Chapter 5 On The Line

Valentina's POV

Thud! Thud! Thud!

My heart pounded with effervescent energy as the phone dropped to the ground, crashing. I was too dazed to move as I continued to stare into space.

Someone killed my sister! Someone killed Taylor!

"Taylor?" I whispered to myself as though she could hear me as I fell to the ground, shutting my eyes while wrapping my arms around myself and desperately wishing I was dreaming but a sudden chill breeze blew by, snapping me back to reality.

A single tear slipped from my eye as I replayed Taylor's voicemail over and over again just to be sure she was the one.

"Run away and never look back," Taylor's words from the voicemail continued to play in my head continuously as I snapped out of my momentary reverie.

I needed to act fast! Whoever came for Taylor might come back, and I needed to get away like she insisted.

I walked over to the dusty television, glancing at my reflection through its hazy surface before stretching out to reach for the card. just like Taylor had said, there was an envelope, and in it was a thick wad of money, a credit card, and a chip.

"You really thought this through, huh Tay?" I whispered to myself as I brushed off another tear that slithered down my cheeks.

How long had Taylor been in danger? I had no idea. A familiar sense of guilt washed over me as I remembered our last conversation. God, I was so mean to her, and all she wanted to do was talk.

The weight of my regret caused me to double over in pain as I clutched the items close to my chest.

If only I had paid more attention. Maybe I could have noticed that Taylor was in danger.

"Get it together, Val," I muttered with a shaky breath. "You can cry later." The pep talk did nothing to ease the tension in my shoulders.

Was Taylor really dead or was she just gone?

I asked myself even though there was blood splattered across the whole house. The house my parents considered their sanctuary. I made my way to my room only to be met with a horrific sight that caused my face to morph into one of disgust and fear, which cleared every thougfht that she was alive. On the floor was a streak of blood with shattered pieces of mirror scattered across the room.

A fight.

I deduced that there was a fight and Taylor didn't get so lucky. A glint caught my eye and I saw a sparkly ring that shone by the corner of the floor. I gasped and picked it up, examining it. It was Taylor's, and it was coated with blood.

Taylor would never leave this ring behind. They must have killed her.

The thought caused my vision to become blurry as fresh tears filled my eyes.

I brought out my phone and typed 911, but my hand hovered over the keypad in hesitation.

"Don't involve the police."

Taylor's warning from her voicemail wafted through the air, prompting me to end the call and proceed to pack what I could.

While packing, I came across a family photo of me, Taylor, Mom, and Dad. The huge lump formed at the back of my throat and I struggled to swallow back the unshed tears.

My entire family is dead because of me!

"Get it toghether, Val, Taylor's not dead!" I warned myself as I placed the small frame in my suitcase.

Thud!

That wasn't my heart, I thought to myself as I froze. I heard the floorboard creak in the distance and my breath hitched in my throat.

Someone was here!

My mind spiraled out of control as I struggled to maintain my composure. The sound was getting closer. Thinking quickly, I tiptoed, careful to avoid the creaky spots on the floor, and unlocked the closet. I scattered clothes across the room, creating a distraction, before pushing myself-and the suitcase-into the hidden space.

I locked the door just as the door to the room creaked open. The space was cramped, and my claustrophobia kicked in, but a few minutes in this tiny, suffocating closet was a small price to pay compared to facing a stranger who probably wanted my life.

Right?

I heard the floorboard in the room creak as the figure paced around the room.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

My heart pounded loudly against my chest- so loud that I feared whoever the person was would hear me.

The closet door opened, prompting my eyes to open widely at the prospect of being caught.

"Hello Boss! It seems the girl is gone, or that nutjob bluffed about having a sister to throw us off track. On it."

I listened to the gruff voice of the stranger. To get a glance at him for future reference would have been a good thing, but I couldn't move, and I was pretty sure I was slowly starting to fall into a full-blown panic attack as I suddenly stopped breathing.

Air. Space. I needed to breathe.

I was not sure how far the stranger had gone, but I ran out of the hidden closet with my suitcase, gasping desperately for air.

Just as I was regaining my breath, a shadow fell upon me, causing me to gaze up at the figure before me.

shit.

I thought he left. The stranger was there before me, fully masked.

He raised his hand to grab me, but I kicked him in the shin, giving me a momentary lapse.

"Ah!" I screamed when he grappled my hair just before I could reach the door of the bedroom.

"Where do you think you're going, you little bitch?" The low growl in his voice made me shiver in fear. Is this how I die?

I turned around and tried to fight back, but the man was two, if not three times my size.

He pushed me against the bed, eliciting a shriek from me. He menacingly walked towards me.

Fear choked me at that moment.

"Let me go you freaking psycho!" I yelled, grabbing the lamp by the bedside stand and smashing it against the bed. He stumbled, dazed, and I tried to brush past him, but he held me down.

His huge figure blocked the entrance, and he wrapped his fingers around my throat.

Normally, I'd appreciate how muscular and firm his grip was given a different circumstance, but nothing about this was normal.

My life was on the line, literally!

I yelped in pain as black dots filled my vision. I began to see stars and the world around me was spinning so fast.

In one final attempt, I mustered up all the strength I had and kicked him in the balls. His grip on me loosened and I slithered away from his grasp before throwing a punch to his throat.

"You bitch!" He coughed out in pain, splattering blood all over the floor. He lunged for me again, but his shoelace was loose and he stepped on it, causing him to lose his footing.

He fell but not towards me. He fell backward down the flight of stairs. I rushed down to him to check his pulse but there was none. He wasn't breathing.

"Oh my God!" I wailed in disbelief at the realization that I just killed a man.

I have to get out of here!

I ran back upstairs and grabbed my suitcase alongside the envelope Taylor had left for me. I called a Lyft with my phone.

I waited outside, not caring that I looked disheveled and probably insane.

Where was I supposed to go now? North London had been my home for as long as I could remember, and now I'm just supposed to run to where exactly?

I stroked the envelope again and checked the content to make sure I had everything. It was then I saw a note.

"Call this number when you get to South London. I love you so much, Len, this isn't goodbye."

I choked back a sob. My sister was looking out for me in every way she could.

Soon after, my ride arrived. The driver helped me put my suitcase in the boot of the car, and I got into the car.

"Where to, Ma'am?"

"The airport!" I replied curtly, not encouraging further conversation

We drove in silence, and my memories flashed back to all the times my sister and I had spent together.

If only...

I shook my head, drowning the thought away.

After a long ride, we reached the airport.

My movement was mechanical and all blurred in a hazy haste.

After what seemed like a tedious process, I finally got on board the next available flight to South London.

"Time to start a new life," I guessed aloud as I tied my hair upwards with shaky hands.