The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t your own. You wondered who you had become as you reached a hand out to the heart balloon that you saw floating in the corner. The texture did not feel like latex, it had a squish to it. You turned your head away from the mirror and saw that you were holding an actual heart that was still beating.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
You held it up and felt the beating right next to your ear and looked back into the mirror again. It still looked like a pulsing balloon through the glass. The person in the mirror was happy and smiling, but your face felt in pain as if your weren't truly happy. You needed to find another mirror. One that will show the truth, because the only thing you see is someone who has finally found love. Someone who will stay and never leave you. They would never…
Rattle!
Rattle!
Rattle!
Right, only because you had locked them downstairs trapped by chains in the jail. You don’t think buying a different mirror will help as you are pretty sure this is what you want to see. You came to this town and purchased the very house that used to be a courthouse with a jail room underneath. You became obsessed with a person and tried to gain their attention. When you couldn’t find a way, they ended up here with you. You posed as someone else online and convinced them they had a job opportunity waiting for them in this building. You bought a sign to go out front so they could believe this house was commercial and not a personal home. You led them in here with a disguise and trapped them. Now you talk to them every day; they feel as though they have nothing to lose or gain by responding. Maybe they believe they could be on your good side to be released, or maybe they could possibly really be falling for you. Not even for a second.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
You hear their voice calling out as they hit their chains against the bar. It is dinner time. You were distracted. Who knows how long you have been smiling in the mirror. 6:30 p.m.
Tick!
Tick!
Tick!
Time to move. Time to get the food. You feel stuck. What happens when someone finds them? What will they say? Alright go on. Get in your car and get the food. Some Chinese takeout today will be nice.
Vroom!
Vroom!
Vroom!
You feel the hum of the car while you roll up to the drive through. What even is a relationship if you can’t go out with them? You can’t show off who you got. Captured. you did not just get them.
Click!
Click!
Click!
The key opens the door and you watch them eat. “You have become more quiet lately,” you begin the conversation.
“Well before I had my life to talk about, but now that I stay in here all the time there isn’t much extra to speak on,” they informed you.
“Right, how ugly this all is and what to do,” you wondered.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
You go up and arrive at the door. Police. Here to find them. “We need to take a look around your house, we believe there is someone here named Jackson that has been missing for a while,” they whip a warrant paper in your face.
“Right, go on ahead,” you led them in and there he was. You realize that the knocking worried you and you left Jackson unchained with the door wide open.
“Yes, I am Jackson,” he nodded to the police.
“Did this person kidnap you?” they ask.
“No, I asked them to hide me because I really just wanted to fall off the map. You see, I felt like a failure and they kept me here,” he lied.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Now your heart, confused. “We will still take a look around anyways,” they opened drawers and eventually headed down to the basement with the jail area.
“Try fifty shades of gray,” Jackson explained and laughed.
“Right, this place used to be the old courthouse right?” the policeman scanned the room.
Creak!
Creak!
Creak!
He swung the door back and forth and darted his eyes at the two of you. “Well please call your family. We will have to tell them no matter what that you have been staying at a… lover resort,” he chuckled and headed back up the stairs to leave the house.
“Why?” is all you ask when you look back over at him.
“Why not?” he stares at you intensely and smacks handcuffs on your wrists with passion while you were distracted once again.
“You’re next though,” he grinned at you diabolically and left to go let his family know that he lived.
Stomp!
Stomp!
Stomp!
He walks with an intimidation for you to be left with. You will see Jackson again as his prisoner.
About the Creator
Shelby Hagood
Warner Bros and Disney 💕
Cat lover 🐱
Love fancy chocolate 🍫
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