AllFreeNovel
Share Us
James grabs me firmly by the arm and guides me through the dark shop to the front entrance. Like a madman, he drives frantically back home while I helplessly sit in his passenger seat, replaying that terrible moment when I saw the word,minestaring up at me.
An icy chill runs down my spine as I recall all of the emotions I had felt when I was under someone else's control - fear, terror, anguish - it all comes rushing back like an avalanche.
I fight and fight to keep the gates of my mind closed until, finally, a great crack appears, and I feel the darkness begin to seep out slowly. My body aches from keeping the floodgates closed for so long, but it was all in vain.
James is trying to speak to me, but his words sound like jumbled nonsense in my mind. I walk blindly into my house, past the agents upstairs, and slam my bedroom door behind me.
The noise of James calling after me fades away as Sarah steps in and questions what happened.
Thank God.
I need to get away from everyone.
My emotions come crashing down, and I cannot contain the cries that escape from my throat. I reach the bathroom just in time to empty my stomach in the toilet bowl. Memories of him lash against my brain - his yellow teeth shining in a sinister smile as he leans closer towards me, his hot breath filling every corner of my skin with revulsion. Tears blind my vision as panic crashes over me like an unstoppable wave, and I feel as if a boa constrictor is slowly squeezing away all life from me. In a frenzy, I rip off my clothes and step into the shower, hoping the running water would drown out the noise of his laughter echoing in my head.
FOURTEEN
JAMES
Ilunge forward, desperate to follow Ava up the stairs, but Sarah moves in front of me, stopping me firmly with a hand on my chest.
“What the hell happened!”
“He sent her a Polaroid, taken when he had kidnapped her to the shop.Here.” I thrust the photo into Sarah's hands, and she stares at it, her eyes widening and her breath catching in her throat.
“Oh, my God! Is she alright?”
“I don't know. We all have to be hyper-vigilant now. Check that every security measure is functioning properly--all the cameras and agents should be on high alert. Do a full sweep of the house and boathouse, inside and outside, and make sure that nothing else has been left behind for her to find.”
Sarah presses her lips together before replying firmly, “You got it, Boss."
My heart thumps wildly as I take the steps two at a time. My heart plunges into my stomach as I march up the stairs, anger and sadness bubbling in my core. I approach Ava's door and hesitate before knocking, my knuckles rapping against the wood like a heavy drum roll.
No response.
"Ava, it's James. Can I come in?"
Still nothing.
The sound of running water can be heard from within her room, making me even more uneasy. Taking a deep breath, I try the knob and find it unlocked. Steeling myself for whatever I might find inside, I enter the room and close the door quietly behind me, not seeing any sign of Ava.
As I move closer to the bathroom door, my fear rises - why isn't she answering?
The door creaks open to reveal a foggy bathroom, the sea-green tiles reflecting off the steamy mirror. Ava's sobs echo through the room, and I hurry closer until I can make out her figure huddled in the corner of the shower, trembling uncontrollably.
My protective instincts overwhelm me, and I enter without hesitation, desperate to shield her from whatever darkness has taken hold of her.
I quietly go in and pull back the shower curtain, careful not to startle her.
She has her knees tucked up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them, and her face buried. Her body shakes in rhythm with her sobs.
I get in the shower with her and pull her into my arms.
“Ava, it’s okay,” I urgently whisper, trembling as I grasp her tightly in my arms.
With an iron grip, she clings to me, tears streaming down her face in endless streams that spark into a frenzied sobbing. Quickly turning the shower off, I snatch her robe and a towel and run towards her bedroom, cradling her close to me.
Sitting on the bed, I observe the thin white scars lining her body like painful reminders of the horrors she had survived – a reminder that would stay with her forever. Uncovering herself, she silently stares off into nothingness, forcing me to tie the sash around her waist and gingerly dry her long, dark hair with a towel.
