Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
As the hours wore on, she tried desperately to stay awake, to be vigilant and ready for whatever was to come, but it was no use.
With her back against the stone wall, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.
At some point, her mother settled next to her, pulling her into a warm embrace.
Nightmares assailed her overworked brain, one after the other.
Each one featured some variation of him hurting her, hurting her mother, ruining their lives.
Even the gentle flutter of her mother’s fingertips through her hair couldn’t vanquish them.
The sound of the door creaking open woke her.
Instantly, her mother’s arms tightened around her.
It was almost painful and it made her wonder who was clinging to whom.
Together, they watched as he stomped down the steps, his face a storm cloud, and his arms filled with provisions. He tossed them at their feet.
“Blankets, bottles of water, snacks.”
“You can’t just keep us in here,” said her mother.
“I can do whatever I want.” He looked pointedly at her, causing a shiver to run the length of her. If her mother noticed, she gave no indication.
“But we—” her mother started.
His voice boomed through the space, bouncing off the walls and hurting her ears.
“You’re not going anywhere! Not after the way you ran from me.
If you want to leave this room, you need to earn my trust again.
I’ll think of some ways you can both do that and we’ll talk about it later.
For now, keep your mouths shut and your asses parked right here. ”
“It’s not going to work,” her mother called after him as he strode toward the door. “He’s going to find us, and when he does—”
He spun around and the sinister smile on his face silenced her mother immediately. “He’ll do nothing because he’s useless. Always has been. I have my ways of making him pay, too. By the time I’m finished with him, he’ll wish he was dead.”
Just like her and her mother.