~ LEONA~
My heart literally stopped responding in the few minutes that passed. I realized I was still standing close to his wardrobe and took a step back.
I slowly turned to face him, praying that it will be someone else. Someone who's only mimicking Lando's voice to scare me.
I trembled in fear when I beheld him, looking deadly serious. Fear ran through my veins. I began to think of how my death will be like.
Is he going to slice my throat or make it quick with a bullet at my heart? Or keep me in his torture room and kill me slowly.
My family doesn't know my whereabouts. Perhaps it's better that. They'll be thinking I'm living a good life somewhere and not dead. They won't grief.
But my son? What will become of him without me by his side?
Well, Lando might just train him to compensate himself. My poor son.
I will like to fulfill one wish before my life is taken away. Get Leonard rich caring parents. I want to ensure his future right before stepping six feet beneath.
My eyes glisten with tears as I stare at him helplessly.
He stood in front of me with hands buried in his pocket, jaws clenched with monstrous green eyes fixed on me. He looked like the Devil.
I swallowed hard and pressed my shaking hands together.
Our eyes met but I couldn't stand the fire in it so I lower my head. He started walking towards me and each step he took was like a knife stab in my chest.
I began moving backward at each step he takes.
In just one swift movement, I was being slammed against the nearest wall and his hand grabbed my throat, ready to strangle the dear life out of me.
"What did you fucking take me for Leo? How dare you try to fool me. What did you think anyway? That I am some soft nut to crack? You should've known from the very beginning that I am a devil. A devil specially designed for you from above-" He spat the words into my face.
"For you alone!" He added.
" I.. I..am sorry. Please let me explain." I choked on my tears.
" Why should I let you explain? You knew who I was. You should never have thought of escaping. You're Mine Leo. I am like your shadow, we can never be separated. Now you'll have to pay for what you did." He said and began to unbuckle his belt.
" The regular punishment you receive hasn't done much to change you. So I've leveled up. I changed my style. This time around, I would do something that will permanently be engraved in you. Anytime you remember, you'll never dare try to escape from me."
He gave me a sharp slap before throwing me on the bed and coming on top of me.
What he wanted to do registered clearly in my mind and my eyes went wide.
He's about to rape me? This isn't the Lando I knew.
"Please... don't do this...to me. I promise to be good from now onwards but please.." I pleaded as my tears kept streaming.
" Keep quiet and enjoy it." He smirked and tore my tank top away.
" Please don't. Don't do this please." I pleaded. I now stacked naked and he was settling between my legs. I couldn't save myself even if I wanted to.
"Please Lando. Please stop this.."
I snapped out of my thoughts and clutched my chest.
I have been imagining the worst. I turned sharply to the door at once but didn't see anyone.
Thank Goodness!
I stood abruptly and began to walk back to my room, with all thoughts of trying to escape flashed out of my brain. I couldn't do it. I am disappointed in myself than I've ever been with someone.
Almost out of his room, a portrait hanged leisurely above his headboard. It was a rare art of colors blended wildly together. I got on the bed to put it into place. I raised it, only to discover a homax steel vault mounted inside the wall.
It was a secret safe. My hope lit up again and dwindles when I saw that I have to put in a few words on the keypad before I can open it.
I punched his name on the button but it didn't open. I tried his other names, well, the ones I know of, did them upside down, and his initials but it didn't work.
I pressed some figures including his birthday but to no avail.
I decided to try my full name but it didn't open.
What was I thinking anyway?
In frustration, I pressed on random letters and it dinged. The name 'Dave' appeared on the screen and it opened.
I had dialed that name unknowingly and it opened to my utmost surprise.
Who's this Dave?
I'd rather not think about it now. I opened it and there was my passport and my original traveling documents. There were other valuable things like gold and diamond accessories. Tempting as they look but I will only steal what belongs to me from Lando.
I took what I came for hastily as if it will disappear at any moment if I don't grab it in time.
