"IS IT delicious?" Walter asked while she Callea was eating the corn soup and bread he prepared. There was also pork chop. "I cooked that. I want to serve you, my queen."
The corn soup was right out of the packet. And the bread was a bit old but it would do. The pork chop was burnt and the rice was not cooked enough. She was hungry. She would even eat it even if the bread had molds. She needed all her energy to stand this torture. She kept on eating and just not a bit to recognize him. She wanted him to believe that she was pliant.
"Mama told me to forget about you. But I can't do that to the most beautiful woman I've seen. I know you miss me. I don't want you to miss me that much, Callea. We belong together."
She tried her best not to gag while listening to his praises and his delusions. He didn't need her to speak. All he wanted was to see her. He had his own world and it revolves around her beauty.
She felt the rice god sculpture under her pillow. It was displayed at the shelf with books. She was looking for weapons when she noticed it. She was just looking for the right opportunity to use it.
"We are leaving tomorrow. We will to our hacienda in Masbate. You will like it there. You will meet my parents."
"I want to meet them." Callea smiled with trembling lips. She must act fast. Tomorrow would be too soon. She didn't know what else he would do to her. What if he would drug her and she couldn't fight him anymore?
His eyes sparkled. "Great. Then I will prepare for our wedding." Then he walked towards the window while he was discussing his wedding plans. She let him dream. If his defenses were down, she would get the chance to escape. She just hoped that he was not thinking what was on her mind at the moment.
"There's someone outside," he said as he stared out of the window.
"Are you not expecting any visitor?" she asked as she took out the sculpture while his back was on her. If there were other people, she hoped that it was not his minion. Maybe she could get the chance to ask for help.
"No. It is just the two of us here." His face darkened when he looked at her. "We will leave tonight. I will just prepare the car."
She followed him to the door. She was careful so he won't notice the sculpture on her back. Then she bashed him with all her might. He grunted in pain and fell on the floor. She took the steak knife from the food tray and left the room. She didn't want to check how much damage she had made or if he lost his consciousness. She didn't want to waste any more time. She must escape.
She had no other weapon except that knife so she was alert. The whole house was quiet and there were no other people there. She didn't know where the key to the car is.
She tried to open the front door. It was locked. She ran to the kitchen at the back of the house. She heard someone trying to open it. If there was another person there, she didn't know if he was the enemy or someone who could help her. She had to take a chance. She didn't want to rot there with Walter.
She hid behind the door while waiting for the door to open. A tall man carefully stepped in. She was surprised to see who it was. "Deive?"
He pointed the gun at her but put it down when he recognized her. "Callea!" He hugged her tightly. "I am glad you are safe." She didn't expect that he would come to save her. She thought he had forgotten her. That he didn't care about her at all. She pulled her out of the door. "Where's Walter?"
She lifted her skirt and started running alongside him. "In his room. I bashed his head with sculpture but I am not sure if I did enough damage." She hoped it was enough for them to get away. She didn't want Walter to get them. "I think he saw you."
"I went over the wall. My car is parked nearby." He held her hand. "I couldn't wait for the police to come. I am not sure who is inside Walter family's pocket. They might alert him."
They didn't have much protection. Walter's family was able to override Cambodian's law just to get him out of the asylum. She didn't know what else he could do. But they would surely die if they don't escape now.
She looked up at the wall. It was a solid wall. "The wall is higher here compare to the other side. And you are wearing a skirt."
She closed her eyes and wrecked the side of her skirt so her legs could move freely. "I think I can go to the other side if I will climb on that one," she said and pointed at the grotto.
"Good idea," Deive said and they ran to the grotto. Their freedom was just beyond the wall. Her heart was thumping heavily.
Light flooded in the garden and she panicked. The front door of the house opened. Walter showed himself while pointing the gun in their direction. "You can't take Callea away from me," he screamed then a gunshot ricochet in the air.
She automatically hugged Deive. There was nothing more important to her than protecting him. She felt something hot penetrated her back. Her breath hitched when she felt the heat starting to sear, a pressure she couldn't make out of. Then she felt something wet flowing on her back then the pain started to penetrate her senses.
"Callea!" Deive shouted and caught her body before she fell. Her consciousness was starting to darken. All she could see was Deive's face. "Hang in there! Don't give up. You will be fine."
"Deive!" she uttered his name.
"C-Callea?" she heard Walter coming towards them. His voice was becoming louder and louder as he repeated her name. She just saw him standing in front of them, tears were flowing in his eyes and there was disbelief. "I-I hurt you."
She tightly held Deive's hand. She looked at Walter, her eyes pleading. "That's enough, Walter. Stop. Let me go. You hurt me enough. Stop hurting me."
Maybe she would die. Maybe he would kill Deive so they could be together. As she closed her eyes, she heard a loud bang.