Page 54 of Jealous of the Clouds
I had to. I had no choice.
But once he had me bound and gagged, everything changed in an instant.
The front door opened—hard. I know because it banged into the wall behind it. Plaster rattled down to the floor as it fell.
A woman, with salt and pepper frizz, glasses, and a long tweed coat barged into the room, took a look at me on the bed, and screamed, “Josh! What the fuck? You said you wouldn’t involve anyone else!”
She turned on her heel and slammed the bedroom door shut behind her. They were arguing out there. Their voices rose as things became more heated. But they might as well have been speaking another language, for all I could make out of their words.
Was she here to help him?
To save me?
Who the hell wasshe, anyway?
And then, when the shrieking had reached a crescendo and the shattering of a glass punctuated the argument, putting a period in place, silence reigned.
I heard only the front door open and then close.
I lay there for hours, wondering if anyone would come for me. Darkness claimed the room completely and I imagined things waiting for me in the darkest shadows beneath the bed.I even hallucinated shadow figures moving in the darkness, whispering, staring at my helpless form on the bed. My limbs hurt and tingled from being unable to move. I wanted to cry out, but the duct tape over my mouth effectively silenced me.
She came back in an hour or two. I’m guessing. It could have been fifteen minutes. It could have been seven hours.
When she opened the bedroom door and switched on the overhead light, I saw a face filled with compassion and kindness.
“He’s gone,” she said. “No more fear. No more worries.” She bent toward me. “Let’s get you out of those restraints.”
I noticed the knife in her hand was the same kind Josh had held. Who knew? Maybe it was the same one.
She began cutting at my bindings, being careful not to nick me. “This is gonna hurt. I’m sorry,” she said before ripping the duct tape away from my mouth.
I gasped. It did hurt. Nevertheless, I winced and then thanked her.
“Where is he?” I wondered.
“He’s where he’s no longer a threat. To you or anyone else.” She eyed me, searching, I suppose, for a sign of understanding in my features.
Was she saying what I thought she was?
Was she my savior? Would she help bring about an end to this nightmare? Had she already done so?
My questions would have to wait until my shock subsided. At that moment, I was unable to voiceanything. It was too hard.
“Come on.” She helped me sit up. “We’re going to go to your friend Ted now. Okay?”
“He’s okay?” I did manage to ask.
“He’s fine. Whatever my brother told you was a lie.”
“So no car accident on Lake Shore Drive?”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry he manipulated you like that.”
“And what about Bailey Anderson? He’s not dead?”
She smiled. “He’s as alive as you or me.”
“Then this horror is over?”
