Chapter 43: chapter 43

  I let out a deep breath to calm my nerves. Relax Ana! You can face him. You know someday this will happen, "I...I...don't wanna meet you" I replied as sternly as possible I could be."Oh! Right! Right! Why should you need to meet me? Obviously, there is no reason for it. Okay...okay...you don't wanna meet me" he said calmly.I tried to hang up, "But..." he spoke again, "I want to congratulate you on your new life...umm...what's the name of that life, Christopher, right?"Shit! How the fuck he knows this? He continued, "Ana Thomas, let me tell you something. You just know that your life is out of town. But, I exactly know what he is doing. Right now, umm...he's in a white shirt and blue jeans and he is talking to a co-artist with whom he is doing a shoot and again congratulations! I heard he is the 5th hottest man in America and that's why this photoshoot is happening. They are gonna release it officially on next week".I needed a second to process this, No! No! This is not happening.He continued, "I think now you know why you need to meet me. Because, if I hung up with your rejection, your love will be out of this world" he snapped his fingers, "Still, you don't wanna come?"I can't let anything happen to him, "Where do I need to come?"I can see his smiling face, "Best decision...you know where to come and come alone, don't try to do something heroic" he hung up.I kept the phone back and wiped the sweat around my face. I should go or else he will do what he told me. Dammit! I wish I had a gun. Shoot him right in the head and get over this nightmare.After few seconds of calming myself, I stood up from my seat collecting my bags. For safety, I took a taser and my mobile. Whether I should say Jamie about this? No, he may inform Chris or will insist to come. What if this goes out of control? He said I should not do anything heroic.I came out of my cabin, Lucky stood up from her place, "Lucky" I spoke, "I'm going out for important work. Cancel my schedules or if you couldn't, pass it to Jamie. He'll take care of it"."Okay, Thomas. When will you return?""I don't know exactly, it may take time. But, you don't worry you can leave at your regular time"."Okay" she replied with a doubt.I left before she can ask another question. I came downstairs and hopped into my car starting the engine.All those four years, I went under all the steps of therapy, except one step. It's facing my fear. This is the first time, I'm gonna do it and I have a feeling this is going to end in the wrong way.He purposefully asked me to come to the house, where he used to abuse me. After an hour, I stopped at his house, those big tall gold-painted iron gates with the large letter C on it middle opened.I circled the lawn and stepped in front of the portico. I sighed, okay here it comes! I came out and rang the doorbell. An old lady in her butler uniform opened the door with a smiling face, "Hello, Darling".I gulped my saliva hard, "I...I'm...I'm here to meet Mr. Collins"."And your name, sweetie?'"I'm...I'm Ana" I wiped sweat around my mouth."Oh...yes! He told you would come...umm...he is in the upstairs second room to the right".Oh! No! It's my room! That's where he...he...used to...I closed my eyes. Ana! You know what he is trying to do. He wants you to get intimidated, whatever happens, don't show the fear in your face."Umm...thanks" I thanked her.She smiled and left the room, I looked around everything have changed. Paint, couches, room setup and new two-way stairs led to an upper floor. I climbed one of the stairs and reached upstairs. I held my handbag firmly for support.I looked around, the entire house was silent like a ghost bungalow. Where the fuck is Grace? Oh! Come on! If she is here, why would he invite you here?With a pounding heart and shivering hands, I opened the door to my room. It was dark with no light, "Umm...Hello?" I spoke as steady as I could be.There is no reply, I heard only my breath. I touched the walls and found the switchboard. Finally, I turned on the lights. I dropped my jaw, the room was the same as I left. The bed was pushed against the north wall near the window. The same pink paint all over the wall with some goofy cartoon pictures. The white bed spreadsheet with blue dots, my study table, cupboard and finally a white lamb doll which I used to play with.Okay! Now I couldn't stop my mind from reversing the flashbacks. I felt numb and tried. I can't face this! I can't face this! I need to run from here! My legs trembled and felt hard to catch a breath and sweated profusely."You love this?" A voice crept me from behind.I turned to look at him. He stood in his fifties, a white man with blond hair, Generic nose, Hazel brown eyes, Thick creepy eyebrows, straight thin lips. In addition to it, he had a stitch near his forehead which was the result of Grandpa punched him when he took me away from him.He was wearing a black suit and tucked his hands inside the pant pockets. He looked as evil as before, like Lion king movie Scar. That evil never left him. He viewed me from top to bottom with that scary dead eyes. I wriggled under his look. He inched further, I took a step away from him.He sighed,"You look exactly like your Mother" he bit his lower lip.I felt trapped and claustrophobic. The room started to spin around me. The walls of the room are closing near and I couldn't control myself from panicking. Don't show your fear to him! I repeated those words to my heart. But my stomach opened a big hole and sucked every bit of courage I had in my nerves.Think about Chris or Grandpa. I motivated myself, but nothing worked. His face is straight in front of me and didn't give me a chance to think about anything."You may wonder, why I keep this room as you left" he spread his arms out, "This is what keeps me alive. Whenever I think about you, I'll come here" he winked.He inhaled the scent of my hair, "Why don't understand how much you mean to me?" His voice threatened me."Leave...leave...me" I tried to move away.But he caught my wrist, "I didn't ask you to come here to leave you again" he snickered evilly.No! No! No! This is a nightmare. I tried to slip my hands from him, but his grip was strong. He pulled me closer, I panicked and shouted, "Leave me! Leave me!""Okay," he released his grip.I ran out of the room as fast I could. I came downstairs weeping and shouting, "Help me! Help me!"I stood in front of the main door, which was locked. I tried to pull but didn't work. Fear rushed through every part of my body."Oops! I think you can't get out until I decide" he replied from behind.I turned back with a panic-stricken face. He smiled devilishly, "Pity on you. Now come let's go inside" he inched further.I rolled my eyes and screamed begging him, "Please! Please! Leave me! Please! I beg you!" I cried.Few minutes nothing happened, I opened my eyes again. He stood with his crossed arms. Still, I was shaking terribly and weeping uncontrollably.He sniffed his nose and hissed in my ears, "See this what happens if you try to destroy me".I looked at him, he continued, "Remember this for your lifetime, you are under me. I can use this chance, but I'm waiting for the right moment. So, if you try to get revenge on me. Next time, I won't hesitate to do the same horrible things I did to you in the past. Now get out of the house, before I can change my mind".He unlocked the door, I came out of the house as fast I could and started my car. I looked at him, he stood with a triumphant face. I hated myself for giving that to him.I drove my car cursing myself. What happened to the therapies I took? How can I let him enjoy this? I hate myself! I hate myself! I sobbed tears ran down my cheeks. I failed! Once again he proved who he is.I came to the apartment and went straight to our bedroom throwing my bag on the bed angrily. I looked at myself in the mirror, which made to hate myself more. I threw a jar on it, smashing it into pieces. I hid under the bed like my childhood days. I lay down on my right side and hugged my knees to my chest curling myself into a ball in fetus position.Ssh! You are safe! You are safe! You are safe! I rocked myself front and back.Meanwhile Chris,       I don't know but my intuition said something is not right. Why am I having this strange feeling? I dialed Ana's number, it ringed continuously and she didn't respond. Strange! She usually answers even how busy she was.I called Jamie, he answered after a ring, "Yes, Chris?""Where is Ana?""Oh! I don't know, but she informed Lucky that she is going for some important work, why?""Umm...she didn't answer my phone...psst...never mind she must be in the work" I hung up.Time passed and reached night. What the heck! It never happened, something is wrong. Okay! That's it! I need to meet her. I canceled the shoot and headed towards our apartment.