Source...
""Damn, Daniela, pickup!. Please." her father wailed.
"What's wrong, dear?" Upon hearing the commotion, her mother burst into the living room.
"Our daughter. She's not answering. The detective I hired came, through. I knew that bastard was no good the moment I laid eyes on him."
"What do you mean? If Daniela is in trouble, then put that phone down and get the hell over there as soon as you can. I've come to realize I should have listened to your warnings."
"You're right. She told us that Lyle was out of town. I never believed it. He's hiding in plain sight somewhere waiting to harm our little girl. And I don't have a clue of his intentions."
Before her father left, he placed two calls. "I need a welfare check immediately. I fear my daughter's life is at stake." Next, "Meet me at Daniela's house. It's time."
What her father didn't know was that Lyle had already headed home.
Two hours earlier, Daniela had struggled to rise. She grabbed hold of a nearby stool and pulled herself up. Her hand immediately flew to her temple as blood trickled down the side of her face. She glanced around to see who the culprit was that knocked her unconscious. She sat glossy eyed on the stool for several moments.
Tearing off a piece of her blouse, she dabbed her temple. The sparse attic held no clue. Suddenly, she paused and jerked her head around, peering intently at the small cupboard door in the far corner, thinking for a moment, it didn't come with the home.
Slowly, she rose. Aided by the wall, she made her way to the tiny door. No luck, then noticed an oddly placed mini pry bar. It took all her strength to open it. Finally, she reached inside, pulling out three ledgers. Flipping the pages, she couldn't decipher the coded notes. Interrupting her was the sound of the front door. Her pulse raced. Lyle!
"Darling, I'm home." His voice raised.
She shoved the books in the corner and headed for the stairs. Lyle's hat appeared. She couldn't explain her next move, but retreated until he'd passed her, headed toward the kitchen. Watching the french doors opened, she continued downstairs.
"Welcome home, darling. I've missed you so. You were gone longer than usual," she responded tersely. He didn't notice.
"Well, yes. A difficult client who demanded I rethink my proposal." He paused and spread his arms wide. Don't I deserve a welcome home kiss?" He reached and drew her to him. "You're trembling. What's wrong?"
She leaned into his chest. "An intruder broke the patio door yesterday. It frightened me so I reported it." Best keep to the truth rather than attempt to remember details of a lie.
He frowned while studying her face. "That doesn't explain blood on your temple.
"That's from a run in with the cabinet edge. I'm alright." She turned her head and broke away, never having been a convincing liar.
"Leave you alone for two weeks, and look what happens. I'll get the first aid kit."
Not wanting the moment to pass, she rushed, "it's not important. What frightened me was the interrogation. She shuttered. But I didn't tell them anything. They wanted to know about your sales position and dates you traveled." She didn't want to tell about the raid on the attic, but blurted it out.
"Why did you allow them to search our home? Did they have a warrant?"
"I believe so. I'm confused. My head aches. When I think about it, I don't know what your business is. I need answers. Now!"
Lyle shrank back at Daniela's tone. Expressionless, he took a slow, deep breath, then steadied himself for his rehearsed explanation.
"I told you I'm in sales. A liaison among different buyers in an exotic markets business. You know I've traveled the world and have contacts. Satisfied?"
"You've told me nothing. And never intend to" Daniela swiped his hand away from her face.
"You're more trouble than I bargained for. Why I thought this could work is beyond me. I'm just glad I had the foresight to move my document files elsewhere. Olivia warned me." He hadn't intended to mention her.
"Olivia! Who in the hell is that?" Daniela shrieked, but she could care less as her thoughts dwelt on his confession that he did have a secret in the attic; papers the authorities were interested in.
"I've already divulged too much. It's time for me to make a change." Lyle scoured the living room as if expecting their conversation was being recorded.
"What do you mean?" Daniela tried not to show the panic that attacked her as she watched Lyle head toward the bathroom. Her suspicions reinforced, she sat silently waiting for his next move.
Returning with the first aid kit, he sat down and spoke tenderly as if he'd not issued a dire warning moments ago.
Something's not right. She froze. He has no heart. Move on from me? With Olivia! I can't overlook that. Not this time. The phone startled Daniela back to the present, but she sat quietly gripping her hands together, hoping the caller wasn't her father.
Now Part 8:
Numb, Daniela watched as Lyle stared first at the phone. "You're not going to answer that?" she asked. He smiled, then deliberately switched his stare to the blood spatter trail, tracing it up the stairs.
"You've been to the attic?" His question more of a statement. "No wonder you had an accident. Didn't you learn anything." He stressed, "it's not safe? That's why I locked it. For your protection." He paused as if a light bulb activated, "did you find anything useful?"
He didn't give her a chance to answer, but continued to calmly wipe the dried blood, avoiding her gaze between dabs. "Luckily you won't need stitches. That'll take some explaining at the hospital. One look at your head, and I'm a suspect." His head leaned sideways.
