Chapter 31 Celeste
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CELESTE
“When the enemy has made a plan of attack against us, we must anticipate him by delivering our own attack first.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Opening my eyes, a plate of cheese, bread, and cup of water sits in front of me.
My head is pounding, probably from the severe dehydration and malnourishment.
We’ve been given very little while here but I make sure anything we are given, I take to keep my body going as much as I can.
I shift to move to an upright position but I’m met with sheer pain, reminding me of the marks that were given to me.
Forcing myself to sit up, I grit my teeth to hold back a scream.
This is going to leave serious marks, and a reminder every time I look in the mirror.
Emotions start to surface but I shove it back down as this isn’t the time to let my weakness come to the front.
My body trembles at each movement, each shock of pain that comes along with it.
I would rather have been shot than sliced up like freaking meat.
“Fuck,” I grumble to myself.
Reaching for the water, I grab it and down the contents and move along to the bread. God, this tastes like shit. I then notice that I have a new dress on. He must have changed me when I was out cold.
“Take it easy! This is a dumb question, but how are you feeling?” Monroe is so soft and full of concern.
I take a moment to respond as I chew this stale as hell bread, wishing I didn’t drink all the water so I could wash it down.
“Like I’ve been cut up in pieces and smashed back together. Besides dropping the food off, has he come back? Has he done anything?” Taking another bite, I gag on it this time but I force myself to chew it up and swallow.
The first thing I’ll do when I get home is have a massive feast with savory flavors and eat until I explode. Oh, and a Xanax and a bath sounds good, too. I absolutely reek and my hair is so tangled, it would be a miracle to run a brush through it.
“Something happened out there. He seemed to be in a hurry when he dropped off the food and hasn’t been back in a long time. Do you think we’ve been found?” Samantha's small, soft voice chimes in.
She rarely speaks and hearing her voice makes my heart full knowing she’s still here and not totally disconnected.
I would if I had to take the torture alone for so long, kept away from my daughter, and clean up wounds of others who are enduring the same treatment.
Her hands were so gentle when she did, I’ll forever be grateful to her, even if he ordered her to do it.
She would have anyway without being told.
“I have no idea, but we need to take the opportunity to find something to help get us out of these cuffs.”
“I agree. It’s only a matter of time before he makes his move. He’s had Samantha longer than the other victims and having three of us will start to be too much.” Monroe brings up a good point.
The clock is ticking and not in our favor. I’ll be damned if any one of us is taken from this world.
“Celeste?” Samantha's quiet voice was almost hard to hear.
“Yes?”
“Do you think that if I were to take my last breath before we get out of here, Gabby will remember me?” Those words are so full of emotion and worry.
I take a moment to process what she’s asking. She truly believes she’s going to die down here. That she’s going to meet her creator before she can have her last moments with her daughter. My heart squeezes with so much hurt, for her, for her daughter. She shouldn’t be thinking this way.
“Sam, you’re an amazing mother. She’s waiting eagerly for you to return to her. You’re her world. Don’t you dare think that way.” My voice is a little more aggressive than I meant but I can’t help being angry with her.
I shouldn’t be angry with her but I am. She can’t give up and that question tells me she’s on the verge of doing so.
“If I don't make it out of here, will you please adopt her? Protect her from all the evil in the world.” Her next question causes my whole body to still.
“No, because you’re getting out of here. I promise you.”
“I need you to promise me. Don’t let her be put in the system. IF I don’t make it, I need to know you will take care of her,” she pleads.
I can hear the quiver and heartbreak in her voice. I can’t deny her this request. If this will help her mind be at peace, I’ll do it. But I’ll be damned if she dies in this shit hole.
“I promise you that I’ll protect her with my life. Now do me a favor and don’t give up on me, okay? We’ll get out of here,” I concede to her.
Time seems to go by in slow motion. He still hasn’t come down and there has been no sound of activity since I woke up. Something has to be stirring the pot because there’s no way in hell his little voices in that little head of his would leave us alone for this long.
