Page 52 of Anonymous
I'm going to get more wine when I see him from the corner of my eye. "Who the hell are you?" I ask about to call for my dad.
He puts a gun to his lips, and I stop dead in my tracks. “What do you want?”
He grins, a sinister grin, that displays more gold teeth than one should have. He's a stocky, greasy man, his eyes crazy.
“Shh now, sweetheart. I'm just here to get what that crazy bitch stole from me."
“What are you talking about?”
“Anna.” And suddenly everything makes sense.
“You’re Robert?” I ask as I lean against the counter.
“In the flesh. That bitch thought a bit of coke could kill this stallion.” He smirks. “Now, you’re going to lock that door. I’ve taken care of the front, and you’re going to march up to your parents safe and get me all the money they have in there.”
"We don't keep a safe," I tell him. My parents never believed in hoarding money in their home. For this very reason.
"Then I'll take the jewellery. I'm sure Mama has some good stuff up there." He points to the roof with his gun. I head to the door and turn the lock in place. I draw the curtain and wait for him to tell me what to do. "I'll follow you," he says, licking his lips.
I walk up the stairs slowly, feeling grimy all over, feeling his eyes on me. “You’re a lot hotter than Anna.”
I enter my parent's room, feeling like I'm violating their privacy. He sits on the bed. "Get a bag and fill it up, honey."
I do as he says, cringing every time I look back at him. When I've filled the bag, I hand it over to him, and he grips my wrist, dragging me down onto the bed, pinning me there. "Anna owes me something, and you're going to pay up."
"Leave me alone," I say through gritted teeth, trying to headbutt him. He drags me off the bed onto the floor, and suddenly he has the upper hand, pointing the gun at me. He cocks it, and I freeze, remembering the last time this happened to me.
He lifts my dress and tries to tug off my panties. I struggle against him. Suddenly, he’s being yanked off me.
"You, fucker." Creed looks like he'll rip Robert’s head off. He lands a punch to the bastard's head, and Robert staggers back against the dresser. Creed throws him onto the floor and starts to kick him. I curl up in a ball, unable to watch. My father rushes into the room, and he has to drag Creed off Robert. Creed looks back at me. "Did he touch you?" His voice booms across the walls.
I manage to shake my head. He falls to his knees next to me, while my father cuffs Robert.
Creed gathers me into his arms and cradles me like a baby. “I’ll fucking kill him, Red.”
I lay my head against his chest, tears streaming down my face. When will this end?
“Shh, I’m here now. Nobody’s gonna hurt you.”
We watch as Robert gets shoved into a police car. Creed hasn't let go of me. Gracie is holding me around my waist, and Willow looks as if she will murder someone. "I'm okay, babies," I assure them, even though I don't feel it.
Creed stayson the couch for the next week. He refuses to go home until I'm all right. I'm writing again, and it helps me process things better. I'm sitting in my father's study, which overlooks a National Park. It's a beautiful day, and I wonder if I should write outside. I’ll be looking for my own place soon. I’ve seen a few I really like. For now, it’s been nice being surrounded by people I love.
I see a flash of red out of the corner of my eye. But when I look in that direction, it's gone. Could it be? If it is her, she'll be back. She's been acquitted of murder charges, yes, but there is so much darkness in that mind. Still, she can't stay anonymous forever.
I open my manuscript and start typing …
THE END