The Loneliest Girl in the Universe(48)
Another pause. Then, “Please. I’ve waited so long to meet you.”
I bury my face in my hands, wishing I was less scared so that I could cry.
HOURS SINCE THE ETERNITY CAUGHT UP:
9
He doesn’t stop pleading with me all morning. His voice has taken over my brain. It’s worse than any nightmare.
“You’re killing me here. If you don’t come out, I don’t know what I’ll do. I might hurt myself. I’m in so much pain…”
His voice grates at me, tearing away shreds of my control until I’m a fearful wreck. He’s got me surrounded, wrapped up in his words. He’s squeezing me tighter until I want to explode just to get free of the pressure. I can’t escape.
I can’t even stop listening.
HOURS SINCE THE ETERNITY CAUGHT UP:
13
“Please just talk to me, Romy. Say something. I need to hear your voice. I’m worried you’ve hurt yourself.”
I wonder what he’s doing – whether he’s looking for me, wandering around my ship while he talks into the intercom. He could be doing anything, and there’s no way I could stop him.
HOURS SINCE THE ETERNITY CAUGHT UP:
17
“Romy, you’re being very silly. It’s rude to ignore me like this.”
I lie on my back and stare up at the crack between the wall and the edge of the stacks, where a greyish tinge of light encroaches on the blackness. My mouth tastes of bile and iron and mucus and salt.
HOURS SINCE THE ETERNITY CAUGHT UP:
19
“Don’t you trust me? Do you think I’m going to hurt you?”
I’m going to die. This is it. I have to accept it. I have no plan; no way of escaping him. Nothing to do except go to him.
“Come out, Romy.”
Why shouldn’t I? I’m just delaying the inevitable, hiding here like a coward instead of facing my worst fear.
Right?
HOURS SINCE THE ETERNITY CAUGHT UP:
23
His voice is rough now, after hours of murmuring and begging. All of the kindness and gentleness is gone.
“I’m going to give you one last chance to come out, Romy. And then I’m coming to find you.”
I press my palms into my eyes and bite down on a scream. I can’t face him. He’s going to kill me. And he knows I know – he’s not even pretending any more. He’s coming.
I can’t blink for fear.
He won’t find me, whatever he says. He can’t, not here. It’s impossible.
I’m safe, I know I am.
My face is wet with tears.
He can’t—
There’s a noise.
The stacks all shift like they’re falling, and I think for a moment I must have knocked into one and set off an avalanche, but then I see the light. It flickers across my hiding place, sending shadows dancing.
It gets brighter and brighter until a hand bursts through the boxes, then an arm and a head.
The head turns slowly, so slowly.
J looks at me. He smiles.
I catch sight of his wide grin before he shines his torch directly at me. It’s so bright that I’m blinded. That kick-starts me. I throw myself backwards along the side of the ship, straining to see past the bright spots in my vision.
A shadow lunges at me. Fingers grasp at my kneecap, skittering over bare skin and clasping around my calf.
His grip is tight when he tugs, pulling me closer. I let out a horrified scream and try to grab on to boxes, but he’s too strong. I slide towards him, packets falling around me.
I can feel his breath, hot against the inside of my knee.
I kick out with my foot and connect with something solid. He grunts, his grip loosening. I do it again before he can stop me. I can feel something wet on my toes.
I dive backwards, twisting to push my way through the fallen packets along the side of the wall. At any moment I expect to feel his hands on me again.
He yells, furious. It sounds far enough away that I risk looking over my shoulder.
J is stuck. The gap is too small for him. He can’t follow me.
He’s knocking packets out of the way, trying to clear a larger passage, but he’s too big. His torso barely fits.
I stop and watch him from ten metres away, half-hidden behind a large box of machinery.
He notices me looking and stops as well. His mouth, teeth bared in fury as he fights his way to me, transitions into a charming smile.
“Can you help me? I think I’m stuck.”
He waves his free hand at me. I slide back another metre, peeking around the corner at him.
“No.” The words come out in a whisper.
“No?” he says, feigning confusion.
“I’m not stupid,” I tell him. My voice is a little stronger this time.
J stares at me, and then smiles again, flashing white teeth. He wipes away the blood under his nostrils, from where I kicked him.
“I know you’re not stupid, Romy. I think you’re very clever.”
I wince. “Stop lying to me,” I say, spitting out the words.
At that, his bright blue eyes actually look surprised. He shifts. The packets around him skid, but he’s not trying to chase me any more. He’s settling in to talk.