Chapter 30 A Bad Day
Carlos is home but hasn’t entered the room yet. I’m panicking, pacing around the room as my mind is baffled with so many thoughts about Erica Menendez.
I need to know who she is—or if I am her.
It’s one thing for Carlos to have a file with her name on it, locked away in a wardrobe. But it’s something else entirely to write “mission” across that file… and then attach my picture.
I’ve considered the possibility that I might be Erica Menendez. I’ve also wondered if she’s somehow related to me. But one thing I know for sure—this is all part of some mission for Carlos. A plan. And in it, he holds all the power that would destroy me.
Although, I don’t believe he would harm me that easily. Since he’s kept me here for so long, it only makes sense that he’s waiting for something specific to happen… maybe a trigger or signal, before making his next move on me.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how scary it is. I’m not safe here. And Carlos… he is hiding something—something huge about me. Something that would change everything if I ever found out.
“Who am I?” I whispered to myself.
That question has haunted me since the moment I saw those photos. For Carlos to go through all this trouble, to keep me close, to bring me to a remote place like this—it has to mean something. Maybe he thinks I’m powerful. Or maybe I’m a secret, one that would cost him if found.
Either way, I need to find out the truth before it’s too late.
The door slammed open, making me jump. Carlos stormed in, his face twisted with anger, like he knew I had been snooping.
"Hey… how was it?" I asked softly, hoping to ease the tension with a calm voice.
He didn’t answer. Just shot me a cold glance before heading straight into the closet.
Something definitely didn’t go well.
Minutes passed before he stormed back out, visibly fuming. "Where are my black sweatpants?"
"Um… I’m not sure. Maybe you should check the dresser?"
He scoffed, furious. "If they were in the damn dresser, don’t you think I’d know that?"
I flinched. "Yes… you’re right. I’m sorry."
"Just… don’t," He growled, storming back into the closet.
Now this makes this clear, something definitely went wrong for him to be this unnecessarily angry.
A few seconds later, he walked back, wearing the black sweatpants, probably the ones he was looking for.
He didn’t look at me. He walked straight to the landline, punched in a few numbers, then asked, "Did anyone call this phone today?"
"No. No one did," I said quietly.
"Good. Actually—" He yanked the cord from the wall. "I’m cutting all the landlines. I can’t risk anyone calling you here."
I didn’t say a word, just stared at him, not wanting to make the situation worse.
Carlos then pulled out his phone and checked it. His expression suddenly shifted, darkening as he read something that clearly rattled him even more.
"Are you okay?" I asked quietly, my voice laced with worry.
He didn’t answer right away. I could hear a low growl building in his throat. Then finally, he muttered, "I’m fine."
"Are you sure? You don’t really seem okay."
"I said I’m okay!" He snapped. "God, what is wrong with you? I told you I’m okay, so stop asking me questions. I’m fucking fine, alright? I’m fine!"
His outburst stunned me. I took a small step back, shaken. "I’m sorry. I didn’t think—"
"I don’t fucking care!" He cut in sharply. "I don’t fucking care what you think, Nala!"
"I… umm.." before I could even explain myself, he hurled his phone at me, which luckily didn’t hit me, it only missed by inches.
My heart dropped. My eyes widened. My body trembled with fear. Carlos just stood there, staring at me like he was just realizing what he had done.
His expression softened. "Nala," He whispered, taking a step forward and reaching for me.
I flinched and stepped back, tears welling in my eyes. "No, please."
"Come on, you know that was an accident," He said gently, reaching for me again but I pulled away once more.
I am scared that pulling away would make him more angry but right now, my body feels so scared to let him hold me. Instead, I put my arms around myself, feeling trapped between wanting to be away from him but fearing how his reaction if I do move away from him. Still, I kept inching toward the far wall, desperate to keep space between us.
Carlos must have understood my silent words because he took a step away from me. His eyes were still on me but I couldn’t look directly at me. I was scared
"I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to." He said quietly
I glanced at him. He didn’t mean to? Does he really mean that? He definitely doesn’t.
The silence in the room thickened as his arms opened up to embrace me. It was clear that I want him away from me but somehow Carlos doesn’t seem to care about that. He then whispered "I didn’t mean to."
I don’t believe his words at all. How could he not mean it but do it? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Carlos walked closer to me, slowly and without hesitation he wrapped his arms around me. I wanted to push him away, call him names, say what’s on my king but I knew better. Resisting him would only make him more upset.
Instead, I froze, forcing myself not to flinch as he squeezed tight, my breath barely reaching my lungs. "It’s okay, it’s okay." He repeated rubbing my back for the comfort that felt like nothing more than a threat, his hands pressing harder into my shoulders.
As he kept whispering, saying whatever he could to calm me down, my heart raced even faster. And in that moment, one terrifying truth settled in—I have to find a way out because if I don’t, he might kill me.