Chapter 2
Avery had just ended the call when Madison said, “Excuse me.”
Avery turned around nervously, looking at Madison, who was now in the break room.
She was so gentle and graceful.
Madison, just standing there and smiling, gave Avery a sense of pressure.
“M-Ms. Harper, do you need something?”
“I just remembered that I haven’t bought some stuff for the trip. Could you help me get them?” Madison took out a handwritten list and handed it to Avery.
Her handwriting was as delicate and gentle as she was.
When Avery saw the word “condoms” on the paper, she spaced out and felt her heart break into pieces.
“Thank you, and please keep it a secret,” Madison whispered, winking at Avery.
Avery nodded helplessly and fled the break room almost in panic.
The first time she was with Marcus, she had just turned 19. It was her birthday that day, and Marcus bought her flowers and a cake.
Growing up as an orphan, Avery had never had a birthday cake. A small cake and a bouquet of flowers were enough to capture her heart completely. She willingly gave him everything thereafter.
With a bitter smile on her face, Avery couldn’t help feeling as though she were a joke.
That was why it was always better for women to have money of their own. Otherwise, all it would take was a small cake for a man to deceive them.
In the four years she’d been with Marcus, Avery had never bought condoms herself because Marcus didn’t like them. He always made her take pills instead.
But he now couldn’t bear to make Madison take pills. How could he when they were bad for the body?
…
On the way to the airport, Avery remained silent the entire time.
Perhaps noticing Avery’s downcast mood, Marcus reminded her on purpose, “Drive faster. We’re in a hurry.”
“Yes, Mr. Lowell.” Avery nodded. Once the light turned green, she switched on the signal before turning left.
Just as the car in front passed the intersection, a little boy suddenly dashed through a red light. Avery swerved to avoid him and crashed straight into the flowerbed in the middle of the road.
At the moment of impact, Marcus held Madison tightly in his arms. “Madison!”
Fortunately, Avery didn’t drive too fast. Only the driver’s side was severely damaged.
The airbag deployed during the collision. Avery was pinned tightly in her seat by the crushed frame. Her left leg was trapped at the point of impact, the pain nearly making her lose consciousness.
“Marcus, help me…” The overwhelming fear made Avery’s voice tremble.
Avery was claustrophobic, and she couldn’t move.
Back in her freshman year, Mindy had once locked her in a square wooden equipment box. No matter how hard she cried or pounded on it, no one came to save her.
That suffocating, immobilizing pressure made her wish she were dead.
If the janitor on duty the next day hadn’t noticed the urine stain she left on the floor, she probably would’ve died in there that night.
Seeing Marcus about to get out of the car, Avery panicked and no longer cared whether Madison was present. “Marcus! Don’t leave me.”
“The rescue team and traffic police will handle it.”
Marcus got out of the car while shielding Madison. He then made a call to emergency services, looking annoyed.
“Your assistant is still inside.” Madison looked at Marcus suspiciously. An assistant calling the boss by his first name was unheard of.
Marcus pulled Madison into his arms and glanced at Avery—who was trapped inside the car—indifferently.
“There’s no time, and it’s not a serious crash. Let’s take a cab to the airport. Rescue services will take care of her.”
Madison nodded, giving Avery a meaningful look. But she said nothing as she walked away with Marcus.
Avery struggled while pounding on the window. But Marcus never looked back.
Avery knew that Marcus was afraid Madison would misunderstand.
As she watched Marcus walk away, she finally lost control and broke down in sobs. “Marcus, help me! You said you wouldn’t leave me. You liar. Marcus, you’re a liar! You said you’d protect me!”
Avery was falling apart. Her depression and manic episodes caused her to struggle uncontrollably in the cramped space.
Though she wasn’t badly injured at first, her repeated self-harming behavior made it worse.
“Let me out! Let me out!” Avery shouted, pounding on the window.
The trauma from freshman year left her unable to think calmly. Soon, the acrid smell of smoke from the engine began to fill the car.
“That car’s on fire!”
“Is anyone still inside? I saw the people from the car walk away.”
The passersby started shouting.
Trapped in the car, Avery began counting in despair, “One, two, three, four…”
The night Mindy locked her in the wooden box, Avery counted all the way to 6,788.
She was wondering what number she would get to this time before she died.
