Impressing the Clients

60

Paula's POV

I heard him walked away and muttered profanities. He must've thought I got away.

I let out my breath in relief and when I inhaled, the foul stench coursed through my nose. What the fuck was that?

I squinted my eyes as the only source of light down here was the 2-second lightning bolts of the storm every half a minute that seeped through the hinge of the wooden hatch cover.

I looked at the ceiling and saw there was a pullstring, might be a switch to a light bulb. I jumped up to reach for it and the yellow dim light filled the room. I saw his gardening tools cluttered around the room. I mindlessly touched my forehead, saw that I was still bleeding so I looked around carefully for something to cover it for now.

The open shelves at the corned of the room housed some fabric so I went closer to it. I accidentally stepped on a rusted chain and it clinked against each link. I gasped silently, my heart raced at the thought that he might have heard it. I carefully placed the chain at the foot of the shelf so I won't step on it again. And as I approached the shelves of fabrics, the foul smell got stronger. Oh god, I can barely hold myself from barfing.

I reached for the dirty white fabric folded neatly at the top shelf and dusted it off. And as I shook the collected dust on it, I realized it was a familiar piece of clothing.

Oh no. Hell fucking no.

It was dad's button up long sleeves. He wore it the day he and mom went missing.

Oh my god, no. Uncle Hugo caused all of this?

I rummaged through the other pieces of fabric on the shelf and laid it in front of me. These were mom and dad's clothes, along with someone else's clothings.

As I dusted off mom's pants, their wedding rings fell from it. That's when it dawned me,

No, no, no, no! They can't be dead, right? They can't leave me. They were all I have. No, God, please!

I wanted to scream, I wanted to wail and bawl and throw everything away from my sight. I wanted to fucking kill him! He fooled me, he fooled mom and dad! How can I be so fucking stupid?!

Tears fell as I covered my mouth with my hand and prevent myself from making any noise.

I mustered all my courage to get out of here and climbed back up the steel gate. I can't stay here for long.

And just as I opened up the hatch, uncle Hugo was already standing in front of me, waiting for me to show myself. He was holding a bat, ready to hit me. I immediately pulled the cover to close, "shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" I chanted in panic as the door was being pulled from the other side. "Please, uncle! Spare me! Please!" I cried out.

"You wasted everything I've done for you!" He yelled as he hit the wooden cover with his bat. The thin wood cracked but still sturdy.

"Please don't kill me! I'm begging you!" I cried but I only heard grunts from him as he continued hitting the cover.

"Help! Help me please! Somebody!" I screamed.

"Scream all you want! You know the nearest house was 2 blocks away!" He laughed maniacally while hitting the cover. This time, the wooden cover gave out completely.

I stepped back, screaming as he let himself in.

Was this the moment I was gonna die?

For a brief moment I felt relieved if I was gonna die tonight 'cause I'd be with my parents once again. I had no one. I'd be alive but I'd be alone, what's the sense of living?