Rich lies & poor truths

Chapter 20 - Defeated with unknown

My thoughts travel in squares, triangles and circles.  My brain feels like steel and I can’t reach anything.  I look at the red rising sun, seeping in through the big window.  I feel like the sun.  Everybody knows the sun is shining, but they don’t notice it anymore. It’s like breathing.  You don’t think that you are literally breathing every second of the day.  I wipe my eyes, feeling that I desperately need a shower.  To calm my nerves and to feel better.  And to smell better.  I pull myself out of the comfortable bed, immediately feeling the warm sun hitting on me. I escape the room, feeling cold air as soon as I exit.  I look around to see the halls empty.  They're probably still sleeping and I feel somewhat thankful for that.  I rush towards the bathroom and quietly close the door behind me when my phone that’s currently sitting in my cast rushes towards me.

“God, why do I keep forgetting.”  I slam my palm on my forehead, feeling irritated with myself.  I’m still young, don’t know why I have to keep forgetting so much and it makes me stress even more. With a sigh I let my fingers slide in my cast and grip my phone.  Almost as if it grew stuck in this short amount of time, it increases the pain as I pull it unstuck.  I hiss as the soreness spread across my broken wrist.

“Damn it.” I whisper, trying to outnumber the pain with my voice, which I know won’t actually work.  I take a deep soothing breath when my phone is in my hand.  I slide it on to be struck with the 10% battery notification.

“Shit.” Okay.  I have to use this 10% good and wisely. I see numerous messages from Chase and I hope that he’s sending help soon but without opening I go to f*******: and type in Rebecca.  I don’t know what her surname is but I go through the Rebecca’s they give me, to find nothing looking related to her.  I type in Richard but find nothing.  I scavenge my mind trying to find a solution.  I go to Chase’s profile and search Stephen on his friend list, to find a sexy photo of Stephen in a black wifey and sunglasses on top of his short hair.  I go into his profile and put Richard in his friendlist.

“Bingo.” I say excitedly when I see a young looking Richard stare at the camera with a big toothy grin.  ‘Richard Hunnington.’  There’s no information about him except that he has thirteen friends.  I scroll through it, hoping to find Rebecca’s, but I find nothing.  I grunt in frustration and scroll back up, this time concentrating in each person’s profile picture.  Please let there be something good.  Just as I nearly gave up, a photo sparks my interest.  I tap on the profile, ‘Jessica Hunnington.’  I look closely at the picture to see it exactly looking like Rebecca.  Why is she lying about her name? The account is old and I can see it was created in 2017.  I  scroll through her photo to see a few photos with her and a group of people, looking fearless and happy.  I swallow when I see a photo with her and a young looking Stephen looking at each other, with the caption, ‘I love you so much.’  I inhale sharply. What the hell?  What does this all mean to me. I think back on the moment Stephen told me that he’s in love with me.  In a short amount of time.  It doesn’t make sense.  Did I really steal Stephen from Rebecca?  Or Jessica as her f*******: profile says.  It feels as if I’m going insane.  Why would Richard work for Stephen if he is probably married to Rebecca and she must have hard feelings towards Stephen.  Or they could be siblings.  I swipe my hair backwards, feeling it messy around my head.

With 6% battery left I go to google and type in Richard Hunnington.    I scroll to the photos, but only see one’s with old and greying men.  I sigh and type in Jessica Hunnington, for an i********: profile to pop up.  I go in to see a photo of her and Richard, with 3456 followers.  But it’s a private account.  

“Damn it.” and before my phone dies I quickly type in Stephen’s name and surname and favourable information pops up.  Stephen __ is the CEO of the company __

What?

I nearly drop my phone when soft knocking on the bathroom door disturbs my intense concentration.  I quickly push my phone back in my wrist’s cast,  holding in  the grunts of pain that wants to escape my mouth.  I open the door to reveal Richard holding clothes in his hands.

“Yeah?” I ask, not bothering to greet him.

“You okay?” he asks with concern.

“What does it matter?” I ask, folding my arms around my body.

