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Nine months ago
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The front door slammed. Moments later, he came into the guest room, whistling.
Lily sat on the bed, unmoving. James joined her on the bed and took her hands in his.
“What? No hello kiss?” he teased.
Lily frowned. “No.”
“Why aren’t you happy to see me? What’s wrong, my perfect flower?” James asked, squeezing her hand.
“Everything!” she screamed, throwing his hands from hers. She jumped up from the bed, kicking him hard in the chest, and startling him so much that he fell back.
Lily darted for the bedroom door, swinging it open and not bothering to grab her shoes. She raced down the hallway and toward the front door, her bare feet barely touching the faux-hardwood floors. She heard a startled noise from him and kept going. Too late to stop now.
She was so close. She reached for the door, fumbling to unlock the two deadbolts. The second one clicked as it unlocked, and she turned the doorknob.
The scent of crisp fall air and burning leaves from a house nearby hit her as soon as she was outside. Lily had never thought she would miss those smells, but she had missed everything about the outside world.
Her feet pounded down the driveway as she continued, glancing back to see James coming out the front door, mere feet behind her.
With a yelp, Lily kept going, pushing herself further, her legs beginning to ache as she made it to the street. She realized with an uncomfortable jolt that she had let herself become lazy over the past three months. She should have spent her free time building up endurance, preparing herself for an escape. Any second now, he would catch up to her and bring her back to his lair. And it would be her own fault.
She cried out for help, swinging her arms wildly as she ran down the street.
“Lily!” he yelled from behind her.
She heard his footsteps approaching. Too close. She turned around and screamed. James clapped his hand down over her mouth. He wrapped his arms around her midsection, carrying her kicking and screaming back into the house.
When they were inside, he locked the door again and brought her into the guest bedroom.
Before he left, he gave her a warning that chilled her to the bone. “If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll kill you. I’ve given you two chances now. You think you’re special? You aren’t the first girl I’ve let live with me, and you might not be the last. You have a lovely smile, but there will always be other girls who are even more lovely.” He paused, malice burning in his eyes. “And you can easily be replaced. Dead girls can’t smile, Lily. Remember that.” He shut the door, and she heard the lock outside the door click.
Lily was trapped. During the past three months, she had avoided thinking about her fate, but the direness of the situation was sinking in after his recent admission. This whole time, she had tried to convince herself she loved James and he loved her, but what if that wasn’t true? What did he mean by ‘other girls?’
Trembling, she sat on the edge of the bed, debating the best path forward. More than ever, she wanted to survive. She wanted to live. Was she willing to give up her freedom for a life that may not be worth living?