"Do you ever think about running away?" Emma asked suddenly, her voice so small I almost did not hear it.
My heart jumped in my chest. For a moment, I could not breathe. Why would she ask that? Moreover, what made her think I wanted to run away.
Did she already notice Josh’s behavior? My lips parted, but I forced myself to stay calm as I swallowed down the shock that threatened to show on my face.
I stroked her hair gently, trying to keep my voice soft. "Why would you ask such a question, dear?"
Emma’s little shoulders stiffened against me, and for a while she remained silent. Her fingers played nervously with the hem of my shirt, twisting it until the fabric stretched. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel·fire·net
After a while, she finally whispered out, "Because... sometimes I feel like running away too."
Her confession made my blood run cold. My mind spun with wild imaginings of Josh doing something to her, making my blood boil, but it swiftly settled down.
I pulled her closer, keeping my tone light, trying my best not to let her feel my frustration and...fear.
"What do you mean, baby?" I questioned softly.
Emma took a shaky breath before she started to explain, "In the big house... with Rosa and the others. We... we used to whisper about it. My friends said we could sneak out. They said if we ran away, the bad men would not find us."
She paused, her eyes seemed distant as if she was reliving those moments, "One night, we even made a plan. Theo and Mira they my friends. We thought if we stayed quiet and waited until everyone was asleep, we could climb out through the kitchen window."
Her voice cracked a little. "But Rosa caught us before we could try. She did not yell at us, but..." Her lips quivered as tears streamed down her face.
I wanted to console her, but controlled myself for her to complete, "She told us we would get hurt if we ever tried again. And the next day... Theo and Mira... they were not there anymore."
Her tiny fingers gripped my hand with a strong grip as if she did not want to let it go, "I never saw them again."
My stomach dropped, bile burning at the back of my throat. I forced myself to nod slowly, hiding the storm raging inside me. "I am so sorry, baby," I murmured as I brushed a tear from her cheek.
Emma’s eyes reddened as she whispered out, "After that, I stopped thinking about running. But sometimes... I still wonder if I should have gone with them. Maybe I would be free now."
Her words shattered me. I pressed her against my chest, hugging her tightly, as if my arms alone could protect her from every monster in the world.
"You are here now," I whispered into her hair as I continued, "With me. And I will not ever let anything happen to you."
She sniffled, her small voice muffled against me. "Honestly... this place is not much better than that one. At least there... I had Rosa and my other friends I used to play with."
Her honesty was like a knife. I held her face gently, forcing her to look at me. "Then why do you want to stay here, Emma?"
She blinked at me, her big eyes glistening, and didn’t answer immediately, as she herself was unsure. But then she spoke up in her barely audible voice, "Because you are here with me."
My breath hitched. She rested her head against me again and added, "You make me feel safe, Mommy. Like I finally have someone who will not leave me behind."
Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them. I hugged her tighter, burying my face in her hair. "Oh, Emma..." My voice broke, but I forced it steady. "You are not alone anymore. I am here. Always and no matter what Josh says... no matter what happens... You are mine. You hear me? You are mine and only."
She nodded against me, her little arms wrapping around my waist with surprising strength.
In that moment, I did not care about the chains on my ankle, the darkness pressing in from every side, or the ticking clock counting down to Josh’s return. For that one fragile sliver of time, all that mattered was her heartbeat against mine.
And deep inside, where Josh could never reach, I made a vow.
If I ever escaped this nightmare, I would not run alone and would take her with me.
Yes, we would run together.
This time, no one, and I mean no one, would dare to stop us. And I will make sure of it.
Time passed by as Emma’s breathing slowed against my chest. Her eyelids fluttered, heavy.
The little rise and fall of her ribs became a quiet rhythm in the dark room, which felt steady, normal, and most of all comforting. I matched my breath to hers until my own racing heart slowed a bit.
She tucked her face into my neck and mumbled something half-asleep. I stroked her soft hair slowly, like I had imagined doing with a child someday. It felt like a borrowed memory from a life that did not even exist, and it made my head spin.
She fell asleep, but I didn’t. To be precise, I could not fall asleep knowing fully that tomorrow morning will come along with an unknown storm.
The chain on my ankle felt heavier in the silence of the room. It dug into my skin when I moved. I tried to ignore the pain and focus on this petite, innocent doll in my arms.
I counted breaths, seconds, and heartbeats to stop my thoughts from falling apart.
My mind switched from panic to planning. To escape from here, I had to gather as much information as possible, and to be able to do that, I had to play a part with that snake.