Running From The Big Bad Wolf

28

The weeks went by slowly. I had withdrawn myself completely.

I only associate with Rhydian, I refuse to talk to Axel. Whenever Axel demands something from me, I flip him off, taking Rhydian with me to another room.

I tried to get away with Rhydian's birthday but Axel knows everything. Axel found Rhydian's files, his birth registry, his birth certificate.

What hurts more is Rhydian calling Axel dad. I hear it everywhere and I want to curl into a ball and cover my head and ears, wanting to block it out.

"Dad, play. Dad here. Dad stay with me." Rhydian's little voice would call out.

I only sat with Axel for dinner so I was with Rhydian, not eating much, but staying with him. I'm too scared that Axel will take him away from me. Petrified, in fact.

I haven't slept much. My sleeping patterns are far and between from happening and when I do close my eyes, it's only a light sleep, afraid the bedroom will be ransacked, Rhydian taken from me.

I'm riddled in anxiety, worry and stress, to the fact I'm being sick about it. I'm so scared to be pregnant that I've been stressing about it. And I know my periods are late. A week late. But I won't say. I refuse to.

I was helping Rhydian down the stairs when Axel confronted me. We were nearly at the bottom when Rhydian called out to him.

"Dad, catch me!" He had squealed and jumped with no warning, making Axel spring in to action. I stayed on the step, my heart in my throat.

"Careful, mate." Axel said to Rhydian as he placed him down. "Go see if Steve will take you outside."

Rhydian smiled and nodded, racing to the guard. Rhydian loves outside. Axel had a play gym installed in the yard. Swings, a slide, a climbing frame, even a sand pit.

"Caitlyn." Axel called to me and I took a step back up the stairs. "Don't be so scared of me, I don't like that."

"Don't threaten me then, Axel." I retorted, keeping my distance. I heard the door slide open, letting me know Rhydian is outside. His giggles left the room with him.

"Is that why you are so distant? Do you seriously think I will take Rhyan away from you?" I had noticed that Axel kept calling him Rhyan. I have to admit, the name is a tad difficult to pronounce at first. Axel took the next step up closer to me.

"I won't do that. I won't take Rhydian away from you. Misbehave, I will do it. I know he needs a mother and I really don't want to replace you," Axel threatened, coming closer to me still. "So don't make me do it."

Axel placed his thumb and finger and my jaw, making me face him.

"Am I clear?" His eyes were dangerously dark, glistening with power.

I gave him a small nod, letting him know I understand. Then he changed completely, lightening up.

"Great. Now let's talk about this baby." He smiled, taking my arm.

I stilled. "Wh-what baby?"

Axel placed his hand on my stomach, making me go cold. "This one." He said softly and lovingly.

"I'm, I'm n-not pregnant." I stuttered out. Axel pulled at me, making me step down the stairs. "I'm not pregnant!" I stated more clearly the second time.

But Axel kept his hand on my arm, pulling me to the study and telling me to sit as he closed the door, locking it.

Oh god please no. Please tell me he is lying.

Axel looked at me, I saw he looked happy, really happy. It scared me. He scares me. Three years ago, I was falling for him. I wanted nothing more than to be his, now, I was in hell. Full blown hell.

Axel went to the desk and opened the drawer, giving me what looked like a pregnancy stick.

"I'm not using that." I crossed my arms at him.

"You don't have to. Remember when your toilet wouldn't flush in? "

"That was three days ago." I do remember. I had to use another one after realising mine wasn't working.

Axel raised his eyebrows at me, waiting for me to click on. I dropped the test on to the floor, inhaling deeply.

My toilet wouldn't flush. So my pee sat in there all damn day. "Did you dip this in to that toilet?" I yelled as I looked at the test on the floor. I was up in the chair like there was a mouse below me. The test was upside down so I could only see the back.

Axel didn't answer me. I gingerly bent down and pinching my thumb and finger, I picked up the test, taking shaky breathes trying to calm myself.

"Please no." I breathed out. No, no, no. I slowly turned the test over. I knew I was late on my periods but I wanted to believe it was just stress.

I inhaled sharply, my hands shaking as I read it. There was even instructions. One line negative. Two lines positive.

Two lines.

"Fuck." I sighed out.

"This is a good thing, Caitlyn." Axel scowled at me. I looked up at him horrified. His intentions had been clear all along and I had allowed his trickery to fool me.

"How is this a good thing?"

"Another baby. Babies are blessings, Caity."

I did like babies, Rhydian was a good baby, a simple baby, until he learnt how to walk and crawl. But bringing a baby into this world, into this dark and twisted place was no blessing.

"Now, we need to organise Rhyan's third birthday."

But I didn't hear Axel, I was too far gone. It wasn't the fact that I was pregnant. It was the fact Axel is the father and another baby means another human I have to try and escape with.