“Thank you, Mr. Thorn. I really appreciate this,” Willa says in a placid tone.
Anderson closes the door to his study and sticks a key in to lock it, then walks away.
“I told you I had a plan. You’ll be safe here. But first, you need to tell me everything.”
Her eyebrows pinch together as she questions me. “Everything?”
“I need to know who and what you’re running from. If I don’t know why you need protection, I can’t protect you.”
There’s a beat of silence while she fidgets with her phone through the front pocket of her hoodie. She opens her mouth to speak, but closes it again.
“What is it, Willa?”
“Have your parents ever told you that monsters aren’t real?”
I shrug. “Yeah. I think so, why?”
“They lied. Monsters do exist, and I’ve been living with one for the last seven years.”
13
“It wasn’t always bad. For a while I loved him like a dad. We shared the love of the Lord. Said bedtime prayers at night. He gradually became erratic and unpredictable. Mostly when mom would go to work or leave for her literature conferences. But now she’s gone and I don’t think she’s coming back this time.”
“He hurt you?”
“Sometimes.” I’m not sure why I’m telling him this. I don’t trust Lars, but I also need him to give me the money to get away. I need his pity—he owes me this much.
“Did he...did he ever touch you, Willa?”
“No.” I lie. A deep and painful lie that has my stomach twisting in knots. “Not in that way. He just gets angry and violent. That’s why I can’t stay any longer. He’s getting worse by the day and if he finds out that I’m pregnant, he’ll force me to abort the baby.” Or he may even try and do it himself. I don’t say that, but it’s the truth.
“Ok.”
“Ok?” I mimic his word, wondering what ‘ok’ means.
“I’ll get the money and help you leave. Under one condition. I need to know where you’re going. I can send you money, help out however I can.”
“Ok. I can do that.” I lie again. No one will know where I’m going, especially Lars.
This sweet side of him is all a facade. There was a momentary lapse of weakness on my part at school today, and maybe even tonight at the power lines. But I can’t forget why I’ve hated him for the past three months. I’ll never know why I loved him for the five years before that.
For five years he looked at me like I was scum. I watched as he pushed people around and laughed about it with his friends, but I still loved him. I was a fool. Now I get to have my own little secret while I pass that title over to him when I take his money and run.
These four guys took my innocence and made a mockery of me. The entire town turned a blind eye to the entire thing. Rick blamed me and I’d rather spend life in prison, or die, than ever have to face a punishment like that again. They began this game and they are responsible for everything I’ve had to endure since that night.
“Ms. Mack,” A petite elderly lady says as she appears across the room. “Your room is ready, darling.” She’s sweet and reminds me of my gram. Snowflake hair, milky skin, and dark eyes that I’m sure have seen far more than they’d hoped for. Living in this house, how could they not?
“Thank you,” I say whole-heartedly. She lowers her head and walks up the stairs. I follow behind her, and Lars follows behind me. I hope he doesn’t plan to stay here. As much as I hate him, he has the capability of stirring unwanted emotions inside of me.
Opening the door, the housekeeper waves her hand and signals me in. It’s breathtaking. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. A king-size bed sits in the center of the back wall with white linens placed perfectly on top, not a wrinkle to be seen. I walk over and run my fingers over it in search of a flaw, but there’s not one.
A matching white canopy hangs over the bed with fringed seams that dangle pea-sized crystals. I bet that the reflections of the glass beads dance around the whole room when the sun catches them. A white Persian rug lays in front of the bed on the cherry oak hardwood and a dresser that probably costs more than Rick’s house is pressed against the wall.
Aside from that, it’s empty, but it’s perfect. The walls in my room at home aren’t even visible because of all my belongings packed into the small space.
This could be my life. I can have this, and more, if I play my cards right. My baby and I will never want for anything.
Turning around to thank the sweet lady, my mouth hangs open with the words on my tongue when I notice she’s gone.
“I noticed your bag looked empty, but you and Marni are about the same size. I’m sure she won’t mind if you borrow some clothes while you’re here,” Lars tells me.
I wanna yell at him and ask him what his reasoning is for all of this. Surely I’m not here because his heart doubled in size and found a place for me inside of it.
“No, I wouldn’t feel comfortable even going inside of Marni’s room, let alone taking her clothes.”
“Suit yourself, but the housekeeper is leaving and you only have one outfit to last you the rest of your life. Good luck with that.”
“I know how to do my own laundry, Lars. In case you’ve forgotten, I didn’t grow up with a nanny or a maid.”
“Oh yeah. And what do you plan to wear while your pajamas are in the washing machine?”
“I’m