He shakes his head with defeat in his eyes, “I just brought you some close.”

My eyes light up but I try not to show it, “Is it that b***h’s?

He shakes his head again and pushes the clothes in my hands. I take it and purse my lips.

“Thanks.” I mutter and close the door in his face, when I remember I need plastic to cover my cast when I’m in the shower, so I open the door again.

“I need a plastic.” I lift my wrist with the cast and he widens his eyes knowingly before he turns and goes down the stairs.  I lean against the door frame and wonder why Richard is being so nice. I know they are definitely plotting something against me.  And I can’t see why Richard would work for Stephen so he must be lying somewhere along the line.  I bite my lips when he comes back up holding a plastic bag.  He gives it to me and our hands softly touch and I can see him suddenly frowning, eyeing our hands.

“Thank you.” I stutter and close the door.  I lock it to be extra safe, hoping Rebecca won’t want to barge in again like yesterday.  I turn on the shower before I rest my elbows on the sink counter.  I have to start figuring stuff out.  I have to start being real to myself here before something serious will happen to me.  I’m standing alone.  I can’t trust anyone.

---

I enter the kitchen with the smell of bacon and eggs. This time only Richard is standing in front of the stove.

“Did you have a nice showr.” he starts and I roll my eyes, wondering what he wants to gain from being so friendly.

“It was good thanks.” I say as he hands me a plate filled with delicious looking food.  My mouth waters but my voice doesn’t.

“Listen, you don’t have any right to be so nice to me. Like I don’t understand you and I don’t know,” I gesture between me and him, “what this is all about.  He swallows,looking uncomfortable.  I grit my teeth, give him a stern look before I walk towards the table, reminding me about the incident about yesterday.  Rebecca’s craziness.  I make a highlight mark in my mind to not let her or Stephen know what I know, or I’ll cause even more trouble. I have to keep everything shady and try to get a charger for my phone.  Maybe while they’re sleeping, cause they’re not so strict in watching me.  I take a bite out of the bacon piece, tasting honey.  It almost tastes like my dad’s bacon. The way he usually makes it.  I take another bite satisfying my mouth and stomach.

“They’re here.” I hear Rebecca’s shrill screaming and thudding down the stairs.

“Who?” Richards asks, nervousness lacing his voice.

“A black mercedes.” she raises her eyebrows at him and they give each other a knowing look.  Stephen?  Did Chase send help,  Maybe it’s him and Bonnie driving in Stephen’s car.  I stand up, not sure what to do with both Rebecca and Richard’s eyes on me.  Should I run?  I make up my mind and run for the front door.  I pull for it to be locked.

“f**k it.” I mutter, looking for another way when Richard stands beside me and takes hold of my arm. Oh no.

“Listen, they’re going to kidnap you.”

“Oh like you didn’t.” I say sarcastically.  He mutters a curse word and pulls me with him.

“Leave me.” I yell.

“They’re coming.” Rebecca says panically and decides to yell ‘help’ as loudly possible.

“Riley, were the ones helping you.”  Richard mutters angirly, pulling harder on my arm.

“You’re lying.”  I hiss, trying to pull myself out of his grip.  I yell again, only for Rebecca to grip on my other upper arm,  making sure she doesn’t touch my cast.  Wow, at least she has some hospitality.

“Please.” Richard begs, but I try not to give up, but they’re both strengths are making it hard. They pull me towards a back door and I hate to be in this position.  Helpless again, things being done to me without my will.  Without my choice.  I start to cry, feeling so defeated and I let Richard pick me up and throw me over his shoulder. A ford stands neatly in front of us, this time black and Rebecca rushes to open the door and Richard gently puts me inside, before rushing towards the driver's seat and Rebecca jumping in next to him.

“Go.”  Rebecca demands and Richard starts the engine and as if we're racing in a car movie he chases off, making my stomach curdle with nausea.  Maybe whoever was here for me will chase after us.  I hope.  But with deep breath and tears covering my eyes I know that I lost once again.