The Wrong Man

Victoria heard the cabin door open and click shut. Rene walked across the floor like someone who was trying to stay quiet. It sounded like he was in his stocking feet. She could imagine him carrying his shoes, then tossing them in the closet and closing the door. He walked to the foot of the bed, and she could hear his breathing. She lay there, frozen, wondering what he was going to do next. He stood there, all movement stopped. Time passed, but she didn't know how much time. He still stood at the foot of the bed, then he walked out on the deck, again sounding as if he was trying to tiptoe. He sat there for a while like he was thinking, and he got up and walked back to the closet, apparently getting out his shoes. He opened the door slowly as if opening it slowly made less noise, then he stepped out of the room and pushed the door shut. It made one simple click. He left. She hoped.

She lay there in the dark, stiff as a board. A dark so dense she couldn't see anything. Yet, she kept laying there because she couldn't be sure he was really gone. Then, she heard another click. Click. And the door again flew open, but Rene, (and she was sure it was Rene) just stood in the door. She could hear only his breathing, quick and short. Why was he standing there? What was he going to do? As he stood there, her heart pounded harder and harder. She could feel her heart beating in her chest. The only thing she knew to do was lay there, not breathing, hoping the hiccups didn't come, and praying.

After what seemed like forever the door closed, but by then Victoria didn't dare move. She lay there on the bed with the covers pulled up over her shoulders and rolled up around the rest of her body, fetal style, curling her legs around. Then, she got the hiccups. Victoria knew she would need rest in order for her mind to stay sharp, so she tried her best to get some sleep. It was no simple task under the circumstances. She didn't know for sure what Rene's intentions were, and she wasn't sure what he had planned. She could only guess, based on the few facts she did know. The only thing she was sure of was that Rene had a partner already, and he'd married her under false pretenses. She knew he had substances in his suitcase that shouldn't be there. Her wedding night hadn't happened as she had planned, and she had missed many red flags.