Blake

4 weeks/28 days/1 month

I sat in my closet with my legs crossed staring at the various marks on the wall. It's been a month since I was taken to live in this dump. I've grown used to the same lonesome feeling everyday. I missed my family so much. Yes, we have a lot of turmoil and issues but that was a sense of normality for me.

I've spent my days locked in this hot and sticky room. I've lost count on how many times I've looked through that photo album. It's just filled with a few photos of Jace as a child. Nothing interesting. I've even talked to myself just to break the silence.

My wound eventually closed up, but was still visible to the eye and disgusting to look at. I haven't tried to escape my room since Jace stabbed me either.

However, last night I came up with a somewhat tactful way to get out. Spending hours upon hours, days upon days, I was bound to think of something. Before Jace closed and locked the door, I slipped in a folded photo from the album between the latch and strike plate. The door never closed all the way. I was petrified he would know, but luckily he didn't even notice.

This was my chance.

I walk out of my room skeptically. Jace would be back in a few hours as to it's already after noon. I still have no clue what he does while he's gone, on the other hand I wasn't complaining. I encounter the first room near mine.

Locked.

All of them, locked, with the exception of the bathroom. How could I think this was going to be easy? I walked down the second hallway next to the living room with no hope in mind. But to my surprise, Jace forgot to lock one of the rooms. The knob twisted open and I smiled to myself.

The room was a little tinier than mine, it was like a matchbox really. The same exact wired old sheet-less bed. Except the bed was tucked away in the corner near the window. I saw two sliding doors, one overlapped over the other when I look to the left.

When I slid the door open, I saw a horizontal pole extending from one end to another. Nothing weighed down on the shelf above. The closet was completely empty with nothing intriguing for me to discover. In the motion of sliding the door closed, I stopped immediately when something caught my eye on the floor in the corner.

A journal.

A pocket sized brown leather journal with an intricate design etched in. A string wrapped around it, securing it closed.

I grabbed it with sparked curiosity, brushing off the excess dustings. I unwrapped the string from around it carefully, the seams of the journal were weak.

A name was revealed on the inside cover. Property of Anna P.

When I looked to the other side, there was an entree, written in pencil. The handwriting was inconsistent. Neat at the very beginning and almost scribbled as it progressed.

October 2010

My name is Annalise, Anna for short. I was taken away from my family 6 weeks ago. I don't know what I did to deserve this. I had a great family, a great life, my brother and I had a close relationship. I miss them so much. I've hardly eaten. I'm terrified of what Jace will do to me if I don't listen to what he tells me to do. He's slapped me, punched me and even spit on me. I'll never see my friends and family again. I'm lonely and cold at night. There's nobody who I can talk to but the blank walls. If you ask me, this shouldn't be what a normal 12 year girl should have to go through. Whoever is reading this should know that.

- Anna P.

I kept rereading it trying to process what I just read. He abducted a twelve year old girl five years before me. It was crazy to think that a little girl once went what I'm going through now. Questions swarmed in my head like wild wasps. I paged through the rest of the notebook. Some entrees were long as an essay, some only a few sentences long.

Looking at the dates as I kept turning through the crinkly pages, my mouth fell agape. 2011, 2012, 2013. This poor little girl has been stuck in this house for years. My hand cupped over my mouth in realization that she's probably dead now. Maybe even held hostage in one those locked rooms.

My eyes began to water when I thought to myself, This could easily be me. I could be stuck here for years to come. Nobody will ever find me. It's already been a month.

I wrapped the string back over Anna's journal and stuffed it into the back pocket of my jeans. I eyed the rest of the room after I slid the closet door closed and headed back to my room. I had to make sure not to leave a single trace of my presence.

I hoped Jace didn't notice that her journal was gone. He'd definitely have a fit. One thing that I've learned from being here for the last month is that he blows up for the tiniest things. I sometimes would get hit for something little as accidentally burning his food.

In his mind, I did it intentionally. I still wondered what he took medication for. Pretty sure it's for his temper. It had the life span of a fruit fly.

In my room, I made sure to hide the journal, on the top shelf in my closet. He never goes into my closet, which I was thankful for.

I took the picture of my Blair and I with our dad off the wall in the closet. I've looked at the photo everyday. It was almost like I have a piece of them here with me.

It was my lifeline.

A loud bang came to my door the door, "Kid. Living room. Now."

I didn't even here him come back. Everyday when he comes back from whatever he does during the day, I'm allowed to come out of my room and watch television.

However, I never get to pick the channels. I end up watching hours of The People's Court or the news. Maybe even The Big Bang Theory if he's in a good mood. Which rarely happens.

"I got stuff to make dinner and you're making it," Jace told me as I took a seat on the couch. I nodded in response and stared at the tv emotionlessly. The People's Court was on. I've already seen this episode five times.

"You know there's a bathroom near your room," He took a sip of his drink, most likely rum or vodka. "Look at you, you need a shower. Go," He jerked his head in the direction of the bathroom.

I got up from the couch without a word and headed to the bathroom. He was right, I probably do look terrible. I haven't taken one in a long time. I was afraid he might have one of his outbursts again if I took it upon myself. When I stepped in to the smelly ran down bathroom, I was hit hard with my reflection.

My hair was matted, blotches of dirt spotted my face from I don't know what. Bags and dark circles were present from the lack of sleep. I usually wake up sporadically during the night. My left eye was surrounded by a blueish black blob, due to Jace's fist. It was fading away though.

It was hot and stuffy in the house. Therefore, I only wear my wear white tank top, that is now stained with dirt. It no longer obtained it's bright white color.

I lifted it up to reveal multiple bruises and scars. I remember how I got each and every one. My ribs were now pushed up against skin, visible to the eye.

I started the shower water, which was lukewarm. I liked my showers scorching hot. It'll have to do though. I stripped off all my clothes and grimaced when the water came into contact with some of my sensitive cuts. The bar of soap had no fragrance whatsoever. I carefully washed myself, cautious not to put too much pressure on my injuries.

I gasped when I heard Jace's voice outside the door. "Time's up. I want my dinner. When you get out, get to it." He commanded.

I turned the water off and hurriedly dried my body before putting my same clothes back on. There was a stain of blood on my jeans, from when Jace stabbed me. With my hair still damp, I walked to the kitchen and saw canned beans and microwave rice sitting on the countertop.

I think he's under feeding me on purpose. I know that he probably eats while he's out. Meanwhile he feeds me like a bird. I grabbed a pot and started to heat up the beans. Filling a bowl with water, I threw one rice packet in and put it into the microwave.

*

"Finish up the dishes, it's lock up time."

I dried and put away our plates before walking back to my room, slipping in the folded photo stealthily before he shut the door all the way.

I do feel a little better now that I have taken a shower I had to admit. I swung my closet door open and grabbed Anna's journal. I plopped on my bed and opened it to the second entry.

_________________________

A/N > I actually tried putting a piece of paper between a lock like Blake did to see if it actually works. It worked lol.

Hoped you liked it!

Votes/Comments, are much appreciated. I love reading all of your comments xx.

- kya h. ∞