Chapter 36
My Not So Glamorous Escape
All of you have heard the rumors by now, but are they true? Is she home?
He sits down and stares down at his bowl.
I stiffen, and my heart starts beating erratically.
What if he knows? He finally shifts his gaze to me and gives me a look of remorse.
Confused, I place my hand on top of his.
Doing this makes my skin crawl, but I have to play my part to make it home in one piece.
I want to hug my family and get to Jake as quickly as possible.
"While I was getting our drinks, I called TJ. He was the one to bring us here. He's been outside the entire time watching the house. Benji told me to call him off only when I was sure I could trust you. He just left. I'm sorry I ever doubted you."
I feel guilt creeping its way from the pit of my stomach. I know I shouldn't be feeling this way. This situation is bananas on way too many levels. Underneath the craziness that is Jeffery, he's an extremely loyal person. Too bad his said best friend is a psychopath.
Now I know why my "gut" told me I shouldn't leave this morning while he was asleep on the couch. Maybe Jake’s instincts are rubbing off on me.
I almost sag in relief. The coast is clear for my escape.
Now Jeffery must eat so I smile at him and start eating my own soup and engage him in conversation.
"Jeffery, I understand. I would have been leery also.
I don't know what will happen once I see Benji but trust me when I say I'll try. "
I smile even more brightly at him. Oh, I know what's going to happen once I see him.
I'm going to beat the shit out of him first, then let Jake do it again shortly after.
But I want a piece of him first. Jeffery smiles back.
Pacified that I'm not mad at him, he begins to eat.
Please, God, let this work! Thankfully, Jeffery eats all of his.
My plan is working, and I honestly can't believe I may be able to leave here soon. I’m so nervous.
I only eat enough so he won't be suspicious.
I don't know how long it will take me to get back home, but I'll try with my very last breath to get there.
I hope me giving him three pills won't kill him.
I just want to escape, not kill the man.
It's still daylight and I don't want to be stuck in these woods for too long after dark.
I don't know if we are close to a highway or how far we are to the nearest town.
All I know is I have to leave and soon. The longer I stay here, the more my family and friends have to worry and suffer.
Not to mention Jake is coming back sometime tomorrow. I need to be home by then.
He yawns and allows me to do all the dishes.
I tell him to go sit down, and I'll be there in a minute.
I check on him once, and he's loopy but not knocked out yet.
I sweep, then mop trying to give him time to fall asleep.
I have a major endorphin rush happening at the thought of finally escaping. Sitting is the last thing I want to do.
I go back to the living room and he is sitting up with a blank expression on his face.
It's like he's there but not. He stands up and heads to the kitchen.
I don't say anything but I follow closely behind him.
This is beyond bizarre. He takes some ice cream out of the freezer, gets a spoon, and begins to chow down.
If I weren't being held hostage and attempting to escape, I'd find this hilarious.
I've heard of sleepwalking but never sleep-eating.
Maybe that's why I'm chunky! I gently grab the tub of ice cream from him and put it on the counter.
I place my hand in his, and while using extreme caution, I lead him to the room I've been sleeping in. I lay him on the bed and cover him up.
I stand there and wait a good 20 minutes before turning around to make my escape. I tiptoe down the hall and quietly make my way out the front door. Besides the water, the cabin is truly surrounded by trees. Only one small pathway leads out to only God knows where.
I decide against taking the path outright.
I go into the woods nearest the right side of the pathway and follow to see where it leads.
After a few minutes of walking, I come up to a big house with a black cast iron fence surrounding the property.
Two armed guards are near the fenced-in area.
I stop abruptly and get behind a tree. This property has to belong to Benji's father.
My blood runs cold. I slowly walk back in the direction I came.
Thankfully, I didn't walk that path straight out.
I nervously walk past the cabin and decide to walk around the water's edge.
I walk for a few miles, and the entire area has become like a marsh.
My feet and the bottom part of my leggings are soaked and muddy.
I don't care because I just want to see good, honest people again and I’m trying to keep my shit together.
I see a man in camo and an orange vest, and I quickly drop to the ground. I hope he didn't see me.
"Ma'am, what are you doing this close to the hunting lodge. It's not a safe place to be right now."
I freeze but force myself to look up. Thankfully, I see concern etched all over his well-aged face. I start crying, the nervous energy has left me, and now I have nothing left. My limbs become limp. The man tries to help me up, but I accidentally pull him down with me.
He laughs, which makes me laugh. At least I'm not crying anymore.
He probably thinks I'm crazy. I don't know how to act anymore.
I'm covered in mud from head to toe now.
My throat is achy, and I feel sick, but I have to tell him who I am to get home.
I hope I can trust him and that he won't hurt me.
The words tumble out all at once. "Sir, my name is Dani Constantine.
I'm a freshman at the University of Texas… and I was kidnapped."
His eyes double in size, recognition lighting up his facial features. He grabs his gun and looks around. "Come on, baby girl! My name is Sal, and I won't let anyone hurt you. Let's go back to the lodge. We will contact 911. They ain't following you are they?"
I shake my head no because my throat feels too tight to speak right now.
He nods at me and we jump on his four-wheeler.
He speeds through the trees and gets us the heck out of there.
After a minute or so, we go down a steep hill, and pull up to the back of a massive log mansion.
The place is too big to be considered a cabin.
He leads me up the stairs and into the kitchen. Grabbing his phone, he dials 911. He scoots me away from the window and starts pacing back and forth, looking out all of the windows as he talks. He tells them exactly what I told him, word for word.
He stands beside me and looks apologetically down into my eyes. "They have already dispatched several units, they are on the way. Some were even looking in this area. It shouldn't take them long. However, they do need me to ask you some questions. Is that okay?"
"Yes."
"We're you physically hurt, sweetie?"
"No but I was drugged."
"Were you sexually assaulted?" He whispers gently.
I shake my head and a few tears fall on my cheek.
"Did you know your kidnapper?"
I nod yes.
"Where were you held?"
"A small cabin a few miles that way." I point toward the steep hill. I'm hopeless at directions.
He hangs up with the operator and asks me if I want to take a shower before they get here.
I decline. He seems nice, but what if this is a trick.
As soon as that last thought leaves my mind, I hear a collection of sirens pulling up to the massive house.
I start crying as the police burst through the door.
I’m safe, I’m found. What will happen to Jeffery?
Will Benji get away with his part in my kidnapping?
When will I get to see my family? And my Jake?