Sombre

Chapter 24

A few days later

I heard the faint shuffling around me as the maids threw more blankets over me. The weight of them over me felt safe and good . I was warm and yet my body shivered . My whole body was throbbing in pain. I wanted to cry but I was out of tears.

Someone grabbed the garbage bag under my mouth as I puked and retched. This has been happening in every five minutes. My throat was dry and the maid made me drink some water which again tumbled out of my mouth in a few minutes.

" Keep your eyes open !" A maid yelled in my ears when my eyes started closing.

She had been doing this for the past 15 minutes. As soon as I started dozing off , she would slap my face and wake me up. My eyes were extremely heavy and this time when my eyes closed , the maid wasn't able to wake me up.

...

Throughout the day , I went in and out of consciousness. Sometimes I would remain conscious for a little longer and the other times , I would retch and black out.

When I opened my eyes again, it was dark and cold even though the fire burned in the fireplace. I shivered and looked around the room. My gaze fell on the maid asleep on the chair nearby. 

I pushed the pile of blankets aside and tried to stand . As soon as my feet touched the ground, my legs gave under me and I fell . I yelped as another burst of pain spread through my ankle. The maid woke up with a start and hurried towards me. She helped me in the washroom and helped me wash my face.

" You should have woken me up " she said softly.

" How many days ..?"

" He kept you tied up for 2 days and you have been sick for a day now " she said and I nodded.

" We..No one wanted to do that to you . We are all sorry . He ..he said he would"

" I know .. I know ! It's no one's fault but mine. You don't have to apologize "

" Yes but it was terrible.. watching you like that "

I shivered as Preston screamed his words to all the maids .

" If no one throws the garbage here , I will make sure you lose your job ! "

The maids looked uncomfortably at each other . I watched in horror as a few of them went back and came with three big garbage cans. Two of them opened the bag and emptied it all over me . The stench made me gag .

My arms were already aching due to being tied behind my back.

" Clean her in every hour or so " he said and went back.

Throughout the day , every maid would return and throw something on me . When I would get extremely dirty , they would throw a bucket of cold water to clean me .

I shook my head and she stopped . I didn't want to hear about that. I shivered again and she helped me get under the blankets. She pushed a few pills in my hand . I waited until she turned around to hide them under my pillow.

A few days more and this will be over. No more pain , no more suffering .

...

The next day I woke up with my mom's name in my mouth. The strange dream I was having due to the tablets was driving me nuts. I gazed at the ceiling for a while until my mind believed that it was indeed a dream .

Preston came to check on me after some hours. If I hadn't been so weak , I probably would have run as soon as I saw his face.

I couldn't meet his eyes . It was unfathomable how someone could change in just a matter of seconds. How someone can be capable of doing all these monstrous things . The guilt about killing his parents was long gone now.

" Do you want to speak to your parents ?" He asked and I frowned.

" You kept mumbling your mother's name in your dream . You can speak to her if you want " he said and set the phone down on the bedside table .

I glanced at the phone and back at him.

" Don't try to call 911 , it's not going to work. " He said and left .

I contemplated who to call. I still remembered the exact words my dad had yelled at me. I did not want to call him , I couldn't bear to hear any more harsh words from him. I would never be able to recover from that if he said it again.

I called mother .

She picked up after a few rings . Tears spilled from my eyes when I heard her soft voice.

" Mom " I said softly and I heard the short intake of breathe.

" Alicia?"

" How..how are you ?" I asked

" I'm fine . How are you ?"

" I.. I'm well "

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore . " Can..can I come stay home for a few days ?" I asked and before she could answer I already knew what she would say.

" Your dad is upset with you still . I don't think that's a great idea "

" I.. I just want you to pick me up . I can stay somewhere else !"

" Alicia .. I'm sorry but it's just not possible !"

" Please ! Mom please ! I'm begging you . Just get me out of here . I won't ever see you again. I'll find somewhere else to stay. I won't be a burden on you, I promise "

" Your dad won't allow it "

" Please Mom! I really want to come home . Please help me !"

" Alicia , you need to understand. It just can't happen!"

" How can you both do this to me ! I'm begging you to get me out ! How can you do this to your own daughter! He is killing me ! I will rot and die here !"

" We signed a contract when you married him and we can't do anything about it now. Your dad will lose everything !"

" So this is still about the money! I hope you and your husband stay happy forever in your big fucking house ! When I die , I want you to know that it's your fault ! " I said and slammed the phone down.

My body shook with sobs as her words repeated itself in my mind.