Chapter 35
It Just Got Real
Word has come to my ears that Jeffery, Benji’s bestie, is now the number one suspect. My research has uncovered that he was, in fact, a patient at a mental hospital for two years. His juvenile record is sealed. Don't worry, Fearless Fanatics. I'll find out the truth. I always do. #FreeDani
I go to sleep a little before daylight, completely exhausted.
I don't sleep very well for obvious reasons.
I just want to go home. I get up and make my way to the bathroom, closing the door quietly and try and look outside the window again.
Hopefully, I can tell more about my surroundings because the sun is finally shining.
The lake is more like a big pond, but the wilderness still surrounds the other three sides.
I have no idea how far we are from civilization.
I don't see a vehicle on this side of the cabin.
Maybe Jeffery has a car here. If he doesn't have a car here, someone had to drop us off here on the edge of nowhere.
That thought makes chills go down my body.
I need to stop overthinking and get the job done.
I brush my teeth and head to the kitchen. Jeffery isn't up yet. I can see him sleeping on the couch. I head into the kitchen to look for the sleeping meds. It feels like a punch to my gut when I notice they are gone. Where could they be?
I look through all the drawers and cabinets as quietly as possible but come up empty.
My heart sinks. I pass by Jeffery again, he’s snoring, still fast asleep.
I could escape now, but the idea doesn't sit right with me at the moment.
I feel it deep down in my gut. Call it my female intuition, if you will.
I go into the bathroom and ultimately find nothing.
There are no other bedrooms besides where I've been sleeping.
The pills have to be in the living room.
I tiptoe back and spot them on the end table closest to Jeffery's head.
My heart beats loudly in my ears. I've raked my brain a million times for a different way for me to escape but I keep coming up with the same ending.
I know my chances for a successful escape will be narrow, but I have to try.
I go into the kitchen and grab a glass filling it with ice water.
A plan has formed in my mind, and I take a deep breath.
I head back into hell trying my best to keep the water in my hand from sloshing or the ice from clinking in the glass with my shaky hands.
I make it to the side of the couch and place the water on the end table.
I'm able to get three of the Ambien pills out and into my pocket with minor to no sound, but when I put it back on the table, my shaking hands accidentally rattle the bottle.
His eyes pop open, and I quickly grab the water.
He jumps up, clearly startled. His startled movements knock the water out of my hand and the glass bursts into a million pieces.
"I'm so sorry! I thought you might need some water when you woke up. I was going to make us lunch."
He's still wild-eyed. It takes him a minute to gain his composure. He looks at me for a couple of minutes as I mask my concern and try my best to portray the innocence of any wrongdoing. He finally smiles. "Thank you, Dani. That was very thoughtful of you."
"Be very careful, Jeffery. I'll get a towel and a broom. There is more glass on your side than mine."
He nods, looking back down at the floor.
I carefully walk to the kitchen and grab the towel and broom, topping at the kitchen sink to catch my breath and hold back the tears that are threatening to fall.
That was close. Thankfully, I pulled that glass of water idea out of nowhere.
I have to admit, I'm terrified. If this doesn't work, I may not make it home.
Jeffery is an unstable individual, and I won't be able to hold my emotions together much longer.
I think I've been in shock up until now.
I need to leave this place before my warring feelings come out, and I tell Jeffery how I really feel about this situation.
He'll flip a switch when he learns I'm not his friend, and that I hate Benji.
Even if I were single and I wasn't dating Jake, I would NEVER date Benji.
He is sadistic and manipulative. You can call it Stockholm Syndrome, but I feel sorry for Jeffery.
Benji is the one that put us both in this terrible situation.
He played on Jeffrey's growing attraction for him and convinced him to do this evil, horrible thing.
Jeffery is blind to his manipulation, and I will not convince him otherwise.
"Dani....?"
Focus Dani. Focus. "Sorry! Be right there!"
I rush to his side, and I start sweeping the glass up first. "It took me a minute to find the broom."
He smiles and I feel like an awful person.
He's so trusting, and while he needs to pay for the crimes he's committed in getting me here, at the end of the day, he's a victim too.
I sweep everything up, and he dries the floor with the towel.
"I haven't looked through the cabinets or fridge yet, but what would you like for lunch? "
"How about soup and a sandwich?"
I smile. "Sounds perfect. Have any tomato soup? I can make us some grilled cheese to go along with that."
"I think so." He looks in the cupboard, and I quickly follow behind him.
He pulls out one can, and I grab the butter, cheeses, and bread.
We quietly work on our lunch, and while he goes to the bathroom, I turn the three pills into powder, placing the remnants in a napkin, and then it goes back into my pocket.
I plan to put the Ambien in his drink, then I'll wait patiently for my escape.
We take our meal to the table, and he goes to get our drinks.
He said I did it last night, so today was his turn.
I panic because how am I supposed to put the powder in his drink now!
I look at his soup, and it's my only hope. Hopefully, he’ll eat it all.
This opportunity is my only shot. It's all I got.
I launch the powder in and mix it around.
I sit back down as he walks back in. I smile, but all I want to do is cry.
This is either the best plan or the worst. Either I wind up escaping or die trying.