I closed the safe back and made it look as it was when I came in. I hid the documents in my hoodie and got out, making sure that the guards don't suspect a thing.
I got to my room all sweating like a pregnant fish.
All the things I'd need are packed now, but there was still a problem which I never thought of.
How do I pass the heavy securities Lando has assigned to watch over this house as well as me?
I sat on my bed and began to rack my brain for some solutions but meanwhile, the time was ticking.
Then I remembered that the laundry man will be here to take our clothes so I rushed to where we keep the dirty clothes. I began to pack it down for him on his cart. I even packed clean clothes to make it plenty then I rushed to my room and took the luggage I'd packed my baby's things into and hid it in the pile.
I rushed back to my room to think of what to do again as I paced to and fro.
The dry cleaner will only come at 4 am and I sure cannot wait that long. So what do I do?
I took my phone to summon him instead. It rang several times before he picked which shows that he was still sleeping.
I informed him to come for the clothes now and that it's an order.
Luckily, he obliged and came a few minutes after. While he was getting interrogated by the guards, I wrapped my baby up in a cloth and dipped him in the dirty pile after muttering a lot of sorry and giving him kisses.
"You have to be brave for mommy, sweetheart. I am so sorry but I promise this will be over soon." I put a few clothes to cover him but made sure I left a little breathing space.
The guards finally released the man and he came to push the cart out. I prayed silently that he doesn't get checked.
I went to my room and gathered all the money I have, took the phone, and ran towards the back door on my toes.
I swerved all the guards and made it to the door but unfortunately, it was heavily guarded which means that I have to climb the wall.
I wasted no time on my last option. Fortunately, our walls weren't that of Jericho's. It was pretty short and I have climbed taller once. This was just a piece of cake.
I landed outside on my toes while I tried not to make any noise. It was just at that moment that the door got opened for the laundryman.
I waited for him to be far from the house before I started racing towards him before he'll get to his van.
While I was running towards him, a blinding light from a car hit my face. My eyes squinted. I forced them to see who it was. I gasp flew out of my lips when I saw that it was the devil's car.
Oh no! Did he see me?
In a flash, I fell flat, rolled on the ground, and darted into a nearby garden along the road.
I stayed low until his car zoomed past me.
Meanwhile, the man who came for the laundry has already placed the clothes in his car and was about to drive off.
I ran like my life depended on it with all the strength left in me towards the car but it has already taken off.
I couldn't shout either but kept running after it till I was almost in line with it.
I jumped when I was just a few steps away from it. Stepping on the stair, I held onto the handles at the back for leverage.
I opened it wide and got in. The first thing I did was getting my baby out. I quickly unwrapped him and blew some air into his mouth in case he passed out but my baby was just fast asleep with a smile on his face.
I got our luggage and placed sleeping Leonard on the pile of clothes.
There was a thin metal separating where the driver sat and the back which was void of seats.
I got closer to him and formed my hands into a gun. I placed it at the back of his head through the steel bar to scare him.
"To the airport. Don't act smart or I'll blow your head off."
He nodded quickly in fear and did as I told him. I took his phone and booked a flight out of London. I was going back home.
"Leave the town," I told the man before getting out. I'm sorry I have to put him in trouble.
England to America is sure a long journey. I'm going to spend at least eight hours on the flight. It might get dark before I arrived.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw that it was Lando. I switched it off.
Tears fall from my eyes when I was on the plane with my baby. Finally. I hope this is not a dream. The anxiety coursing through me deprived me of sleep the entire time. When I finally did, I was woken up by the air hostess.
I saw that the plane had landed, people were getting out. I felt giddy.
I scooped my baby in my arms and the moment I stepped down, the familiar late morning sun spread warmth on me, making it known that I am home.
I felt so much at home. My baby was also happy as he began to jump in my arms in delight.
"Mama." He called and clapped his hands. A bright smile broke onto my face. Finally.
