Chapter 26
Evil has no limit. It’s merciless, ghastly and grotesque. If you’re lucky, it will never find you. But if you run out of luck and evil finds its way to you, know that no pleas would save you. Now you’re all alone. So put your armor on and take a sword in your hands, you’re on the battlefield.
The road to his place felt like an endless path to the very heart of the purgatory.
It was cool in the car, but I could barely breathe.
“Can I roll down the window?”
“Of course, doll.”
I rolled it down and felt the cold night air slap my face.
“How long more is the road going to take?”
“Eager, aren’t you?”
He looked at me with that crooked smile, like he’d suffered a stroke. He licked his dry lips.
Fear left a lump in my throat and I struggled to swallow it.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
I had to escape.
He wasn’t armed, which couldn’t be said about his driver.
It’s dark. If his house wasn’t far from a forest, I’d have a chance to escape. The car would stop by the gates and I’d have a few seconds to open the door and run for my life. And with any luck, I’d be able to get away before they put a bullet in my head.
But where would I run? What next?
If I chose that path, all my loved ones would die .
I’d lose my home before I even got the chance to return.
What’s the point in escaping? To save myself? This wasn’t my big escape, this was the real death.
I could never live with myself knowing I threw them to the wolves to save my own skin. They still had a choice. They could still lead normal lives. They could live without me. They’d get used to it.
Not me, though.
I was in hell already. Holding evil by the hand and looking into its eyes. So why trade temporary suffering of my body and soul for eternal damnation?
Eric holds me by the throat even when he’s not around. His phantom hand was always ready to snap my neck. All I could do was roll with the punches at that point. There were no other options.
Sadness and despair gently enveloped me, leaving sharp pain within.
“Are you listening to me?”
I turned my head to the old man.
“I’m sorry.”
“Relax.”
He rested his wrinkled hand on my knee.
I could feel how clammy his hand was through the thin fabric of my dress.
I felt sick with fear and repulsion.
“We’re almost there. I have wine from 1934. I think you’ll like it.”
I don’t think I could enjoy wine from your year of birth.
He wouldn’t move his palm from my knee until his house came into view, and I couldn’t bring myself to throw it off.
I felt like I was sitting on hot coals when I saw the car arrive at his mansion .
The car stopped at the locked iron gates. Two men with machine-guns stood nearby.
My hand reached for the door handle involuntarily and I pulled it quietly. The door was locked.
I lost whatever hope I still had at that point.
I knew there was nothing I could’ve done, no matter what decision I’d taken.
The car drove into the court yard, and I saw a modern-looking mansion. Its grandiosity felt obnoxious and tacky.
When I got out of the car I noticed how tall the steel fence around the mansion actually was. Cameras and security guards with machine-guns were at every corner.
Eric was part of the criminal world himself, but even he wasn’t this paranoid. Who was this Roosevelt?
We made a bunch of stops on the way to his bedroom. He was showing and telling me about things I couldn’t care less about. I pretended to be impressed, but deep inside I could only beg for all of it to be over soon.
“Make yourself at home, doll. I’m going to bring the bottle from my office.”
I was sitting on a hard couch that made my butt hurt.
I turned to look at the large bed and felt the sticky feeling of panic creep up on me.
“I’m back. Did you miss me?”
He put out two glasses and poured us some wine.
I was going to drink it, but he stopped me.
“Not so fast. Smell it. What can you feel?”
Fear. Confinement. Death.
“Smells rich. But I’m not big on wine tastings.”
“Ah. Yes. Eric told me about you.”
“What did he say?”
“My, you really perked up when I mentioned him, didn’t you? Is he your favorite? ”
My favorite? What was he on about?
“No need to hide it anymore. No one will ever know you came here. I’ve already paid Eric for our night.”
“What do you mean by hiding?”
“That you’re his escort girl. He sleeps with you and allows those who can afford it to have a taste as well. You must be unforgettable with a price like that.”
My whole body went numb.
A whore?
By working for him, he meant being a whore?
I smiled mindlessly and drank the whole glass of wine.
“Nice wine.”
Roosevelt cackled and began coughing again.
He took a few hits of his inhaler and spoke,
“I knew you’d appreciate it. I hope you’ll remember me. Come, sit closer to me. You’re too far away.”
