"Something in me wants more. I can't rest"

                                                                           -Sylvia Plath

                                                                                   #

My eyes slowly flicker open after repeatedly blinking and trying to stop my vision from going in loops. A sharp migraine takes my complete attention, throbbing with each passing pulse and causing me to let out a muffled moan. I try to bring my fingers to my head but then realize that I have no feeling in either of my arms, or even in my legs for that fact. I'm completely paralyzed.

         My eyes shift around the unfamiliar room before I then direct my vision to the man sitting in a chair a few feet in front of me, humming a tune. Molly Malone. He stretches out each note, making it a much creepier and more unsettling tune to listen to. And that's when I remember being in my bathroom and getting drugged by him. What I dont remember is how Im now fully dressed or even how I got in hereWherever I am. How long was I out? And how long have I been here? Where am I anyway?

          "Oh good", he smiles. "You're finally awake"

          "...where am I?", Is all Im able to say

          "Don't worry. You're safe now"

          "Where am I Jeffery?", I repeat

          "...you're home"

         I study the surroundings further. l have no idea what his delusional ass is talk-ing about because as far as I know, this is not my house. Nowhere near it. I watch him as he stands up and brings me a cup filled with what I'm praying is only water. I turn my face, refusing to drink. I don't trust him a single bit.

          "...you're going to get dehydrated Miss Tembo. Don't be stubborn, just drink", he says and I tilt my head up to face him. Dry blood is stuck on the top of his left brow and what's scary is that I'm not sure if the blood is mine but I think that it might be.

          "What did you do to me? Why can't I move?", I manage to say

          "...drink...then I'll answer"

A pause.

          I open my mouth slightly and take a drink of the water, nearly even finishing it.

          "That's my good girl", he breaths

          "Well? Why can't I move my legs or my arms? What did you give me?"

          He sighs. "You were anxious...and stressed. I only wanted you to take a rest. I gave you something to make you better"

          "How long was I out?", I whisper

A pause.

          I stopped counting after three days", he says dryly.

          Three days? I might have been here for a week. Or even more. If there's any-thing I've learnt about Jeffery Maxwell, it's that you can't underestimate him or his insane antics. Hell go as far and as drastically dangerous as he possibly can, all he has to do is want to.

         "So, what's your grand plan here? What are you gonna do?", I ask as confidently as I can, "...kill me? Rape me?"

          His pale dark eyes scowl at me with an overwhelming emotion of...disgust, disrespect and offense. His head bops backwards and I pay close attention to the distinct and soft movement of his Adam's apple as he swallows

         "I would never do those things to you Nailea... I love you. You know that"'

         "No, you don't. Stop saying that", I seethe. "...if you loved me you wouldn't keep me locked up in here. If you loved me you wouldn't hurt me"

         "See that's just not true. You love your mother, don't you? But you still hurt her and she loves you more than anything in the world but all she ever does is hurt you", he says, "people hurt people they love all the time Nailea...what makes me any different?"

         A pause. "It terrifies me...the things that you can convince yourself"

         He stares at me with widened eyes before shutting them and taking a deep breath. "...I have work to do upstairs", he tells me and starts to walk up the stairs. " oh, and by the way, don't call me Jeffery. You may call me Mr. Grayson"

#

  My eyes open again, and I realize that I must have fallen asleep. With absolutely no track of time in here, I don't know how long I was out. But then I realize something... I can move my legs now...and my arms. Whatever he gave me must have been only temporary. I stand up gently and my legs are still recovering from being paralyzed for such a long time. I anxiously wobble to the window that's situated strategically above a tool rack on the other side of the room.

          I quickly use every small ounce of strength that I still have left to climb on top of the unsteady tool rack and try to open the window but when I get up there, I realize that its boarded shut. Well played Mr. Grayson.  It looks like the only way out of this place is through going upstairs. The thought of having to go up there, into the unknown, causes a wave of adrenaline to surge through my system in one rush so quickly that I almost vomit. It pumps and beats like it's trying to—like me—escape.

         I climb up the stairs, one step at a time before finally arriving at the door. My hands tremble and I can feel my eyes start to water as I stretch my hand towards the door knob. Whatever was waiting for me behind there, it involved him and his in-sane antics. And by now I know, that isn't anything good.

         I grip the door knob tightly and twist it, causing the door to open in turn. I try to focus on my breathing, but the anxiety bubbles inside of my rib cage. With each step I take, I get even more terrified. Suddenly, I hear the creaking of a door and my breath quickens.

          What's my worst-case scenario here? I die? It's inevitable anyway. I tiptoe as quietly as I can in the pitch-black darkness. I can't see a door, or anything else for that fact. Suddenly my heart rate quickens some more when I feel a hand gripping my shoulder.

          "What are you doing Miss Tembo?", he says smoothly as he strokes my arm. My face is numb and I'm crying now.

          The stroking continues. I can taste saliva thickening in my throat and beads of sweat trickle down my neck. I either need to run fast for safety, if at all I'd even find any, or stay here and wait...wait for him to do whatever it is that he plans to do with me.

          "Let's go back downstairs", he whispers. Let me take care of you

          We take small steps. Then without thinking, I sink my elbow into his torso roughly and he hisses from the pain. I rip his arm off of me and I scream a desperate and primal scream. I run past him as fast as I can and try to find a door.

          "You shouldn't have done that Miss Tembo!", he yells.

          I panic as I continue my search for an exit. Suddenly, I feel him yank me back by my hair and I fall onto the ground roughly, slamming my head on the wooden floor. He growls into my ear as he picks me up off the floor, ".... youre being a very very naughty girl Nailea

         "Help me! Please! Please, someone Help me! Help me!, I cry.

         I try my best to claw at him as he picks me up aggressively. Let me go! Let me go!, I hear myself scream continuously.

          I kick and punch and scream at the top of my lungs. "Help me!", I scream once more but no one comes. That's when I remember, I'm not going to be helped. I'm all alone and no one is going to save me.

         I'm trapped.

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