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I walk up to my house and it looks so dark and sad. The blinds are all shut, the lawn is overgrown and covered in weeds. The window boxes have large dandelions growing out of them. We both used to be so house proud- we spent most weekends pottering outside. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no gardener and I have no idea about plant names etc but I know what’s a weed, and I like pretty colourful flowers.
John’s car is on the drive. Chloe says she has seen him around the last few days so I’m expecting him to be here. As I start walking down the path the front door opens.
“Bella! I knew you’d come home. I knew you would see sense and come back to me,” John says grinning.
“Hi John, can I come in?” I ask. He moves aside and I walk into the front room. “I’ve not come back to stay John. I’ve come to talk to you and help sort the house out so we can get it sold. You know that’s what I want- it’s what we both need. A fresh start.”
“It’s not what I want Bella. You belong to me. I mean, you belong here with me. I love you Bella- we belong together. Just please stay and let us work this mess out?” he says full of pain. This is going to be harder than I thought.
“I’m sorry John, I’m happy where I am in London. I’ve moved on and you need to too.” I say looking around and noticing the place is a mess. There are takeaway boxes everywhere, plates and cups covered in mouldy food. Photo frames smashed on the floor. The smell is stale- it’s not been cleaned since I was last here. “John, what has happened, this isn’t like you. You’re normally so tidy?”
He slumps down on the sofa in response, his head in his hands, and begins to cry. He really sobs. “I’m sorry Bella I just can’t live without you. You’ve been by my side my whole adult life and I don’t know how to function without you. I’ve lost my job. I can’t pay the bills. I am nothing without you Bella. I need you.”
I sit on the sofa beside him and wrap an arm around him. He leans into me and cries into my shoulder. I feel responsible for him being this way. I just left him; he thought we would be together forever and I just walked away. “We will get you some help John, everything will be ok.” I sit with him for a minute rubbing his back. “First of all, let’s get this house cleaned up,” I say as he calms down. He nods and stands.
The next few hours we work together gathering up all the rubbish, washing the pots and giving everything a good clean. John starts to seem more like himself and I hope that I might be getting somewhere with him. He takes out the rubbish then when he comes back in, he locks the backdoor and puts the key in his pocket. I’m not sure why he needed to do that. I think it’s time I should be going.
“Well that looks much better doesn’t it,” I say as I look around the house. “Right, I’m going to get going now John. I’m going to speak to your family and we will make sure you’re alright. John, everything will be ok.” I take off the rubber gloves I’ve been wearing and put them under the sink.
“I know everything will be ok, because you’re not going anywhere,” he says suddenly. I look at him puzzled. He’s got that evil glint in his eyes again. I get a sick feeling in my stomach.
“Yes, I am. I’m going back to my parents now and then tomorrow I am going back to London. I will call in tomorrow though and check on you,” I say as I walk to the front door. I pull the handle but its locked. There’s no key in the door. I look around for keys. I don’t see any. “Have you got the key for the door John?” He just stands there looking at me with this strange look on his face. “Open the door John, you can’t keep me here. My parents know I am here and they will come looking for me.”
John shakes his head and smiles an evil grin and he reminds me of the Grinch. “When they arrive, you will tell them you have made a terrible mistake and you love me. You will say you are staying here and we are getting married. And you will make it believable.” He’s insane.
“Why would I say that?” I say, trying to keep my calm.
“Because if you don’t, I will make sure your parents pay.”
“Don’t be ridiculous John they will never believe that!” I’m starting to panic now. I try and discreetly reach around to get my phone out of my back jeans pocket, but it’s gone.
“You looking for this?” He holds up my phone. “You had a message from someone called Damien. Have you been cheating on me Bella?” He looks furious. He’s shouting in my face. I feel myself burning up. I feel faint and sick. He throws my phone across the room. It smashes into pieces- there’s no way that is going to save me now. I’ve been in this situation before. If I do as he asks, he will calm down.
“Damien is just a friend that’s all,” I say in a soft voice.
“Aarrgghh! You’ve slept with him haven’t you! Haven’t you?” he screams pulling my hair so hard and tilting my face up to his. I cry out with the pain. “This is mine!” He grabs me between my legs. I scream and shout and hit and kick him as much as I can. He slams my head into the door and the pain sends ringing in my ears. I remember the back door key is in his pocket. I try and grab it but he’s too strong for me. He pushes me to the floor.
BANG! BANG! BANG! Someone is at the front door, John grabs me and covers my mouth with his hand.
“Be quiet or this will end much worse,” he whispers in my ear.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
“OPEN THIS DOOR NOW OR I WILL KNOCK IT DOWN!” A male voice I don’t recognise bellows.
“Stay here and don’t move,” John grunts. Like hell I am; as soon as he opens that door I’ll scream and run. John puts the chain on and opens the door slightly “What do you want….”
BANG! The man kicks the door. It breaks the chain and swings open. I jump up and make a run for it. I push past John and the man standing in the doorway. He’s a big guy dressed all in black. John tries to grab me back but the man holds on to him. I don’t stop to thank him- I just run.
I get to my parents’ house and I have no choice but to tell them what’s happened. My dad is furious and goes round there. I beg him not to go but he’s always been stubborn. Mum and I chase after him but he’s gone in the car and we have to run. When we get there, the front door is open. Dad is in the living room standing over John. There’s blood all over his face and he’s not moving.
“What have you done?!” my mother shrieks.
“It wasn’t me.” dad says “Somebody beat me to it. I’ve phoned the police and an ambulance.”
Chapter 12
Bella
