Chapter4 of Lacuna
Woman on a ledge
The apartment screamed extravagance… And well, elegance.
Is Demetri gay or something?
No way could this have been decorated by a guy. The walls were panelled in the bathroom, which had a huge bath, shower and a massive wash basin. With marble floor and a chandelier on the celling, he was definitely trying to show off.
"Flashy stuff…"
The lounge room, which was lacking a kitchen, was grey and black, with a dark wood floor. The chairs were those long lounger things, and the lights were again huge and sparkly.
If I had to stay in this place, I am claiming this room as compensation.
I tried the last door, just thinking of how flamboyant the bedroom will be. Not to my surprise, it was beautiful.
Red gold and black, my favourite trio of colours, just like ACDC.
The bed was a four poster, the sheets immaculately made, and a set of drawers were placed around the room.
"Jesus Christ…"
I made my way back into the main room, and flipped on the TV, searching for a movie.
'Man on a ledge' was on so I decided to stick with it.
After an hour of that film, which was a bag of crap, I decided to try and get out. I had nothing to lose, right?
The main door was locked, damn Demetri and his key… But I did remember seeing another door in the bedroom.
I flicked off the TV and sighed. "This place is a maze, I'll never get out."
Trying the door, it opened with ease, and there were some winding steps going up. "Nice! Another adventure… Shame I left my camera in that room."
Climbing the steps, I could see some natural light. There was a square room at the top of the stairs, with a big window in it and a bookcase.
A window, thank god. Looking out, the sun was setting, and the air was so much cooler. There was a thin ledge connecting this window to a balcony… Man on a ledge sprung to mind.
By my judgement, I was only two floors up, so if gravity failed me, I wouldn't die.
I put one leg out, shifting my shorts to gain flexibility, and slid onto the thin line of stone. Folding onto the looser bricks poking out of the walls, I basically rock climbed over towards the balcony.
"Romie what are you-" I jumped at the shout, my hands flailing. I fell backwards and down, letting out a shriek.
"Romie!"
I landed with a huge thud, all of my weight on my right arm.
"FUCK!" I screamed, struggling on the grass. Demetri was right next to me, holding me up.
"You stupid girl what the hell were you thinking."
"That I-I'd climb over stupid!"
"Let me see your arm." His cool skin calmed the burning heat in my arm down.
"Ow, ow! Is it broken?"
"Yes, and pretty badly too." He tried to soothe it a little.
"Help me Demetri, please." Tears were forming in my eyes, but I refused to show weakness to him.
"Tiah is out of town, she's the healer. The most we can do is get a bandage on it…" He looked annoyed at that.
"Come one, let's get you inside." He held my arm carefully as I pulled myself up.
"Ow no!" My ankle just beat with pain. Not this too!
"What now?" Demetri sounded even more panicked.
"My foot… I think that's gone too…" I gasped as everything ached and burned.
"You've really done yourself over here, if you'd have listened to me-"
"Sorry alright, if I'd have known that I'd be mangled, then I might have thought about it more!" I was really starting to feel Ill, the kind where you've had a cold coming on, and then it hits you dead in the stomach.
"Do you want my help or not Lacuna?" Demetri spat...
I nodded, feeling weaker. I was pressing most of my weight on him now, and boy was he freezing. My head was flopping side to side; it was unbearably painful to keep it up.
"Romie… Romie… Oh my god!"
My head dropped backwards, and a shooting pain travelled through me. Something forced its way out of my throat and spilled across my throat.
Was I actually going to die?