**Chapter 7: The Darkest Hour**

The silence that followed was oppressive, and Emma felt like she was holding her breath, waiting for Max to make his next move. She knew she had to think fast, to find a way to escape, but her mind was foggy and her body ached with pain. As she looked around the room, Emma's eyes landed on the door, and she knew she had to get to it. She had to get out of there, and she had to get help. But as she tried to move, Max's voice stopped her. "Don't even think about it," he said, his eyes glinting with menace. "You're not going anywhere." Emma's heart sank, and she knew she was in for the fight of her life. Max took a step closer to her, his eyes scanning her body with a twisted interest. Emma felt a wave of revulsion wash over her, and she tried to scramble backward, but her movements were slow and clumsy. She was trapped, and she knew it. As Max loomed over her, Emma's mind began to racing. She thought about all the times she had trusted him, all the times she had let her guard down around him. She thought about how she had thought he was her friend, her confidant. But now, she realized that she had been blind, that she had been living in a dream world. The thought gave her a surge of adrenaline, and Emma found the strength to move. She pushed herself up from the floor, using the wall for support. Max's eyes narrowed, and he took another step closer to her. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. Emma didn't answer. She just kept moving, her eyes fixed on the door. She knew she had to get out of there, no matter what. As she stumbled toward the door, Max's face twisted with anger. "You think you can just walk away from me?" he spat. "You think you can just leave?" Emma reached the door and grasped the handle, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to get out, and she had to get out now. She turned the handle and pulled the door open, but Max was right behind her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, his eyes blazing with fury. "You're not going anywhere," he repeated, his voice dripping with malice. Emma knew she had to think fast, to find a way to escape. She looked around the room, desperate for a distraction, and that's when she saw it - the phone, lying on the coffee table. It was just a few feet away, and Emma knew she had to get to it. With a surge of determination, Emma wrenched her arm free from Max's grasp and made a run for the phone. She grabbed it and held it up, her heart racing with fear. "I'm calling for help," she said, her voice shaking. Max's face twisted with rage, and he lunged for her. But Emma was ready. She dialed 911, her fingers flying over the keypad. As she waited for someone to answer, she knew she had to keep Max away from her. She held the phone up like a shield, her eyes fixed on Max's furious face. The voice on the other end of the line asked her if she needed help, and Emma found her voice. "Yes," she said, her voice shaking. "I need help. Please, you have to send someone." As she waited for the police to arrive, Emma knew she had to stay safe. She backed away from Max, her eyes fixed on the door. She knew she had to get out of there, and she had to get out now.