The Verdict of My Life

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Ever so carefully I lifted the tape off of the blue wrapping. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest as I lifted open the side. I had no idea what would be in this mysterious little blue packaging, but I knew I had to be afraid.

After everything that happened that day, anything could be in that box; severed fingers, photos of myself, anything. There were no more limitations to what sickening things this man could do. For goodness sake, he had stalked me for months on end! He had been trying to replace his long gone wife with me. Who even knows what was going on with Isaeic.

My fingers trembled from my racing mind as I tried to fragilely open the box. Yet, no matter how hard I tried to steady myself, I couldn't stop from trembling. My hand shook so violently that I accidentally ripped open the box. 

The blue wrapping paper fluttered to the ground as I stared at the exposed corners of the box. Only three letters were visible, but they made my stomach drop to the floor.

It read 'Pre' in pink letters.

My throat went dry as I instinctively knew what it meant. I shouldn't have been surprised after what I had learned, but I just didn't expect it all to be happening so fast. It couldn't be- right?

With my body preparing to cry, I grabbed the wrapping paper with white knuckles. I held the paper so tight that I felt my nails digging through it and into my skin, but none of that mattered. If I held what I thought I did, then they least of my worries.

A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins and I tore the rest of the wrapping off. My heart stood where it last beat as my suspicion was confirmed.

The box read 'Pregnancy Test'.

My eyes widened as I dropped the box on the floor and held my hand to my mouth.  My world seemed to stop spinning for those few short moments, but it felt like an eternity.

Never had I thought such a thing could happen to me. Although, I had never imagined I would have been kidnapped either. My life in the past few months had been full of things I never could have thought, even in my worst nightmare, would happen to me. 

I was kidnapped. I was beaten, threatened, and yet shown a sadistic sweetness to. I had been stalked, photographed and obsessed over, replaced an ex-wife, assumed the position of a step mother, and proposed to by the man who had created my nightmare! My virginity had been stolen by a monster, and now I stand; possibly with his child growing inside me. 

It couldn't be possible. The man had raped me twice, a world's too many, but could I be with child from those two times? No. I wasn't pregnant. I showed no signs as of late and I just simply wouldn't have it.

My world had been brutally torn from me and shattered time and time again; I could not have this happen! I was only eighteen; I couldn't be with child! I understand how pregnancy works, but with all the horrible things that happened to me, I deserved a break! 

I was eighteen, kidnapped, and there was no way I would add pregnant to that list. 

A rustic taste filled my mouth. I realized what state I was in; broken. I had bit my tongue so hard that it bleed, while tears ran down my cheeks and my soul ached. I couldn't handle this anymore! There is no point going on if I will just be condemned to a life of pain and misery. It would all end if I just ceased my aching soul that cried out for help, yet unheard. 

I couldn't let that happen though. Deep down inside I knew I was close to escape, and if I ended it now then everything I had suffered would be for nothing. At least if I escaped I had a chance of helping myself and subjecting Francis to the sort of pain he had brought to me.

I couldn't give up the fight now, not when I was so close to tasting freedom.

Drying my eyes, I sucked in a deep breath to steady myself, but fell to the floor. My legs had gone weak from knowing that I had to take that test, and that there was a possibility that I could be pregnant.  

For how many times I denied it, I still knew that it was a consideration. Even though it had only occurred twice, there had been more than enough evidence towards it. For one, Francis probably wanted a child to replace his lost one. That meant that he hadn't been concerned with protection of any sort.

It had been more than a month since I first got here, and plenty of weeks since he first stole my innocence. In that amount of time I had never once gotten my period. Could that mean-?

I clenched my eyes shut until the blackness behind my eyelids turned white. The evidence was growing and I could barely swallow it. More tears fell from my eyes as I wept, holding my head in my hands. This life was slowly killing me.

There would be no more guessing, I had to know. No longer could I feel pity when I had to figure out how to go about my plan. If I was pregnant then there was a chance Francis would feel more attached and let me venture out. If he thought I had fully dedicated myself to his family then he might just give me the freedom I needed to get out. 

Otherwise, I would stick to my plan; if I didn't escape soon then I would take my own life. 

That didn't help me to stop crying, but it gave me the determination I needed to calm myself enough to locate the box. It lay next to my food, the little words on box tormenting my very soul.

With eyes closed, I reached out and grabbed the box with my hand. It took all my might not to just throw it across the room like I had wanted to do so very much. Yet, I kept it in my shaking hand.

My breath slowed as I braced myself against the wall and attempted to stand up. The first few tries went terribly wrong, with me ended up back on the floor, but the third try I was able to hoist myself up. 

I had to do this; I had to know for sure. I took in a deep breath and opened my eyes. For a second I wondered why the world was moving, but then I realized it was just me trembling in fear. 

Looking down at the box felt like I was a mile away, but in reality I was all too close. With red eyes, I read the back of the packaging; familiarizing myself with the directions. It was nothing too complicated, but I reread the same sentences over and over again. I could simply not grab ahold of myself. 

Through sniffles, I opened the end of the box and looked at the pregnancy test inside. It was just as I knew it should look, but in my hands it felt all wrong. This should have never happened, but I couldn't do anything about it.

When all was said and done, I paced the room, waiting for the verdict to appear. It was one of those tests where it directly says pregnant or not pregnant, so I should have no problem deciphering the plus or minus. 

