Chapter 26: The red room

Morning came too fast. The air felt heavy, and even the sunlight slipping through the curtains seemed cold. I forced myself up, prepared breakfast for Sean, and waited for him to come downstairs. He smiled faintly when he saw me, his tie crooked, his eyes tired.

“Good morning, love,” he said, kissing my temple.

“Morning,” I whispered, handing him his coffee.

He sat beside me, scrolling through his phone while I buttered his toast. “You look tired,” he murmured.

“Didn’t sleep much,” I said.

He nodded, brushing his thumb across my cheek. “I’ll try to be back early tonight, alright?”

I forced a smile. “Okay. I’ll walk you out.”

Outside, the air was still cool. I waved as he drove off, but my stomach twisted. Once his car disappeared through the estate gates, I went back inside and opened my laptop. I couldn’t stop thinking about Michael, how he always showed up at the wrong time, how his eyes followed me like a shadow. Something wasn’t right.

I typed his name into the search bar: Michael Henderson. Then Michael Henry. Then Michael Hanes. Each time, different faces appeared, but the eyes, those same cold, dark eyes, kept staring back from old photos and news snippets.

“Multiple aliases,” I muttered. My fingers trembled. Articles about stalking, restraining orders, cases dismissed for “insufficient evidence.” A chill ran through me.

It wasn’t a coincidence. It never was.

I slammed the laptop shut, my heart pounding. The walls felt closer. I needed air. I changed into my jogging clothes and tied my shoelaces tightly, ignoring the faint tremor in my hands.

The guards at the gate saluted when they saw me. “Morning, ma’am,” one said.

“Morning,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Just jogging around the yard.”

“Stay within the perimeter,” he reminded.

“I will.”I started running. The air bit against my skin, cool and sharp. My mind replayed everything, Michael at the gym, Michael at the door, Michael’s voice whispering that I was his everything.

I tried to shake it off, focusing on the rhythm of my breathing. One step, then another. Just run.

As I neared the back end of the property near the ravine, I slowed down. The area was quiet. The wind carried a faint metallic scent, and the hairs on my neck prickled. I turned... nothing.

Then a hand clamped over my mouth.The world went black.When I came to, my head throbbed. The air was thick and musty, tinted red by a flickering bulb. The walls around me were plastered with photos—of me.

Me shopping.

Me asleep.

Me sitting by the window, brushing my hair.

Every corner of my life had been captured, printed, and pinned in grotesque order.

My knees gave out. I fell to the floor, my breath ragged. “No,” I whispered. “No, this can’t... ”

The door creaked.

Michael stepped in slowly, his expression soft, almost loving, except for his eyes. They were hollow, a mirror of madness.

“You’re awake,” he said calmly. “I was so worried you’d hurt yourself when you fainted.”

I backed away until my shoulders hit the wall. “What are you doing?”

“You shouldn’t run from me,” he said. “You belong here, with me. You love me, don’t you?”

“Michael... please,” I stammered. “You’re confused.”

“I’m not confused,” he said, voice low. “Sean’s using you. I’ve seen how he looks at other women. He’ll toss you aside like everyone else. But me…” He placed a hand over his chest. “I saw you first. I watched you before he did. You were meant for me.”

Tears burned in my eyes. “You’ve been watching me?”

He tilted his head. “Of course. For months. You didn’t notice me at the café, at the park, at the corner store? I was always there.”

I shook my head, trembling. “You need help, Michael.”

He stepped closer, voice softening. “I don’t need help. I need you.”

My throat tightened as he crouched beside me. His breath smelled faintly of smoke and mint. He brushed his fingers against my cheek. “You look scared. Don’t be. I’d never hurt you.”

A phone rang.

Michael’s jaw tightened as he answered. “What?” he snapped.A woman’s voice echoed faintly through the speaker. “You got what you wanted, didn’t you? Now it’s my turn.” Michael’s eyes flicked toward me, then softened. “I told you not to call me right now.”

“Oh, please,” the woman said. “You have your little toy now, and I’ll have mine. Fair deal. You promised.”

“Not now,” he hissed.

I froze, my heart racing. The woman’s tone was mocking, but her words cut deep: ‘Now you have your woman, and I’ll have my man.’

Who was she talking about? Sean?

Michael ended the call, his expression twisting. “She talks too much,” he muttered.

“Who was that?” I whispered.

“No one that matters.”

The air grew heavier. My gaze darted to the table, a small metal vase sat there, glinting faintly under the red light. He leaned closer. “You can’t leave me again. I won’t survive it.” “I’m not... ”

Before he could finish, I grabbed the vase and swung it hard. It hit his temple with a dull crack.

He stumbled, a look of shock frozen on his face. I didn’t wait. I ran.

The hallway outside was narrow, the air thick with dust and gasoline. My vision blurred as I sprinted toward a faint patch of light ahead. The door was half-open, and beyond it, a dirt road cut through the woods.

I burst out, barefoot, tears streaking my face.

A car’s headlights flashed in the distance. I waved frantically, shouting for help. The vehicle screeched to a halt, and a man jumped out.“Miss! Are you okay?”

“Please,” I gasped. “He... he kidnapped me... please... ”

“Get in!” he said, helping me into the car.

I kept looking back, half expecting Michael to appear from the shadows. But he didn’t.

At the police station, I could barely breathe. My voice trembled as I told them everything, the photos, the red room, the phone call. The officer listened quietly, taking notes.

“Did you see the address?” he asked gently.

“yes”

He sighed, rubbing his chin. “We’ll send a team to investigate. For now, you should go home, freshen up, rest. You’ve been through a lot.”

The officer looked sympathetic but firm. " Please, get some rest. We’ll call if anything comes up.”

When Sean arrived, his face was pale. He rushed to me, wrapping his arms around me tightly. “My God, Rose…” he whispered. “What did he do to you?”

I broke down, sobbing into his chest. “He... he had pictures of me, Sean. Everywhere. He said I belonged to him.”