Chapter 51
Where's Liam Neeson when you need him?
Benji has escaped and Jeffery's prison transfer didn't happen in time. Where is Dani? No one can find her. I repeat #NotAgain
I wake up in cold sweat. My heart starts pounding as the realization of my new reality sets in, this time, I'm located in a dusty basement and not a quaint little cabin.
I think of my family, Jake, and all my new friends.
People don't escape twice. My luck has finally run out, and I'll have to play it smart to stay alive.
My hands and feet are tied. I sit up as best I can to get a better look at my surroundings.
An old lamp is turned on in the corner of the room, next to the stairs.
The paneling is dark red on the walls, and the floor is painted concrete.
There is an old sofa, a couple of chairs scattered throughout the room, and old wooden crates line the walls.
In the middle of the room is a light brown coffee table with skinny legs and an oval top.
I bet if I ran my fingers over it, I wouldn't be able to tell where my skin started, and the dirt ended.
I wonder what's in the boxes. The door at the top of the stairs creaks open and a man with a beard greets me.
Something about his eyes looks vaguely familiar.
He has a tray of food with him. He cuts the restraints off of my hands.
The smell of the food hits my nostrils, making my stomach growl.
"Dani, please eat. You need to keep up your strength. "
I gulp loudly. Shit. When did Jeffery get out of jail?
I have a sinking feeling deep down in my gut.
Jeffery was supposed to move to another facility after Benji's capture.
It looks like they escaped before that could happen.
If he wants me to keep my strength up, maybe he's not mad at me anymore. "Hello, Jeffery."
"Hello."
"Jeff—" He holds up his hand to silence me. "I'm not interested in listening. Benji says you'll try and trick me again and that I better not fall for it this time. He'll hurt me, Dani."
Tears spring to my eyes. I had hoped, at least a little, that I would have a "friend" in him. "I understand. I'm sorry, Jeffrey."
He nods, seemingly accepting my apology.
"It's okay. I'm sorry, too. This is what's best for you.
You'll see. I know you will." He turns to walk away.
"Oh, and Dani, don't defy him. You're lucky he still fancies you, but he won't refrain from disciplining you either.
You will be his." Lucky my ass, I give him a small smile. He shrugs his shoulders and walks up the stairs. I will never be Benji’s.
If I can't escape, he'll eventually have to kill me. I won't submit to him.
Since Jeffrey cut me loose to eat, I start exploring trying to find another way out.
There’s a door next to a stairwell and it opens with a loud creak.
Instead of evil clowns, a beautifully decorated room greets me.
The walls are painted white except for an accented red wall.
The room has a couch, bed, tv, and mini kitchen.
There is a bathroom with a tub shower combo in another room.
I look on the bed and see a present addressed to me.
It has a card attached to the front. With a sinking feeling deep in my chest, I reluctantly open the card.
Dearest Dani,
I have waited so long for this moment, and while I know it's not ideal for you, I believe that the reciprocation of feelings will come.
Your smile could light up a thousand stars.
I saw this dress in a store shortly after we first met.
I knew I had to buy it for you. Please, wear it for our first date tomorrow night.
I hope one day you'll think of this place as your home.
With all my love,
Benjamin
I drop the letter and fall to my knees. I'm nauseated and I'm having a hard time breathing.
He's brought me to this place so that he can make me fall in love with him.
He's insane and I'm not sure I can fake liking him long enough to survive.
Where's Liam Neeson when you need him? He saved his daughter within a week in that one movie.
That would be nice. Can I go home like yesterday?
I stare at the dress he bought, especially just for me.
Just the sight of it makes me nauseous. Looking at the clock on my new unwanted nightstand, I realize dinner is in thirty minutes.
I get a sinking feeling in my stomach as I think about my new plan.
I look at myself in the mirror. I smooth out the fancy high-low dress he bought me.
It's off the shoulder with white lace stitching at the top, and it's a candy apple red color at the bottom.
Jake would love me in this. The thought saddens me, but I have no tears left in me.
Jeffery knocks on my bedroom door, alerting me that the villain in my dreams is real and he's ready to see me. Jeffery leads me up the staircase. I do my breathing exercises as quietly as I can knowing my therapist would be so proud.
Benji’s here. I can feel evil lurking in the room. Jeffery pulls my chair out for me. "Thank you," I whisper.
"Dani, look at me, please."
I lift my head and meet the eyes of the one I've dreaded seeing since I got here. "Benji."
He smiles sweetly. He has a black dress shirt on and in another world, I would have found him good-looking.
However, in this world, I could never think that because I know why his smile never fully reaches his eyes.
He has a black heart and an even darker soul.
"I'm so glad you're here. Everything to your liking? "
"It is. Thank you."
"Good. Dani, thank you for not defying me and for wearing the dress. With your temper, I didn't know how you would react."
I shrug my shoulders. "I figured no sense in crying over spilled milk. I want to go home, Benji, but I know that's a futile emotion."
He nods his head. "Yes, it is. You’ll love me, Dani, and I will allow you to take all the time you need, but I won't ever share you again."
Time to start getting inside his head and getting some real answers. "What do you expect from me?"
"I expect your loyalty and eventually your love."
"May I speak freely?"
He nods. "Of course, it's the only way we can get to know each other."
"How will we ever be able to be together with you being a wanted man and all?"
A nerve on the side of his neck starts twitching, and I think I've gone too far, but he finally relaxes. "It'll be tough, but after the heat dies down, we'll move to another hidden location."
My heart drops. "Where?"
He smiles. "Nice try."
I smile at him. "Benji, who am I going to tell?"
He shrugs. "You got away once, and I can't let anything jeopardize our escape plan. You can't leave me again."
"I understand your reluctance, but if we can't establish trust, we'll never have the relationship you want."
"You're right, and in time I believe we can achieve a trust-filled relationship. Until then, I'll leave you with one minor detail. Let's say the US will have no jurisdiction there."
My heart falls. NO! He means to take me out of the country, away from everyone. He's watching me closely, so I smile. I say the only thought that comes to mind. Thank God it's a decent response. "I've never been anywhere like that."
"Dani, you'll love it. Beaches for miles, and the water is so clear. We can go to a different restaurant every night. Beautiful architecture is on every corner. I’ve never been there myself, but my father loves it. He’ll be joining us tomorrow. I expect you to be on your best behavior."
I’m meeting the infamous Enforcer and the thought suddenly has me feeling sick again. "Oh, okay. I understand. Benji, I'm still tired. May I be excused? Please?"
He takes pity on me and I can tell he likes when people beg. "Yes. See you tomorrow."
What am I going to do? I rush back to the safety of my basement bedroom. I fling myself on the cover of the bed and I cry, eventually crying myself to sleep wishing tomorrow never comes.