Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
A drumline danced in Asher’s head again, pounding out a tattoo as he woke. He shifted, and a deep groan that felt pulled from the pits of hell rolled from his chest. His mouth worked, trying to bring some moisture into its parched depths. He felt like he’d sucked on cotton balls.
His hands were no longer bound, so he worked one elbow under his chest and pushed, sitting up. The muscles in his shoulders and back protested, and he grimaced but made it upright. Pressing the heel of his hand to his temple, he shifted off his hip and onto his butt before leaning against the chilly wall at his back.
He blinked, trying to bring the room into focus. His eyes were as dry as his mouth, and his head felt floaty yet from the sedative.
Gradually, a bit of moisture returned, and he could make out his surroundings. Dank, dirt walls enclosed him; a small window set near the ceiling was the room’s sole source of light. Outside, a streetlight cast a glow inside. He couldn’t see much beyond his immediate vicinity, which consisted of a filthy, lumpy mattress on the ground. As far as he could tell, he was in a basement or a cellar.
His captor had uncuffed him, but had left him dressed in the deflated unicorn costume. The fabric still bunched around his torso. It also trapped heat. A chill skated up the back of Asher’s neck as the clamminess of his clothing underneath the nylon costume registered. He knew where all the water in his body went; into the sweat now dampening his clothes.
Grimacing as he moved, he lifted his hips, yanking on the fabric to untwist it. Weak from dehydration and the effects of whatever sedative his captor gave him, his hands slid off, and he smacked himself in the face.
“Fuck!” He covered his cheek, attempting to soothe the sting.
A whimper sounded from the corner. Asher froze, then lowered his hand and squinted into the dim light. “Hello? Is someone there?”
Springs creaked, and another whimper echoed softly through the room. The high pitch sent his heart racing. That sounded like a kid.
Asher renewed his efforts to get out of the unicorn suit.
It took another minute of fighting with the slick fabric before his uncoordinated muscles managed to shove it over his feet. Once he was free, he climbed to his knees, not trusting his balance enough to get to his feet yet, and crawled across the room toward the sound.
The whimper grew and turned to a soft cry. Asher paused just feet away. It was definitely a child.
“Hey, honey.” He kept his voice soft and soothing. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you. I’m stuck down here too.” He squinted, trying to see through the shadows. The kid was up on a cot, backed into a corner where there was little light. “How about you come out so I can see you?”
The soft cries continued, and the kid didn’t move.
“It’s all right. I want to help and get us both out of here.” When he still got no response, he decided to try a different tactic. He’d make friends the way he always did; he’d use his words. “My name’s Asher. What’s yours?”
He didn’t get the response he’d been hoping for, but the cries stopped, and he heard a soft intake of breath, like a gasp. Taking it as a win, he shifted, sitting down. The child moved, extending one leg into the light. A pink sneaker encased the kid’s foot below purple leggings.
“How long have you been down here? I’ve been asleep. You’re not hurt, are you?”
He waited a beat, another question on the tip of his tongue if the kid didn’t answer. But she did.
“No,” came the whisper. “Are you Asher the Unicorn?”
All the breath left Asher’s lungs. Her voice was stronger on the question, but he didn’t need to hear it to recognize her. “Leah?” He scooted closer and rose to his knees.
“Yeah.” Her reply wobbled. “I want my mommy, Mr. Asher.”
“Oh, honey. I bet you do. Can I sit with you?”
She sat up, leaning into what light streamed in through the window, and nodded. Wet streaks coated her cheeks and her blonde locks hung around her round face in disheveled hanks. She looked scared, but not hurt, for which he was thankful. An injury with her medical condition could create some serious problems.
Asher braced his hands on the bed and pushed up on unsteady arms, then sank down onto the creaky cot beside her. Immediately, she leaned into him. He wrapped an arm around her and gathered her to his side, holding her close. “It’s okay, Leah. You’re safe with me. We’re gonna get out of here.”
“Where’s Miss Campbell?”
“I don’t know. Whoever took us hit me over the head outside of your house and knocked me out. How long have you been here?”
He felt one small shoulder flex in a shrug. “I don’t know. Awhile. You were already sleeping over there when he brought me down.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t awake.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad I’m not alone. I don’t like dark places.” Her voice descended into a whisper again as she finished.
He squeezed her shoulders gently. “Did you recognize the man who took you?”
Asher felt her head roll against his side.
“No. He just grabbed me after dinner. And he—he shot my dad, I think.” Her words wobbled, and she sniffed.
He wouldn’t doubt that. The guy had seemed willing to use the weapon he’d brandished. He glanced down at Leah, wondering again if she was hurt. She hadn’t said one way or another. “How are you feeling? He didn’t hurt you, did he? And I know you take a lot of medications. Are you doing all right without them?”
She pulled back to look up at him. “I’m fine. And he gave me my meds.”
A frown marred Asher’s forehead. “What? He gave you your medicine?”
Leah nodded. “I think he took them from my house. My parents mark some of the bottles with the date when we open them. When we got here, he sat me down in the kitchen and gave me the ones I take at night. I saw the writing on the bottles.”
Asher’s frown intensified. What did this guy want with Leah? How did Esther play into things? Was she involved because she was around? The man said he’d been watching her specifically, though. It didn’t make any sense why he’d take Leah if it was Esther he wanted.
“How do we get out of here, Mr. Asher?”
That was a great question. One he didn’t have an answer to. Yet. “I’m not sure, sweetie. But we’ll figure it out. And I’m sure people are looking for us.” If Esther hadn’t called Edie yet, she would soon. There wasn’t a force on earth that could stop his friends from finding him.
Their captor was about to find out who Asher really was.