Escape

Emily’s Pov

I watch the clock against the wall for the 100th time now. Linda was supposed to be back by 10, it’s already 1 PM, and I haven’t heard from her. I pulled my phone out and there were no messages, no calls from her.

What could’ve happened to her? Surely you don’t take that long to evaluate someone?

The patient called this morning to go to a house call. She actually asked for me, but Linda took the phone before I could answer it and said she will go. The lady apparently wasn’t strong enough to get to the hospital, so we had to send someone out to evaluate and stabilise the patient to get to the ED.

I haven’t heard from Blake in 5weeks. I’ve stopped training as well. Blake proved that night that I was weak, not just in my body, but in my mind as well.

I walked to the phone and check the time of the call and the caller id.

“Nooo, nooo, nooo” I half yelled. Confused, twitching my eyes and blinking a few times to make sure that is not the number.

I double-checked, and it was indeed my mother’s number. When I looked up, Linda and the ambulance nurse came into the ED with documents.

“Where is she?” I yell and run to the ambulance.

“Emily, wait Em!” Linda calls back. I opened the ambulance door, but my mother was not inside. I turned around and Linda’s face looks horrific.

“Where is she?” I asked, with fear trembling in my voice. My entire body was shaking while Linda’s eyes filled with tears. She shook her head, and I dropped to the floor.

“No, no-no-no. It’s not true. Linda, she is not dead. What happened?”

“The police were there. They said it looks like a suicide. She overdosed on heroin.” I jumped up and forcefully wiped my tears with my hands.

“No, he did this to her. She was clean. She never used, she stopped a year after my father passed on. He did this to her. He is a monster.” I grab my bag and run to the front door.

“Where are you going?” I heard Linda yell. Rage took my body over and he needs to pay for what he did. I can remember a few things Blake taught me, but he will pay, even if it means dying myself.

The closer the taxi gets to the house, the louder my breathing became. My body started shaking with all the memories flooding back like a storm that was brewing and it finally opened up inside me again.

The house is quiet. I gave the taxi man a tip and walked to the front porch. My hands were shaking when I tried to open it.

“I know what you’re doing here. Better get going, little girl.” I heard his voice coming from the kitchen, and that was enough for the anger to fill me and kick the door open.

“You did this to her! She stopped using. You killed my mother.” I yell at him, but he was just sitting there, high as a kite.

“Your mother overdosed because she never saw you. You were always too busy to visit and...”

“And she was stuck here with you. That’s why she OD, not that I believe it for one second, you made her do it.” he stands up and all my childhood fear is crushing my insides while he walks closer to me.

My eyes scanned the place for an object but all it does is show me flashes from all the corners where he has nearly beaten me to death.

“So you think now that you’ve grown up that you’re strong?” he slaps my face and I throbbed backwards.

*control your breathing * I heard Blakes’s voice suddenly in my mind.

*Breathe Emily, you have one shot, take back the control* his voice became much louder. I gain control and stand firm on my feet.

“Yes, I believe I did,” I said back to him and he smirked. I hold my fist in position for when he comes closer again.

“Your weak, you just prove it by coming here. What did you think? That you will be able to beat me little girl?” he came closer and I lift my fist but he ditch it and whack me in the face till I hit the ground.

*Bring your left foot as fast as you can in, and hit my legs with it.* I jumped to my legs and bring out my left foot and hit him as hard as I can on his legs, making him fall to the ground. He still has a grin on his face, making me even angrier.

“So, you learned a few tricks, haven’t you?” he said while he stands up. I should’ve taken the opportunity and hit him while he was down, but I guess the fear is still inside me, and he is taking advantage of that.

“Your mother was weak, and that got her killed, just like you, so...” I push forward with a lot of anger inside me, and all my training of control and breathing was down the drain when he said my mother was weak.

..........

I opened my eyes, lying on the sidewalk. My left eye can barely open. My ribs feel broken again and my knuckles are busted. I can’t remember a damn thing. How did I end up here and where is that monster?

I looked around, but it was so dark and my eyes can hardly stay open. I pulled my phone from my back pocket, but it was cracked.

I suddenly think of Blake when he taught me the element of surprise.

My stepfather wanted to make me angry, so I did not surprise him. He knew by using the word weak and my mother in one sentence that I will get angry.

I finally made it to my feet and started walking. I have no idea where to go.

I don’t even know what time it is or how far I am from the city. I finally made it to the highway and called a taxi.

*We are rhythmical elements. The songs we know by heart are a source of independence. They are also tools of betrayal and fantasy, hooks and ladders for traps and escape* I remembered the words all of a sudden when Blake showed me moves with dancing. I felt amazed that night, not by just how we danced, but by how close I felt to someone. The fantasy in the music and in him and not just the traps and escape.

I need an escape now. I need to get out of this trap.

“Where to miss?” the taxi driver asked.

“Mister Blakes’s apartment please,” I said and glared out of the window.