Some Lines Cannot Be Crossed Chapter 02

Some Lines Cannot Be Crossed Chapter 02

Janice lunged and ripped the phone from my hands. “You cunning old bitch!”

She raised it high and smashed it against the tile floor. The screen exploded into a web of fractures before shattering completely.

“No!” A desperate rasp tore from my throat.

“What did I tell you?” She crouched down, her fingers digging into my chin. “I told you to behave. You never listen.”

She released me, stood up, and pulled my smartphone from her pocket. “Let’s see here… ‘Not feeling well. Can’t make the assembly.’” She typed as she spoke.

Horror clawed at my chest. “No! You can’t…”

“Can’t what?” She didn’t look up. “I’m helping! What if you got lost? What if you broke a hip? Hmm?” She hit send.

I clenched my fists. “My family will find out… they’ll know something happened to me.”

“Oh, give me a break,” Janice scoffed. “You’re old. People get sick. It’s called life.”

“Besides, if your so-called ‘family’ actually cared about you, they would’ve visited by now.”

“Janice… please…” My voice scraped out like a blade. “I have to go… this meeting… it’s critical…”

“Critical?” She laughed, a sharp, ugly sound. “More critical than my wedding?”

“Friday is the most important day of my life. I can’t let you stir up trouble and ruin everything!”

She dragged me into the storage closet. I pounded my fists against the wooden door. “Janice! Janice!”

“You want out?” Her voice came through the door, muffled and smug. “I already told you. You’re not going anywhere.”

“Why? I won’t say a word! I won’t ruin your wedding!”

“I can’t take that risk!” she snapped. “You said you wanted to go out Friday. What if something happened to you? Who would be responsible? I’m getting married that day! I can’t babysit you!”

“So, you’ll just stay in the closet. Nice and safe.”

My mind reeled. “This… this is false imprisonment.”

“Imprisonment?” She burst out laughing. “I’m doing a good deed! Protecting a frail, sick old lady from harm!”

“You’re insane…”

“How dare you call me that?” she hissed. “You’re the crazy one! A nobody who actually thinks she can boss me around?”

“This place will be mine soon. My advice? Stay put and behave.”

Her footsteps faded.

Darkness swallowed the house. The closet held nothing.

I slumped against the wall. Every part of me ached. My back, my legs, even my stomach throbbed with a deep, gnawing pain. Then, Janice’s sugary voice drifted through the door.

“Lorenzo, baby… it’s me… don’t worry, I’ve got it handled… the old bat agreed not to go… yes, I’m keeping an eye on her… where would she even go? Just some old folks’ gathering… mmhmm… Friday, darling. I’ll be waiting… love you too.”

The call ended. Janice hummed the wedding march, her footsteps fading into silence. I lay in the darkness, tears slipping silently onto the pillow, hot and unstoppable.

Nine years. I thought I’d found a good person. Instead…

A violent cramp seized my stomach. I hadn’t eaten all day. My throat felt like sandpaper. I crawled to the door.

“Janice… water… please…”

“Please… I’m so thirsty…”

The only reply was a cold laugh. “I’m curious how long you can last.”

“Hold out until Friday, and I’ll let you out.”

“By then, everything will be set in stone. I’ll be a Castillo wife. Nothing you say will matter.”

Her laughter faded away.