silver tray. She wore a white and grey housekeeper’s outfit, with her hair up in a tight bun. She placed the tray down in front of Anne, lifting the lid to reveal a large white bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich cut in half. The woman nodded and quickly left Anne to eat.
Though she was apprehensive to consume the food, her stomach screamed for her to do so. Giving in, she gulped down the tomato soup, feeling the hot contents spread through her stomach like a blanket of gratitude.
When finished Anne walked over to the arched window and saw nothing but green quilted grass with a large bleached marble cherub fountain in the middle. Carter was right; she had no idea where she was. One thing she did know is that she had to find a way out. Anne rushed over to the door and began banging on it with both fists.
“Hey! I need to use the bathroom! Hello out there!”
She jiggled on the pewter handle but the door was locked. She continued without pause. Finally she felt someone insert a key and unlatch the lock. She stepped back as a bald, burly man towered over her. His tight face was glazed with annoyance at her request.
“I really need to use the bathroom! It’s been two days for crying out loud!” Anne demanded.
“Come with me.”
The lofty gentleman’s stride was hefty; she followed closely behind him. The hallway was narrow, layered with scarlet wall coverings and a dark wood wainscoting. Two black iron sconces lit their path down the corridor. A small window was ahead of her but it did not enhance any further guesses regarding their location.
Taking a slight left, she discovered a staircase leading down; the frightening man directed her to the right which led into a rather large powder room. Closing the door and locking it, she leaned against the meticulously crafted wooden vanity. The same dark wallpaper and wood followed her inside.
Anne gazed at her reflection, gasping at the train wreck that stood before her. Every part of her was pale and sickly; her lips had even lost their pink hue. She splashed warm water on her face which felt clean and refreshing. Her long blonde tresses were riddled with knots.
After relieving herself, she flushed the toilet and washed her hands. Now that she knew which way the staircase led, she would attempt her escape. Creasing the door open just a sliver, she saw that the hallway was empty. Looking both ways, she heard nothing. Cautiously, she stepped to her right toward the staircase. A sharp agonizing pain tore through her scalp, yanking her off her feet. Screaming in anguish, she reached back to see what was causing such harm. A baseball mitt of a hand had enclosed a healthy section of her hair, pulling it tightly back to her prison.
“No!” Anne shrieked. “Carter!”
Her weak body heaved on the Persian rug. The fibers tore through her black nylons, burning her ivory skin. Two large black wingtips were inches from of her fingers. A large hand was aiming for Anne’s face; she hid her head to shield the blow until she heard a clicking noise. The silence was deafening; Anne slowly looked up and saw a black revolver pointed directly at the man’s right temple.
“You touch her again, I’ll fucking kill you. Now get the hell out of here!”
The man did what Carter commanded and left the room. Carter bent down to assist Anne, but she flinched. He was still holding the revolver tightly in his hand. Tucking it in the back waistband of his jeans, he lifted Anne up with one swoop of his arms. Exhausted and in misery, she placed her head against his chest. Her knees were on fire. Gently placing her on the chaise lounge, he inspected her scraped flesh.
“You shouldn’t have tried to run. Now what will I do with you.”
“Carter please, I am begging you, look at me, look what you are doing to me.”
His face softened, glancing over her frail, bruised body. He ran his hands up her legs, stroking them tenderly. Twisting herself closer to him, Anne ran her thumb across his lips, feeling the warmth from his breath.
“Remember, Carter, when it was just you and I? No one else mattered—our love kept us alive. The depth is like no other in this universe. Please remember, Carter.”
She kissed his lips and ran her hands through the soft brunette waves. His body was succumbing to her every touch.
“Feel