Schizophrenia

Emma POV

As I slowly peeled my eyes opened, I looked around taking in my surroundings. I was in a grand bedroom with long dark curtains and a king size bed. As I continued looking around, nothing about this place looked familiar. This was nothing like my room in the pent house.

My head began aching me and my throat felt dry and thirsty. As I tried to sit up on the bed, I felt dizzy and weak. I brought my hand to my forehead and I slowly rubbed it. Just then, the memories of what happened before I lost unconscious flooded in. Alexander kidnapping me and driving me through the quiet road. And how he also took out the handkerchief from his pocket.

Ohh God! The handkerchief! I remembered how it made me feel dizzy and lost consciousness. Panic set in and my heart began to beat so fast.

I swung my legs out of the bed but I felt a sense of vulnerability wash through me. I had to get out of this place but I felt so weak. My body was betraying me. As I looked around the room again, my eyes landed on the glass of water on the bedside and I quickly reached for it. As I drank the water down my throat, I couldn't help but think of a way out of here.

Where was I? And how would I be able to find my way out of here?

I placed the glass of water back on the table and I turned around to find my way out of here. Staggering towards the entrance of the room, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching and I paused to see the door opened and a young girl dressed in a maid's uniform walked in. She looked like she was in her early twenties and she had long dark curly hair and light skin.

"Good evening, Ms Tayla," the maid said.

I frowned. "I'm not Tayla. My name is Emma."

"I'm sorry for that. Mr. Alexander asked us to call you that," she said. "I brought you dinner."

"Why does he always keep calling me that?" I asked. "I am not Tayla!"

"Ms Emma," the maid dropped the tray of food on the table and she slowly approached me.

"I need to get out of here," I said pacing around the room. "That man is a maniac."

"It is not his fault," the maid said pressing her lips into a thin line.

"It's not his fault but yet he Kidnapped me here?" I tilted my head.

"Ever since his wife died he has been suffering from schizophrenia," she said. "He thinks she is not dead and she is alive somewhere."

"Ohh," I said taking a bold step backward. "That explains so much why he's like that."

"He's never himself during one of his episode," the maid said.

"But I can not stay here and play along in his delusions," I said. "I need to get out of here."

"Like what if he has an episode and he tries to hurt me? Or what if he knows I'm trying to escape?" I turned around feeling panic.

"He hasn't taken his medication for days now and I am sure his delusions and hallucinations would be getting intense," the maid said. "But I can help you escape from here."

"Thank you so much," I said closing my eyes.

"I just need to distract him while you find your way out of here," she said. "Once you walk down the hallway, you will see a door at the end. Walk through and go downstairs, you will find yourself out of the Mansion."

"Thank you once again," I said. "What is your name?"

"Jenna," she smiled before pushing the door opened and she walked out. 

She came back after some time. "You can go now. And be fast."

"Okay," I nodded my head as I hurried out of the room. As I ran down the hallway, different thoughts began going through my mind.

My mind raced with a mixture of excitement and fear. Just few steps more and I would be away from Alexander and his clutches. The first thing I would do once I get out of here was reporting him to the police.

"Emma!"

I heard my name echoe down the hallway. I froze in my footsteps and I slowly turned around to face Alexander. His face was etched with anger and I could see the veins of his forehead protruding out.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, he grabbed my shoulder roughly.

"Where do you think you are going, Tayla?" He tilted his head. "Running away from me?"

"Just let me go," I said with a pleading tone. "I need to go back home."

"This place is your home," he said. "You are never leaving me again. I won't allow it."

He turned around, dragging me back to the room and he pushed me inside before closing the door.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked, my eyes burning with tears. 

"All I am doing is for the benefit of us," he responded.

"Alexander please just let me go," I pleaded, falling on my knees. "I am not Tayla, your wife. I am Emma. Your wife is gone, she's dead."

"Don't say that!" He yelled, clenching his hand into a fist.

"It's the truth. I am not Tayla," I said shaking my head slowly.

He narrowed his eyes to me. "You are lying. I know you are Tayla. Don't lie to me."

Fear coursed through my veins as I watched him turn around and he left the room and he locked the door. Now I was trapped in this Mansion to live with him. How am I going to survive living with a man like him?