Chapter 43 Something Borrowed
Chapter forty-three
Something Borrowed
“’Tis the cruelest of all pains, to love, and not be loved again.” — Dryden
Not for the first time, it was Sunday in the ole dungeon, and Holly was staring out her new window.
It was a tired story: Holly had attempted an escape; Cobon had chained her to the wall in the basement as punishment; she’d given him the silent treatment for 3 days; and so today Cobon would bring Holly a gift.
For you, my dear, he’d say, and Holly would feign intense interest and contrition until Cobon-the-Envoy-abomination-from-bad-breath-Hell let her upstairs again.
That was the plan—feed the ego of the psychopath, regain his trust, and live to escape another day. But as with so many of Holly’s brilliant plans, this one went sideways the second the Envoy arrived.
“Not the usual routine today, my dear,” he began, and Holly resisted the urge to look at him.
This wasn’t the routine at all, and that was bad. She sat in her corner, lips pressed shut, shackled hands clasped together, as she fixed an impassive stare through her painted cinderblock wall. Last night, she’d drawn a window there with her own blood.
Totally worth the pain of a self-inflicted bite wound.
She imagined her family pub on the other side of that window. So close…
Well if he wanted a new routine, then she’d give him a new routine. It would be another day of silence while she regrouped, which would make him angry, but it was the only bargaining chip she had.
“Would you like to open your gift now?” His voice sounded different, younger, brighter, relaxed even as he stood in the doorway.
She imagined her Uncle Pix’s voice coming through the blood window.
He was just closing up. It’d been a busy night, and so Hailey had stayed late with him, and they were chatting about the guitarist who’d played.
He was no good, and Pix wouldn’t have him back, but Hailey defended him, and she couldn’t wait for Holly to come back home so that she could tell her all about his version of The Rattlin' Bog… when Holly got home…
Holly froze that triumphant image in her mind as she waited patiently for Cobon’s quit-ignoring-me tantrum, but once again he deviated, striding toward her, and her heart quickened.
“Oh but you’ve hurt yourself again, and we can’t have that, not now especially, not ever, but I won’t take your teeth, no, that may discourage you from speaking, and we can’t have that, either.”
It wasn’t a threat—after nine months, Holly knew the difference—and Cobon very rarely touched Holly, not on Earth anyway. This was a Cobon-reason-tree.
Still Holly’s brow squeezed together. Cobon didn’t need to intend to hurt Holly to actually hurt her. He was clueless and bumbling in displaying his awful affection. That coupled with his absurd logic and raw power meant certain peril—a serious and immediate hazard for Holly.
He stood awkwardly for several seconds and finally set his gift on her bed.
Holly refused to look at him or whatever madness he’d just dropped on the mattress behind her.
“I think you’ll like it,” he coaxed, now opening the box himself. “Call it a sentimental decoration for your room,” he said brightly, and Holly flinched.
It was icy lightening this time, racing up her missing foot and ankle.
Cobon huffed. “If you would only show me a little warmth, my dear,” he said as he squatted in front of her, gesturing to her stump. “I may be inclined to restore your foot and allow you to wear these.”
Holly stared blankly at Cobon’s now-young, smooth hand, but then her eyes went wide. All 10 seasons and 160 episodes of FBI Profilers had not prepared her for what he held.
“I know they’re not yours, but your sister won’t be needing them. Not where she’s going…”
His thumb rubbed the faded black leather of Hailey's Irish dance shoe. Then he flicked his finger against the bedazzled buckle so it made a shrill TING!
“Now that the others are gone, you can make as much noise as you want.” He inched his face close to hers, his breath hot against her ear. “And if you’re especially agreeable, my dear Holly,” he added in a kind but dark voice, “perhaps I’ll bring your darling sister here to join you.”