"I'm really, close. " He tells her.
"I'm waiting. " She bites into her lips until she tastes the faint taste of blood.
Keith is no longer hitting the door but she knows that he is not gone, he has probably gone off to find something to break the door.
" Be careful when you get here. " She sighs. " He might be armed. "
" Well so will i. " He says.
She has hardly finished the conversation when a loud sound that is similar to an explosion leaves her ears ringing with pain.
Splatters of wood fall over her and that's when she scrabbles away from the door. To find a safer place to hide in.
Keith has a fucking gun and he is trying to use it to get the door open. Edna's teeth are chattering with fear, she knows that the moment he gets in here, he won't hesitate to put a bullet in her head.
She scrabbles to the wardrobe and locks herself in it as she desperately tries to stop crying.
"Edna, are you okay?"
" He has a gun, he has a gun. " She cries.
"I'm almost there. You're good. " He tells her.
She nods even though he can't probably see her but she trusts him, she is going to trust him even though her whole life is depending on it right now.
Malik is in. She ceases her breathing as soon as she sees him getting in through the little space between both doors of the wardrobe.
He has a handgun in his hand and he is looking around. There is more than one wardrobe in here so it's going to buy her like four seconds.
"Hey, asshole. " Malik's voice has never sounded more relief giving to her.
She sighs and holds her chest with her hands. She watches what's going to happen now, she can see them even though they can't see her.
She sees Keith look at his brother with hatred before he cracks the gun and points it at Malik. She feels a jump in her heart as she fears for Malik's safety, but Malik stands unmoved.
"Seriously?" He squints. " You are going to shoot me now?"
" You know that I have been wanting to do so for a very long time. " Keith nods. " Boom and you cease to exist. "
" Oh God, I'm scared. " Malik mocks him. " End my life, Keith. Please do it. "
Keith looks confused and he tilts his head to the side. His hand keeps slipping off the trigger and back again.
Malik shakes his head and takes one step toward him and disarms him just like that. Malik takes the gun and tucks it behind his back and rolls his eyes
That's the sign Edna needs. She kicks the door open with her knee and walks out to stay behind Malik. Keith's nostrils flares as he sees her.
Malik doesn't move, maybe he is daring him to do something to her but Edna doesn't like this. She wants to go already, she wants to be far from Keith as possible.
" He might save you today, but you are still going to come home and I am going to be here waiting for you. " He points at her. " You can't run from me forever, Edna. You are going to pay for this. "
He points at the bleeding on his head and she flinches. The sight of blood does something to her.
" Okay, great show. " Malik folds his hands. " We are going to be going now. "
Malik puts his hand behind Edna and leads her out of the closet, and back into the room.
What happens next is so fast but it happens in what seems to be a flash of lightning and Keith has taken his gun back from Malik.
He has a wicked smile on his face as he cocks the gun and aims it at Edna. Malik pushes her behind him and faces his brother.
" You don't want to do that. " Malik tells him.
" Why not?" Keith laughs. " I fucking hate her and after I kill her, I am going to kill you. "
He is really serious about this and unlike the way he hesitated when he held the gun at his brother, his hand is firmly on the trigger as he looks for a clean shot to take her out.
Malik moves fast. He grabs Keith by his head and puts him in an effortless neck lock. Keith makes choking sounds as he tries to get out of his brother's grip.
He drops his gun in the process and Malik kicks it farther away. Malik's bicep flexes as he presses tighter as Edna watches in horror.
Kieth is turning red and his eyes are almost popping out of their sockets and his mouth is open, trying to breathe.
It's not long before his eyes start to get weaker and weaker and his hands fall limply to his side as he is now unconscious.
Malik sighs as he lowers him to the ground and drops him gently against the floor. He looks up to see Edna in shock.
" He is totally fine, just passed out. " Malik gestures to him. " He is not dead. "
Edna nods but she doesn't take her eyes off Keith who is lying motionlessly ok the ground. He looks every shade of dead to her.
" We have to go. " Malik says as he walks towards the door.
Edna goes into the closet and she returns almost immediately. In her hand is her phone and the wristwatch that almost got her killed.
*****
" All of that was because of a fucking wristwatch?!" Malik rubs his hand over his face and sigh. " As you crazy, Edna?"
" You said you would kill me if anything happened. " She reminds him.
"Yeah, but I didn't mean it. " He runs his hand through his hair. " If you let him take it I would have found a way to get it back or buy you a new one. "
Edna looks away, she doesn't want a new one. The one that Malik gave to her is the one that is precious to her. Aside from the monetary value, it was a gift.
Malik is walking ahead of her and she is right behind him. They are in his house now and he is leading her up the stairs.
He gets the door open and waits for her to get in before he shuts the door. It's nice with a bed, mirror, table, and wardrobe.
It doesn't have the expensive taste of her bedroom back at home, but she feels safer here.
Malik looks around the room with his hands akimbo, he looks as if he is just seeing this room for the first time even though it's his house.
" Do you like it?" He turns to her.
" Yes. "
He looks around again as if he doesn't believe her but he then shrugs.
"I mean it's okay, at least just for this night. " He says. " It's late now and you need sleep rest. I am going to fix something more better for you tomorrow. "
" This is okay. " She tries to argue.
"No, it's not. " He looks at it yet again. " You're Edna Taylor Jackson, I can't have you staying in a shitty room. Do you want mine?"
"What? No!" She protests. " This is fine, I promise you. "
" Well, if you say so. " He heaves. " I am going to go downstairs and get you something to eat. Take a shower and I will find you something to wear. "
He walks towards the door and leaves. She sits on the bed and her mind does a quick recap of everything that has happened.
Keith assaulted her, but for the first time, she assaulted him back. She is going to be in huge trouble with Mister Jackson, but she doesn't want to think of that right now.
She takes off her shoes, she can't believe that she has been in heels all this time, and she walks into the bathroom.
She takes off her shirt, then her skirt, and lastly her underwears. She turns on the shower and leans against the wall as the hot water falls over her body.
She shuts her eyes and imagines herself being in the rain- somehow the rain is made up of hot water. She imagines that her hands are spread out as she laughs as the water wets every inch of her.
She opens her eyes, waking up from her little fantasy. She wants to remember what it feels like to be free, like a little girl under the rain.
She steps out of the shower and grabs a towel that she ties around her chest. She walks out of the bathroom to see Malik in the room with some clothes in his hands.
He looks at her, as she looks at him. She waits for his eyes to fall below her chin, but it doesn't.
" I um, brought you my shirt. " He holds it out for her to see. " It's kind of big so I guess it can work as a night dress for you. "
"Malik I'm sorry. " She sighs. " You tried to warn me about Keith but I wasn't listening. "
He drops his hand and smiles at her. The sweetest smile.
"That's okay, Edna. " He says. " I understand. "
" I want to leave him. "