Running from her husband in a remote village, she stumbled into a bear trap and thought it was the end, slipping into unconsciousness…
Waking up in an unfamiliar room, Emily groaned softly. Her head spun as if shed been struck, and her memory felt hollowshe couldnt recall what had happened or how shed gotten here. Her body ached like shed been lying still for days, refusing to obey. When she tried to sit up, panic seized herher wrists and ankles were tightly bound. She writhed against the bed, the creaking springs echoing her fear.
“Finally awake,” came a cold voice. “Dont worry. Youll stay a little longer. Once you realise how wrong you were, Ill let you go. And well go home.”
Then it all rushed back. Shed agreed to a divorce with her husband, Daniel. Hed said yesthen struck her. Hed never planned to let her leave. “Youre mine,” hed told her. “If you dont understand that, Ill make you.” But Emily couldnt take his cheating anymore. After the first time, shed forgiven him. After the second, she was done. Love had long faded, leaving only fear and disgust for their toxic marriagehis obsession, her loneliness.
“Let me go,” she whispered, trembling. “It wont change anything. You cant force me to love you. Dan, please…”
“Youll come around. Right now, youre just in denial. But youll see were meant to be. Give me another chance. And youve got nowhere to run. Remember that abandoned village I told you about? My grandparents lived here. No one comes. No one will help you. And dont make me angryyou know what happens then.”
Emily shivered. The madness in Daniels eyes terrified her most.
A week and a halfmaybe longer?she spent in that house. Daniel only untied her for a few hours each day, watching her like a predator. She knew he wasnt just a man anymore; he was ill, needing help she couldnt give. So she pretended. Played the obedient wife, feigning hope for reconciliation, just to get back to civilisation. No one at work would miss herher boss had wanted her gone ever since Emily caught her with her husband. Her parents were dead, her friends used to her vanishing acts. “Overprotective husband,” theyd sigh, never digging deeper.
One day, when Daniel was distracted, she struck him with a heavy figurine. He collapsed, unconscious but breathing. She didnt wait to see if hed wake. If he did, shed have no chance. Hed said theyd stay here for good, and she couldnt live with his explosive rage any longer.
Grabbing whatever clothes she found, she bolted into the freezing cold. The air burned her lungs, but she ran. Cars, roadsthey were miles away. She feared Daniel would track her footprints, but she had to keep going. The forest, the distant howl of wolvesit was terrifying, but better to face wild animals than a monster.
Her strength faded. She didnt know how long shed run or where she was. The thought of freezing or getting lost gnawed at her. Thensharp pain, a cry. Her leg caught in a bear trap. Blood stained the snow. She collapsed, clawing at the metal jaws, but they wouldnt budge. The pain was unbearable. Darkness crept in.
Thena voice:
“Dont give up, love…”
She woke again somewhere strange. The air smelled of herbal teasomeone was tipping it gently between her lips as she faded in and out.
“Where am I?” she whispered, sitting up.
“Back with us?” A voice came from the doorway.
A man stood therecalm, kind-eyed, in a knitted jumper and warm trousers.
“You saved me?”
“You saved yourself. Fought like hell. I just helped.”
He introduced himselfOliver. Said hed found her in the trap, carried her back, treated her wounds, given antibiotics. Shed been delirious for nearly a week. The trap hadnt broken bone, but the gashes were deep. “Youre alive. Thats what matters,” he said.
He lived in his grandfathers old foresters cottage. Came here to escape the city and continue his grandads workremoving poachers traps.
“Guess I did right turning that bloke away,” he added. “A day after I brought you in. He was like a wild animalsearching for someone. Dont worry. If he comes back, he wont get near you.”
Emily shuddered. Daniel had been close. But here, she felt safe.
Days passed. She told Oliver everythingthe marriage, the affairs, her escape. He listened quietly. Shed expected to fear all men after this, but with him, it was different. She felt calm. At ease. He didnt push, didnt demand. Just stayed.
Ten days later, she could walkwith a slight limp. Oliver went into the woods, and she decided to cook dinnera small thanks for his kindness.
When he returned, he frowned at her by the stove.
“I told you to rest,” he said, brushing snow off his coat.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “Wanted to help. Felt useless otherwise.”
He softened.
“Alright. If you want to help, well do it together. Whats next?”
Over the meal, he shared something personaltwo years ago, hed lost his fiancée in a car crash. Every year, he came here to grieve alone.
“Im so sorry,” Emily said softly. “But life goes on. Shed want you to be happy. After what my husband did, I couldve feared all men. But youre not him. Cant spend life hiding in fear. Have to move forward.”
Oliver nodded, and they finished their mealbangers and mash, a bottle of red wine. Over food, she finally asked: how did he get supplies here? The place was cut off. She didnt even know how to leave.
“My mate brings stuff every few weeks,” Oliver said. “Roads are bad nowhell come tomorrow. And youll go with him. Back to the city.”
Her chest tightened. Home. Where her pastand facing Danielwaited. Filing for divorce, seeking justice. The thought of seeing him again chilled her. But with Oliver near, she felt safe, as if his presence alone shielded her. Still, she knewrunning wasnt the answer. She had to finish this.
“Dont be scared,” Oliver said quietly, taking her hand. “Youll be alright. That tosser wont touch you again.”
She smiled despite the dread. His confidence warmed her, but doubts lingered. And it hurttheir quiet, cosy time together was ending. She knew it was right. But goodbye ached.
The next day, Olivers mate, Tom, arrivedeasygoing, friendly. Emily fought back tears. Staying here, with Oliver, was so tempting… But she couldnt start anew without closing the past. At the door, she hugged Oliver tightmemorising his warmth, the wool of his jumper, his heartbeat. He froze, then slowly hugged back, his hands unsteady.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Ill miss you.”
“Youll be fine,” he said firmly, though his eyes were sad.
In the car, she watched Oliver in the rear-view mirror, standing on the porch. She clenched her hands, fighting the urge to ask Tom to stop. She wanted to run back, admit she cared… But no. Finish the past first. Then the future.
Tom took her straight to the police, as Oliver had asked. She filed a report, told everything. Then he drove her home. Oliver had arranged for Tom to bring supplies”till things settle.” She didnt ask who Tom really was. Just accepted the help.
Her flat still felt like Danielshis things, his smell. She packed it all, dumping it on the balcony. Wanted him erased, like a mistake scribbled out. That evening, by the window, she thought of Oliver. Regretted not getting his number. But hed saidno signal in the woods.
The next day, a call. Daniel had been arrestedfought back, took a bullet to the chest. He was dead. Emily didnt cry. Didnt feel guilt. Just relief. Hed never hurt anyone again.
When Tom returned, she told him.
“Good riddance,” he said. “He showed up yesterday. But the lads Oliver sent kept him out.”
“Lads?” she frowned.
“Oliver had you guarded till it was over. Cant say Im sorry. Bloke like that? Worlds better off.”
She nodded, throat tight. Then asked:
“Take me to Oliver. Next time you gobring me with you.”
Tom grinned. “Two weeks. New Years trip. Was wondering when youd ask.”
Her heart pulled her there, logic be damned. She
