Page 137 of Hidden in Memories
Hard.
His expression is full of such venom that Filip instinctively presses himself against the back of the chair. He has never encountered anyone who radiates so much hatred.
And they have never even met before.
He stares as the man moves closer. He is sure he’s never seen him before, and yet there is something familiar about his face.
The man says nothing, and now Filip sees that he is carrying a green plastic container in each hand. He puts them down on one of the round tables and unscrews the caps, one after the other.
The smell makes Filip recoil in horror.
It is gasoline.
The man ignores Filip. It is as if he is invisible, as if he doesn’t exist.
The man begins to splash the gasoline around the chair where Filip is sitting. Pools of liquid are immediately absorbed by the dark carpet. The acrid fumes fill the air, making Filip cough.
Fear explodes in his chest.
“Mom,” he whimpers helplessly into the gag. “Emily.”
The man continues to ignore him as he splashes the gasoline in a long trail behind him, then disappears down the stairs.
The fumes are nauseating. Soon Filip feels so ill that he has to fight not to be sick.
He tries not to think about what would happen if he threw up into the gag. The fear of choking on his own vomit makes him swallow frenetically, over and over again.
Then the tears come, dripping from his nose onto the gag. All the snot and mucus make it hard to breathe, but he can’t stop.
He doesn’t want to burn to death.
He doesn’t want to die.
“Mom,” he groans quietly.
Save me.
111
It is almost six thirty in the evening, and Hanna can feel that she has been on the phone for many, many hours. Her back is protesting and her glutes are stiff. There is an ache just below one ear, even though she is using a headset.
“You just don’t get it!” Mogren yells.
“I’m sorry,” Hanna says, backing off immediately.
They have started to talk about how badly his mother was treated after the brutal rape.
“She had to carry all the blame, and she lost her job even though she was the victim. Her parents kicked her out, she had nowhere to go.”
“It sounds terrible. I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like.”
Mogren has been repeating the same thing for the last hour. It really is a dark and tragic story, and Hanna’s heart bleeds for the young woman.
“That fucking hotel only wanted to protect its own reputation.” He lowers his voice, as if the rage triggered by his memories is threatening to choke him. “They didn’t care what happened to my mom. Or me. They can burn in hell. Just like the vile creature who is supposed to be my father!”
“What do you mean?” Hanna rests her chin on her hand to ease the tension in the back of her neck.
“He got away scot-free. No one held him accountable; it was only my mom who had to pay. He carried on with his life as if nothing had happened, while she worked her fingers to the bone to bring me up alone. And thenshecame back.”
