Chapter 148: Till Death Do We Part
Each step made my body tremble worse. I couldn’t get a hold of myself, let alone the racing thoughts in my head. Julian wasn’t an idiot. He knew exactly where I was.
*Fuck! He probably knows I came armed too! Does he know that I took his cologne??* Thinking about it now, I did just snatch it off of the counter. He probably noticed. I heard the rustle of more cloth. He was probably preparing to block the cologne from going into his eyes.
*Shit! Shit! SHIT!*
I glanced around, looking for anything that I could use to surprise Julian and take him off guard long enough to get away. I give a pained grunt when I bonk my head against something–the pipe. At first, I thought of it as an annoying object in my way, but then it dawned on me that it could be the thing Julian wasn’t expecting.
When Julian’s steps came closer, I scooted against the wall. I could feel my lungs ache, on the verge of another hyperventilation.
“Suki,” He said. “Beautiful… why do you have to make things so complicated? Your life could’ve been so much easier if you didn’t have to make every single thing you do complicated. Your mother,” I could hear him moving things around on the counter above my head. “Your friends.” The screech of the objects didn’t hurt my ears nearly as badly as his words. “Especially poor Amy and Jack. They’ve done so much for you. And now look at them.”
My heart thumped harder when he brought them up. *Did he get Amy then??*
Right as Julian swung the cabinet door open, I kicked at the sink’s pipe and snapped it. The thick tube swung and hit him in the face. The towel fell out of his hands and he hollered in pain. I took the split-second opportunity to crawl past him as fast as my body would let me. When Julian whirled around to catch me, I sprayed his cologne in his eyes and he screamed again.
“Sukia!” He hissed in pain as he fiercely rubbed them.
I darted for the door, having no plan on where to go or what to do. I just ran the best I could. But my best wasn’t enough, and I ended up falling to the cold floor, landing on my bandaged thigh and hitting my knee. I should’ve known better. Running like mad with unbalanced legs was doomed for another fall.
*Fuck!* My voice cracked in pain. I had no choice but to drag my crippling body to the nearest room–Grace’s bedroom. Everything that caught my attention was an option but a stupid one. Julian could easily find me everywhere I looked.
*Her balcony?*
On throbbing hands, I struggled to haul myself to my feet again and limp my way to the glass door. It didn’t look like there were any places that I could climb onto the roof from here. And even if there were, my body wouldn’t be able to handle another go around. My attention was grabbed by a large flowerpot next to the railing. It was the only thing that I could think of that might throw him off.
I locked the balcony door behind myself to at least make it believable that I didn’t come this way, even if I would be locked outside until help came. With little strength, I pushed the heavy pot towards the wall and hid behind it, pressed against the wall. I couldn’t tell if the shiver that ran through my body was from the chilly wind and rain or the fear the palpitated my heart mercilessly. I at least didn’t have to worry about how loud I was breathing. The pitter-patter of the rain against the roof drowned out almost everything.
The hair on the back of my neck lifted when I heard Grace’s bedroom door creak open. No surprise, this was the first room he headed for. He must’ve heard me fall and knew I couldn’t have gotten far.
*Fucking dammit!* I quietly cursed. The rattle of the rain may have quieted my noises, but it also made it extremely complicated to hear what Julian was doing inside, too. All I could do was press my head against the wall and hope that he would go away soon. And as if the magician had read my mind for the millionth time, I heard his footsteps grow louder.
*No! Fuck! No, go away!*
I bit my lip to keep my teeth from chattering. My eyes closed tightly as I sank farther below the plant, completely hiding myself from view. It was easy for my petite body. However, if he decided to get creative and come out onto the balcony anyway, I’d be screwed.
Julian’s footsteps stopped right at the door, but I didn’t hear the rattle of the handle or the click of the lock. I didn’t dare peek to see if I was right, though. Why is he just standing here? The only answer I could think of was that he was peering into the yard to see if I had taken off in the opposite direction of the road.
My lip began to bleed as my chattering teeth rapidly bit into it. I was too afraid to open my eyes. I was scared of what I’d see if I did.
After what felt like forever, I heard the tap of his footsteps fade and the distant click of Grace’s bedroom door. I shaky sigh of relief came out in a puff of fog. “H–holy shit…” As much as I wanted to, I knew I couldn’t stay there forever. But now I’m kinda stuck…
I winced as I tried to stand up again. My knee was giving me difficulty. Looking around again, I came to the same conclusion as before. *Yup. There’s nowhere I can climb without risk. I’m fucked.*
Right as I peeked over the balcony to see if there was anywhere I could ‘somewhat’ safely jump, I heard the tapping sound of footsteps in Grace’s bedroom again.
*Wh–what?! No–but he!* My blood went cold when I realized he had outsmarted me again. Julian never left the room. He just pretended to use sounds just to see if I’d come out of my hiding place.
I practically launched myself behind the flowerpot, but I knew it was pointless now. He must’ve already heard me walking around. I heard each dreadful step get louder until the click of the lock echoed in my eardrums.
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