LatinosUSA

Content Warning: Violence

The beginning of a nightmare

The pain is unbearable. I can’t breathe. I feel like someone is sitting on me and trying to suffocate me. Well, I’m not that far away from the truth. The thing is, it’s pitch dark, and even if I try to keep my eyes open, I can’t see a thing. Panic overwhelms me at this point, and I know there’s no way I’ll escape this time. In the past, I was able to trick him, but now I’m doomed. I have no idea where I am, and the tape that’s on my mouth doesn’t allow me to scream. God, I want to scream!

It’s also impossible to move. He tied me up good. This time, there’s a thick rope around my wrists and ankles, and I’m sitting with my back against a wall that has a pipe behind it—a thick, heavy one that I can’t break. I’m also very cold, which means I’m somewhere underground. There’s a ventilation sound, so probably a basement. Nobody can hear me or help me. I’m done. I just want this to be over and to just fucking die.

I thought he wouldn’t find me, that I had a chance at happiness. No. Never. I’m going to be hunted forever and killed just like a deer. Sitting in this dark basement, I’m simply surrendering to the obvious outcome: I’ll never have a normal life. I don’t even remember the last time I could walk down the street without looking behind me, scared he’d jump out and put a knife to my throat.

Here, I’m wrong. Wait a second. There was a time when I thought everything would turn out great, but it feels so long ago. Actually, my life started to turn around six months ago. I couldn’t believe it myself—that’s how good it felt. Almost too good.

By the way, I’m Eve. I’m twenty-two years old. I have to go back six months so you’ll understand why I’m here in this basement, tied up and ready to die. Yes, it sounds crazy at my age to be so okay with death, but I am. I’ve suffered so much that I’m ready to give up.

So, six months ago, I was working in a coffee shop. It was my first job after I managed to run from my abusive ex. Gavin was my first love. We dated as teenagers, and I thought he was the one for me. But time proved me wrong. He started with little things, like not allowing me to go out with my girlfriends without him. I accepted it, but we argued a little because he always knew how to get under my skin and manipulate me.

After a while, he wanted to dictate my wardrobe choices. If I wore a short skirt, he would explode and call me a slut who tempted men, saying I should change into something decent.

I have to admit, I was stupid. I should have left the first time he did this. These were clear signs he had a big problem— basically, a psychopath. But no, my mind was ignorant, and I interpreted it as love. Boy, was I wrong.

My family was charmed by him. He was very polite and always spoke nicely and respectfully. So, very soon he became my parents’ favourite guy. I was basically cursed and I didn’t realize it until a few years later, when he did something unforgivable that I could not ignore anymore.

It was my twenty-first birthday, and I wanted a party at my parents’ house. We lived in a big house. My mom was a successful lawyer and my dad a judge, so our family had money. I was also very lucky to have them. They did everything I wanted and agreed to this party as well. The backyard was decorated with balloons and flowers, and the best part was the pool we had—perfect for the hot day outside. There were about twenty people, including my parents.

My birthday came, and we started with burgers. My dad was an expert at grilling them, and I just felt really blessed that day. My girlfriends were here, even though they joked about Gavin and his controlling behavior. I said he loved me and wanted me for himself. They tried to warn me it wasn’t okay, but I wouldn’t listen. I was in my twenties, and I wanted to enjoy my life.

Earlier that day, my parents were discussing one of their cases. A teenage girl, no more than seventeen, had been found dead in a forest, twenty kilometers outside the city. It disturbed me deeply, and I told them to stop talking about it. They eventually did, but not before mentioning that the man who killed her had left DNA trace. He raped her several times before killing her, so there was sperm that could be tested.

I went back to my party and enjoyed the rest of it. Gavin arrived later, and we danced and kissed under twinkling lights. I was so happy and content with my life that I didn’t see the blow coming my way.

Toward the end of the party, as my last friend was leaving the house, I suddenly heard loud voices coming from the kitchen. That was odd. We had never experienced something like this. My parents would never raise their voices or be violent.

I enter the room and I see Gavin holding a knife.

“Gavin, what are you doing?” I ask, looking at my parents’ terrified faces.

“They don’t understand. I just wanted to show her a good time,” he answers, looking at me with tears in his eyes.

“Eve, run!” my dad shouts.

“What’s going on, Gavin? Why are you holding a knife? Put it down and let’s talk about this.”

“No! Your parents don’t understand. I was just showing her my new car, and she wouldn’t do what I said.”

“Who’s she?”

“The girl we talked about this morning, honey. He killed her,” my mother says, gasping for air and crying, holding my father’s hand.

I feel my head spinning. This can’t be happening! My boyfriend can’t be a killer. We’re not in a movie! What the hell?

“Gavin, let’s talk about this. Put the knife down.”

I didn’t expect his next reaction at all. He leaned forward and stabbed my parents endlessly. I screamed at him to stop, but the look on his face will be forever carved into my brain. He just went completely nuts, wild eyes, hungry for violence. I couldn’t watch anymore, and I couldn’t hear my parents’ screams of pain. It was just too much. I don’t remember what happened next, because at some point I fainted. The pain was excruciating.