Her head ached with confusion. Trembling, she thought, this is how abuse victims are silenced.
It was his next words that stabbed a hole in her heart. "I knew the moment I saw you sitting at the bar how pathetic a woman you were!" his voice deep with contempt. And something else she felt. Resentment.
Her eyes widened, fear replacing suspicion. This wasn't the Lyle she'd married.
"If I'm so pathetic, then why did you go to the trouble of marrying "me?" she blurted.
"Necessary is all." His voice was as calm as his mannerisms. As though she couldn't be shocked even more, he stated slowly, "You know, Daniela, you really should take time to know someone before you enter into a marriage contract!"
Daniela swooned, but not from loving whispers.
She recovered. At that moment, adrenaline rushed forward. She grabbed first a glass, then a figurine on the coffee table. Anything that could hurt. Hurling each at Lyle, he ducked, avoiding them.
She reached for the alcohol in the first aid kit. Tossing contents in his face, he staggered backward.
Now was her only chance. The locked front door wasn't an option.
Daniela started up the stairs. She didn't look back; just heard Lyle's footsteps behind her. She glanced backward briefly, enough to slow her ascent. He grabbed her left leg. With the right one, she kicked him hard in the face. Instantly, he released it.
She climbed to the top on her hands and knees. Stumbling, she didn't know which direction to go, so headed to the bedroom.
"Daniela, unlock the door!" he shouted. "I'm giving you one last chance, as a courtesy. You've worked yourself up in to a frenzy. All for nothing." She could no longer hear anything but the threat of dying at the hands of that maniac.
Five minutes passed before Lyle's arm reared back, then swung the hammer forward with a force that shattered the door. His intentions to harm were reinforced.
Inside, Lyle bared his teeth, then clenched his jaw. All sympathy for Daniela drained along with his patience. Closing his eyes, he heaved heavily before lunging at her, but caught only the edge of her dress.
As she jerked the dress from his hand, he fell face first on the carpet, a piece of her dress in his hands. Ensuite and lock the door. No. He'd only knock it down.
At that moment, she knew her home was no longer safe. Screaming wouldn't help. The only option; get outside to her neighbor, Walter. Searching frantically around the room, she grabbed her lamp from the nightstand.
Several times she hit Lyle on the back of the head. He lay motionless.
She dashed from the room, down the stairs, and ran toward the front door.
"Where are you going, darling?" Daniela heard from behind. She drew a sharp breath, paused, and turned to face him. She knew she should keep running, but his voice shocked her. It couldn't be, I killed him.
She pleaded, "Lyle, please, don't hurt me. I won't tell anyone about your business."
"What makes you think I'd hurt my wife. I love you." He stood silent for a long second. "Besides, you don't know anything about my business, so who would you tell?" All this he stated while now wiping blood from the back of his head.
Lyle moved to block the front door.
She made quiet sound of helplessness as she searched for a way around him. Then she noticed him swaying as thought dazed and about to faint.
A fleeting option opened up. Her eyes divulged her thoughts. I didn't survive thus far to surrender now.
She heaved heavily before barreling into him, pushing with both hands. It was enough to knock him to the floor. Immediately, she ran to the front door, fumbled with the lock until it opened, then bolted outside.
This time, she didn't look back, but stumbled ahead. Near the hedges, she fell headfirst into Olivia's arms.
[to be continued]
For my theme, I was inspired by and utilized the 
5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;
4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;
3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;
1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;
22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; and
21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic
Source...
Part 8:
Por el bien del matrimonio
Aturdida, Daniela observó cómo Lyle fijaba la mirada primero en el teléfono. «¿No vas a contestar?», preguntó ella. Él sonrió y, a continuación, desvió deliberadamente la mirada hacia el rastro de salpicaduras de sangre, siguiéndolo hasta las escaleras.
«¿Has estado en el ático?», preguntó él, aunque más bien sonaba como una afirmación. «No me extraña que tuvieras un accidente. ¿Es que no has aprendido nada?». Él insistió: «No es seguro. Por eso lo cerré con llave. Para tu protección». Hizo una pausa, como si se le hubiera encendido una bombilla: «¿Encontraste algo útil?».
No le dio oportunidad de responder, sino que siguió limpiando con calma la sangre seca, evitando su mirada entre cada pasada. «Por suerte, no necesitarás puntos. Eso daría mucho que explicar en el hospital. Con solo ver tu cabeza, seré sospechoso». Inclinó la cabeza hacia un lado.
A ella le dolía la cabeza de tanta confusión. Temblando, pensó: así es como se silencia a las víctimas de maltrato.
Fueron sus siguientes palabras las que le abrieron un agujero en el corazón. «¡En cuanto te vi sentada en la barra supe lo patética que eras como mujer!», dijo con voz grave y llena de desprecio. Y ella sintió algo más. Resentimiento.
