The Day I Saw The End

"Please!" I pushed the scream out with as much power as my lungs would allow. "I am begging you! Let me go!"

I began banging with both fists as hard as I could against the walls. As the water trickled over the top of the glass box I was in, I could just barely make out the sound of his voice. "Stop damaging my product!" he growled. I was trapped. The entire box was slowly being lowered into an empty pool. The roof above was one giant showerhead. It was blasting water into the pool beneath it. It wouldn't take too long before the entire glass prison was submerged.

"You can't do this to people!" I cried. "Someone will come looking for me!" He laughed. "Who, Holly? You have no one, remember?" An evil grin contorted his entire face. He was the devil. No question about it.

Why did I tell him? Why? How could I have been so stupid?

You see these crazy things happen in movies all the time, but you never think it could possibly happen to you. I didn't even think twice about allowing Travis to follow me on Instagram. I wanted everyone to follow me. Isn't that what life is about these days? Social media influence? Status? A big following...?

I kept my account private so that when I allowed people to follow me, they felt special. You reel them in and you make them feel valuable. Share a few conversations and make them think you're interested in them. You're not. You just want those numbers to climb. That's all he was at first. Another number. Number 190,088 to be exact.

Travis commented on everything I posted! I saw him. I never paid much attention to comments, but his name became so consistent I got used to it. I expected to see him. Imagine my disappointment when he suddenly just stopped.

It made me want to post more. I got a new dress and shared a photo. Two hundred and thirteen comments within the first thirty minutes! Not one from Travis. I drove to Starbucks and ordered a drink just for the photo op. Post. No acknowledgment from Travis again. I did this over and over for about a week before I started clicking on his profile. He had an active status, so why was he not paying attention to me anymore?

I decided to be brave and send him a DM.

Hey stranger! You good? Where you been?

It was then I was greeted by three flashing dots, indicating he was replying.

I waited. The dots stopped. A few minutes went by and then it happened again. And again. And again. Before I knew it, twenty-four whole minutes had passed by, and I was still staring at my phone like a lunatic waiting for this man's reply.

Finally, it came.

Well, hello there! I'm fine. Just been a little busy.

Oh? With what?

I'm in the middle of creating a piece for my page.

I clicked on his profile. He only had six posts so far. He made some of the most realistic looking sculptures I had ever seen. There were two rows of beautiful women staring at me through my phone screen. They had immaculate detail. Eyelashes, freckles, one even had a scar that looked as if she had stitches as a child. Incredible.

Your work is stunning!

Appreciate that! :)

What started as a simple hello led to so much more. For the next twelve or so weeks, Travis and I talked to each other about everything! Childhood, family, pets, what we wanted to be when we "grow up". Every time I told him something new about myself, he complimented it with something amazing of his own. We were seemingly made for each other. What a perfect love story this would someday be.

We decided to meet. I literally had nothing to lose. I was an only child to a single mother who had passed away in a car accident when I was only twelve. We had no close family. No one to take me in. The orphanage did though. You know how they say no one wants the kids who are already grown? It's true. No one wanted me. I stayed in the group home until I was seventeen and then went on my way. I got a job at Taco Bell, saved up for a small place of my own, and adopted a cat.

Over the next five years, my Instagram account took off and I didn't need the job anymore. I was generating about $2000 per post. I also was able to snag several paid sponsor deals. Life was actually good for the orphan no one wanted.

I felt like Travis was the cherry on the top of that perfect little life that was taking shape. He showed up with an orchid, my very favorite flower. He didn't bother with any of the shy games either. He embraced me into a full hug and kissed me right on the mouth. My stomach swarmed with butterflies. We were most definitely meant to be.

He pressed his hand against my lower back and began to lead me into the Italian restaurant we had chosen to eat at. As I stepped through the door, my entire heel broke and my ankle twisted as I fell onto the floor. Hard. How embarrassing. Without hesitation, he leaned down to help. He observed my ankle, making sure it wasn't sprained. I was fine, aside from the fact that my face was redder than the cocktail dress I had chosen to wear. He lifted my ankle to his lips and kissed it tenderly.

"You know the rules..." He began. I tilted my head to the side in confusion. "No shoes, no shirt, no service?" He smiled. "However, you're more than welcome to remove all of those things and still receive full service at my place." He winked. My face grew hot as I held my hand out for him to pull me up and take me back to his house.

So how did we get here? Why was he doing this to me?

I jumped as icy cold water began to pool around my feet.

"Why, Travis?" Tears were streaming down my face. Water was shooting in through a series of drilled holes near my face. I struggled to try to plug them. There were too many. I couldn't stop it! "Please!" I begged for mercy.

Travis sat in a chair staring at me while sipping on a bottle of Grey Goose. He lifted up my phone and pointed it right at me. He got up, swaying a bit on his feet. The alcohol must be setting in. I stared at him through eyes caked with running mascara. "Wanna go live?" He smiled, taking another swig.

"Yes!" I thought. Surely, one of my followers would see I was in danger and send help! Instagram had just added a feature that allows your location to be seen and if I wasn't at home, the location was on. I wanted my followers to find me. I needed the public photo ops! This was perfect!

Travis might know all about me, but I knew about him too. He didn't know about location share. In fact, he was actually pretty uneducated on modern technology. The most recent thing he had learned to do was take photos and post. Before that, he only knew how to comment and share things as well hit a like button. I was counting on this to save my life.

"Say something to your followers, Holly!" He laughed. I pounded on the glass, screaming as loud as I possibly could. Could they hear me? Would they send help?

Water had already risen up to my waist. I didn't have much time. I begged the world for help as I shivered through lips that were turning blue from the freezing water.

He tossed my phone aside and slithered towards me. "You're gonna be more famous than you could ever imagine." He yelled. "The most pristine sculpture in my gallery." The water wasn't showing any signs of slowing. My lips quivered. My body trembled. I gasped as the water rose around my chin. I stared directly into his eyes as the icy liquid swallowed my face and everything faded to black.

.....

*GASP*

I quickly pulled my face away, my stomach swarming with butterflies. Travis squinted at me. He gave me a half smile and pressed his hand against my lower back as he began to lead me into the Italian restaurant we had chosen to eat at. As I stepped through the door, my entire heel broke and my ankle twisted as I fell onto the floor. Hard. Without hesitation, he leaned down to help. He observed my ankle, making sure it wasn't sprained. He lifted my ankle to his lips and I shuddered. My entire body erupted in goosebumps. I pulled my leg away from him and scrambled to get away.

"Get away from me." I screamed. Everyone was staring. "Holly..." he smiled. "Get away from me!" I screamed louder. The host bent down to help me up from the ground. "Ma'am, are you okay?" He asked, his eyes darting quickly between Travis and me. I shook my head and cowered behind him.

"Sir, I'm going to ask that you step away from the lady." The host told Travis. He glared at me. His eyes grew dark as he turned and ran away. I fell to the ground, sobbing. I reached into my purse attempting to find my phone. I held it tight with quivering hands and opened up Instagram. I deleted my account.