Chapter 55: Time Passes

Miranda

Time was crawling slowly in that oppressive house, where each day seemed darker than the last. Richard, with his facade of kindness, was trying to win my heart, but his efforts were futile.

My heart still beat for Magnus, and the promise he had made to find a way to be together again. A month has passed since then, I would like to remain optimistic, but I’m starting to wear thin.

“Miranda, I’ve prepared something special for you.” Richard entered the room with a forced smile and a breakfast tray. I tried to hide my disdain as he placed the tray in front of me.

“I’m not hungry, Richard.”

“I prepared it with all my love, don’t go breaking my heart.”

His heart was the least of my concerns at this moment.

“Where is Melany?”

Another one of his tortures, keeping my daughter away if I didn’t comply with his whims, all the sacrifices I’ve been making have been for my daughter and nothing else.

“She’s with the nanny. Today is just for us.” His gaze landed on me, expecting a reaction that wouldn’t come.

“Richard, you can’t force this. I’m here only for Melany.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the time together, we’re married after all, aren’t we?”

“I want my daughter.”

Richard clenched his teeth, trying to hide his frustration. I scanned the room, looking for a glimmer of hope. Where would Magnus be? Had he lost the battle to find us?

Sometimes I worry that he’s given up, that he’s forgotten about us so easily.

“Richard, I need to know if Magnus is okay. Why won’t you let me talk to him?”

“Magnus won’t save you, Miranda. Not this time, you’re trapped here, with me and our daughter. Learn to accept it.”

“My daughter,” I correct, “don’t get it twisted, you’re not Melany’s father.”

“I forgot that her father is several meters under the ground, a shame he had to die that way.”

I wanted to save myself the comments because I knew this would end badly. His words echoed in my mind, but my determination wouldn’t break so easily. As Richard left the room, I let out a sigh of desperation.

This was a dangerous game, and I feared the cost would be more than I could bear. As I contemplated the possibility of a future without Magnus, the need to find an exit became more urgent.

My thoughts turned to Magnus, hoping that somewhere, he was also planning a plan to find us.”

“I need to get out or I’ll end up going crazy,” I spoke to myself.

The cemetery was a quiet and serene place, a temporary refuge from the nightmare I was trapped in. Richard believed that having the reminder of what happened to Josh so close to me would help me learn the lesson, that one can beat Richard, well I was willing to prove him wrong.

With Melany in my arms, I walked to the simple tombstone that marked Josh’s final resting place. Tears welled up in my eyes as I caressed the cold stone.

“I’m sorry, Josh. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.” My voice trembled with the burden of pain and guilt, even though I knew Josh could no longer hear me.

I placed a small flower on his grave and stood up, taking Melany back to the car. Before reaching the house, Richard’s guard appeared, breaking the momentary peace I had found in the cemetery.

“Mr. Richard wants to see you.” His tone left no room for refusal.

I nodded in resignation, ready to face once again the prison that was my home. The ride back was silent, only interrupted by the soft noises of Melany playing with her little fingers.

Upon arrival, Richard was waiting in the lobby with an expression that did not reveal his intentions. Melany stayed with the nanny.

“Take good care of my daughter.”

“You leave her in good hands, Mrs. Walker.”

“It’s Reynolds,” I assured, “I carry the last name of a man who claims to be my husband, but that won’t be forever, my last name is Reynolds, not Walker.”

“Of course, I will now take good care of your daughter.”

The nanny, like me, seemed to have no choice but to be here serving Richard, in some way I trusted that my daughter was safe with her, at least I hoped so, I tried to calm down and then I entered the living room with Richard.

“Look at that, it’s my beautiful wife. Miranda, can I talk to you?” Richard seemed softer than usual, but my skepticism did not allow me to let my guard down.

With a man like him, you never know what could happen.

“Speak. But don’t expect me to change my mind. There’s no future between us.”

“You’re quite stubborn.”

“It’s something you loved about me, don’t pretend.”

“And to this day I can assure you that it still drives me crazy when you get like this,” he stood up and circled the desk until he reached me, depositing a soft kiss on my neck. “I almost feel like tearing off the clothes you’re wearing, but I guess that’s something we’ll do later.”

His words disgusted me, getting married according to him also implied that I fulfilled my duties as a wife, and I’m not precisely talking about cooking or ironing his clothes, he always wanted more.

“What do you want?” I tried to move away without looking too uncomfortable, just so as not to upset him.

“I understand that you’re not the happiest woman here, but I want you to know that you’re not a prisoner here. You can come and go, but Melany stays. I don’t want you to do anything that jeopardizes her safety.”

“Since when do you care about my daughter?”

“Since we got married and she also became mine.”

His words sounded like a sentence disguised as freedom. I was trapped, not by bars, but by the love I felt for my daughter. I looked at Richard as if he couldn’t be more cynical.

“So, if I’m not a prisoner, I want to visit Magnus. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“Of course.” For a brief moment, I felt hope returning to me.

“Really?”

“Sure, go look for him, but then forget about ever seeing your daughter again.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not a prisoner, right?”

He just smiled and nodded, I had no choice but to stay, but all I wanted to do was escape from here as soon as possible and I think I might have a plan in mind.

“Alright, if we’re going to do this it has to be interesting, I’ll wait for you in my room tonight.”

“And what do you want to do?”

“You said you found it tempting to take off all these clothes, didn’t you? Come to my bed and prove it to me.”

He nodded with a twinkle in his eyes, I knew then that what I had in mind was working. Time passed faster than I would have liked, the dark room was charged with tension. Richard was delighted with the illusion I was weaving myself.

I approached him with feigned passion, while in my hand trembled the cold steel of the only tool that could free me from this emotional prison.

“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Miranda.” Richard’s triumphant smile made me feel nauseous, but I couldn’t allow my true feelings to be reflected on my face.

My thoughts focused on Melany, who was sleeping oblivious to the nightmare we were living.

I couldn’t let her grow up in this hell. Richard leaned in to kiss me, and it was at that moment that I took advantage of the distraction to slip out of bed and bury a knife in him. Just as my fingers brushed the doorknob, a shadowy figure emerged from the shadows.

It was a man I had seen before, an old enemy of Magnus who, apparently, was allied with Richard.

“Where do you think you’re going, Miranda?” His voice chilled my blood. I tried to back away, but he grabbed me forcefully.

“Let me go. You have what you want with Richard. There’s no need for me to be here.”

He laughed maliciously and dragged me back into the room. Richard looked at us with interest, and his smile faded when he saw the weapon in my hand.

“What is this?”

“It’s my ticket to freedom.” My voice trembled, but determination burned in my eyes.

I knew that my only chance of escape was fading quickly.

“Miranda, Miranda, do you think you’ll be free by shooting me? That will only make you more of a prisoner.” Richard tried to calm the situation, but the mysterious man scoffed.

“Let’s make it interesting. You shoot, and if you kill me, I’ll let you go. What do you say?”

The choice was impossible. I couldn’t trust Richard, but I also didn’t know if the mysterious man would keep his promise.

Despair filled the room as my daughter was behind me. I held the gun, indecisive and trapped in a nightmare that seemed to have no end.