Take a Breath(87)

I glanced at a photo of a man and a woman who looked close to their sixties. Both had white hair and happy smiling faces.

“That’s my mom and dad. They’re not here anymore, but this was theirs and they left it to me. They wanted me to raise some grandchildren for them. I intend to fulfil their wishes, Ana.”

He comes closer to me and embraces me. My heart starts its full scale war in my chest. Please don’t tell me he wants to start making babies right now? He’ll want to touch me at some point and I’m afraid I may vomit just from the thought.

He inhales the scent of my hair. Oh God, please no.

“Ana, you smell so beautiful.”

He strokes my hair and traces a finger down my shoulder towards my back. I start to tremble.

“Don’t worry, Ana. I’m patient. I have waited this long. I can wait a little longer for when you’re ready.”

I look into his eyes and thank him. I don’t know why I do, but it seemed necessary. How do you tame a complete psychotic maniac?

“It is hard though, Ana. I am a man after all and you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Try not to think too long about it, my English rose.”

He smells my hair again and I shudder. Oh fuck, now what do I do?

“Show me the rest of the house, please Tony.”

He happy obliges, but I mainly want to see it all so I can study my bearings. I need to find where—if anywhere—all the rooms lead to etc. I just want out.

He shows me four bedrooms all round about the same size, two with double beds and two with single beds.

Tony stops at the Master bedroom. “This is where we will be sleeping.”

I cringe at the thought of Tony lying next to me, breathing all over me and expecting sex. I really need to get out.

One of the rooms looks like a child’s room painted in yellow. It looks rather beautiful with the last remaining hours of the sun shining through. It has two white metal framed single beds and a big teddy bear propped up on yet, another rocking chair.

“This could be the nursing room. I could just picture you here breastfeeding our children.”

This is just too much. I don’t think I can take much more.

“Tony, it was a long drive. I really need to use the bathroom.”

He smiles and leads the way. “Shall I make us something to eat while you freshen up?”

If it gets you away from me, then yes.

“Please, Tony. I’m starving.”

He laughs a little and starts his way down the stairs. Is he really leaving me alone up here? Should I take a run for the stairs once he’s in the kitchen? No, I can’t do that as I noticed the steps creaked as we came up. He’ll know before I get to the bottom that I’m not up here anymore. I have to see if I can climb out the window. It seems to be the only way.

I get to the main bathroom and lock the door. I turn the faucet on to make some noise, as I try to hitch up the small window. It is a little stiff, but it manages to give a little. It was just enough for me to crawl through.

I notice there is a climbing plant to my left and I try to reach for it, so I make my way down. With one boost of energy, I push my foot up to the window sill. I lift with one hand, while grabbing the plant with the other. I lose my footing a bit and swing out. I bash into the plant—which I didn’t realise had thorns sticking out. I resisted the urge to scream as I felt them cutting into me all over.

I take a few deep breaths, clinging for dear life, as I carefully make my way down. The pain is awful as each thorn cuts through a leg or an arm. I grit through the pain, knowing that I have to do this in order to survive.

I manage to get down and finally look at myself. My dress is torn and I have blood everywhere from the thorny bush, but I’m alive.

I look around trying to take in my surroundings. About a hundred yards away from the house, there is a forest full of trees. Would I be able to make it there without being seen? I really didn’t know. I have come this far, so I have to keep going.

I make a run for it and I hear Tony shouting my name from the house. It spurs me on further as the adrenaline is pumping through me now. There’s no turning back.

The screams of my name are getting louder, as I realise he’s looking for me outside the house. It’s not long before he will spot me.

I turn around to see if I can glimpse a view of him at all. I’m half way there and Tony can’t be seen as yet. If I can just get in the trees without being spotted, he will not know where I am. I don’t know what’s out there, but this has to be a much better prospect than Tony any day.

I get to the entrance of the trees and a loud screaming voice shouting “Ana,” makes me jump out of my skin. I turn around and Tony is standing by the house, gun in hand. His face is contorted in anger. He lets off a shot which I instinctively duck for. There’s no time. If he catches me, he will kill me. If I get shot I get shot, but I have to move forward.