I move the mattress around on the floor and sit down on it, staring at the thick foot before me. Then I kick it. Hard. As hard as I can, but it doesn’t do much other than moan. A thought hits me, and I stare up at the ceiling, scanning the stone, but given the lighting and electrical setup of this place, I doubt there are cameras.
So I kick again. And again. And again and again and again. I keep going, alternating legs as one begins to tire and hurt. I’m covered in sweat, my body aches, tears pour from my eyes, but I don’t stop. I make myself continue to hit this fucking piece of wood with everything I’ve got because it might just be my only chance at making it out of here alive.
And finally, after the millionth strike, I hear a crack in the thick base. My eyes spring to life and I’m struck with newfound vigor and enthusiasm for my task. I kick the shit out of that post, singing God only knows what at the top of my lungs to distract myself from the pain in my body. With one last hardkick, the post breaks away, the bed collapses and tilts awkwardly, but I’m smiling like a villain.
Sweat trickles down my back as I step away, my breathing ragged but determined. I take a moment to admire the wood that’s thick and heavy. A glimmer of pride flickers within me, and I promise myself that I will face whatever comes with unwavering strength.
I put my weapon by the door and have some of the water and food, which is little more than protein bars and some crackers. There’s enough for maybe a week if I’m careful, and I have no idea if the water from the tap is drinkable or not, but I’m hoping I won’t be forced to find out.
But now I have nothing left to do but be stuck with my thoughts. Toxic, ugly thoughts at that. I replay the last several months of my life. Everything from when I first met Sebastian to the encounter with Samil. Has Sebastian been right all this time and have I been…I don’t know, too oblivious to see it? I don’t want to believe in a curse. I don’t want to believe there is a mystical power out to get me. It’s just not how my brain works.
Americans don’t think like that. We were raised on making our own luck and paving our own path, but Sebastian is a Messalinian. They don’t think the way I do. They’re based in tradition stemming back to Roman times. A curse feels fantastical, not something to be based in reality.
But…am I stuck here?
And what happens if Charlotte doesn’t return?
The cold, unyielding stone walls of the prison cell close in around me, and I can’t help but shiver. Persistent fear clings to my skin, and a knot of dread tightens in my gut. The dank air fills my lungs as I lean against the rough wall, trying to comprehend how I ended up here. My heart races, beating like a trapped bird against my chest. I know that without food and water, I won’t last long.
But what terrifies me even more is the thought that Sebastianmight not come looking for me. I swallow hard, pushing back the tears that threaten to spill over. “This is what hours in solitude get you.”
But it’s true. The brain is an unforgiving organ. Unlike the heart, she is slow to forgive or forget. And here I find myself locked in a cell. Unsure if I’ll ever see that door open again. And what of my babies? What of them?
“Focus,” I whisper to myself, drawing strength from deep within. “You will not let this break you.”
I start singing some random songs, but that’s simply female empowerment. I take solace in the fact that I am still alive, and as long as I live, there is hope. Determination pulses through my veins, and I refuse to go down without a fight.
“Come on, Charlotte,” I mutter, my voice tinged with defiance. “I’m ready for you.”
The silence in the room is suffocating as I pace back and forth, my bare feet padding softly on the cold stone floor. My heart feels heavy with uncertainty, and I can’t shake the nagging doubt that gnaws at me like a relentless beast.
Will Sebastian come for me?
Will he even be able to find me here, trapped in this prison?
“God, please let him find me,” I whisper into the emptiness, my voice trembling with fear and desperation.
The memories of our last fight flood my mind, and I wince at how harshly we had spoken to each other. Our words were like poison-filled arrows, each one fired with deadly precision, aimed to wound the other. I remember the hurt in his eyes, the way his shoulders sagged under the weight of our shared pain. I clench my fists, feeling the sting of regret deep within my chest.
Regardless, it’s not how I want things to end for me. No anger. No venom.
“Sebastian…” I murmur, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry.”
My thoughts spiral. I wonder if our marriage is salvageable after everything that has happened between us. But as I stand in my makeshift prison, I decide that if I ever get out of here, no matter the mistakes we’ve made, the love we share is worth fighting for.
“Come on, Bellamy,” I tell myself, steeling my resolve. “You’ve survived worse than this. You can get through it.” I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the stale air of the cell, and I let it out slowly, visualizing the strength overcoming despair inside my heart. Manifesting shit because that feels like the only thing to do.
As the hours pass, I continue to imagine scenarios where Sebastian finds me, sweeps me into his arms, and we start rebuilding our lives together. I cling to these fantasies like a lifeline, willing them to become reality.
The sound of the door’s lock turning jolts me out of my thoughts. My heart races and I quickly scramble over to the side of the door and turn off the lights. I grip the large piece of wood tightly in my hands, positioning myself beside the door. This could be my only chance to escape, and I can’t afford to let fear paralyze me.
Please, let this work, I plea, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead.
As the door slowly creaks open, I hold my breath and steady my shaking hands. Charlotte steps into the room, her eyes scanning the dimly lit space for any sign of me.
“Where are you, Bellamy?” she calls out, her sweet voice masking the sinister intentions behind it.
“Right here, bitch,” I reply, my voice barely audible even to myself.
