Chapter Two — Alex
I walk up to the door, but before I can even knock, Callum swings it open.
“I heard you were rude to the driver,” he says.
“What?” I ask.
“Telling him ‘just drive’? Like you’re ordering him around?”
I gulp. Callum’s right. I mean, I’m never like that to service workers, but I was so thrown off guard by his comment about me looking ‘really red’ that I shut down unintentionally.
“Wait,” I say. “How do you even know that?”
He shrugs. “I have my ways.”
“Is the car bugged or something?” I ask.
“You know that all Uber rides are recorded, right?”
I stop asking questions. Who knows how Callum got access to that. I guess it doesn’t really matter, and it shouldn’t be surprising given his background in cybersecurity.
“Should I punish you for that now, or just tack it on to your punishment after the game?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.
I flush, and he steps up close to me, grabbing my head with both of his hands. “You’re so red,” he says. “So embarrassed already, and we haven’t even done anything. Imagine how you’re going to feel in just a few hours when your real punishment begins.”
I squirm out of his grasp, and he smiles wickedly, stepping forward again. “Oh, are we doing that? Are we playing a little game of cat and mouse?”
Without thinking, I start running. I dart into the dining room area, pushing one of the expensive wooden chairs out of the way.
I have no idea what I’m doing, but adrenaline’s pumping through my veins. I’m not really trying to escape from Callum. I mean, it’s not like he’s an actual threat. But in this moment, I’m just reacting. And it feels exciting.
I look back and notice that he’s still standing in the same spot, smirking.
“Well, aren’t you gonna come get me?” I ask.
He smiles. “Oh, I am. I’m just giving you a head start.”
I frown. “Well, that’s kind of patronizing.”
He laughs. “Oh, so you don’t want a head start?”
“Uh, I didn’t say that.”
“I’ll give you ten more seconds,” he says. “Ten, nine—”
Without thinking, I start running again. Wait, where should I go? I dart up the stairs. I’m somewhat familiar with his house, but not that familiar.
I have four options: the bedroom, his study, the bathroom, or the guest bedroom. I pause. Where to go, where to go… I dart into the guest bedroom.
“Three, two, one!” I hear his voice boom. I’m pretty sure he was counting extra slow because it’s been at least twenty seconds. Still, I’m not complaining.
I close the door almost all the way but leave it open a crack. I want to hear him coming.
I look around. I don’t have many options. I could go under the bed or in the closet. There is a bed skirt, but it doesn’t quite hit the floor.
I go into the closet and close the door softly. Luckily, there’s stuff in there: some coats, covers, pillows, spare bedding. I go into the corner and crouch down, placing spare bedding on top of me.
Then I hold my breath and wait.
I feel like I’m actually being hunted as I listen, and then I hear footsteps. They’re getting louder and then quieter. I hear a door open. It’s not this one, though. Down the hall, probably.
“Alexxxx,” he says in a sing-song voice, “Where are youuuu?”
Oh my god. I feel like I’m in a horror movie. I slow my breathing, trying to focus. The footsteps are getting louder again. But this time, they don’t get quieter. They just keep getting louder.
And then the door opens.
I breathe in sharply and start holding my breath. He’s inside the guest bedroom.
“Aleeex,” he says. “I know you’re in here. Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
He paces slowly around the room. I imagine the smile on his face. He’s relishing this, I know. Because he knows I’m in here.
I mean, it’s not like I had many options. And if he’s checked the other rooms, it’s pretty clear I’m in this one.
“If you come out now,” he says, “I’ll go easy on you. But if you don’t—” His voice trails off. It’s lower now. Raspy.
“Or is that what you want, baby girl?” he asks. “You want Daddy to be rough on you? I mean, if that’s what you want, you know all you have to do is ask for it.”
I gulp as I hear his footsteps get closer to the closet. I hear a creak. I peer up from my spot, craning my head slightly so I can peek out. I see his eyes through the slats. I’m not sure if he sees me.
I shut my eyes tightly. I feel like I’m in a nightmare, but at the same time I’ve never been this excited in my life.
“Aleeeex,” he says quietly. He still hasn’t opened the door.
I’m finding it hard to keep holding my breath. I try to exhale quietly. Then, when the tension’s too much and I can’t take it anymore, I open my eyes.
And I scream.