Chapter three

Gerald gave me multiple slaps as he dragged me out of the bathroom. “How dare you!!” he pushed me out of the room to the hallway. The maids and other domestic staff looked away and returned to their duties. This was no news to them, they had watched him throw me down the stairs before. “Please sir, I didn’t sleep with another man, please sir, believe me” I pleaded because my life depended on it.

      Gerald paid deft ears. He took me to a room I nicknamed doomsday and pushed me hard till I fell on the floor. Quickly, I supported myself with my hands to protect my baby. It was an instinct and reflex. Gerald brought out a whip and lashed it on me. He gave me several strokes till I started tasting blood in my mouth. “Did he fuck you good? How dare you” he pushed me against the wall. 

    This time,my hands failed me, I dashed my abdomen against a casted frame on the wall. Gerald didn’t  stop till I started feeling uneasy. My anus tightened like I was having a contraction, in a blink of an eye, I saw blood. This was what dropped the whip from his hand. He hissed and walked out Irritated. I was in pain, bleeding with sore skin. 

      I pushed myself through the stairs, bleeding all over the floors till I got to my room. Gerald made sure I lived outside his mansion. I shared the mini space behind the garage. As soon as I opened the door, I fell down weakly. I laid there for an hour before Gerald ordered his men to take me to the hospital.

       “She had a miscarriage. She needs all the rest she can get”. From my sleep, I heard the doctor’s voice. I opened my eyes and checked out for Gerald, luckily, he was nowhere in the  room. It was my savior, Harrison. He looked disturbed as he spoke with the doctor. The doctor walked out and I slowly whispered his name, “Harry”. He held my hand softly and almost had tears in his eyes.  “Mira, I am sorry. Gerald sent me here. I can’t believe he did this to you” he apologized.

      I was least interested in what he said, this was the last time I promised myself. “ Two months ago, you offered me an opportunity to leave this city. I want that opportunity now!” I asked with a cold voice. He looked at me without finding the right words. “I mean now!! Get me out of here” I maintained my pace despite the tears flooding my cheeks. Harry left the room without a second glance at me. 

      When I felt my whole life was coming to an end, he entered the room dressed as a cleaner. He handed me a cleaning outfit and asked me to change. This was the opportunity I had waited for, dreamed of and prayed for. Despite the pains all over my body, I changed. He wrapped my hair in a face cap and gave me a nosemask. I immediately looked like one of the hospital cleaners.

    We walked through the hallway without getting noticed. We were about to get through the staff exit when I heard Gerald’s voice. “I want her death!!” He said loud and clear to the doctor incharge of my case. I stood and turned back to look at him. I felt like comforting him, I have been nothing but a submissive wife to him. Harrison pulled me away. 

    We used the back door where a car was waiting for us. We got in immediately and that was the end of my suffering.  Harrison and I got out of the car after 52 km. We were on the outskirts of Free city. He held my hand and directed me inside an abandoned apartment.  “It was my mom's, “ he said, handing me my travel documents and a ticket. 

      “At 6am, your flight leaves Free city to Levino. Gerald won’t get access to Levino, his business rival and enemy stays in Levino, he will be shot at first sight the moment he gets there” he explained. “Mira, I want you to take care of yourself. Be happy” he said weakly. I had tears in my eyes as I hugged him and bid him farewell.

      Harrison left immediately and I was all alone in the apartment. It was hard for anyone to know I was inside. I didn’t blink all night, I was eagerly anticipating the next morning. At 5am, I freshened up. The injuries on my body ached when cold water touched my skin. I changed into a baggy sweatshirt and joggers with a face cap Harrison had left behind. I walked all the way to the train station before I got a cab that took me to the airport.

      It was a rainy morning and the traffic was almost invisible. Getting to the airport was easy. At 5:45am, I got to the terminal. I was granted access and at 6:02am, I was leaving Free city. It was an emotional moment for me, I wiped my eyes as I looked outside the plane’s window. I had gained my freedom. 

      The moment I landed Levino, I searched my mini purse for my phone but I couldn’t find it. It was at that moment I remembered I never had it all these while. I stood at the terminal clueless and confused. I had nothing but $450 with me. I had no luggage, no food, no phone, no contacts, no friends or relatives. 

       The fear, confusion I had on my face was too visible and it attracted the attention of a cop. “Hello madam, is everything fine?”, he asked as politely as he could. I nodded and tried to walk away when he held me back. “Hey!!”. As he held my hand, my sleeves folded and my bruises were revealed.  He looked at me strangely and looked around in reflex. “You are coming with me!” he said, pulling me along. 

       I was tired and too weak to fight, my body had started shaking, I knew I was in trouble. He took me to the car and started asking me questions. 

Cop: “What is your name?” 

Me: Mira.

Cop: Where are you from? Where were you kidnapped? Are you in any threat?

Me: (weakly) Free city, please. I need to get to the hospital.

Cop: We are used to these tricks. You are not getting away till we carry out proper investigations.

      Before I could defend myself, he called some of his team members and in no time, we were driving to the police station. I was sitting in between two cops who looked at me judgefully. In the heat of the moment, the cop from the airport noticed my hands were pale. He held my hands and at one touch, he yelled for them to stop the car.