April
“Don’t move too fast. You’re hurt,” a soft voice murmured. Slowly reaching up and touching my head, I realised my hands were free.
“Yeah, I know,” I muttered as I struggled to open my eyes. It would be so easy to keep them closed and go back to sleep. However, that would mean giving in. That was something I’d never do.
Finally, I forced my eyelids apart and peered into Julie’s pale face. “Don’t worry, Julie, help will come.”
Julie looked so scared, I had to reassure the kid.
“You know my name?” Julie whispered. Bewilderment, surprise, and longing showed in her eyes. How long had it been since she’d been called her name? What the fuck did Margrave call her?
“Yes. My boyfriend, Stone, has been searching for you for a couple of weeks now.”
“He has?” Julie sounded astounded. “Mr Margrave said that everyone had forgotten about me.”
“No, never. Your dad hasn’t given up hope of finding you alive. He hired Stone to find you. Stone discovered that Margrave’s statement was full of lies. Margrave claimed he’d spotted you leave the library, but it had been shut that day.”
“Oh, yes, it was. But I’d gone there and forgotten it was closed,” Julie refuted quietly.
“Do you mean Margrave actually could have seen you leaving?” I asked, amused.
“Yes.”
“Well, fuck me. The lie Stone caught Margrave in wasn’t really a fib at all. Talk about ironic,” I murmured.
“Do you believe Stone will come?” Julie whispered so softly I almost didn’t hear.
The old me would have scoffed and stated an emphatic no. This me, the one who trusted in Stone, nodded vigorously. A moment later, I regretted that action as I turned my head and vomited in the corner.
“Definite concussion.”
“Here, it’s not much, but rinse your mouth,” Julie said, handing me a cup with barely any water.
“Sorry, that’s going to smell,” I replied, embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, I’ve smelt worse since I’ve been here,” Julie murmured and looked away.
“Has Margrave hurt you?” I asked gently.
“Mr Margrave’s beaten me a few times, and if I don’t move quick enough, he’ll slap me. But he’s not raped me,” Julie said, and I sighed in relief. “I thought that was strange. But Mr Margrave keeps repeating he wishes to be married first.”
“What? Does Margrave believe you’ll marry him?” I gasped and heaved again. Swallowing hard, I avoided getting sick.
“He’s hoping I’ll get that Stockholm syndrome, that I’ll become pliable and obey him.”
“Margrave wants a Stepford wife.”
“Yes. And honestly, I was about to yield. I’m so tired of hanging on to who I was,” Julie admitted.
“Don’t ever give up. No matter what happens, fight. People are looking for you,” I encouraged. Julie looked away, unable to hold my gaze.
Julie nodded. “I’ll try not to.”
“Julie, I need to sleep, sorry.”
“No worries. Rest, I’m worried about the cut on your head. It’s deep,” she said. “I cleaned it as best as I could, but Mr Margrave wouldn’t provide me with items to help.”
“Okay.” My eyes closed before I could say another word.
