Page 14 of Into The Darkness

“I can send a doctor to you—”

“No, Dad, listen.” I chuckled, trying to perfect my acting skills in order to pull this off.

“I just have a really bad period. My cramps are killing me.”

My dad cleared his throat. Just as I expected.

“I really need some extra heavy tampons delivered to my doorstep so I don’t have to get out,” I complained, whining a little bit to push my point forward.

“Y-you don’t have any?”

“No, Dad. I didn’t expect my flow this month to be extra heavy.” I paused. “While you’re at it, I need some painkillers too.”

“I’ll get grocery delivery.”

“No!” Damn it, why’d I not think he’d call in a delivery.

“It’s embarrassing for a peer to deliver me tampons.” I went back out to the window, pulled it open just enough to see the bodyguard—my dad definitely didn’t hire—sitting in his car.

“Call up whoever is sitting across the street and ask them to get it for me. I’m home right now. I’ll leave the light on, and have them just drop it off at the steps. It’s a bloody mess in here.”

“I don’t have anyone sitting outside—”

“Dad, stop lying to me. I see him.” There was a heavy pause.

“I did it to keep you safe, Em.”Ugh.I knew he was protecting me, but this conversation wasn’t about that; I just needed the guy to leave so I could sneak out. Dad had no other reason to think I wasn’t telling the truth. I’d never lied to my father, and although I was lying now, I didn’t feel bad about it.

Okay, fine, maybe I felt a little guilty, but I was also trying to live my life. As a child who was sheltered for most of her life, I wanted to live a little, especially with my college roommate and friends.

“I am not complaining about it, Dad. I’m just not as naïve as I look. Can you please ask whoever it is to get me some tampons? Super-size, in the green packaging?”

My dad sighed.

“I promise I am not going anywhere. Honestly, I am just sitting over the toilet, bleeding, cramping, and puking.” I held the speaker part of my phone with my hand and giggled because that is exactly what Dad thought periods were. He thought we literally gushed blood like in childbirth every month.

“Okay, I will call them and tell them to go.”Fuck yes.My plan worked. I did a small little dance in my room. This was luck. Complete and total luck, but however it got me here, I was just so happy it did.

“Hurry,” I added for effect before I thanked my father and hung up. As I peeled back the curtain, the blacked-out SUV pulled out. This was perfect.

The store was fifteen minutes away by car, and by the time they went in and checked out, I knew we had about thirty-five minutes or so to get out of the apartment. I double-checked my outfit and walked out of the room.

Just as I headed out, Maddy and Beatrice gave me a whistle from the living room.

“Looking good, girl.”

“Fire, babe.”

“There is one issue, I don’t have a mask?”

“I come bearing gifts.” Beatrice squealed and ran over to her purse where she grabbed an array of masks. She threw them on the counter. Thank fuck, because this mask would be the only hope I had in keeping my anonymity and dodging my dad’s bodyguards. Although, if everything went according to plan, then they’d have no reason to suspect me leaving the apartment.

“Beatrice is part of the drama program. She is a sophomore in the acting studies department, so I asked if she could borrow, er, steal, some of the masks they had backstage for us.”

“All assuming I was going to come?” I cocked my head to the side.

“Babe, there was never another option.” I rolled my eyes, then grabbed one of the black lace masks. It was understated and simple, but I wasn’t into anything frilly. It would cover my face the most out of the others, which was my main concern because I didn’t want Walsh to know what I was doing.

I grabbed a small black crossbody bag, then shoved my wallet, ID, and planner inside of it.

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