Fleeing her husband from a forgotten village, she stumbled into a bear trap and thought this was the end, consciousness slipping away
When Emily woke in an unfamiliar room, she let out a faint groan. Her head spun as if struck from behind, her memory a voidshe couldnt recall what had happened or how shed gotten there. Her body ached like shed been lying still for days, limbs refusing to obey. Struggling to rise, horror gripped her as she realized she was boundhands and feet tightly tied. Panic surged, and she twisted against the bed, its springs protesting with a sharp creak.
“Finally awake,” came a cold voice. “Dont worry. Youll stay a little longer. Once you understand your mistake, Ill let you go. Then well return home.”
In that moment, it all rushed back. Shed agreed to divorce her husband, Edward. Hed seemed willinguntil the blow came. Hed never intended to let her leave. “Youre mine,” hed said. “And if you wont accept that, Ill teach you.” But Emily couldnt endure his betrayals any longer. The first time, she forgave him. The secondnever. Love had long withered, leaving only fear and revulsion for their toxic danceone consumed by obsession, the other by loneliness.
“Let me go,” she whispered, trembling. “This changes nothing. You cant force love, Ed. Please”
“Accept it. Youre in denial now, but youll seewere meant to be. Give me another chance. Theres nowhere to run. Remember that abandoned village I told you about? Where my grandparents lived? No one comes here. No one will help. And dont anger meyou know where that leads.”
Emily shuddered. The madness in Edwards eyes terrified her most of all.
Ten daysor was it longer?she spent in that house. Edward freed her only for brief stretches, watching her every move like a predator. She knew: this wasnt a man but a sickness, one needing urgent care. Yet she played alongfeigned submission, pretended hope, anything to escape. No one at work would miss her; her boss had wanted her gone since catching her with his wife. Her parents were dead, and friends dismissed her absences”jealous husband,” theyd sigh, never digging deeper.
One day, when Edwards focus wavered, she struck him with a heavy figurine. He crumpled, unconscious but breathing. She didnt wait to see if hed wakeknew shed get no second chance. Hed vowed theyd stay here forever, and she couldnt live with a man whose rage was a ticking bomb.
Grabbing whatever clothes she found, she fled into the biting cold. Frost seared her lungs, but she ran. Roads, carsall impossibly far. Fear of Edward tracking her gnawed, but she had no choice. The forest, distant wolf howlsit terrified her, yet shed rather face wild beasts than a madmans cage.
Her strength waned. Time blurred, direction lost. The thought of freezing or wandering aimlessly tormented her. Thensearing pain, a scream. Her leg snapped in a poachers trap. Blood stained the snow. She collapsed, tugging uselessly at the iron jaws. Agony swallowed her. Darkness crept in.
Thena voice:
“Dont give up now, love”
She woke again somewhere strange. The air smelled of herbal teasomeone forcing sips past her lips as she faded in and out.
“Where am I?” she croaked, pushing upright.
“Back with us?” A voice from the doorway.
A man stood therecalm, kind-eyed, wearing a wool jumper and sturdy trousers.
“You saved me?”
“You saved yourself. Fought like hell. I just helped.”
He introduced himselfJames. Told her hed found her in the trap, carried her here, treated her wounds with antibiotics. Shed been delirious for days. The trap hadnt broken bone, but the gashes were deep. “You survived. Thats what matters,” he said.
He lived in his late grandfathers forester cottage, hiding from the city, dismantling illegal traps.
“Guess I was right to turn that bloke away,” he added. “Came by a day after I brought you in. Looked feralsearching for someone. Dont worry. If he returns, he wont get past me.”
Emily trembled. Edward had been close. But here, she felt safe.
Days passed. She told James everythingthe marriage, the betrayals, the escape. He listened quietly. Shed expected to fear all men after this, but with him, it was different. Peace. Warmth. He never pushed, never judged. Just stayed.
Ten days later, she could walkthough with a limp. James left for the woods while she insisted on cooking suppera small thanks for his kindness.
When he returned, he frowned at the stove.
“I told you to rest,” he grumbled, brushing snow off his coat.
“Sorry Wanted to help. Feel like a burden otherwise.”
His expression softened.
“Fine. Pitch in if you must. Whats the plan?”
Over dinner, he shared his own losshis fiancée, dead in a crash two years prior. He came here yearly to grieve alone.
“Im so sorry,” Emily murmured. “But life goes on. Shed want you happy. After what my husband did, I couldve feared all men. But youre not him. Cant hide forever in fear. Have to move forward.”
James nodded. They finished the mealbangers and mash, a bottle of red wine. Over food, she finally asked: How did supplies reach this remote place?
“My mate brings them every fortnight,” James said. “Roads are blocked now, but hell come tomorrow. Youll ride back with himreturn to the city.”
Her chest tightened. Home. Where her pastand Edwardwaited. Reporting him, finalizing the divorce. The thought of facing him chilled her. Yet with James, she felt shielded, as if his presence alone warded off harm. But hiding wasnt the answer. She had to end it.
“Dont fear,” James said quietly, squeezing her hand. “Youll manage. That bastard wont touch you again.”
Emily forced a smile. His confidence warmed her, but doubt lingered. And sorrowtheir brief, bright time together ending. She knew it was right. Yet parting carved a quiet ache inside.
The next day, his mate Tom arrivedeasygoing, with a friendly grin. Emily fought tears. Staying here with James tempted her but she couldnt start anew without closing the past. At the door, she hugged James fiercely, memorizing his warmth, the scent of wool, his heartbeat. He froze, then slowly hugged back, hands unsteady.
“Thank you Ill miss you,” she whispered.
“Youll be alright,” he said firmly, though sadness flickered in his eyes.
In the car, she watched him in the rearviewstanding on the porch, watching them go. She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to beg Tom to stop. She wanted to confess she cared but not yet. First, she had to finish this.
Tom drove her straight to the police, as James asked. She filed a report, told everything. Then he took her home. James had arranged for supplies”till things settle.” She didnt ask who Tom really was. Just accepted the help gratefully.
Her flat reeked of Edwardnot his body, but his presence. His things, his scent, his shadow. She gathered every reminder, tossed them onto the balcony. Wanted to erase him like a mistake on paper. That night, by the window, she thought of James. Regretted not taking his number. But hed said it himselfno signal in the wild.
The next morning, a call came. Edward was deadshot resisting arrest. Emily didnt cry. Didnt feel guilt. Only overwhelming relief. Hed never stalk anyone again.
When Tom returned, she told him.
“Good riddance,” he nodded. “He showed up here yesterday. Lads James sent to guard you handled him quick.”
“Lads?” she blinked.
“Ordered them to watch you till it was over. Cant say Im sorry. Worlds better without him.”
Emily swallowed hard. Then suddenly asked:
“Take me to James. Next supply runbring me along.”
“Two weeks,” Tom grinned. “New Years Eve. Was wondering when youd ask.”
Her soul ached for that place, even if logic resisted. She skipped Edwards funeralhis mother had known his plans, turned a blind eye. Emily couldnt respect that.
For two weeks, she prepared. Sold Edwards gifts to tide her over. Hunted for a new joba fresh start.
When the day came, Tom collected her.
“What if he turns you away?” he frowned. “Want me to wait nearby?”
“No,” she said. “He won
