Erin quickly dropped my arm and pulled his scarf over his face.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckgqH74dLg
“How did you know it was me?”
“You smell of home. What are you doing here? You know you can’t be here. Kali has a vendetta out for all the Bluegaven group.”
“Yes, I am aware of this. You honestly think this is the first time we have had this talk?”
“What?”
“Nevermind that. You don’t have much time your majesty. You need to return home.”
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApxY9TvB8j
I wanted to question what he meant, but when I went to pull my beanie down over my ears, the smily man from the table was gone. I blinked and stared at the spot he had been standing, unsure of what I was meant to think. Groaning, I went home, knowing one of the guards had spotted me talking to the smiley man. I pulled my gloves off, noticing the answering machine blinking as I walked toward it. No one has ever called here before. Hesitantly I pressed play.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgNpE7ZEdI
Luke, honey, it’s your mother calling. I know I never call but this year marks five years since your father passed. I would like to see you at his gravestone this year. I know it’s been tough with him gone but I think your father would like to see you again, I know I would like to. There isn’t much time left, you really should come home.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm1Ri3SOc0
I fumbled for a moment, as my world spun out of proportion. Gripping on the side of the end table, I pressed play again, then again, and again, and again, and again. I honestly cannot tell you the last time I heard my mother’s voice. Come home? I’m not even sure where home is anymore. The tower I have been locked in for so long has started to feel more like home than a prison the longer I am here. I am sure the longer Kali kept me locked up the less likely I would have returned home.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcyeN7y919
As I slowly fell to the floor, the memories of the trees and the farm cottage I grew up in, came flooding forward, getting me to smile a real smile. Taking a deep breath in and wiping the tears from my face, I grabbed my car keys and just left. As soon as my apartment came into view, I was a nervous wreck. The doorman had to help me out of my car, unsure what to do with me.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsttstU01Bm
“Are you alright Mr Portsmith?”
“I am unsure how I managed to drive here without causing an accident. Can you store my car for me? I don’t have the strength to drive anymore.”
“Of course. Is there anything else I can do you for?”
“My wife will call for me but you mustn’t let her into my apartment or let alone the building.”
“Of course. Keys.”
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1tWmMaaGw
I didn’t miss the smile on the doorman's face when I handed him my keys. Unsure about my feet, I waited until he returned so he could walk me to the elevator and my apartment. When I saw him leave, I slam the front door close and latch the three locks I had prepared in advance. Closing the curtains on all the windows and dimming the lights, I let out my first breath and collapse into bed.
@@@
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SaVRrxkMg
The sound of my alarm blared through my nightmare. The same nightmare I’ve had the past week. Jim, the doorman, reassures me that Kali has made no attempt to make it through the apartment’s lobby doors but it doesn’t assure me at all. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up. It said ten-thirty on the alarm clock but I felt like I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep all night. I zombie walk into the bathroom and I grimace at my appearance. My bloodshot eyes look like they've gotten worse. The bags underneath my eyes grow darker as I continue to not eat. My appearance only confirms that I have been coming off a long term high.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fS0D5QpCx
I wash my face with warm water and reassess my face. I look like I’m thirty-five when in truth I’m only twenty-four. I can see the greys in my hairline and the wrinkles around my eyes. Kali aged me well or whatever drug she gave me, certainly did. I drop to the bathroom floor and pull my knees to my chest.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrmp8x6zQu
You’re safe now, you’re safe now.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ095riY5SKj
I wipe the few remaining tears from my face and wash them again. I smile at the pale face in the mirror. Not bothering to change, I make my way to the kitchen, knowing full well that there will be no food in there. My train of thought was broken when the landline rang. I had gotten rid of my cell phone, I didn’t want to risk Kali tracing my calls. Or risk my old self picking up her calls and going back home like the sheep I used to be.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokNE3umK93
“Miss, there is a lawyer here to see you”
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxWbZlpm6Z
Fear froze my body. She’s here, she’s finally here. There is no way she was letting me go without a fight. This is where I die.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhAV9Sl7er
“It’s not your wife, Luke. It’s another lawyer from her firm. He says he has papers you need to sign.”
“Okay, if you think she is safe, you can send her up.”
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxumlBf03jT
I fidget while I watch the front door. Any moment now, someone will knock and someone will ambush me as I open it. Kali will be sure I come home one way or another. I stand by the door waiting to hear the high heels clicks that have been burned into my memory. But when I here the sounds of expensive steel-capped boots heading down the hall, I let go of the breath I had been holding. I peer through the peep hole and the short red hair confirms it. There was a man standing in front of my door.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzzhLYs6mS
When I opened the door, he made an ever-so-subtle noise before walking into the apartment. I make him a cup of coffee and watch him spread documents on the coffee table.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuv3464t8x
“What’s this?”
“Divorce papers. Mrs. Portsmith has already signed them and has already agreed to the prenup that you both signed on your wedding day.”
“I wasn’t aware that we even had a prenup.”
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC5e83bdua
Though there isn’t much I remember these days. I knew Kali, this isn’t something that she would have insisted we had on our wedding day. This sounds like something dad would have forced us to do. George handed the prenup over and I freely read through the papers, roughly tracing dads signature with my fingertips. I motioned for a pen and quickly signed the papers. George gathered the paperwork and got up to leave.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Qf0tAsk0
“Why is she giving in?”
“You’ve been locked up in this apartment for nearly three months Luke, she thought this would make you happy.”
“Three months?”
“Take a shower, Luke, you stink. And smile, you’re finally free.”
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyJD8CHj97
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsiCj30vBo
