13 Chapter 12: Hide

Red footprints lead into one of the bedrooms where the pungent smell seems to be coming from. The wooden carved door is open wide and before our eyes lay the decomposing corpse of the lady in the photos. It's upsetting to see that she died a painful death. She was no longer pretty. She was no longer alive but her long flowing hair still stayed the same at least. Well some of it did. Joy's heavy breathing turns me around to find her in a panicked state. Underneath her tough act she's still a human with emotions. I didn't stop before to think if she had ever seen a dead body. For the first time in my life I witness her burst into tears. In my eyes she looks like a small baby who needs caring; I just hope she will accept my care. I lead her away,ashamed, trying to calm her down. We enter another room, empty this time . My hands positioned on her shoulders, I sit her down and look into her eyes. She looks away embarrassed while still sniffing. I'm now kneeling on the floor holding her hands.

' I don't want to end up like her George.' , those words put me in agony and I promise her

'I'm here ,J. I'll protect you Joy, really. No one wants to die , you won't end up like her. I promise. Trust me.' I grin. Removing her soft hands from my protective grip, she wipes away her tears and lets out a heavy sigh. My heart breaks to see her like this and now I'm determined to protect her. At all cost.

A familiar sound struck us back into reality once again and we threw ourselves under the bed. Joy's heavy breathing had come to a stop for this serious situation. It was now her that was protecting me. Her eyes told me to keep quiet and I obeyed. Almost on cue the rain outside began to fall heavily hitting violently against the roof, reflecting our mood. It was coming. We were safer than last time but still in danger.

Joy pov:

I took the worst moment to break down. You see I didn't cry because of the dead body, I'm not that delicate. The woman lived an unhappy life and died a painful death. I saw myself in her and did not want to end up like that, that's when all the stress and hurt that has been building up inside me for the past 19 years was released. I was ashamed and embarrassed to cry full out like that in front of George. I wonder what he must think of me now. Ahh now's not the time for that; we just have to wait until it passes by us so I can finally think without my thoughts running around in my head.