Chapter 5

I am woken by a stream of light warming my face. Batting my sore eyes open, I stare up at the ceiling above me. A skylight is directly above the bed and I can see trees overhead and the sky. It is the only glimpse of the outside world I am allowed. For looking around me, I notice that there are no windows in the shack.  I lay looking out the window for sometime, trying to figure out what to do, then slowly sit up and swing my legs over the side of the bed. In doing so, I feel an incredible wave of nausea wash over me. I quickly jump off the bed and race toward the bathroom, just barely making it to the toilet in time. 

Once through, I lean back against the wall across from the toilet and hand my head. “At least you are okay.” I say as I place my hand over my stomach. It is as flat as it normally is, but I know with time it will grow. The only ease I feel is knowing I am not truly alone. “I will get us out of this sweet bean, somehow, I will.” With a new sense of hope, I heave myself off the floor and head in the direction of what I would call a kitchen. “Let us see what old Carlos has left for us.”

There are many many boxes of cereal. “What am I meant to eat this with?” I say staring at the offending box in my hand. The only liquid in this place in water. It is amazing that this place actually has running water. Come to think of it, it is odd that it has not only the water, but electricity as well. I pour some of the brane into a small bowl found in a cabinet and do a dreadful thing. I walk back into the bathroom and run the tap and place my bowl or brane underneath. I just put enough to wet the cereal and then turn the tap off and slowly make my way to the one chair next to the bed. I sit down with the offending cereal in my hand. 

“Please know how much I already love you.” I say to my flat stomach. “If it was not for you I would just starve myself to death.” I tip the bowl up to my mouth and take a mouthful. Chewing quickly and swallowing. “Blah, just as dreadful as I figured.” I said with a shudder. Not wasting time, I shovel the rest in my mouth quickly and set the bowl on the table next to me. 

After a few minutes, I am feeling much better, I look around at the small room. “There has to be something.” I say thoughtfully. Getting up and walking to the door, I try the knob. Locked, just like I assumed it would be. What I didn’t count on, was the warning alarm that sounded. I jumped back away from the door. Oh my God, he really has done what he said. Turning quickly around, I look again at my surroundings, with different eyes. “Is he watching me?” It is then I spot the flashing red light in the corner of the room. 

“I see you Cara.” The sneering voice came from the speaker of the camera. “Oh God.” I groaned out. He could see everything I did.  “You really are evil, you are the worst sort of human alive. I will not let you get away with this.” I screamed an ran at the camera, with intent of destroying it. Just as I was about to reach it and jump, the chain around my leg reached its end and stopped me. Staggering with my footing, I looked up at the camera. I reached down and pulled my shoe off my foot. I pulled back my arm and threw it and the camera. It hit a small clear plastic barrier and returned to the floor by my foot.  Bending and picking  it up, I examined it in my hand. It was not affected, but I had not seen the box surrounding the camera, for it was clear. The evil laugh that followed my outburst, caused a shiver to run down my spine. “Ha Ha Ha, it is like watching a comedy show.”

I began running around the room and ripping stuff from the walls. I ripped off baseboards, dug everything out of the cabinets. Desperate for… well I am not sure, maybe just anything that would give me a sense of hope. Right now, I am finding it really hard to hold onto any. If he can see every move I make, how will I ever make a move against him?

During my rampage of a small bookshelf on the wall next to the bed, I find classic books such as, The Catcher in the Rye, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and so on. Spotting amongst the classics a leather bound book with no title or author. I slowly open it and inside handwritten pages are revealed. 

May 12th 1998

I don’t even know if that is the right day. Has it been four days or five since I last wrote? I am not even sure any more. The baby will be coming soon, I am scared. What will happen once they are here. I have a feeling it is a boy. If it is a boy, this will be my last entry. Please don’t be a boy. 

I do not dare say out loud what I am thinking. I know he is watching. I try not to react at all. I just turn the page.

May 14th 1998

Amelia, that is what I named my beauty. She is perfect in every way. He came and took her away today. I had one perfect day with her. I spent the day staring into her beautiful eyes and she staring right back at me. Carlos seemed very upset when he learned that I had given birth to a baby girl. I asked for a picture of her, he of course refused. The image of her eyes will forever be burned into my memory. 

 

Amelia is the name of Luka’s older sister. I have met her on several occasions. This must be the journal that her mother kept. Was she held prisoner just like me? In this very same cabin? If this is true, then will Carlos do the same thing to me? I have so many questions. Luka never talked of his mother. I just assumed she had died before we met and that it was too painful to talk about. 

June 25th 1999

I know I am with child again. All the signs are there. I also know that he knows or at least he will. He gave me a year. Almost to the day, and he took from me again. I ask about Ameila every time he returns, I am normally met with a grunt or she is fine. I know it is silly to think but I hope she remembers me. Carlos will return to me today. I will tell him about the baby. Only, so he does not hurt me or them. 

It is almost too painful to read. How awful of a life it must have been. The same will happen to me, if I do not do something about it. I skip to the last entry in the journal. 

February 19th 2000

I find myself writing this again. The baby will be here soon. I am sure this time it is a boy. I just want to say goodbye, my dear sweet Ameila. I love you so much it hurts. The only reason I allow myself breath everyday is knowing that you are out there. The thought of you breathes light into me every day.  Please take care my sweet angel and know that I will always be with you. 

-Love always, Momma, Scarlett 

The tears fall freely down my face. This was the very last entry of the journal. I know that Luka was born February 21st. We celebrated his 17th birthday this year together. “Oh, what a fool!” I screamed out. I was sobbing now. For not only Scarlett and myself, but for the sweet baby that was growing inside of me. I know that as soon as this baby is born, Carlos will rip them away. Over my dead body he will get away with what he has done. This journal is not done yet, Ameila’s story will not end here. I pull out a pen and begin to write on the next empty page.  In the unlikely chance I get out of here. This will help me nail that asshat to the wall. Or in the more likely event someone years from now finds my bones in the corner of this cabin, my boney fingers will be gripping this notebook. All the transgressions of my captore will be right here.