Page 73 of Losing Control
I have no idea where we are going as all I can think about is blocking out the pain enough so that I don’t throw up.
“We won’t be long and then I’m going to look after you. I’m going to put all of this right and make sure that no one comes between us again.”
I wake with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed, causing a shooting pain to cascade down the right side of my skull. I want to cry out, but I put my hand over my mouth to stifle any noise.
The nightmare that just woke me has left me sweating, my body drenched. It takes me a few moments to calm down as I concentrate on breathing in and out slowly.
I look around the small bedroom and see that I am alone. Breathing a sigh of relief, I prick my ears to listen for any sounds coming from outside the door, but I hear nothing. I want to eradicate the images of Michael hitting me out of my mind, but of course they are ingrained, and I fear that they may never be erased.
The room is dark, and I gingerly move to the edge of the bed, allowing myself to take a moment to allow the slight dizziness in my head to come to a stop. Once the dizziness has subsided, I slowly get to my feet, my legs feeling weak with the effort of standing up.
Taking deep, steady breaths, I move one foot forward, careful not to make any sound. The last thing that I want to do is alert Michael to the fact that I am awake. I need to get out of here, no matter what state I’m in.
Another step taken, another sigh of relief.
I don’t have a plan, but my mind focuses on freedom.
I can’t stay in this apartment with a man who wants to control my every move.
I can’t allow myself to be sucked back in by him.
I never wanted to be this woman. A woman who allowed herself to be abused, mentally and physically. I never imagined that it would happen to me, but then again, no woman would imagine this kind of life as the one that she wants to live.
I make it to the bedroom door, my heart racing, adrenaline pumping through me. I place my hand on the handle of the door and urge myself to be strong.
You can do this, Lucy. You have to get out.
If you don’t, he will keep you here, like a prisoner.
With that thought in mind, I push the handle down and open the door a slither. I peek through the gap and can see that the light is on in the kitchen, but there is still no noise. I open the door some more, my ears pricked. I only open the door enough to squeeze my body through. I put my hand over my mouth to muffle the sound of my heavy breathing and my eyes stay fixed on the kitchen doorway.
Another step and I’m in the hall.
A couple more and I am stood adjacent to the kitchen doorway on my right, and the front door on my left.
I feel like I want to pass out, but that isn’t an option. I can’t let this opportunity pass me by. If Michael hasn’t heard me already, then there is a good chance that I can get out of here.
A side-step to the left, and then another.
I am inches away from the front door when there is an almighty banging. My back clashes with the wall as I stumble backwards, my heart palpitating with fright.
It takes me a few seconds to register that the banging is coming from the other side of the front door.
“MICHAEL!” an angry voice shouts. “MICHAEL, OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!”
Oh my God, it’s Cal! Cal’s come to get me.
With a renewed batch of adrenaline, I rush to the front door, but before I can lay my hand on the handle, an arm snakes its way around my waist causing me to jolt, an involuntary shriek coming from my mouth.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t do that,” Michael sneers in my ear, his lips touching my ear lobe. His tone is menacing, and I know that, at this precise moment, I’m not getting out of here, not by a long shot.
Chapter Fifty-Three
The climax
“Michael, I wasn’t doing anything.” A brazen lie that I know will piss him off unless I can convince him otherwise.
“Don’t insult me by fucking lying, Lucy,” he sneers, his lips by my ear. The banging on the door continues.
