of the kitchen and wiping her hands on the apron.

Running towards me, she wrapped me in a tight hug, and sobbed onto my shoulder.

"You're back. Where have you been? You've been gone for three months. The police have been looking all over for you," she said, pulling out of the hug.

She looked at me and gasped, noticing my disfigured face.

"Your face. What happened? Scarlet."

She reached forward to touch the scars on my face.

She then noticed the bruises on my arms and the way I was clothed.

"Scarlet, what happened? Where were you? We need to call the police. Now."

"I don't know. He captured me-"

"Who did?"

"Mum, I can't tell you. He'll come for you too."

"Scarlet-"

"No, Mum," I said interrupting her. "I need food and a change of clothes while I go shower. Please pack some clothes, a few emergency food rations, and first aid supplies in a backpack that I can take with me. I'll leave in less than a hour."

She nodded and went back to the kitchen.

I could tell that she was reluctant to, but the urgency in my tone had made her listen to me.

I went up to my room and saw that it was the same as I had left it, before I was abducted.

I shuddered when I thought about it.

What if he comes here?

He's probably following me.

I need to leave soon, I told myself.

I went to the bathroom and proceeded to take a shower.

~*~

Fifteen minutes later, I got out with a towel wrapped around my body.

Fresh clothes had been laid on the bed for me.

I silently thanked God for my mother.

Changing quickly, I went downstairs.

"Scarlet," my mum called me.

I went to the kitchen to see her setting food on the dining table.

I sat down and starting devouring everything.

I looked up to see my mother observing me with fear and pain in her expression.

"Mum?" I said, setting down the spoon I was been holding.

"Scarlet, you were gone for 3 months. I was worried sick. I was scared out of my mind. You're back now, and you haven't said a word about where you have been or what happened. You won't even let me call the damn police."

"Mum-" I started to say when we heard noise outside the front door. Someone was trying to break it down.

"Shit. He found me," I said and looked over to my mother.

"Who did?"

"It doesn't matter, Mum. I-"

"Go hide. I'll handle whoever it is," she whispered.

"No, Mum, you don't understand-"

"Scarlet, just go and hide." I stayed put.

"Now!" she said with a firm tone.