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They used to talk during meals. She’d ask about his day or tell him about her patients at the hospital, but since that night in Nevada, everything was different. “You never told me who you connected with the other day,” he ground out into the silence.
“It was no one,” she said quickly, as if Luke didn’t matter. In truth, she’d enjoyed their little chat earlier and didn’t want to share any part of the small amount of happiness she’d found in it with Russell.
“It must’ve been someone. Who was it? I want a name.” Russell never demanded a name before and Orly wasn’t about to give him one now.
“He didn’t give me a name,” she lied. “The connection was too weak. I sensed he was in trouble, but I couldn’t help him.” Fortunately, she'd had a few instances where that had actually been the case, so Russell just harrumphed and continued eating. Orly mostly pushed her food around her plate, taking small bites every few minutes, but she wasn’t very hungry.
After dinner, Russell stood and left the room, expecting her to clean up the kitchen. Alone again, she loaded the dishwasher, wiped down the table and countertops, and put the leftovers in the fridge. When she retreated to the bedroom, Russell was in his office with the door closed. She knew better than to bother him when he was in there, so she just got ready for bed.
She changed out of her clothes into a tank top and pajama shorts, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and climbed under the covers. She planned on recording a video in the morning after Russell left for work. He had no idea about the small tripod she’d gotten for her phone or how she used the coffee table in the living room where she had the best natural lighting to make her videos. She was always careful not to show her face or anything besides her hands, the cards, and the tabletop. She also used a small microphone that she stored in the back of her sock and undergarment drawer, a place Russell never went into. Thanks to her growing channel and the several sponsorships she’d done over the last few months, Orly felt she had enough money saved up to leave Russell, rent her own place, and even buy a used car. The only problem was that he’d never let her go. He’d proven that after the last time she tried to leave and he found her in less than eight hours.
This time when she left, Orly knew she’d have to get farther faster and would forever be on the run from a man with infinite resources and ample funds. Orly knew what she had to do. But despite how bad it was living with Russell, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to take on a lifestyle of constantly being on the run. Maybe it was just easier to just stay with Russell. The thought made her wince, but leaving wouldn’t be easy or safe. There was just so much to consider.
Lying on her side of the bed in the dark, she sighed, hating that she was even considering staying. She pushed her thoughts of Russell aside for now and let her mind drift to Luke. She wanted to reach out to him and make sure he was okay. Of all the people she’d helped, and there had been hundreds, she didn’t understand why she was so drawn to this particular man. Or why he was so drawn to her. She knew growing attached to someone she’d helped probably wasn’t healthy for either of them, but she couldn’t ignore the strong pull.
Just as she was about to give in, a foreign fear snaked up her spine and a shrieking sound engulfed her thoughts.
Oh God, no! Please, stop! No. Please, don’t hurt me! The unfamiliar female’s voice came barreling through Orly’s mind, nearly sending her right off the bed. Orly tightened her grip on the comforter as the woman’s panic slithered through Orly’s body, clawing relentlessly at her thoughts. Please, someone help me! No! Don’t touch me. Get away!
Some nights were worse than others and it looked like tonight was going to be a tough one. But Orly just let out a breath and did the only thing she could do. She reached out with her mind and focused all her efforts on answering the terrified woman. Slow down. Take a breath. The connection wasn’t strong. The woman’s fear was the only thing coming through loud and clear, which wasn’t allowing Orly to get a sense of the kind of trouble she was in, much less where she was.
The woman stilled just as a fist collided with the side of her face and she fell to the ground. The pain spread through Orly’s cheek, but she ignored the sensation for now, knowing it would fade as soon as the connection was broken. Stay down. Don’t move. Pretend you're unconscious. Hopefully, that will buy us a few seconds. Anything you think, I can hear. Where are you?
The woman’s silence seemed to last several minutes even if it was mere seconds.
I can help you, but only if you help me. What’s going on, and where are you? What’s your name? Orly pressed, hoping to get some sort of response from her.
Evelyn Darby. The woman answered with so much hesitation, Orly was sure if the woman had spoken aloud, she wouldn’t have made an audible sound.
Where are you? Orly asked again, hoping to keep her flow of thought going.
My apartment. He’s hurting me. Please, help me.
I need an address. Orly thought, already sitting up in bed. She flicked on her bedside lamp and rummaged in the top drawer of her nightstand for a pen and paper.
I just moved in. I don’t remember the building number. It’s in Salt Lake City on Brookhaven Court. Apartment 302. It’s a blue building with white shutters.
Orly sighed, as she put down the pad and pen without writing anything down, and turned off the lamp. Okay. Listen to me. I’m going to get you help, but I need you to stay alive. Can you do that for me?
He has a knife.
Orly was just about to answer the woman when Russell stormed into the room carrying his tablet. “Nothing and no one, huh?” He demanded, flipping on the overhead light and grabbing Orly by the arm hard enough to leave a mark.
“What are you talking about?” Orly asked, truly confused by his words. She couldn’t talk to him and help Evelyn at the same time, and she really didn’t want to leave Evelyn alone right now.
“Did I forget to mention that one of the security guys from the police luncheon is a friend of mine? He sent me the footage from the security cameras. You lied to me then and you lied to me again tonight. I saw you using that phone, so I had him send me a log of all the outgoing calls made from the payphone by the restrooms that day. And what do you know? Someone called the Dallas Police Department at exactly the time you were supposedly using the restroom. So, Orly, you’re going to tell me why you called them. Right now.”
Orly’s entire body flushed with the heat of her anger. Not only had he been checking up on her, but he was keeping her from helping a woman in need. “Why do you care?” She nearly screamed, bolting out of the bed, despite his fingers still digging into her arm. She was on her feet, not caring if Russell hit her. “You’ve taken everything from me. You forced me to sell my car to make sure I couldn’t drive away. You made me quit my job. You forbade me from going to the coffee shop up the street, and now you want to control who I help? No!” That outburst felt so good, she was nearly buzzing on the inside as she yanked her arm out of his grasp and started for the door in search of her cell phone that she’d left on the charger in the kitchen. She didn’t like making these kinds of calls from her personal phone, but tonight, she simply didn’t have a choice. Just as she was about to leave the room, two strong arms grabbed her from behind and shoved her to the floor.
She screeched, landing on her right hip with a painful thud. Russell knew just how hard to strike to ensure it hurt without breaking any bones, yet every kick, punch, and slap hurt just enough to make her eyes well with tears. When he finally stopped, he leaned over her and whispered, “if you ever speak to me like that again, I’ll make sure you never speak again. Period.” Then he walked out of the room, turning off the light on his way out, as if he hadn’t just bruised every inch of his fiancee’s body and left her lying on the floor in a fetal position.
She was tempted to stay there and let the darkness enfold her, but then she remembered Evelyn. The woman still needed her help, but there was just no way Orly could get up right now and make that call. She hated how weak she was, how easily Russell could hurt her.
Swiping at the tears that came too easily these days, Orly reached out to Luke, carefully putting up her guard so he wouldn’t feel or sense her condition. She’d let her guard down with him the last time, and regretted it, fearing she’d let him feel too much of her inner turmoil. Luke? She sent his name out with her thoughts in hopes that he would answer.
He perked up at the sound of her calling. Hey, you’re back. Sorry if I -
I need your help. If Orly was going to help Evelyn, she was going to need Luke to make the call for her right now.
