Illicit Attraction

14. THE WORST HOLIDAY

Era

I hurriedly picked up my shirt on the chair's feet and speed-walked all the way through the staircase. Once I barged across my room, I locked the door and sighed, leaning against the door. "Oh, no. We're screwed!" I puffed out and I wiped the sweats dripping from my forehead.

Shortly, I heard furious voices and heavy footsteps approaching. Like a troubled hurricane attacking from the outside, Mom's shrieking sound filled my ears as she hit her hands against the door.

"Come out here, Era! I'm not done yet with you!"

I stared down on the floor, biting my lip and holding back tears that were urging to spill out. Though I was trying hard to compose myself, I couldn't hide how scared I was. Goosebumps formed on my skin and my nerves were shivering, recalling Mom's face minutes ago as she glared at me with so much hate and disgust.

"Leave her alone, Emilia! This is not her fault!"

"Oh, yeah?" I heard Mom scream again, with the sound of broken vases as the background.

"Yeah, you're right, maybe. It all happens because of you, fucker!"

All too soon, they fell silent but I could feel their battling presence.

How the heck would Henry explain everything if in the first place we didn't know what had gotten ourselves into. Although we were aware of the consequences, we let our sexual attraction grow and became intense.

I heard Henry sighed. "Emilia, I love your daughter. I love Era."

"For Christ's sake, Henry!"

"I'm attracted to her the first time I see her."

"What has gotten into your mind? She's your own daughter!

"I know, Emilia! I fucking know that!"

As they argued, I opened the door and saw Henry gripping Mom's wrists. My heart was pumping harshly. I was so worried. Not because Henry would hurt Mom. He would never do that, I know. It's just that, I wanted to stop them because things were getting worse.

"Believe me, I tried to suppress it and be the father to her. But fuck it, I can't!"

"O-oh, my God. Y-you're... you're a sicko!" Mom yelled. She twisted her wrist to escape from Henry's hands and ran through the staircase. "I... I can't handle this any longer. I'm calling the police!"

"P-police?" I stepped out of the room and ran to the corridor to follow Mom.

"Mom!"

She was already on the telephone when I saw her downstairs. She paused for a while. Her teary eyes fixed on me. "What have you done, Era?" She asked roughly.

I gulped as I walked closer to her. I needed to face this. If Henry was gonna suffer then fine, so should I. "None of these would happen if I didn't show him motives. I seduced him!"

She stared at me with sharp eyes. "Of course, you do, bitch!" She hissed and began to dial. "I'm not surprised, you're a whore like your friend Cora."

"W-wait..." I touched her arms as tears fell on my eyes. "S-stop."

Ignoring my presence, she said, "Yes, hello officer..." on the phone. "I... I uhm... I want to report Henry Andersen. Yeah... that's... that's right. W-well he's... he's been raping my daughter for... m-months..."

My eyes widened. "Mom, no!"

"P-please help us! If Henry finds out that I called the cops, he'll kill me!"

"You're lying!" I tried to grab the phone but she glared at me with threatening eyes and pushed me.

She covered the mouthpiece with her hands and whispered, gritting her teeth. "You shut up!" Breathing heavily, she turned her back on me and focused on the phone again.