Submitting novel Chapter 42

“Who told you so?”

I stared at her with a completely frozen mind. Not a single, alternate possibility occurred to me that could replace the assumption that I had. What she was saying or rather suggesting through unsaid words was too ridiculous to even be acceptable as a reality. In what state of position could she ever agree to that? The Liza I know would never do something this preposterous.

“W-what do you mean?” Would she even answer my question? Or dismiss it like the million others I had?

“Rose. I can not let you kill me and my baby. This baby is all that I have got, and I am not going to let you take away this bit of happiness from me. The only one that I left.” The determination in her voice was solemn and shatterproof. It was clear to me that she won’t come with me. But shouldn’t she try? Her fear of something else was imminent, but I didn’t have any clue as to what it was.

“You are putting your baby in danger by staying here. With these men. These merciless and awful, awful, men. I don’t understand how you can forget whatever they did to you, and it won’t be easy to understand, but if we try together then we can do anything, Lizzie. We can raise your baby in a healthy and safe environment and-” A laugh of hysteria broke out from her lips as she interrupted me abruptly and continued.

“You are so magnificently naive, Rose. Do you think my baby will be able to survive outside in this weather? Will I be able to survive outside in this weather? We don’t know where we are and what kind of place this is. If there is any town nearby or not. If we will even find any help outside. There’s no telling about how much we might need to walk and even if we do, where will go? Which direction?” She was angry, and rightfully so. I didn’t take into account the major hurdles that I would face outside. Perhaps I would survive in the bone biting cold, but how will Liza manage?

“Liza. I-”

“No. I am not going anywhere. There is no escape for both of us. So get away from that window.” Her words were final.

The soft touch of the free wind teases me again from the slightest slit of the window that I had cracked open before I got interrupted. Too stubborn and alluring to let me ignore it. I will not get another chance like this to escape again. It was now or never.

“Liza, if I ever meant anything to you, you will let me go.” With that, I turned around and walked my way back towards the window. It slid up and opened very easily, greeting me with the unnatural scent of nature. It didn’t feel as fulfilling as I had hoped it would, now that I am being forced to leave a huge part of me behind. Things were not supposed to turn out like this. I didn’t plan or even imagine that they could. It’s just that there was no other option.