Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
None of this feels right. I barely got a glimpse at this house when Arsen marched me through last night, but now I’m supposed to live here. I don’t have any of my things, none of my clothes or my toiletries, and I have no idea when any of that will show up.
But all of that’s just a minor problem compared to what I need to do right now.
I use the bathroom, splash water in my face, and gather my courage. I can scale walls into the backyards of broken-down manufacturing plants. I can squeeze through drainage pipes and crawl on my belly in mud.
I can handle calling my mother.
“Did you come home last night?” she asks, sounding worried.
“I slept out.” I glance at the clock. It’s a little past nine in the morning, which means she’s probably been fretting for hours. “I’m sorry, I should’ve left a note. It was a last-minute thing.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m totally fine.”
I open my mouth to spill it, but she speaks first.
“It’s good, you’re going out. Honestly, Lena, I know it hasn’t been easy on you, with staying home to take care of me and working all the time. I keep thinking you’re young and you should be living while you can. It won’t last forever.”
“Mama, I don’t mind, you know that.”
“I know, sweetheart, but I’m just saying, you don’t need to worry about me. I want you to be young, okay? Make bad decisions. Well, not too bad.”
Shit. I squeeze my eyes closed. How am I supposed to tell her now? “Actually, speaking of decisions.” I clear my throat. God, this is such a mess. I can’t bring myself to tell her, but I can’t keep it a secret. “Something happened. I mean, something came up, and there are going to be… changes.”
“Changes?”
“To our lives. I mean, to your life too. It’s good, actually.”
“Lena, are you sure you aren’t in trouble?”
Not even a little bit.
“I know this is going to sound crazy, but I got married last night. His name is Arsen, and he’s going to help take care of us. This is a good thing, Mama, I promise. Dad won’t have to work anymore and he’ll take care of your bills. You can get the in-home help you really need. You can focus on getting well.” I’m rambling a little bit and I know it, but she hasn’t said anything and it’s freaking me out. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here. It just sounded like you said… you got married.” She laughs lightly. “But this is a prank, right?”
“No, it’s not a prank. His name is Arsen—”
“You married someone last night? In the middle of the night without telling anyone?”
“Yes, but—”
“And now you’re telling me that he’s going to take care of us financially? Lena, you have to know how that sounds.”
I stare up at the ceiling then down at the beautiful and expensive rug. It sounds exactly how it is.
“I’m safe. I promise. And you’re going to be safe too. It’s just… I’m not coming home.”
“What are you saying?”
“I moved in with him. It’s this place out in Roland Park—”
“That’s on the other side of the moon! Are you insane?”
“It’s just on the edge of the city, Mama, not that far away at all. Fifteen-minute drive at most.”
“Twenty in traffic. I’m calling the police.”
“Mama!”
“No, I’m calling. You’ve been kidnapped. Is he listening right now? Hey, bastard, you will not traffic my daughter, do you hear me?!”
I grimace and start pacing. “I’m not being trafficked. Seriously, I’m okay.”
“I’m going to hunt you down, you asshole—”
“Mama, stop it! You’re sick!”
“I’m going to cut out your fucking tongue and feed you your own severed prick!”
“Mama!” She goes on like that for a little while longer until I convince her that I’m alone, nobody is forcing me, and this was my choice. I can tell she’s extremely confused and unhappy, but at least she agrees not to call the cops until we’ve had a chance to sit down and talk.
I just hope that’s going to be soon.
I’m exhausted and drained when I finally work up the nerve to shuffle out of the bedroom. Hunger and the smell of coffee calls to me like a siren’s song. The house isn’t so creepy during the day at least. It’s old and creaky, but there’s a lot of charm. Original details like wood paneling and hand-carved banisters on the stairs make it obvious this place was well-loved. I survey the nearby rooms, unable to help my curiosity, but they’re nothing special. Two guest rooms, a laundry room, and an office that looks like it’s never used.
“There you are, my dear. I was starting to wonder when you’d get out of bed.”
I yelp as I step back into the hall. I feel like I was just caught breaking and entering, but this is supposed to be my own house. “Sorry. I’m sorry. The doors weren’t locked—”