Chapter 4 An Uninvited Guest

"Mommy, let's run away from Daddy, he will kill you?" His voice was barely a plea but the words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I stared at him, speechless.

"I hear you crying at night," he continued, his voice trembling. "And Daddy... he, he hurts you every time. I don't like it, Mommy. I don't like it at all, let's run away."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away. "Lorien, listen to me. I'm trying. I'm trying to fix everything. I promise."

"But why don't you want to leave?" he asked again, his tone insistent now.

"Because..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. How could I explain the complexities of love and fear to a child?

"Because it's not that simple, Lorien. I have to think about you and Azra. I have to make sure you're safe."

He frowned, his small hands gripping the edge of the couch. "But we're not safe here. We will go with you mom, we are not safe here"

His words hung in the air, heavy with truth.

That night, after I put the kids to bed, I sat at the dining table with a notebook and pen.

The silence of the house was suffocating, but I welcomed it. It gave me space to think, to plan.

I began to write, listing everything I needed to do to leave. Find a job. Save money. Contact a lawyer.

But each item on the list felt like an insurmountable obstacle.

Where would I go?

Who could I trust with my predicament without being judged?

Who would listen to me without telling me how no marriage is a bed of roses and I have to make it work?

Who?

Just who?

The sound of the front door unlocking made my blood run cold. I shoved the notebook into a drawer just as Kael walked in.

"You're still up?" he asked, his tone suspicious.

"I was just, just cleaning up," I stammered.

He narrowed his eyes, scanning the room as if searching for evidence of my defiance. "You look nervous. What's going on?"

"Nothing," I said quickly.

Kael stepped closer, his presence was overwhelming. "You're lying."

"I'm not."

He grabbed my wrist, his grip tightening painfully. "Don't lie to me, Nyra."

"I'm not lying!" I cried, yanking my hand away.

His eyes burned with anger, and for a moment, I thought he was going to hit me. But then he smirked, a cruel, twisted expression that made my stomach churn.

"Remember, Nyra," he said, his voice low and menacing. " No matter what you are planning to do, You belong with me. You can't live without me. Don't ever forget that."

I nodded, my heart pounding as he turned and headed upstairs.

Once he was out of sight, I collapsed into the chair, my whole body shaking.

My defense collapsed again.

The courage I thought I built once again left me.

I pulled the notebook from the drawer and stared at the list.

Dead or alive, I thought, I have to find a way out.

But how?

****

The morning came too soon, dragging me out of the fragile sleep I'd slipped into after hours of staring at the ceiling.

Thank God it's the weekend. Kael was no longer in bed. He always works out early on weekends.

My mind had run circles around the same thoughts all night, escape, fear, survival.

Kael's threats echoed in my ears even as I made the bed, carefully smoothing out the creases in the duvet like a reflex.

"No matter where you run to, I'll fish you out," he had said, his voice calm but laced with a quiet menace that sent a shiver down my spine. "You know I can do this. Don't make your family suffer because of you. Just be a good girl."

Azra's cries broke the silence, pulling me into the present. I hurried to her room, my pulse quickening as I stepped inside.

She sat on the edge of her small bed, holding her bunny with one hand and rubbing her eye with the other.

"You had a dream again?" I crouched down beside her, brushing her messy curls out of her face.

"I had a bad dream," she whispered. Her lower lip quivered.

My chest tightened. "Oh, my sweet girl." I pulled her into a hug, inhaling the scent of her baby lotion. "It's okay. Mommy's here."

"But Daddy was shouting... in my dream," she said, her voice muffled against my shoulder.

I held her tighter, swallowing the lump in my throat. "It was just a dream, Azra. Dreams can't hurt you, okay?"

Her small arms wrapped around my neck, her trust in me so pure, so unshaken, that it made me feel even guiltier for the lie.

Of course, Daddy is always shouting

The kitchen was quiet except for the hum of the fridge as I prepared breakfast. Lorien sat at the table, his face hidden behind a book, while Azra colored a picture of a princess on the opposite side. The normalcy of it all felt like a fragile bubble waiting to pop.

I placed plates of toast and eggs in front of them, trying to ignore the gnawing ache in my stomach. I hadn't eaten since yesterday's dinner, but the thought of food made me nauseous.

"Mommy," Azra said, holding up her picture. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful," I said, forcing a smile. "You're such an amazing artist."

Lorien glanced up, his expression unreadable. "She draws better than Daddy does."

"Lorien," I said softly, a warning in my tone.

"It's true," he mumbled, going back to his book.

Azra giggled, oblivious to the tension. "Daddy says my pictures are meant for babies. He told me he would teach me real drawing when I grow up"

My hands froze over the sink. I turned slowly, kneeling beside her.

"Don't ever let anyone tell you that, Azra. Your pictures are meant for everyone. They're perfect, just like you."

Her eyes sparkled with delight, but Lorien's frown deepened. He dropped his book and stood abruptly. "I'm going to my room."

"Lorien

"I'm fine," he said quickly, heading for the stairs.

I watched him go, my heart sinking. He wasn't fine. None of us were.

****

A few minutes after Kael returned from his morning exercise, a sharp knock echoed from the front door.

I stiffened, my heart instantly racing. Visitors were rare, practically nonexistent for me.

Kael had made sure of that, forbidding me from bringing anyone into his house. "My house," he always reminded me. Unwanted visitors meant one thing: trouble.

Trouble that would end in slaps, punches, or worse.