I’ve been scouring the room over and over again looking for something to help me get out of these torturous metal cuffs. I try to see if I can squeeze them off but it’s no use. My skin is irritated and raw, and there’s no sign of any sort of relief.
Something catches my eye on the wall next to me that I so blindly missed this whole damn time. I curse inwardly for not seeing it sooner and could have possibly been out of here so much quicker.
A tip of a skinny nail pokes out of the wall, gracing me with its presence. I scoot over to the left carefully to avoid any contact with my back or sudden movements, and curse under my breath at the strain.
Finally, I’m able to reach it after what feels like way too much energy to do something so simple.
I wrap my fingers around it and attempt to pull it out.
I wiggle it over and over again and it gives in little by little.
I pause for a moment, taking a breath, and continue the maneuver over and over again, feeling it give more and more.
Once I feel that I have it loosened, I yank and it comes right out.
“Fuck, yeah!” I screech and quickly close my lips. I freeze for a moment to see if he heard me from upstairs, but nothing happens.
“Are you okay?” Panic rises from Monroe.
“Yup, I’m fine but I think I got something to get these annoying cuffs off. Keep a look out, why don’t ya?” I respond back in a whisper.
Carefully, I move to the middle of the mattress and turn the front of my body towards the wall.
At the edge of the disgusting mattress, I use the nail to dig into it, creating a tear.
Once I make a big enough hole, I slide my hand inside to feel for any sort of spring.
Feeling inside, I find little small loops and pull to break it off.
It takes me a few minutes, some curse words and cuts on my fingers to finally get a piece apart.
Angling the two pieces, I insert them in the lock hole.
I work it trying to get it in the right spot so I can pick the lock.
Thank you, Dad, for teaching me this simple easy thing.
It came in handy when I needed to get into a house for a surprise visit.
He even locked me up to prepare me for this very situation.
I work the lock, huffing each time it fails, but the sound of hearing the lock click and the cuff falling from my skin gives me so much relief.
The next one came easier and that cuff falls right off clattering to the floor.
The sweet, sweet sound is like music to my ears.
I take a moment and stretch out fully without being restrained and stand up slowly to make sure I don’t fall right on my face.
“Celeste, did you just get out?” Monroe stares with complete shock as I walk right in front of her.
“Pays to be raised by the Mafia, huh? I bet you don’t get taught how to get out of metal cuffs by the FBI.” I smirk down at her before gradually lowering myself to start on hers.
As I get one cuff off her ankle, I hear the locks to the door at the top of the stairs unlock and the door squeals open.
My body freezes with panic. My mind starts to race with the fact that I wasn’t able to get the girls out quick enough and try to form a plan on what to do.
I slide the nail and metal piece to Monroe.
“I’ll keep him busy, get you and Sam out of here,” I murmur to her before pushing back to a standing position.
Scouring the room, I try to find something to use against him but his footsteps come down faster as if he knows something is off. Well, I guess he’s going to meet The Reaper and all its glory.
Istand in the middle of the room projecting power and confidence.
I pick at my nails as if I’m bored waiting for him to finally grace me with his presence.
My body is screaming at me to sit the hell down but my pride is telling me to stand straight like the bad bitch that I am.
Adrenaline starts pumping through my veins, boosting me higher, blocking out any weakness that I may have at this moment.
He gets to the bottom step and stops abruptly with pure shock on his face.
In his hand he has a bag of jawbreaker candy and a jagged knife in another.
From what I saw from prior victims, he shoved those big fuckers down their throats when their time was up.
This confirms that something changed and it’s our time to go.
“Jesus Christ. Tell me, how did you escape, little demon?” He eyes me as he moves to my left.
I remain in my spot without flinching or taking a single step. Masking my face with boredom, I track every single step he takes. He sets the bag of candy on the metal table, keeping the knife in his hand. He begins to circle me as if I’m a prey he’s been dying to catch.
“Christ isn’t going to save you today. In fact, he’s very disappointed in you.
The only place you’re going is to the pits of hell, trapped, burning with the constant replay of your deepest darkest fears.
Tell me, Oliver, have you repented for your sins?
” Looking up at him, I drill my eyes into his, giving him a sinister smile.