While waiting, I couldn't help but think about how life could have been different if I hadn't gotten into that truck on the fatal evening of October 16th. Instead of waiting for the results of a pregnancy test, I would probably be safely tucked into bed. My worst concern would be paying for college, not if I held my kidnapper's baby in my stomach. 

Life would have been much kinder if nothing had ever changed. I would still have my family, school, hobbies, and entire life ahead of me. Now I would put an end to my timeline if escape was not achieved within the next week or so. 

Also, even though I never thought about taking a pregnancy test, I guess I never thought it would happen like this. First off, I was only eighteen and I never had thought much of a 'teenage pregnancy'. I mean, what was the point if I never had a boyfriend in the first place? Second, I guess I always assumed it would be a happy time of my life, but it was not so. 

How had my life been so diverted off course? Was life just turning its cheek on me in my time of need? Would I just become another girl on a milk carton who would never see daylight again? 

I let out a sigh in frustration, trying not to cry again. A daunting thought crossed my mind though; did it even matter if I was pregnant? Wouldn't Francis just keep raping me no matter if I was with child or not? If he really wanted another baby then nothing would stop him until he got it. Really, if I wasn't pregnant now then surely I would become pregnant later- if I was alive that long.

My mental clock went off as I knew the time had come; it was time to read my fate. I took in a deep breath again, and steadied myself against the wall. My legs became jelly and I felt as if I was ready to faint. 

Each step felt like a marathon, with the minutes dragging by. When I finally reached the counter where I had placed the test, I closed my eyes in fear. This was it. 

Slowly, my eyelids crawled back up my eyes until I could see once more. Without glancing at the test, I picked it up and held it in my hand. I positioned myself over the toilet, just in case I threw up from the result. 

Letting out one last breath, I opened my eyes and stared at the pregnancy test. My result was plastered like a billboard in front of my face. I extended a blink as I let it soak in. 

Only a second passed before I heard furious pounding on the door. The sudden sound scared me so much that I jumped and dropped the pregnancy test in the toilet. It settled on the bottom of the bowl, word side down, but the result was permanently burned into my mind. Every time I closed my eyes I saw it floating in the darkness behind my eyes. 

"Haitlin!" Francis's voice pierced through the door. 

He continued to pound against the door until in thought he would break it open. Afraid of the consequence of ignoring him, I readied myself to open the door. My fear of him may have grown in that past hour, but his punishments still terrified me. 

I knew he was livid and that I shouldn't open the door, but I knew I had to. This could be one of the final standoffs between my nightmare and I. What I did here could ultimately define my life from that point forward. 

The only thing the slowed my process of facing off with Francis was the fact that I flushed the toilet first. The result could be my little secret until I could use it against him. I didn't really know if it would stop him from attacking, but it was worth a try.

I turned the lock on the door knob and immediately Francis came barging in. 

"Haitlin, what did I tell you? You directly disobeyed me!" he roared.

I tried not to shrink back into myself, but instead stood with head high. 

"What did I do wrong?" I asked coolly, compared to his ranting.

"You went in the room when I specifically told you not to!" he screamed.

Keeping my voice level and void of emotion, I replied, "I did not."

"Do not lie to me," he threatened harshly. 

My eyes went wide in fear, but I kept my ground.

"I am not lying."

"I left that door open and now it is closed. I know you went in there, admit it," he spat.

I briefly closed my eyes as I forgot about the door being open ajar. Now I would just have to confess, somewhat.

"Yes, I went into the room," I said barely above a whisper, but I knew he heard me.

"What did you see?" he asked through clenched teeth.

I tried pushing past him and into the hall, but he grabbed my arm.

"What did you see?" he repeated deadlier.

"I only saw a crib. I assumed it was Olivia's old room, so I didn't go inside. I just peeked," I lied. 

"You better be telling the truth or God so help me you will be in a world of trouble," he said in a fatal tone. 

"I am, I assure you. Is there anything I should know about in that room?" I asked as innocently as possible. 

His eyes darkened and I knew I pushed one button too many.

"Haitlin I am done with your antics. I warned you time and time again, but I cannot handle this behavior. I can't have you being insubordinate," he threatened in a voice so calm that I froze.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me down the hall, murmuring about my behavior. I thought he was just going to take me to the bedroom, but instead he pulled me to the stairs. My eyes widened and toes curled as I began to panic. Nothing good happened when we neared the stairs.

I began to fight back, but he backed me up against the stairs; the backs of my feet hanging off the edge as I tried to push him away.

"Haitlin, stop it!" he screamed at me.

After everything that happened today, I would not have my life ended this way. There was still so much left to do.

I pushed my entire body against his, but became unbalanced. My foot slipped off the edge and missed the following step. My weight pulled me down to the harsh stairs where my life just might end. There was only one thing that could save me now.

"Francis, I'm pregnant!" I yelled as gravity pulled my body down.

The darkness in his eyes cleared and was filled with urgency. He reached his hand out for mine, but my fingers slip right through his grasp. I knew telling him the truth would change him, but I said it too late.

My body would tumble down the stairs in a matter of second, threatening to steal my life and my baby's. The last thing I saw before my head hit the step was a frightened Olivia standing in horror at the end of the hall. She finally saw what a monster her father truly was.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net