BREAK
Sara – Today
The cold seeping into my bones wakes me, merging with the dull ache in my neck and spine, all caused by this sorry excuse of a mattress. Then it all comes rushing back: the police station, the van, him.
“Shit.” The word is dry in my throat.
Music is still playing, the softer tunes of “Rain” filling the space around me. Does he like Sleep Token?
As if that matters. There’s a more urgent issue to worry about: my bladder is on the verge of bursting, and if he doesn’t pull over right now...
I pound on the wall behind me, trying to get his attention. “Hey! I need to pee!”
No reaction.
I bang harder. “I’m not kidding, asshole!”
Silence.
Clenching my teeth, I wiggle around the mattress, pressing my thighs together to keep control. I’m not going to relieve myself in this place like some animal.
Right as I’m plotting how to DIY a solution out of a sandwich wrapper and an empty bottle, we turn left and stop. The back door creaks open, and there he is, blocking the entire exit with his huge body and sizing me up.
“Trick me and you’ll regret it,” he says flatly before he clears the way and gestures for me to come out.
I clamber out stiffly, squinting into the half-light. Trees, nothing but woods on both sides of the road.
“Here?”
“We’ve got about four more hours to go,” he says. “If you want to wait—”
“No, I’ll go,” I hiss, stepping onto the loose gravel and hurrying past him.
He follows. Of course he does. So I keep walking.
“Stop right there,” he warns when I stray too far into the shadows of the trees. Ahead, a massive bush promises a few seconds out of his sight.
My eyes flick skyward, but otherwise I comply.
My mind’s already working. I pick a spot, crouch, and while I’m taking care of business, I search the ground for something to throw.
I find a rock, small enough to fling and big enough to lead him off track.
When I’m done, I pick it up and send it flying into the woods to the left.
It crashes through branches with a satisfying racket.
Through the thin veil of twigs, I watch him snap his head around and pounce toward the sound. Exactly the reaction I hoped for.
Clinging to the possibility this might work, I start crawling in the opposite direction, trying not to make too much noise. My hands scrape bark and mud. Thorns snag my hoodie.
But I make it.
I swear I do.
My ride is so close.
I don’t turn around when I spring to my feet and race to the driver’s side. Jerking the door open, I slide behind the wheel, heart thundering, ready to punch through my ribs.
The idiot left the key in and the engine running.
All muscle, no brains.
My pulse spikes, and I floor the gas just like they do in the movies.
The engine revs, but the van doesn’t move an inch.
What the fuck? Three pedals?
“No. No no no no no!” I cry out, fumbling with the clutch and the stick shift. The vehicle jerks forward, stutters, then chokes and dies.
Too late.
I’m yanked off the seat like a rag doll. I shriek, letting my weight drop to the ground. Might as well make it hard. The longer it takes for him to get me back in there, the higher the chances someone might drive by and help.
Although, I can’t imagine I’m in real danger. He won’t actually hurt me, will he?
I’m out of luck. No car passes.
Gravel bites my cheek, his knee pins my shoulders. He seizes my wrists, gathering both behind my back and holding them together with one unforgiving grip while the other hand locks around my nape. He hauls me up, slamming me against the side of the van.
“Silly little princess,” he growls before we shuffle to the open door of the loading area. He throws me in hard enough to remind me who’s in charge.
My face hits the mattress with a grunt. I’m quick to roll over, and when I do, cold metal bites my skin. He cuffs my hands together. Ugh, not again. Can’t he use cable ties? Thanks to TikTok, I know a trick.
“You should be thankful I didn’t put these behind your back.”
A loud bang leaves me in darkness.
Asshole.