We still haven’t seen or heard from Jacob or Athena. I’m worried about Athena because I know just what he’s capable of.

I reach for my phone to call Blake and let him know what I’m going to do. I already know he won’t like it, but I really need to get out of this prison for a while. He doesn’t pick up so I send him a quick message.

Me: Hey, I’m taking Katie over to the park. I know you’re going to freak out once you read this, but I’ll be okay and it’s a public area. I love you. Will message you once we get there.

I hit send and prepare a small lunch for Katie and myself.

“Katie! Please go get ready, we’re going to the park,” I yell from the kitchen. She comes bouncing in with a bright smile on her face.

“Where’s Daddy? Is he coming?”

Hearing her call Blake Daddy plays on my heartstrings. “No, darling, he’ll come later.”

“Okay, Mummy.” She skips out of the kitchen, hopefully, to get ready.

After everything is packed and ready to go, we begin our short walk around the block to the park. It’s a beautiful bright sunny day. There’s a little chill in the air which is refreshing. I hold on tight to Katie’s hand, always looking around making sure we aren’t being followed. As soon as Katie sees the park, she squirms her hand out of my tight grip and runs straight for the slide. I pick up my pace to keep up with her and not let her out of my sight. I message Blake once we arrive with still no reply. I know he’s busy, not only doing his everyday job, but also looking for Jacob and Athena.

We play at the park for about an hour or so more, until Katie becomes tired. We set off home, exhausted, and ready for a sleep. Katie wants to be carried so I pick her up and she soon falls asleep. This is my exercise for the day. She isn’t as small as she once was, but I will take the cuddles any day. Before I know it, she won’t want them anymore and will be screaming at me that she hates me. As I approach my apartment building, my senses are heightened. That eerie feeling of being watched or followed rings loud and is clear in my mind. I pick up my pace and clutch Katie tighter. I look around and notice the street is pretty empty, possibly one or two people on the other side of the road. My heart begins to race in fear. The hair on the back of my neck starts to stand up and a shiver runs down my spine.

My instinct kicks in and it’s screaming at me to run. It only takes a short moment and as I’m about to run, someone grabs me from behind and hits me painfully across my head. My last thoughts are of Katie and how I hope Blake can at least save her from Jacob. Then darkness overtakes me.

“Why isn’t she waking up?”

My head is foggy, but I can hear a young girl’s concerned voice.

I can’t bring myself to open my eyes. My head is throbbing and panic rises in my chest as my breathing constricts.

Katie…where is she?

Is she safe?

Surely if Jacob believes she’s his, he won’t harm her.

“Oh, she will wake up. I didn’t hit her hard enough to kill her. I have something special in store for her.” I hear the malice in his voice, the venom dripping from his words. Fear grips my heart making me feel as though it’s in a vice. “Wake up, Abby!” he yells, causing me to flinch away slightly. A sharp stabbing pain rages through my head. “See, she’s awake.”

I open my eyes slightly, slowly taking in my surroundings. As things become clearer, I realise I know this place. I’m back at Melodi’s apartment. Have they been staying here this whole time? They couldn’t be because I know Melodi has been coming back when she needs to pick things up as she needed them. I lightly rub my hand over my head, feeling a damp, warm patch. I take a look at my hand and it’s covered with deep red blood. My heart drops deep into my stomach. This is really bad.

Once my blurry eyes clear, I can see my worst nightmare standing before me. I wish I could just get Katie out and go back to my little hiding place. His evil smile brings fear into my heart. Think of one thing that makes your heart stop and mine is standing right before me.

“Where’s Katie?” I croak, my throat tight and dry.

“Oh, so that’s her name? She wouldn’t speak to me, so I punished her.”

Panic tears through my whole body and my injuries are forgotten, I lunge at him, aiming my punches and scratches straight for his face. I feel my fist connect with his face and he cries out in anger mixed with pain. He grabs my shoulders, shoving me backward with all the force he can muster. My body slams against the wall and I crumble to the ground. There are tears in my eyes, but I dare not give him the pleasure of seeing me cry, so I swallow them down along with the lump in my throat.

“Where is she?” I scream at him.

He knows he has found my Achilles heel and how to make me react. I can see it in his malicious eyes. There’s blood pouring out of his nose, and it gives me a tiny ounce of pleasure to know I caused him at least some pain.

“She’s locked away. You’ll never see her again once I’m done with you.” He grins with blood on his teeth. He turns away and grabs a towel from the kitchen for his face. My eyes trace the entire room looking for an out, but I’d never leave without Katie. My eyes fall on who I think is Athena. She looks a little worse for wear herself, bruises on her arms, a cut above her left eye, and a blackening bruise forming as well. I don’t however feel sorry for her. I only feel more hate and, I know he would have punished her if she didn’t help him. Obviously, she tried and failed, to get away from him. Melodi attempted to warn her and she didn’t want to heed her warnings, knowing what he was like. She laid down with the snake and got bitten.

“What do you want from me? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” The tension in the room is high and I will have to tread lightly if I ever want to make it out alive and with Katie as well.

“I want you to pay for what happened to me.”

“I don’t care what you do to me, but if you harm a hair on my daughter’s head, you’re going to pay for it.” I look behind him toward Athena, who remains silent. “You were warned, you silly, naive little girl. Now look what you’ve done—” Before I can get another word out, Jacob’s hand connects with my face, causing that side of my face to tingle in pain.

“You don’t get to speak to her!” he yells in my face, his turning a bright shade of red. Without thinking, I spit the blood from my mouth at him only making him angrier. His hand connects with my face once again. “You’re going to suffer for what you did to me.”

“Do it then!” I yell back into his face. As frightened as I am, I will never back down again. I finally built a backbone and will not allow anyone to treat me how he did ever again. I don’t care what he does to me, but I want my daughter safe. I know Blake will never allow anything to happen to her. She’s his blood –his daughter, our daughter.

The way he’s smiling sends a chill down my spine. “Oh, my sweet Abby, you’re going to suffer in more ways than you think. Your other half will be here soon, after receiving a disturbing text from her dear, sweet, trustworthy sister.”

“No,” I breathe barely in a whisper. Fear grips me tightly across my chest. I open my mouth to speak, but then I hear the door being unlocked and my instincts kick into overdrive. “Melodi, run! Don’t come in here!” I scream with everything I have in my chest. Jacob kicks me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me.

“Let me go, you back stabbing bitch!” I hear Melodi fighting with Athena. Regret overwhelms me as a few warm tears slide down my cheeks.

“See, I know your weakness. I knew you wouldn’t care so much for yourself, but when I bring your pregnant sister into the equation, you become putty in my hands.” He’s stooped so low this vile, hideous man.