Chapter 31
Violet
As John speaks, his words send an icy shiver racing down my spine. “I’ve been thinking,” he begins, his voice eerily calm, like he’s narrating a bedtime story. “Thinking about all the things I can do to make you see that we belong together, Violet. We’ll leave here, just the two of us, start fresh in a new town. Somewhere where no one knows us. We’ll build a life there, a perfect life. And once everything’s set up, I’ll come back for Adrian. We’ll be a family. The way it’s meant to be.”
My stomach twists, bile rising in my throat as his words sink in. I force myself to stay calm, to keep my voice steady even as my heart races. “John, listen to me. What about Miriam? Your kids? They need you. You can’t just walk away from them.”
He freezes, his eyes narrowing, and for a moment, I think I’ve gotten through to him. But then his face twists into a mask of anger, and he shouts, “No! Don’t talk about Miriam! Don’t you see? I was never meant to be with her. She’s nothing compared to you. You’re the one, Violet. You’ve always been the one.”
He starts pacing the small cabin, his movements erratic, his hands gesturing wildly as he speaks. I stay seated, barely breathing, watching him carefully, trying to anticipate his next move.
“This is all your fault,” he says, his voice dropping into a venomous growl. “If you’d just listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened. I’ve been trying to show you, every day. I came to see you every morning. I left you gifts, little ways to tell you just how much I care. But you ignored me. Over and over again, you pushed me aside like I didn’t matter.”
I swallow hard, forcing myself not to react. He’s spiraling, and I can’t risk provoking him.
John stops pacing and turns to me, his eyes wild and glassy. “Do you know how much I’ve done for you? How much I’ve sacrificed? I had plans for us, Violet. Big plans. I was going to divorce Miriam, leave everything behind, just to be with you. But you…you ruined it.” His voice rises into a shout as he grips his hair, tugging at it violently.
“John,” I say softly, trying to soothe him. “I didn’t know. I didn’t understand. Maybe if we just talk about this?—”
“No!” he snaps, cutting me off. “You don’t get it, do you? I love you, Violet. I’ve always loved you. And you chose him. Him! Do you know what that feels like? To be cast aside like I’m nothing?”
He’s trembling now, his breaths coming fast and shallow. I can see the cracks in his composure widening, his control slipping further away with each passing second.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, to sound sincere. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, John. I didn’t realize how you felt. But this isn’t the way to fix things. We can find another way. You can take me back, and we’ll figure this out together. No one has to know.”
For a moment, he looks at me, really looks at me, and I think I’ve reached him. But then he shakes his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “You’re just saying that. You’re lying to me, trying to trick me. But I’m not stupid, Violet. I know you. And I know that deep down, you feel the same way about me.”
His delusion feels like a suffocating fog, wrapping itself around both of us. I can see the madness in his eyes, the desperate need for validation, for control.
I have to get out of here. Somehow, someway, I have to convince him to let me go. But the wrong word, the wrong move, might make him snap.
“John,” I say carefully, my voice trembling just enough to sound afraid—but not too afraid. “I want to understand. Help me understand. Tell me what I can do to make this right.”
His face softens slightly, and he takes a step closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “All you have to do is love me, Violet. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Just say it. Say you love me.”
My heart pounds as I force myself to meet his gaze, to keep my voice steady. “I... I need time, John. This is all so sudden. I need time to process, to?—”
“Time?” he snaps, his face twisting with rage again. “You’ve had time. Months! But you wasted it. And now I have to do what’s necessary to make you see.”
His words hang in the air, heavy and ominous. And I realize with chilling clarity that he’s capable of anything.
Before I can protest further, we hear rustling outside. Fear grips me as John swiftly grabs a roll of tape from his pocket and covers my mouth, silencing me. I struggle against him, but he's too strong. He binds my wrists using the same tape, rendering me helpless.
I struggle to try and break free, and John gets frustrated by the noise it makes. The next thing I know, floorboards are being lifted to reveal a secret entrance to a tunnel. The thought that I will be moved from this cabin scares me even more, and I almost have a panic attack with this tape over my mouth. I try to catch my breath, and tears start to form in my eyes, but I do as he says so he won’t have a reason to put his hands on me.
John lifts me from the chair, but doesn’t remove the tape from my arms or face. "If you fight me, I will come back for your son, and I will kill him," he threatens. "You'll be alone with me, chained to the wall as I fuck that whore cunt of yours. Understand?"
