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Before—before losing them, before that day, before all the bad things, before my world imploded—I used to think a nice soak could solve anything.
When he comes in later that day, I’m attempting to build a house with the DVD cases and the books he’s left me. He drops to the floor in front of me. “Did you like my gifts?”
“They were very thoughtful,” I say carefully. “Thank you.”
“I thought of you when I saw the rose.”
I want to ask him where he saw it, where he might’ve been, but I don’t want to press my luck. “Could I ask a favor?” I knock the house down, then stack the DVD cases carefully before standing and placing them back on the dresser.
“Depends on what it is.”
“Is there any way I could take a shower?”
He stares at me as if this is an unheard-of concept. “A shower?”
“Yeah. I’m just so dirty down here. It’s really starting to bother me. You could lock me inside the bathroom and then bring me right back down when I’m done.” My eyes dart back and forth between his, trying to get a read on what he’s thinking. “Please, Chris. I just want to feel clean again.”
He presses his lips together, looking around the room. “I can’t do that, Mari. There are windows in the bathroom, and I don’t trust you not to escape. Unless… Unless you want me to be in the room with you.”
I swallow. This feels like a test. He doesn’t give me long to put in my answer.
“How about this? I’ll bring you a bucket of clean water, some soap, and a washcloth so you can clean up. I know it’s not exactly a shower, but we can compromise, and I’ll meet you in the middle.”
I fight against a sigh. He’s right. It’s better than nothing. “Thank you, Chris.” I glance toward the bed. “Is there any way you could change my sheets, too? Or bring me some fresh ones so I could swap them? They’re starting to feel gross.” Probably another thing for him to sell on his creepy blog.
Marietta Morgan slept on these sheets! You can own Marietta Morgan’s sweat! Hair and skin particles included at no additional charge.
He studies the bed. “Yeah, I can do that.”
He disappears from the room and returns a few minutes later with a stack of clean sheets and a new comforter. The fresh scent of fabric softener is a welcome surprise in this room, which has started to reek of shit, body odor, stale food, and sweat.
He puts the sheets and comforter down and turns back to me. “Can I trust you not to try anything while I do this?”
There’s a tickle at the back of my throat as I answer. “Yes.”
“Good.” He leans over the bed, tearing back my comforter and sheet, then rips the fitted sheet from the corners, one by one. He tosses them into a pile, and I catch a whiff of my musty smell in the air. As he leans down to put the fresh sheet on the dingy mattress, I decide it’s time.
Now or never.
Bracing myself, I wait until he’s bent over at the end of the bed to act. With all of my strength, I shove him forward so his head collides with the wooden footboard. He grabs his forehead, collapsing on the ground.
“Agh!What the hell was that for?”
I don’t wait. With every ounce of energy I have left in me, I run. I close the door and lock it behind me. I dart up the stairs, knowing he has the key and will be coming right behind me but hoping I’ve given myself enough of a head start. I reach the back door and turn the lock, pulling it open.
As I reach for the lock on the storm door, I hear him at the bottom of the stairs. He’s coming, but I’m faster. I swing open the storm door and pull the main door closed.
Still moving, I take in my surroundings. Everywhere I look, I’m enveloped by fields. There’s nothing else.
Nowhere to go.
Nothing to do.
A green, rusting car sits in the driveway, but I have no keys and no idea how to hot-wire vehicles. I should’ve looked for a key, but I didn’t have time. I still don’t. I have to figure out what I’m doing right now. I look left and right, trying to decide which way I should run. My bare feet burn on the gravel driveway as I race forward, realizing the fields are my best option.
“Mari?”
Stupidly, I turn toward the sound, startled by how close he is and regretting it in an instant. He’s right there. Right behind me.
