CHAPTER 132: ESCAPE

"You’re right on time. Let’s go," one of the men said to us.

"You’re really going all out on this vacation. Private plane and everything," my mother said before chuckling at me.

"Let’s go before we run late," I replied before forcing another smile.

We both got into the car and then the roar of engines filled the air as the car started. We were on our way to embrace our new lives and leaving this old one behind. I tried my best not to think of Raphael, but his face came to my mind relentlessly as the car drove off.

I listened to my mother make small talk as I concentrated on taking deep and slow breaths to calm myself. So far everything was progressing as planned, and I told myself that that was more than enough. As time passed by, I began to relax inside of the car and even began to enjoy my mother’s small talk.

Suddenly the car came to a sudden stop. My body was thrown slightly forward before slamming back against the seat.

"What is going on?" my mother asked.

My mother probably didn’t sense anything seriously wrong, but I had the complete opposite feeling.

"The road is blocked," the driver replied with clear confusion in his tone.

I looked over his shoulder to confirm that what he told me was true. A fleet of black cars were parked precisely to block the road ahead. My stomach dropped when I realized what this must mean.

No, no, no...

"What should we do?" the man asked me for directions.

I was too shocked to respond. There was no path forward, so it seemed like the only way out was to go back the way that we came. However, it felt like it was already too late. My heart pounded as I watched the black cars in front of us sealing our escape. Then, a familiar figure stepped out of the lead car.

I could tell even from this distance that it was Raphael. It felt like he was staring directly at me, although I was still inside the car. At that moment I knew that I wasn’t going anywhere.

For a moment the world stopped around me as my stomach twisted with a sensation that I felt familiar with. It was the mix of love and fear tangled so tightly that I couldn’t tell them apart any longer.

"Abigail?" my mother’s voice cracked as she called my name questioningly. "What is going on? Who are all these people? Is that Raphael?"

She placed her hand on my shoulder and I almost broke down into tears. All I wanted was to tell her the truth about everything. I just wanted to scream the truth out into the open air so that everyone could hear it and then I could finally end it. But in the end the words just stuck in my throat.

Before I could provide my mother with an explanation, Raphael was already at the side of the car.

"Open the door right now!" he yelled as he banged his fist against the window.

My mother looked terrified as if she didn’t know what to do. I quickly instructed the driver to unlock the car. Raphael pulled the door open and we came face to face.

"Raphael, I was just..." I said before trailing off. My voice trembled and sounded so weak that I couldn’t go on. I swallowed hard as my eyes met his. I could see both anger and disappointment in his gaze as he stared at me. Instead of talking to me, Raphael turned to address my mother.

"My father and I returned early from a business trip. He asked me to escort both you and Abigail home. I guess there’s been some kind of confusion," Raphael said politely before offering my mother a smile.

My mother blinked rapidly as if to clear her confusion as her lips parted in surprise.

"But I asked you? I thought we’d already told him that we are on our way..." my mother replied, clearly confused.

"For now heading back home would be safer. Please allow me to escort both of you back," Raphael said firmly while not breaking eye contact with her. His words and his tone left no room for argument.

Everything that I had planned ended in complete failure as both of us followed Raphael into a black limousine just like two obedient children. I could feel the heat rising in my chest as my pulse thundered in my ears. Raphael was lying so flawlessly in order to exert control over our lives while my mother and I were powerless to go against him. I immediately felt bad for dragging my mother into this and getting her into this situation.

"I’m sure everything will be fine if we just follow what Bennett says," my mother said to me before smiling a little. It seemed like she had completely given up on the idea of our planned holiday and had placed complete trust in Bennett. As her mind was made up, her emotions cleared and she was back to her happy self.

Raphael opened the door to the limousine and invited my mother inside. She thanked him with a smile as I felt a knot form in the pit of my belly. Just as I was about to enter the limousine, I felt Raphael’s grip on my arm.

"If you disobey me again or try to get away, I’ll tell her everything. About my family and about us," Raphael whispered into my ear. His voice felt soft yet extremely lethal. I felt my heart lurch in my chest as ice spread through my veins. At the same time my body froze in fear.

I quickly turned to face him as I shook my head slightly from side to side. I begged him with my eyes not to say a word to my mother. She must not find out, and definitely not in this way.

"Surely you don’t want that happening, right, Abigail?" Raphael asked in a sweet voice, but it wasn’t really a question.