CHAPTER 5

She nodded slowly, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Yes, you've been unconscious for five months. We had to keep you sedated to ensure the baby's safety. The man you refer to as 'him', I mean your husband, wanted it that way."

My heart sank at her words. Five months of my life gone, and lost to a nightmare I couldn't escape. The room seemed to spin as I struggled to process the enormity of what she'd said. I was pregnant with his child and had been kept in a drug-induced sleep for months.

I tried to gather my thoughts, but the horror of my situation made it nearly impossible. "Why? Why would he do this?" My voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear and confusion.

The nurse hesitated, glancing towards the door as if she expected him to walk in at any moment. "He... he said he wanted a family," she replied, her voice low. "He wanted to make sure you couldn't run away or resist him. This was his way of controlling you completely."

A sob escaped my lips, the reality of my situation crashing down on me. I was trapped, not just physically but now emotionally, bound by the life growing inside me. The thought of carrying his child filled me with a mix of dread and helplessness. How could I escape with a baby? How could I fight back when every move I made could harm this child?

The nurse reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Mrs. Anderson, I know this is overwhelming, but you need to stay calm for the baby's sake. Stress isn't good for either of you."

I pulled away from her touch, my mind racing. "I can't stay here. I need to get out. My family... they must be looking for me."

She sighed, her expression torn between duty and empathy. "I understand, but you need to be careful. He's not just keeping an eye on you; he has people watching. If you try to escape, they will catch you."

"This is total madness. Total madness! This is a crime," I murmured, agitation boiling over. "I will sue him. He can't do this to me and just walk away."

"Where is he now? Take me to him. No, I'll take myself to him," I declared, starting to walk towards the door.

But before I could reach it, she blocked my way. "You can't see him," she said firmly.

"Why?" I demanded, turning to face her.

Before she could reply, the old woman I had first laid eyes on in this hell entered, concern evident in her eyes.

"Skyler, you're awake. Thank God," she said, moving to touch me.

I recoiled. "Yes, I'm awake. Thank God, because now I can sue you all for what you did to me!" I screamed, rushing past them. They tried to stop me, but I pushed through with a punishing force, making them collide with each other.

I sprinted through the house, my bare feet slapping against the cold, hard floor. The hallway seemed endless, a maze of doors and corridors that twisted and turned, each one looking like the last. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline surging through my veins, giving me the strength to keep going.

I passed room after room, each one a blur as I searched desperately for an escape. My breath came in ragged gasps, my vision starting to blur from the tears that filled my eyes. I couldn't let myself stop. I couldn't let them catch me.

Finally, I saw it—a staircase leading down. I dashed towards it, my hope rekindled. The stairs were steep, and I nearly stumbled, but I caught myself just in time. I gripped the railing, using it to steady myself as I raced downward.

At the bottom, a large, mirrored door came into view. It was massive and ornate, clearly the main entrance. Relief washed over me. This was it. This was my way out. I reached for the handle, and my fingers were just inches away from freedom.

But then I froze. Reflected in the glass, I saw them—men in black suits, armed with guns tucked into their belts. They were patrolling the area, their eyes sharp and vigilant. My heart sank. There was no way I could get past them without being noticed.

I quickly pulled back, pressing myself against the wall beside the staircase. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. I couldn't go back upstairs—they'd surely be looking for me by now. But I couldn't stay here either, trapped in this limbo between escape and capture.

As I stood there, trying to steady my breathing, I noticed a small door to the side, partially hidden in the shadows. It looked like a servant's entrance or maintenance access. It wasn't ideal, but it was my only option.

I crept towards it, keeping as silent as possible. My hands trembled as I turned the handle, praying it wouldn't be locked. To my relief, the door swung open with a quiet creak. I slipped inside, closing it gently behind me.

The room was dark and cramped, filled with cleaning supplies and old furniture. It smelled musty, the air thick with dust. I moved cautiously, feeling my way through the clutter until I found another door at the far end. This one was simpler, less ornate. It might lead to the outside—or at least somewhere safer.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I opened the door and stepped through, determined to escape no matter what lay ahead.

The cool night air hit my face as I emerged into what appeared to be a backyard. But instead of offering solace, the sight made my heart sink. The backyard was sprawling and beautifully landscaped, but it was crawling with the same men in black suits, each armed and alert.

I pressed myself against the wall, trying to stay out of sight. Desperation gnawed at me, and I bit my nails anxiously, my mind racing with questions. What was this place? Was it some gangster's hideout or a private estate for an important person?

The men seemed to be everywhere, patrolling the grounds with military precision. I felt trapped, my earlier hope dwindling with each passing second. I couldn't stay here forever, but how could I possibly escape?

As I scanned the area, trying to come up with a plan, I noticed one of the men taking out a phone from his pants pocket. He spoke into it, but I was too far away to hear what he was saying. My heart raced as I watched him, hoping for some sign of a distraction or an opportunity to slip away.

After a brief conversation, he tucked the phone back into his pocket and turned to the other men. He said something to them, and to my astonishment, they all started to leave, heading towards another direction.

I was left in stunned silence, my confusion mingling with a thrill of hope. Why had they all left? Was this my chance?

I hesitated for a moment, my mind grappling with the sudden opportunity. I couldn't afford to waste any more time. Steeling myself, I crept forward, staying as low and quiet as possible. The backyard seemed to stretch on forever, but I kept moving, my eyes darting around for any sign of danger.

As I neared the edge of the property, I spotted a small gate partially hidden by a thick hedge. It looked like it might lead to freedom. My heart pounded with anticipation as I reached for the latch, praying it wasn't locked too.

The gate swung open with a quiet creak, and I slipped through, my breath catching in my throat. On the other side was a narrow path leading away from the house. I didn't know where it led, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was getting away.

I took one last look over my shoulder, the imposing mansion now seeming like a distant, horrifying memory. Then I turned and started down the path, my heart full of fear but also a glimmer of hope. I was free, and I would do whatever it took to stay that way.

As I walked down the narrow path, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Every few steps, I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see the men in black suits emerging from the shadows. The darkness seemed to close in around me, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and my own ragged breathing.

For a moment, I wondered why neither the nurse nor the old woman had followed me. They seemed to know the place well and could have easily raised an alarm. But I quickly brushed off the thought, attributing it to sheer luck. Maybe they were just as trapped in this place as I was, or perhaps they feared the man who controlled it all. Either way, I was grateful they hadn't stopped me.

I pressed on, the path winding through dense underbrush. The bushes and trees loomed high above, making the world feel claustrophobic. The path seemed endless, and my exhaustion grew with each step. My legs felt like lead, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I stumbled, catching myself against a tree, my vision swimming with dizziness.

I leaned against the rough bark, trying to steady myself. The fear of being caught spurred me on, but my body was reaching its limits. They must be after me by now, I thought, panic tightening my chest. I couldn't let myself be caught, not after coming this far.

With slow, deliberate steps, I continued through the thick brush, each stride feeling heavier than the last. The path seemed endless, twisting and turning without end. Just when despair threatened to consume me, I glimpsed a faint glow ahead—a highway.

Relief flooded through me. The sight of the highway meant civilization, people, and help. With renewed determination, I quickened my pace, pushing through the last stretch of underbrush until I emerged at the edge of the road.

I stood frozen, my eyes widening in terror as the vibrant lights of the cityscape stretched out before me. This was not my hometown.