34
“Wake up! Get moving!”
Evan forced his eyes open as Dale came in the door, confused because there was no way Evan could move while chained to the floor.
Dale hauled a half-asleep Zack to his feet and zip-tied his hands behind his back.
Evan wondered how long Zack had been in the shed with him. One day? Two?
Dale had found a new way to please himself. It was making Evan suffer to protect Zack. Evan didn’t know how many times the man had burst into the shed and held a knife to Zack’s throat until Evan begged to be cut instead. Sometimes he’d cut the boy anyway.
And then do Evan.
This was how Evan and Zack had learned that the bigger and more emotional their reactions, the more satisfied Dale was. And then he would leave them alone for a few hours. The two of them had become good actors.
Dale dragged Zack out of the shed, and every cell in Evan’s body tried to lunge after them, only to be stopped by the chain. He stared at the light coming in the shed door and realized a vehicle’s headlights were causing it. He had no idea what time of night it was.
What is he doing to Zack?
Evan yanked on the chain for the millionth time, ignoring the grinding pain at his wrist. But it was hopeless. Dale knew Evan would do anything to protect the boy. He reveled in it. At one point he’d walked into the shed and offered to let Evan go. Zack had sat up eagerly, a hesitant smile on his face. Dale told Evan that they were currently in the middle of the woods, and it was unlikely he’d find his way out, but he’d give him the chance.
Evan had been skeptical, but his heart had still lifted. Then Dale had stated that Zack was to stay. The boy’s face had fallen and then gone blank as he looked to Evan. The boy had been willing to let Evan leave without him. His heart crushed by the acceptance on Zack’s face, Evan stated he’d only leave if he could take Zack with him. Dale had laughed like that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard and then left.
After that Zack had cried and begged Evan to leave without him. It’d taken a long time for the boy to believe it was just another game. Dale had had no intention of letting Evan go when he made the offer.
Dale seemed to have forgotten about making Evan tell Zack his mother was dead. Sophia hadn’t been mentioned since he’d dumped Zack in the shed. Evan continued to keep the fact to himself. He didn’t have the strength to tell the boy.
Evan had been getting weaker by the day from the lack of food. His motivation and mental strength had also been rapidly fading. But he tried to stay strong for Zack.
Dale stalked back in the shed, the headlights behind him creating a tall shadow on the wall beside Evan. He didn’t have Zack. Evan started to ask about the boy and then stopped when the light reflected onto Dale’s face. His expression was all business, but there was a hint of fear in his eyes.
Something is up.
Dale knelt and yanked Evan’s hands behind his back, fastening his wrists with a zip tie. Then he released the chain that held Evan to the floor and jerked him to his feet. The blood rushed out of Evan’s head, making him dizzy. The chain had kept him from standing up since he’d been there. Dale pulled Evan’s upper arm and led him out of the shed as Evan struggled to stay upright.
Outside, he sucked in breaths of fresh air. He’d grown accustomed to the foul smells in the shed, and the air outside was crisp. Dale pushed him forward into the rear bench seat of a pickup’s king cab and made him lie down, scrunched up on his side. Evan was relieved to see that Zack was already in the back but bound in the same position on the floor. Dale added zip ties to Evan’s ankles and then used short bungee cords to strap Evan to the bars under the seat. The only thing he could do was lift his head a few inches. Dale did the same to Zack, securing him to the floor. Then he climbed in the driver’s seat, showed them a gun, and said that if one of them caused problems, he’d shoot the other one.
The ride was long, and Evan grew more despondent by the minute, wondering why they were being moved. The only logical answer was Dale’s fear of discovery. Either he felt someone was close to finding his hostages, or the mystery second man had threatened to expose him.
Evan wondered if that man was still alive; he had no doubts about Dale’s willingness to kill anyone in his way.
But Zack and I are still alive. There’s some reason he hasn’t killed either one of us.
Dale had asked about the photos a few more times, which had earned Evan more cuts and painful ribs when he couldn’t answer. Dale was desperate to find the evidence.
Is that the only reason I’m alive?
Will he increase Zack’s torture to make me talk?