He wrapped his hand around my waist and pulled me closer.
I could feel the stench of alcohol and his shriveled fingers holding me in a grip of dread.
I got a knot in my stomach, my gag reflex flaring up.
“Can I have more wine?”
“Of course.”
We clinked glasses. I put the glass to my lips, and a few drops spilled on my chest and knees as I drank.
“Shit,” I blurted out under my breath.
“Damn, you’re so hot.”
He pressed his body to mine, trying to kiss me.
“I’m sorry, but you need to take a shower to give me time to get ready.”
Roosevelt laughed and began groping me.
“Only if you join me.”
“I’ve got stitches on my shoulder. I can’t get them wet.”
“You’re missing out, hottie. ”
He leaned towards me and licked my cheek, leaving a wet strip of saliva on my skin.
“I’m gonna be back soon. Get ready for me.”
The door to the bathroom closed behind him and I wiped his drool off my face with a sleeve.
I got up, ready to leave.
I could leave now. This was my last chance. Now or never.
The necklace. Fucking necklace. I had to find it.
I jumped up and headed to his office.
Eric didn’t lie. The door was close-by. But where was the safe?
There was nothing behind the paintings. Nothing behind the curtains, either.
Maybe it’s in the desk? Sure enough, it was.
Did the stupid reaper expect me to crack a safe?
Maybe the numbers were rubbed off on the buttons he pressed regularly? No. All numbers looked brand new and untouched.
Maybe there’s a key? I opened each drawer, but couldn’t find anything.
Maybe he kept his password in the open somewhere? No. There was nothing that looked like a password.
I ran around the room, looking for some sort of a hint.
I froze in place next to a glass shelf stand.
A safe, huh? Damn you, Eric.
The necklace was behind the glass, lying on a red pillow, glistening beautifully in the white light of tiny lamps.
The key was in the lock. I turned the key and opened it.
I put the necklace around my neck, hastily hiding it under the dress. It was cold and heavy.
“Zoe. Zoe. My diamond Zoe.”
Fear pierced through me.
I immediately left the office.
He was standing there naked and my gaze shot up to stare at his wrinkly forehead .
“I was looking for a restroom, but with no luck.”
He looked over my shoulder. I could see he was going to check the office.
I walked up to him and began sliding my hands along his body.
“You look so fine.”
He laughed, hugging me, trying to lean in for a kiss.
I put a hand between us.
“I still need that restroom. Make yourself comfy on the bed and wait for me.”
I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer.
“I’m tired of waiting. Let me fuck you right now. Take your clothes off.”
“I’ve had way too much alcohol tonight and haven’t used the bathroom in a while. It won’t take long. I’ll be back before you know it.”
He was watching me closely. He let go of my arm and slapped my ass.
“Make it quick.”
“Of course,” I smiled.
The second he turned his back to me, I grabbed a glass of wine and quickly headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind me.
Please, let it be my lucky chance. Please, let it be my lucky chance. God, please.
I opened the cabinet under the sink and saw a plethora of pill bottles.
What should I choose? Not a single name sounded familiar to me.
I quickly snatched the pill bottle in the middle.
What could I use to crush them?
Even if I were to find something, he’d hear me doing it.
I flushed the toilet and shoved a heaping handful of pills in my mouth. I chewed them carefully, trying not to swallow any saliva .
I turned the tap on and began spitting the soggy mass into the glass, mixing it with my finger.
I rinsed my mouth and my hand accidentally knocked over one of the vials. It fell down with a clink, spilling the pills all over the bathroom floor.
“What was that noise?”
“My bracelet broke. I’m coming.”
I quickly picked up the pills and flushed them.
Even if I left some behind, it wouldn’t matter. He clearly took these every day. There’d be nothing weird about it.
“I’ll come out if you close your eyes and open them once I sit down next to you.”
“What’s with the games, doll? Come out already. I’m getting tired of it.”
“Roosie, please,”
I cooed in a sweet voice, catching a wave of nausea.
“Alright.”
I heard him sigh. He was frustrated he couldn’t get what he wanted.
And he wouldn’t.
With quick, tentative steps I walked to the table, not taking my eyes off him and hiding the glass behind my back.
I took my glass and sat by his side on the bed.
He opened his eyes and I handed him the glass, smiling.
“Let us have our last glass of wine.”