My mind drifted to the day I fell before a moving car and had to be carried in a man's arms to the hospital plus the words he said to me with his soothing voice.
When I woke, I asked the doctor who it was that brought me to the hospital but he only rolled his eyes and said "Is your memory so shallow that you have to forget about your husband so soon?"
I was confused and wanted to ask more but the doctor refused to explain further and left.
He has done me a great favor by bringing me to the hospital and to repay him, I'll do what he asked me to.
"You're such a pretty woman and I love your hair. If it will be possible, I will ask that you don't cut it ever"
I think this was the reason why I never cut my hair. I can never forget those words and the voice that spoke it even though I was unconscious. His voice has always been in my dream and my thoughts.
" I'd love to see where it will reach in case I see you again. He had added.
I'll also like to see you again and thank you properly. Then maybe after that, I can show it to you and cut it finally. until then, no one will see the length of my hair.
"I'll love to see you again but not like this, I'd love to see you smiling happily with eyes glowing so bright than the moon and the stars. "
I'm not sure about this therefore I won't say much. I don't know when my life will be normal again until I pick the pieces up together. It's just a matter of time and Lando will come looking for me.
Who knows, maybe he has arrived at the airport already and looking for me.
That thought scared me so I rushed towards a cab when our luggage was brought out.
I settled in it and told him to drive us to the nearest restaurant where I had a meal with my baby. From there, I thought of what to do next.
I wanted to book a hotel room but thought against it. Lando can easily hack into all the hotels in New Jersey and he'll definitely find me without delay or struggle.
I inquired about a place I could keep my baby in the meantime while I thought of my next move. The driver was kind enough to tell me about a children's boarding school.
He drove us to the place and indeed it was great. The kids were not congested because it was a big mansion.
I went through the formalities and presented a fake name and details about me. After I was done, there was nothing much left on me but I was glad that at least my baby will sleep under a secured roof and a comfy bed.
It was almost dark and I was still wandering on the streets. My body was aching all over.
Going home was not an option because I have no idea where Lando has relocated my family to. And in case I should go to them, then I shouldn't have bothered escaping from Lando. It's just like walking into his den.
At the far end of the street, the biggest house on the lane caught my attention. I walked past it but returned.
The streets were so dark, quiet, and void of passerby but only speeding cars. The thought that I could be attacked by robbers at any moment sent a chill down my spine.
I knew I had to do something so I damned all the consequences.
I began climbing the fence. Getting to the top, I stood straight and observed. There was no security insight.
I jumped from the fence and landed on the balcony.
From there, I walked to the window of the room I saw a dim light spilling in from.
I stared through the window. On the huge bed lay a man with pillows surrounding him.
I frowned.
'How can he sleep in such a huge bed alone while I've been walking all night for just a place to lay my head?' I thought.
I stepped into the room through the window quietly. He was fast asleep with his back facing me. I blew a raspberry. This is crazy. What if he's a bad man?
I scanned the room. It was huge enough to occupy at least four people. Rather painted with a dull color; gray and black. On the wall is a huge plasma TV and some portraits. I spotted the walk-in closet and a door to the washroom perhaps.
I tiptoed towards the washroom and stripped. If he wakes up and finds me, then so be it. I need a place to lay my head for the night desperately. I closed the door and went under the shower. It was warm enough to ease my nerves.
It's very unhygienic to share a towel with someone and very dangerous if it's someone you don't know but I couldn't help it.
The towel looked neat enough anyway. The scent of his aftershave and shampoo filled my nostrils and into my senses while I dried my body.
Wrapped in his towel, I tiptoed back into the room. I walked to the closet hoping to find his girlfriend's clothes to wear. I found none so I had to go with a shirt I believe is his.
I wore it and sent the towel back to the bathroom. Next, I walked to the bed and created a bridge at his back. I folded my clothes neatly and hid them away before getting into the bed behind him.
My prayer was to wake up before he does else...I don't know.