My hands trembled as I moved toward the living room window, careful not to make a sound. I peeked through the curtains, and my breath caught in my throat.

It was Clara.

For a moment, I froze, disbelief washing over me. What was she doing here?

My chest tightened as conflicting emotions collided, relief at seeing her familiar face and dread for what her unexpected visit would cost me.

I couldn't let Kael see her. Not now.

Before I could open the door to tell her to leave, Kael's voice cut through.

"Who is there?"

"I don't know," I lied, waiting for his reaction.

He glared at me and went to get the door.

"Hi, Clara, what are you doing here?" he said as soon as he opened the door for her.

"Hi, Kael, I came to Nyra. It's been a while, and I miss her so much. May I come in?"

"Sure, please do" he muttered, his tone sharp, though the words lacked conviction. He didn't bother to hide his displeasure, the tight line of his jaw betraying his thoughts even as he retreated.

I stood frozen near the window, my fingers gripping the edge so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

My breath came in shallow bursts, the air around me thick with tension.

I watched Kael as he stepped aside to let her through, his movements deliberate, hesitant, and riddled with barely concealed irritation.

Clara stepped through, unhurried and unbothered, brushing past him with an air of quiet triumph.

Kael didn't turn to watch but stood stiffly by the door, fingers still clutching the edge as though tempted to slam it shut again.

"Hi babe," She said, hugging me"

I hesitantly returned the hug because Kael's eyes were on me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to fake a smile.

"I came to see you. Can I sit?" she asked.

'Pardon my manners, please do" I told her as I led her to the seat nearby

Kael also took his sit in the nearest seat, fixing his gaze on me.

"Are you okay babe?" Clara asked when she found me standing instead of sitting.

"Sure, I am" I lied even though I was not.

But, who am I not to be okay when Kael was right there with me?

"You look pale, you haven't been eating? Have you been stressing yourself out? Kael, look at your wife, what's wrong with her?" Clara poured out.

"Oh, Clara, you worry too much. Nyra is just stressed from taking care of two kids, that's all" he defended lamely.

"Isn't it babe?" he added, while I just nodded.

"Don't give me that, I have two kids too" Clara added.

Kael got up from his seat and came to my side, wrapping his arms around my shoulder,

"My wife is fine, you know. She's your friend, she will tell you if she's not fine, "he added again.

"Nyra, is Kael telling the truth?" Clara asked innocently.

"Clara just stop already, Kael will kill me" I screamed in my mind, while I just nodded at her, forcing a fake smile.

"Why are you here?" I asked her again

"Seems somebody doesn't want me around," She asked, surveying my face.

"No, no, that's not true. You know we were busy upstairs, and we weren't expecting an uninvited guest" Kael replied before I could.

"Okay then, I should go, since I was not invited. Just wanted to say hi to you" Clara replied with her voice low, depicting sadness.

As she stood, her movements graceful yet hesitant, tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I longed to follow her out of the house, to escape the suffocating grip of my reality.

The words I so desperately wanted to say burned in my throat, pleas for help, confessions of my torment, but fear held my tongue. Kael was there, watching, always watching.

Even if I found the courage to speak, there was no way to confide in my friend later. Kael had taken my phone days ago, keeping it out of reach like a warden ensuring a prisoner had no means of escape. He hadn't returned it, and I knew better than to ask for it back.

"Thank you for coming" Kael stood up to walk her out.

Clara lingered by the door for a moment, her eyes filled with unspoken concern.

My heart twisted in my chest, a silent cry for salvation that I couldn't voice.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay rooted, to endure. This wasn't the time. It never was.

"Babe, what happened to your phone? I have called you several times. I came because I couldn't reach you" Clara asked before she stepped out, ignoring Kael.

"I... I..." I stammered, my voice faltering as my mind went blank. I couldn't think of anything to say, the words sticking in my throat like glue.

"You know your friend is clumsy. It broke, so I'll fix it for her," Kael said quickly, his tone light as if trying to smooth things over.

He turned to me, his eyes searching my face for confirmation, silently asking me to back him up.

I forced a smile, though it felt like my face might crack under the strain. Nodding stiffly, I said nothing, hoping the gesture would be enough. My stomach churned, and I prayed Clara wouldn't notice how dry my smile was, how fake.

Kael's silence loomed, and I dared not look at him. I could feel his suspicion thick in the air, pressing down on me like a weight I couldn't shake.

"Alright then, call me when you get your phone, or I will be forced to declare you missing."

"Take care," Clara said gently as she pulled me into a warm embrace.

I held onto her tightly, as if that hug could shield me from everything waiting on the other side of her departure.

When she stepped out and the door closed behind her, the silence that followed was deafening.

I could feel Kael's eyes boring into me, even though I couldn't bring myself to look at him.

My chest tightened with dread as I racked my brain for ways to convince him I hadn't said anything to Clara. But I knew it was useless. He'd already made up his mind.

"Meet me upstairs," he said finally, his voice low and simmering with anger.

He didn't move right away, just stood there glaring at me, his fury radiating through the room like heat off a fire. My stomach twisted into knots under his gaze.

When he turned and stormed up the stairs, I knew I had no choice but to follow. I felt like an idiot, trailing behind him like a guilty child about to be scolded.

But this wasn't scolding, it never was. I already knew what would happen.

The punishment for daring to receive a friend he had forbidden me to see was inevitable.

I climbed the stairs with leaden feet, each step taking me closer to the storm I couldn't escape.