Five days had passed since that awful night. She tried her best not to think about it. It was a break in. It happened to a lot of people. She had just been unlucky to have been home to experience it. They wouldn't come back. Deep inside she knew that and she tried her best to push the fear away.
She was at the supermarket. She needed groceries. She was reaching for the bread as she heard some familiar voices. She froze. It was them, she was sure of it. Her heart started beating faster. She put down the basket of groceries and listened. They were slowly moving away from her.
"Damn it," she muttered to herself.
She took a deep breath and followed the voices. She needed to see what they looked like. They needed to be punished for what they've done. Maybe it would help her sleep better at night if she knew they were behind bars.
She kept her distance while following them out of the supermarket. She took out her phone, ready to dial 911 as soon as she figured out where they went. She followed them down some streets. They turned a corner into an alley. As soon as she turned the corner as well, she was grabbed and pushed against the brick wall. The knife was at her throat again and she looked into the cold eyes of the same man as that night. Only difference this time was that she could see his entire face. He looked scary.
"I'll be taking that," he said and took the phone from her hand.
She looked around in panic, hoping to find the taller man with the kind eyes. He caught on right away.
"He's not here. He went inside but I'll take you to him," he said as he pulled her away from the wall.
He grabbed her arm and held the knife at her ribs.
"Walk!" He barked as he dragged her towards a door.
He forced her inside and up a long set of stairs.
"What the hell?" She heard the voice of the taller man behind her as the man with the knife pushed her into a bedroom.
"You stay there," he sneered and closed the door.
She hurried to the window. No way she dared jump out from this floor but maybe someone would hear her call for help. She tried opening it but it was stuck. Reality set in. She was trapped with a crazy man with a knife. She sat on the bed, not knowing what to do.
She heard them arguing on the other side of the door. Shortly after the door opened and a familiar face entered. She opened her mouth to speak but he put his finger to his lips as he closed the door behind him. He walked over to her, sat down and took her hands.
"Hi Hope," he said in a low tone.
"Luke?" She asked.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I had no idea it was your place we broke into the other night," he said.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked.
"Karl is a little crazy. Don't worry, I'm not gonna let him hurt you. I'll get you out of here one way or another. For now you just gotta trust me," he said.
"Trust you? I don't even know you anymore," she said.
"True. How long has it been? I haven't seen you since high school. Did you know I used to have a huge crush on you back then?" He asked, trying to change the subject and make her feel a bit better.
"Yeah, I knew. Ava told me," she answered.
"Guess you didn't crush on me too, huh?" He asked and chuckled.
"I did actually. I kept waiting for you to come and ask me out or something. In the end I just figured Ava had lied," she answered.
"Oh, the heartbreak," he said with a smile. "Anyway, despite the circumstances, it's really good to see you again."
"Is it? I gotta say, I wouldn't mind to not see you again if it meant I wouldn't be here right now," she said.
He squeezed her hands.
"I really am sorry, Hope," he said as he got up from the bed and walked back out to Karl.
"Just let me kill her. No loose ends," Karl said.
"You're not touching her," Luke sneered.
"Why not?" Karl asked.
"Breaking and entering is one thing, murder is a complete other," Luke said.
"Don't worry. You don't need to do anything. I can take care of it myself," Karl said.
"No!" Luke yelled.
"Fine fine, I won't touch her, dad," Karl said in a mocking tone.
"I'm gonna sleep in there with her and then we can try and figure out in the morning what to do," Luke said.
"Oh, that's what it's all about? You might think murder is a whole other thing but what is rape then?" Karl said and smirked.
Luke grabbed Karl's shirt and pushed him hard up against the wall.
"You twisted little fuck! I am not raping anyone but we can't have her running out on us or trying to bust the window while we're sleeping, can we?" Luke sneered.
"You're right," Karl said as he held his hands up to show he wasn't about to start fighting.
Luke let go and walked to the bedroom without another word. He closed the door behind him, locked it and put the key in a chain around his neck. She looked at him doing so, not saying anything. He sent her an apologizing smile and walked over to her.
"I hope you don't mind sharing the bed with me," he said.
Her breathing got a little faster and she looked scared. He sat down and took her hands.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna touch you or anything. It's just, this is my bedroom and I think you would prefer me sleeping in here rather than Karl," he said.
"Oh god yes, please don't let him near me," she said.
"I won't," he said as he lied down.
She lied down next to him and looked up in the ceiling.
"I know this is hard for you but please try to get some sleep, alright?" He said.
"I'll try," she said.