Page 95 of Loving Violet
The darkness presses in on me, but amidst the terror, my mind clings to memories of Austin and Adrian. Their smiles, their laughter, the moments we’ve shared. I focus on those memories, drawing strength from them.
I need to stay strong. For Adrian. For Austin. For this beautiful family that we’ve created. I can’t give up now.
As I sit there in the dark waiting for whatever comes next, I silently vow to fight. With all of this silence, my mind begins to wander. This cannot be my future. I start to remember the notes he left and am still in disbelief that John is the man behind them. He has always been a nice customer, and he helped Josy with repairs in the coffee shop.
How could I have been so blind?He was right in front of me this whole time.Why would he do this?
John has a beautiful family. I think about Miriam and how I hope she never finds out about the man she married. I feel for her and their children and what all of this will bring to them, they will be devastated.
Get out of your head and get out of here.I shake my head, trying to rid myself of thoughts that don’t belong at this moment. I take a deep breath, focusing on the here and now. I need to come up with a plan. My eyes start to adjust to the darkness of the tunnel, and I take in my surroundings as best I can. I glance around the area and try to spot anything that could be used to help me. I shift my position, testing the strength of the tape around my wrists. It’s tight, but maybe I can loosen it.
As I move my hands, trying to create some space between the tape and my skin, I listen carefully for any sound that might indicate John’s return. The fear of him coming back keeps my adrenaline pumping, but I use that fear to fuel my determination. I can’t let him win. I can’t let him take me away from my life, from the people I love.
The seconds stretch into agonizing minutes as I work at the tape binding my wrists. My fingers ache from the effort, but I refuse to stop. I can feel the tape weakening, the faintest give in the adhesive, and it fuels my determination. Every tiny shift feels monumental, a small victory in this nightmare.
Just a little more. Keep going.
My shoulders burn, and my breath comes in shallow, quiet gasps. I have to stay calm. I can’t let him hear me. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat screaming at me to hurry, but I force myself to stay focused. I can’t afford a single mistake.
Finally, the tape loosens enough for me to move my wrists a fraction. I wriggle them carefully, testing the freedom I’ve gained, and then pull harder. My skin is raw, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out. After a few seconds, one hand slips free.
I stifle a sob of relief, clenching my trembling fingers into a fist to keep them from shaking too loudly. Quickly, I attack the remaining tape with my free hand, peeling it away with more precision now that I have full control. The adhesive pulls at my skin, leaving a burning sting in its wake, but I don’t stop until both hands are free.
Tearing the tape from my mouth is the final hurdle. It hurts, ripping at my skin, but I grit my teeth and yank it away. The sharp sting is nothing compared to the relief of being able to take a full, deep breath. For the first time in what feels like hours, I can move. I can act.
I scan the tunnel frantically, searching for something—anything—I can use as a weapon. But there’s nothing in this god forsaken tunnel.
My blood turns to ice. John is coming back.
I drop to the floor, scrambling to tuck my legs beneath me, pressing my hands together behind my back as though they’re still bound. My heart races as I shove the crumpled tape behind me on the floor. I press my lips together, praying he won’t notice that the tape is gone.
The door creaks open, and John storms in, muttering to himself. His hair is disheveled, his face red with frustration, and I can smell the acrid tang of sweat and dirt as he moves closer.
“Get up,” he snaps, his tone sharper now.
I don’t move fast enough for him. His hands grip my arms roughly, hauling me to my feet. I stumble, my body still stiff from being bound, but he doesn’t care. He drags me toward the door, his grip like a vice.
My mind races, calculating. He hasn’t noticed. He doesn’t know that I’m free.Not yet.
I have one chance. And I can’t waste it. He takes me outside, we are in a forest, and the moonlight provides only a faint glow. The air is chilly, and my shirt and yoga pants do little to keep me warm. As soon as I take my first breath of fresh air, I decide now is the time to run away from John. It doesn’t matter that I have no clue where we are; if I don’t go, I might lose my only chance.
John pulls me toward a parked car nearby, his grip tight on my arm. When he gets distracted, fumbling with his keys, I seize my opportunity. I kick him in the shin with all my might. John goes down with a grunt, and while he’s doubled over, I kick him in the groin from behind making him yell in pain.
“What have you done?” He gasps, but I don’t stay to listen. I start running toward the forest.
The cold air bites at my skin as I run. My breaths come out in visible puffs, my feet hammer against the uneven ground. The night is silent except for the sound of my footsteps and the distant rustling of leaves. I look back a few times but can’t see anything. Still, I don’t stop. I need to get away from him.
“Little flower, come back to me, please. It’s time to go,” John’s voice calls from the distance, but I ignore him.
I keep running, my heart thunders in my chest. The chill seeps into my bones, making me shiver, but I push through the discomfort. The ground is rough and I stumble over roots and rocks. I have to keep moving, I cannot stop.
Suddenly, I step on a rock and lose my balance. I tumble down a hill, hitting my head on the way down. My vision darkens, and dizziness washes over me. Nausea grips my stomach, and I take deep breaths, trying to stay conscious. I can’t stop now.
I still hear John running in the distance, his sounds getting closer.
I stay quiet, holding my breath and my pain. I need to stay hidden, stay still. My heart races, and I pray he doesn’t find me. The forest is my only cover, and I cling to it, hoping it’s enough to keep me safe.
Once my pain subsides, I start to stand up and keep running.