Sus ojos se abrieron de par en par, y el miedo sustituyó a la sospecha. Este no era el Lyle con el que se había casado.
«Si soy tan patética, ¿por qué te tomaste la molestia de casarte conmigo?», soltó.
«Porque era necesario, eso es todo». Su voz era tan tranquila como sus gestos. Como si ella no pudiera quedar más conmocionada, él afirmó lentamente: «Sabes, Daniela, ¡realmente deberías tomarte tu tiempo para conocer a alguien antes de firmar un contrato matrimonial!».
Daniela se desmayó, pero no por unos susurros de amor.
Se recuperó. En ese momento, la adrenalina se apoderó de ella. Agarró primero un vaso y luego una figurita que había sobre la mesita del salón. Cualquier cosa con la que pudiera hacer daño. Se las lanzó a Lyle, pero él se agachó y las esquivó.
Buscó el alcohol en el botiquín de primeros auxilios. Le echó el contenido en la cara y él retrocedió tambaleándose.
Ahora era su única oportunidad. La puerta principal cerrada con llave no era una opción.
Daniela comenzó a subir las escaleras. No miró atrás; solo oía los pasos de Lyle detrás de ella. Echó un breve vistazo hacia atrás, lo suficiente para ralentizar su ascenso. Él la agarró por la pierna izquierda. Con la derecha, ella le dio una fuerte patada en la cara. Al instante, él la soltó.
Subió hasta arriba a gatas. Tropiezos, no sabía en qué dirección ir, así que se dirigió al dormitorio.
«¡Daniela, abre la puerta!», gritó él. «Te estoy dando una última oportunidad, por cortesía. Te has puesto en un estado de frenesí. Todo para nada». Ella ya no podía oír nada más que la amenaza de morir a manos de ese maníaco.
Pasaron cinco minutos antes de que Lyle echara el brazo hacia atrás y luego blandiera el martillo hacia delante con una fuerza que destrozó la puerta. Sus intenciones de hacer daño se reforzaron.
En el interior, Lyle mostró los dientes y apretó la mandíbula. Toda la compasión que sentía por Daniela se desvaneció junto con su paciencia. Cerró los ojos, resopló con fuerza antes de abalanzarse sobre ella, pero solo le agarró el borde del vestido.
Cuando le arrebató el vestido de las manos, él cayó de bruces sobre la alfombra, con un trozo de su vestido entre las manos. Cerrar la puerta con llave. No. Él solo la derribaría.
En ese momento, supo que su casa ya no era un lugar seguro. Gritar no serviría de nada. La única opción: salir a buscar a su vecino, Walter. Buscando frenéticamente por la habitación, cogió la lámpara de la mesita de noche.
Le dio varios golpes a Lyle en la nuca. Él yacía inmóvil.
Salió corriendo de la habitación, bajó las escaleras y corrió hacia la puerta principal.
«¿Adónde vas, cariño?», oyó decir a Daniela por detrás. Contuvo el aliento, se detuvo y se volvió para mirarlo. Sabía que debía seguir corriendo, pero su voz la dejó atónita. No podía ser, lo había matado.
Suplicó: «Lyle, por favor, no me hagas daño. No le diré a nadie nada de tus asuntos».
«¿Qué te hace pensar que haría daño a mi mujer? Te quiero». Se quedó en silencio durante un largo segundo. «Además, tú no sabes nada de mis asuntos, así que ¿a quién se lo dirías?». Todo esto lo dijo mientras se limpiaba la sangre de la nuca.
Lyle se movió para bloquear la puerta principal.
Ella emitió un leve sonido de impotencia mientras buscaba una forma de esquivarlo. Entonces se dio cuenta de que él se tambaleaba, como aturdido y a punto de desmayarse.
Se le abrió una oportunidad fugaz. Sus ojos delataron sus pensamientos. No he sobrevivido hasta ahora para rendirme ahora.
Se le presentó una oportunidad fugaz. Sus ojos delataron sus pensamientos. No había sobrevivido hasta ese momento para rendirse ahora.
Respiró hondo antes de abalanzarse sobre él, empujándolo con ambas manos. Fue suficiente para tirarlo al suelo. Inmediatamente, corrió hacia la puerta principal, forcejeó con la cerradura hasta que se abrió y salió corriendo al exterior.
Esta vez, no miró atrás, sino que siguió adelante a trompicones. Cerca de los setos, cayó de cabeza en los brazos de Olivia.
[continuará]
Para mi tema, me inspiré y utilicé la publicación de
5 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2973: has no heart;
4 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2972: reinforced;
3 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2971: can’t overlook that;
1 January 2026, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2969: what an appearance!;
22 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2959: the last date; y
21 December 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2958: the secret in the attic
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
If translation included, I use DeepL to assist my readers.
Thanks for your patience an understanding.
Si se incluye traducción, utilizo DeepL para ayudar a mis lectores.
Gracias por su paciencia y comprensión.