“I’m not lying, I was disorientated and started to panic when I couldn’t find you.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes!” I answer urgently. I turn my face to look at him, and I do everything I can to look genuine even though all I want to do is get away from him. “Michael, you have looked after me, you have been there for me, I see it now, I see how much you have tried to protect me. When I woke up my head was dizzy, and you weren’t there. You promised that you would never leave me, and I woke up all alone––”
“MICHAEL! IF YOU HAVE HURT HER I SWEAR TO GOD THAT I WON’T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY ACTIONS!” Cal screams loudly, cutting me off.
Michael is looking at me intently, ignoring the pounding on the door. My heart is beating fiercely as I wait to see if he has bought my bare-faced lies. The seconds tick by and with each one, I feel my fear building.
“You know, Lucy,” Michael starts, his voice low. “You have no idea how long I have waited to hear you say that.”
He grabs me and pulls me against his chest, his arms locking around me in a vice grip. I am temporarily stunned by his reaction. I was bracing myself for a punch, not a hug.
“LUCY, CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Cal continues to shout, and I desperately need to see him before he gives up and goes away.
“Michael, you should let me open the door.”
“No.” His response is instant, his tone firm, but I have to try and convince him.
“I’m not going with him, Michael, but if we don’t answer the door then one of the neighbours is going to call the police and that will open up all sorts of drama that I really don’t want to have to deal with.”
I have no idea how I am saying all of this off the cuff. I guess my desperation to placate Michael is fuelling my brain to help me voice the words that I need to say.
“I just want to concentrate on us, and I can’t do that with Cal trying to smash the door down.” I pull my head back and look into Michael’s eyes. Eyes which once held so much warmth. Eyes which mesmerised me but now leave me feeling cold inside.
“If I open that door and he so much as dares to come in here, then I won’t hold back, Lucy. I won’t let him take you from me.” His eyes blaze and I know without a shadow of a doubt that he means every word. His so-called love for me is fucking scary.
“I’m not leaving you, and no-one will take me away.” I have to play him at his own game. He thrives on the fear that he instils in me, and I have to try and keep it locked down, hidden away.
“MICHAEL, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!” More shouts, more time ticking past. Cal must have been shouting and banging for nearly ten minutes by now. More than enough time for someone to have alerted the authorities.
“They better not,” Michael replies as he lets go of me. “You stay behind me, and don’t talk.”
I nod my head and try to contain the bile that is rising in my throat. Michael walks to the door and I stand there, hoping that I can convey some sort of message to Cal without Michael noticing anything.
Michael grips the handle of the door so hard that his knuckles go white. I hold my breath as the door begins to open and the banging stops.
My eyes connect with Cal’s the minute he comes into sight and all I want to do is run to him and let him take me somewhere safe. The urge to have him comfort me is overwhelming, but I must compose myself.
If I am to get out of this alive, then I need to trick Michael, just as I did a few minutes ago when I told him that I wanted to be with him.
“You son of a bitch,” Cal says before he lunges at Michael. It all happens so quickly.
Cal has Michael pushed against the wall.
Michael has a smirk on his face and I know that he is formulating a plan.
Cal looks frantic, his eyes locked with Michael’s. His hair dishevelled.
I freeze, unsure what to do.
Michael tries to push Cal off.
“Run, Lucy,” Cal says, his focus still on Michael.
Run.
That’s what I need to do.
