Run Away, My Angel. Virginie T.

close to me.

      — I'm going to go.

      — Don't be silly Mallory. You're not in a position to go anywhere. You don't even have a car. Do you have a place to go at least?

      I slump a little more in my seat, shoulders hunched.

      — I'm going to have to go back to my parents.

      Despite my reluctance, I have no other options. Tears of shame bead in the corner of my eyes. Soon I will turn 27 and I will have to return to live with my parents as if I were a child. I am angry at myself for being unable to be responsible of myself.

      — You could stay here for a while.

      I jerk my head up and I look at Leon as if a third head or a horn had sprung out of his forehead.

      — That's very nice of you Leon, but it's not a good idea.

      He stands up his whole height, towering over me, and something like fear creeps into me.

      — It wasn’t really a suggestion, Mal.

      I get up and walk back to the door.

      — You're starting to scare me, Leon. It's better if I go.

      He walks towards me like a predator cornering his prey. That is exactly how I feel: a prey stuck against a door that refuses to open despite my desperate attempts to turn the handle.

      — We're going to be fine the two of us, Mal.

      His words have a hard time breaking through the fog of my panic. I shake my head, but I feel like it is wrapped in cotton. I have a hard time putting my thoughts together and when I open my mouth, I suddenly feel my tongue weighs a ton. Halfway to the door I collapse as Leon gets closer and closer. He does not seem worried about my sudden weakness and a suspicion takes hold on me.

      — What have you done to me?

      I can barely hear my voice. He puts his hand on my cheek and I am unable to even start the movement of revulsion I would like to make. My legs barely hold me. I feel myself slipping little by little to the ground. Before I fall to the ground, Leon passes an arm under my legs and on my back and presses me against his wide chest. My head is tilting back at a painful angle, but I am unable to hold it straight.

      — I thought I had a little more time. Your room is not quite ready. I hope you will like it.

      What is he talking about? How long has he been planning to kidnap me? And why? I thought he was my friend! My questions will go unanswered. I am unable to express them and I end up sinking into unconsciousness as Leon lays me down on a soft surface.

      My eyelids flutter under the strong light. The sun assaults my retina with its light rays. I am disoriented, unable to remember where I am or what brought me to this unknown place. I try to rub my eyes to clear my vision, but my right wrist is stopped with a metallic noise. I insist, but this only causes me pain. A cold metal badly bites my skin. Then I resort to my left hand to rub my eyes, and I can see what is restraining me. Because that's what it is. A handcuff that is keeping me prisoner, tied to a bed. Panic wins me over. I look everywhere around. I am alone in an unknown room and my belongings are stored on open shelves, as if I had been living here for a long time. Anguish twists my guts.

      — Is there anyone here?

      There is only silence to answer my call.

      — DOES ANYONE HEAR ME?

      My voice comes out higher than I wanted, but whatever. In the next room, a chair squeaks on the tile and the sound of footsteps approaching speed up my pulse. When the ajar door opens, I cannot believe my eyes.

      — Leon???

      His smile has something unhealthy and disturbing. It is however no different from usual. It is probably due to the incredible situation I face.

      — You're finally awake, I didn't realize I had forced the dose a little too much. Do you have a migraine? Nausea?

      It's really a surreal situation. I am chained to a bed and my kidnapper worries about my health after he has drugged me? Because that is what he did, if I understand well.

      — Why am I here? Why did you tie me up?

      He sits on the edge of the bed and by reflex I move away from him, which makes him sigh.

      — Would you have stayed with me if I had asked you kindly?

      No, definitely not. I'm trying to slow down my heart rate while he keeps justifying himself.

      — We are made for each other Mal. I knew that as soon as I saw you for the first time.

      — You were with Lilas. You were good together.

      He plays with the strands of my hair and I cannot run away. I cannot stretch my arm any more, and my wrist hurts from being pulled like that.

      — She wasn't meant for me. All she thinks about is having fun and fucking. I’m looking for something more serious. I knew right away that you were a passionate and incredibly romantic person. You are my ideal woman.

      I try to reason with him.

      — I am not the one for you, I am not constant. I am unable to commit myself.

      — You don't want to work, which suits me very well since I want you to stay at home. With me. Remember, I work from home. We'll be together all the time. I make enough for both. We're going to be very happy.

      He leans over my face, lips forward, and I spit in his face to make him go back. He grunts, wiping himself with the back of his sleeve.

      — You will come to your senses. You’ll be mine. Forever.

      — Never Leon. NEVER.

      Then he sits on top of me squeezing my stomach and I gasp under his weight. I am afraid he wants to rape me, so I start screaming nonstop. Then he buries my head in the mattress to muffle the sound and I suffocate with the sheets that get into my wide-open mouth.

      — Stop shouting! I am not going to take you. I just want to mark you. You're mine. And when you finally understand that we are soulmates, you will be proud to show it to everyone.

      I stop screaming to be able to breathe more freely and hear him taking something out of his pocket. He then lowers the collar of my T-shirt and I start shaking again until I feel a cold metal on the top of my back.

      — A mark as a proof of your love for me.

      The blade then sinks into my skin as if in butter under my howl of pain. Leon slashes my back with a vertical gash and my blood flows down my neck.

      — You're going to be perfect.

      After that he leaves me there, stunned, and with my body injured.