My mother’s voice, filled with disbelief, came from the phone: “Katie, don’t be dramatic. Mike would never hurt you. Look how kind he’s been, sending us on vacation to Italy.”
The camera panned to show the scenery, my
aunt, uncle, and cousins all there with them.
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8:04
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Mike said that if even one of them would save
me, he would let me go. It was a longshot, but maybe I could convince them.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself so I could explain properly.
Mike just watched me, a cruel smile playing on his lips, not bothering to stop me.
I slowly turned the camera around, trying to show them my face. “Mom, I’m not kidding, he’s trying to kill me! He locked me in this room and won’t let me leave. He’s been hitting me, look at me!” My voice hitched on the last word.
Then, my father spoke: “Couples fight, Katie. Don’t blow this out of proportion. I thought Mike was a good man, it must be something you did.”
Then, my uncle spoke: “Katie, our entire family
is depending on Mike for this deal! You have to
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My aunt chirped in: “That’s right. You know how
men are, you gotta learn to handle them. Just
do what he says.”
I had always known my family was greedy, but I
never thought they could stand by while I was being hurt.
“Mom! Look at me! Look at me! He did this! Is it my fault?”
At that moment, I noticed everyone in the video look away, avoiding my gaze. They knew this wasn’t a joke, they just didn’t care.
“I didn’t do anything. He kidnapped me and wants to kill me. He said if any of you just…mmph…”
Mike clapped his hand over my mouth, his eyes burning into mine. His grip was so tight, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
<
Finally, my mother’s voice broke through:
“Katie! Katie! What’s happening? Are you still
there?”
I tried desperately to pry Mike’s hand off my
face, but I was too weak. He squeezed tighter.
I was suffocating. Just when I thought I was
going to pass out, Mike released me.
I gasped for air, coughing and wheezing.
“Oh, relax, you’re so dramatic. I thought they
were being intimate.”
“Yeah, they’re probably playing a game, Auntie!
Come on, let’s go shopping, we’ve been waiting
on you forever!”
My cousin’s voice trailed off, followed by a
“beep” as the video call ended.
I couldn’t breathe. A sob welled up inside me. I
<
looked at Mike, and he laughed like a maniac,
smashing the phone over my head.
- 4.
The phone crashed to the floor, and the impact
sent a fresh wave of blood down my face.
As I lay there, dazed, Mike straddled me,
pinning me to the ground.
I panicked, trying to protect my stomach, but Mike just laughed. “You’re pathetic! You’re so desperate to get in my parent’s good graces that you’d let me beat you senseless just to have this kid!”
He avoided hitting my belly.
For a moment, I thought he still had some decency.
But then, the slaps started again, raining down
on my head.
<
“I told you, you get hit when they decline to
help you!”
I begged him to stop, but Mike just got more
and more worked up.
“What you’re going through is NOTHING
compared to what she went through. Why can’t
you just take it? Huh?”
Mike grabbed my hair, yanking my head up so I had to look at him.
I had no idea who he was talking about, or
where all this rage was coming from.
“She? Who?”
I managed to choke out the question, but he
just hit me harder.
“You don’t deserve to know her name!”
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I knew the only way to survive was to stay calm, keep him talking.
“You said if they came to save me, you’d let me go. But you never said I couldn’t tell them the truth. Did you cover my mouth because you were afraid my family might actually have a heart and come for me?”
Mike seemed thrown by the question. For a moment, I saw him hesitate, and I felt a flicker of hope.
As he was thinking, I started planning how I could convince the next person I called to actually come and help.
But then, another slap.
“You really think anyone cares enough about you to come crawling to your rescue? I’ll let you make the call, but even if they believe you, they are not coming and you’re getting hit until they