Terrified, I nod silently, tears now streaming down my cheeks. I don’t struggle as he pushes me toward the dark hole in the floor. With a shove, I tumble into the tunnel, hitting the cold ground hard. The lantern light flickers on, casting eerie shadows around us as John closes the floorboards above, sealing us in darkness. The tunnel is so long that there is no end in sight, and it smells like wet dirt and rat droppings.
He hauls me to my feet roughly, gripping my arm tightly. Fear and despair wash over me as I realize the depth of his delusion. There's no way out, no escape from this nightmare.
John makes me walk in the tunnel for what feels like an eternity, though in reality it's only about five minutes. The darkness and the suffocating smell makes it hard to breathe. At the end of the tunnel, there's this mysterious wooden door.
John turns to me and says, "Stay here and don't move." I nod, unable to speak with the tape over my mouth.
He opens the door and disappears, leaving me in the dark. The oppressive scent of the damp earth overwhelms me, and every passing second feels like it could be my last.
My heart breaks as I think about Adrian and Austin; I didn’t get to say goodbye to my son. The thought tears me apart, and I sob silently, wishing I could go home to them.
Thinking about Austin hurts—I never got the chance to tell him that his master plan was working. I didn’t tell him that I’m in love with him, that I love how he treats my son, and takes time to spend with him, teaching him about fishing and sports. I never told him how he makes me feel seen, beautiful, and cared for. How every time he talks, there’s a glint in his eyes that I adore. I wish I had the time to tell him how I really feel.
I sink to the ground, overwhelmed by despair.
The darkness presses in on me, but amidst the terror, my mind clings to memories of Austin and Adrian. Their smiles, their laughter, the moments we’ve shared. I focus on those memories, drawing strength from them.
I need to stay strong. For Adrian. For Austin. For this beautiful family that we’ve created. I can’t give up now.
As I sit there in the dark waiting for whatever comes next, I silently vow to fight. With all of this silence, my mind begins to wander. This cannot be my future. I start to remember the notes he left and am still in disbelief that John is the man behind them. He has always been a nice customer, and he helped Josy with repairs in the coffee shop.
How could I have been so blind? He was right in front of me this whole time . Why would he do this?
John has a beautiful family. I think about Miriam and how I hope she never finds out about the man she married. I feel for her and their children and what all of this will bring to them, they will be devastated.
Get out of your head and get out of here. I shake my head, trying to rid myself of thoughts that don’t belong at this moment. I take a deep breath, focusing on the here and now. I need to come up with a plan. My eyes start to adjust to the darkness of the tunnel, and I take in my surroundings as best I can. I glance around the area and try to spot anything that could be used to help me. I shift my position, testing the strength of the tape around my wrists. It’s tight, but maybe I can loosen it.
As I move my hands, trying to create some space between the tape and my skin, I listen carefully for any sound that might indicate John’s return. The fear of him coming back keeps my adrenaline pumping, but I use that fear to fuel my determination. I can’t let him win. I can’t let him take me away from my life, from the people I love.
The seconds stretch into agonizing minutes as I work at the tape binding my wrists. My fingers ache from the effort, but I refuse to stop. I can feel the tape weakening, the faintest give in the adhesive, and it fuels my determination. Every tiny shift feels monumental, a small victory in this nightmare.
Just a little more. Keep going.
My shoulders burn, and my breath comes in shallow, quiet gasps. I have to stay calm. I can’t let him hear me. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat screaming at me to hurry, but I force myself to stay focused. I can’t afford a single mistake.
Finally, the tape loosens enough for me to move my wrists a fraction. I wriggle them carefully, testing the freedom I’ve gained, and then pull harder. My skin is raw, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out. After a few seconds, one hand slips free.
I stifle a sob of relief, clenching my trembling fingers into a fist to keep them from shaking too loudly. Quickly, I attack the remaining tape with my free hand, peeling it away with more precision now that I have full control. The adhesive pulls at my skin, leaving a burning sting in its wake, but I don’t stop until both hands are free.
Tearing the tape from my mouth is the final hurdle. It hurts, ripping at my skin, but I grit my teeth and yank it away. The sharp sting is nothing compared to the relief of being able to take a full, deep breath. For the first time in what feels like hours, I can move. I can act.
I scan the tunnel frantically, searching for something—anything—I can use as a weapon. But there’s nothing in this god forsaken tunnel.
