Page 162 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

A whole year had passed, and my worth in John’s eyes had completely reduced. Fueled by the anger from the realization that he could no longer get me, and that he had lost his chance to become something other than someone I hated, he had become a real monster.

My only comfort was the diary I updated daily, squeezing all my sadness and pain into it, although most of the pages were either filled with Lucas’ name, or the simple phrase ‘I miss you.’

He no longer came into my dreams, and it seemed like he had been a dream, and I wondered if I’d really known someone like him.

The seasons had gone by—Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Those seasons had seen me deteriorate from a secretary to a maid. John had put the cooks up to different task, and I was in charge of making breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks that he desired at random times.

I’d wash his clothes all by myself, scrub whatever room he wanted me to scrub, and after an exhausting day, he’d climb into my bed, and sleep with me however he liked.

I’d been robbed completely of all life, and just did whatever I was told, without complaining. I let him order me around, touch me, use me, and insult me because I no longer saw the point in putting up a fight.

All my will and spirit had been lost over the year, stripped by longing, pain, and deep sorrow.

I closed my diary, ready to go to sleep when I heard John’s car drive in.

He had arrived. I gave a little sigh, and proceeded to pack my hair into a ponytail.

“Emily!” He shouted, and it was so loud that I could hear his voice from my room. “Come here, sucker!” He yelled at the top of his voice. I dropped my scrunchie, and left the room, making my way over to him.

He was drunk again, and he staggered as he watched me with blank eyes.

I went to him, tying to steady him, and take him to his room.

“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot. Beautiful seasons, this alcohol! My belt is stuck in it.” He slurred, falling against me.

What rubbish was he spewing?

Dragging him up the stairs was no easy feat, and it felt like we’d both fall, and break our backs at the slightest mistake.

“Careful how you hold me. Tonight, I’m going to make a decision.

A decision that would change our lives. I really can’t live with you, Em.

You’re like a broken shell. No, an empty shell.

You have no life in you, and you make me feel like everything’s suddenly bland.

I mean… what am I saying? You make my life boring!

” His words slurred, mixing with each other, and I finally managed to get him to his room.

Pushing him into a chair, I bent to take off his socks. But instead of letting me take them off, he kicked me in the tummy, and I fell back.

Then he got up, and grabbed my hair, pulling me with it.

I placed my hands at the root of my hair, holding them down to reduce the pain.

He pushed me into the chair, and went to his wardrobe.

“Get up, and I’ll smash your head tonight.” He threatened, and I wondered what other punishments he wanted to inflict on me that night.

He brought a long rope, and threw it over my head, tying me to the chair.

“John!” I called, warily, but before I could manage to squirm underneath the rope, and go free, he had put another one around me, doubling it.

I began to struggle to get the ropes off me, and that resulted in my hands getting tied in front of my chest.

“Stop. This is insane. You can’t come back drunk everyday, and…” I was saying, as he tied my legs to chair.

“John!” I called, panicking at whatever he was going to do to me. “John!” I called again, in a sharper tone, but he began to drag the chair.

He dragged me out the room, and up more flights of stairs, which scared the hell out of me.

“What’s wrong with you? Stop this insanity!” I cried, trying to free myself, and at the same time, being careful so I wouldn’t topple down the stairs.

John didn’t stop. Not until he got to the rooftop. By then, fear was already alive in my chest.

“John, John, wait, stop. Wait. You’re drunk…” Desperation had taken a hold of my voice, filling them with a sense of urgency.

He dragged me to the very edge, and tipped the chair forward.

“Ahh! Ahh!” I began to scream, as I looked down at the pool from the great height.

If I happened to fall, not even the water would be enough to ensure my safety. It was not deep enough.

“John, wait, please! John please!” I began to cry, out of fear. The wind scattered my hair across my face, and each time it covered my vision, I got crazily scared. The ropes felt strong, but there was still that fear that they would release me, and I would go plunging to death.

“John, please! I’ll fall. Please stop. I’m begging you!”

“Finally. I love the sound of that.” He said, pulling me back. The legs of the chair landed on the ground, and my mouth stayed open, breathing in a rush, as the wind dried the tears on my face. “Now you seem alive. Not like some dead creature. Alright. So, let’s try this out.”

John dragged me back down the stairs, while I sobbed, begging him.

“Out of the way!” He shouted at the maids, who looked scared for me.

“Let’s watch something interesting. You should be able to make me laugh at least. Not just stay in like some damn nun who has been sworn to silence.

” He spat, taking me out to the pool. “This is safer, but more interesting.” His face took on a maniacal glow, and I shook my head repeatedly.

“No, no… John, no. I can’t. John, no. You need to…” I couldn’t complete my sentence with words, I ended it with a scream.

A scream that died off right as the water swallowed me up.