Trapped in a Box

Elaine remained oblivious to my desperate cries. The three of them quickly picked a spot in the backyard. Elaine pointed to a big oak tree. "Bury her under the tree and make it quick."

The men took out shovels and began digging. My heart sank. They had even brought tools. They were prepared for this. What if I wasn't really dead? Was Elaine planning to bury me alive?

In less than half an hour, they had dug a pit that was deep enough. They threw my body in and were about to start covering it with dirt when Yoel's assistant burst onto the scene.

"Wait!" the assistant shouted, panting heavily.

Seeing the horrifying scene, he froze in shock. "What the hell are you doing? Mr. Dalton will get mad if he knows this."

Elaine did not even flinch. "Cleaning up the mess. What, you want Mr. Dalton to turn himself in? If he goes to jail, you'll go down with him. Her blood is on your hands as well, got it?"

The assistant's hands shook as he tried to distance himself. "I just... I just bought the tools. It was all Mr. Dalton's orders. I didn't kill her!"

Elaine stepped closer, her voice like ice. "You bought the tools and didn't report anything. You knew she'd die locked in that basement. The cops won't care about your excuses."

He backed away, collapsing in despair. Elaine saw the opportunity and pounced. "Keep your mouth shut if you want to stay out of trouble. Your job's the least of your worries."

Defeated, he muttered, "Fine. I'll pretend I never saw this." Before leaving, he added, "But hurry. Mr. Dalton is looking for you."

Elaine waved him off. "Tell him I'm helping Julianna with her bath. That should buy us time."

He nodded and hurried back to the banquet hall, where Yoel's face twisted in fury when he heard the excuse. "What? That jealous woman Julianna wants Elaine to help her bathe?"

The assistant, drenched in sweat and guilt, fumbled for words, trying to come up with a believable response.

"Mrs. Dalton is injured, and she can't move her limbs easily..."

Yoel's eyes narrowed. "Injured? You think I'm that gullible? She gets hurt after being locked up for a few days? Where's she injured? Are her limbs broken? Can't she take care of herself?"

I could not help but scoff. ‘Not just broken limbs, Yoel. I'm dead. If you don't act quickly, you won't even be able to see my corpse.’

I leaned in closer, blowing cold air on the back of his neck. Yoel shivered and swatted at the air, missing me completely, his frustration mounting.

"I'm going to see just how damaged her limbs are," he growled. "Is she so desperate that she's troubling Elaine now?"

Ignoring the assistant's attempt to hold him back, Yoel charged toward the bathroom. "Mr. Dalton, it's really not a good time!" the assistant pleaded.

"Not a good time? What, is Julianna sneaking around with some guy?" Yoel snapped, pushing past and throwing the bathroom door open. Empty. Not a soul in sight.

His face darkened as he turned on the assistant. "Where are they? If you don't tell me the truth right now, you're done!"

The assistant's eyes darted nervously toward the backyard. I kept up my cold breath act, feeling anxious, desperately trying to keep the tension high.

Speak, dang it! If you don't, they'll bury my body for good!