My blood turns to ice. John is coming back.
I drop to the floor, scrambling to tuck my legs beneath me, pressing my hands together behind my back as though they’re still bound. My heart races as I shove the crumpled tape behind me on the floor. I press my lips together, praying he won’t notice that the tape is gone.
The door creaks open, and John storms in, muttering to himself. His hair is disheveled, his face red with frustration, and I can smell the acrid tang of sweat and dirt as he moves closer.
“Get up,” he snaps, his tone sharper now.
I don’t move fast enough for him. His hands grip my arms roughly, hauling me to my feet. I stumble, my body still stiff from being bound, but he doesn’t care. He drags me toward the door, his grip like a vice.
My mind races, calculating. He hasn’t noticed. He doesn’t know that I’m free. Not yet.
I have one chance. And I can’t waste it. He takes me outside, we are in a forest, and the moonlight provides only a faint glow. The air is chilly, and my shirt and yoga pants do little to keep me warm. As soon as I take my first breath of fresh air, I decide now is the time to run away from John. It doesn’t matter that I have no clue where we are; if I don’t go, I might lose my only chance.
John pulls me toward a parked car nearby, his grip tight on my arm. When he gets distracted, fumbling with his keys, I seize my opportunity. I kick him in the shin with all my might. John goes down with a grunt, and while he’s doubled over, I kick him in the groin from behind making him yell in pain.
“What have you done?” He gasps, but I don’t stay to listen. I start running toward the forest.
The cold air bites at my skin as I run. My breaths come out in visible puffs, my feet hammer against the uneven ground. The night is silent except for the sound of my footsteps and the distant rustling of leaves. I look back a few times but can’t see anything. Still, I don’t stop. I need to get away from him.
“Little flower, come back to me, please. It’s time to go,” John’s voice calls from the distance, but I ignore him.
I keep running, my heart thunders in my chest. The chill seeps into my bones, making me shiver, but I push through the discomfort. The ground is rough and I stumble over roots and rocks. I have to keep moving, I cannot stop.
Suddenly, I step on a rock and lose my balance. I tumble down a hill, hitting my head on the way down. My vision darkens, and dizziness washes over me. Nausea grips my stomach, and I take deep breaths, trying to stay conscious. I can’t stop now.
I still hear John running in the distance, his sounds getting closer.
I stay quiet, holding my breath and my pain. I need to stay hidden, stay still. My heart races, and I pray he doesn’t find me. The forest is my only cover, and I cling to it, hoping it’s enough to keep me safe.
Once my pain subsides, I start to stand up and keep running.
Suddenly, John grabs me from behind, and I fall hard to the ground again. I struggle to get him off me, but he’s too heavy.
I yell at him, "Let me go! Don’t do this!”
He just shushes me and says, "It’s okay, little flower. We are together now."
Then he leans down to kiss me. When I feel his lips touch mine, I bite him hard, making him lean back. I hope he’ll roll off me, but he doesn’t. Instead, he slaps me hard across the face, and my vision blurs again.
He leans down, his face very close to mine. "Little flower, I’m getting tired of all this fighting. Don’t make me hurt you. I just want to love you. Why don’t you understand that’s what I’m doing?"
As I regain my wits, I say, "You’re hurting me. Just let me go." I struggle again while John laughs.
"You think you can get away from me, Violet?" he mocks.
His laugh sends chills down my spine. I can feel his breath on my face, smell the metallic tang of his blood where I bit him. Desperation fuels my next move as I twist and squirm beneath him, kicking and thrashing with all my strength.
"Stop fighting," he growls, his grip tightening. "You’re only making this harder for yourself."
But I don’t stop. I can’t. I refuse to let him break me. I gather all of my strength and slam my knee upward, hitting him in the balls as hard as I can. John groans and loosens his grip just enough for me to scramble out from under him.
I get to my feet and start running again, my legs aching, my face stinging from the slap. The forest is a blur around me, the darkness pressing in on all sides. I have no idea where I’m going, but I know that I have to keep moving.
"Violet!" John’s voice is angry now, a stark contrast to the sickly sweet tone he used before. "Come back here!"
I ignore him, focusing on the ground in front of me, avoiding roots and rocks the best as I can. My breaths come in ragged gasps, my body protesting every step. But I push on, fueled by fear and determination.
I can’t let him catch me again. I have to find a way out. For Adrian, for Austin, and for myself.