Page 129 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Good,” is all I hear, but it’s not through the phone. Before I can turn around and see where he is, his hand comes over my mouth, and he has me in a headlock. “Don’t make a sound, little lamb.”

I feel something prick my neck, and the entire world goes dark.

I feel like Igot hit by a bus.

My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the darkness as memories of what happened rush back.

Vince is in danger. My family is in danger. Ralph was hiding in my closet waiting for me.I got lured into one of his games yet again.

God, I hope this is the end. I hope that whatever he has planned is over tonight, and I hope it ends with him behind bars or dead, and not the other option.

He might kill me this time.

No, he’s not going to win. He doesn't get to win anymore. Not after all he’s put me through. Not after all I have to lose.

I sit up, and what I see makes my body go cold.

I’m in my old house, the one where all of this started. The house my parents kept after Ralph assaulted me inside it.

It’s not just the house I recognize—it’s the room. My old room surrounds where I sit on my bed, and when I realize what he’s doing, I panic.

He’s recreating that night. He’s giving himself a redo. He’s keeping his promise.

“This isn't over, Bree. No matter where you end up, I’ll find you. If you can’t count on anything else, count on that. You’re mine.”

I shiver where I sit. When I look down, I notice he dressed me in the same pajamas I was wearing that night. The same book sits on my bed,next to my iPad. It’s all the same. Every detail cemented in my head sits in front of me.

For him, this night is the memory of when he finally got his hands on me.

For me, it was the worst moment of my life.

And both of us remember every detail.

I’m gonna be sick.

How long did it take him to do this? Did he recreate my old house just for this? I thought a family was living here after my parents sold this place, but I wouldn't know if it went back on the market. I’ve tried to erase this house from my memories. I don’t come back to visit, don't even drive near this street.

Is that why he spent most of this year taunting me instead of actually doing anything? He was waiting until the house was perfectly set up so he could make me relive it all. This is his final move. This is his endgame.

This is the grand finale.

I practically force myself to calm down. I don't feel his presence in the room yet or in the house, as a matter of fact. There's a stillness to the air that’s putting me more on edge, which was exactly his plan.

Ralph is taking my safety nets away. He’s not going to let anything interrupt us this time.

I try to move from my bed, but as I pull my arms from my sides, a rattling sound breaks the silence.

He handcuffed me to the bed.I try to move my feet, and the same sound comes.

I’m trapped. I can’t escape even if I wanted to.

I’m a sitting duck, and Ralph is coming for me.

Even if I try to scream, I doubt anybody will hear me.

A crash downstairs startles me, and memories of that night rush back into my mind.

At least this time, I know it’s him. He lost the surprise factor. I’m still afraid, but I know what’s coming.

---