Chapter 40
Ellie
I’m so parched my throat has swollen, and my lips are caked with dried blood. My head is pounding, and I can’t think straight. It feels like there’s no air left to breathe.
It’s so dark in here, not even the tiniest crack of light gets through. I had to relieve myself in the corner of the container, and the stink is fetid in the heat of summer. I sit curled up in a ball, wondering how long I can survive like this. If he’ll ever come back. If he’ll ever let me go.
It already feels like forever since I had a drink, and I recall something about the human body lasting three days without liquids. Has it been a day? Two? How much air do I have? I’ve lost track of time. I must have slept at some point, or passed out, because I woke up crying on the floor.
I’ve hammered on the doors of the damn thing and screamed and screamed until my voice went hoarse. He was right. There’s nobody out there. Why did I do this? Why didn’t I tell Maddox what was happening? He’s going to be so angry and hurt and lost without me. I hope he doesn’t go off the rails.
I should have told him. But he’ll understand.
He loves me. I repeat these words in a silent mantra to help keep me sane, but I’m not sure it’s working.
I try to swallow, find even a milliliter of spit in my mouth to sooth my swollen throat and my sandpaper tongue.
But between the dehydration and the screaming, I’m done.
I have nothing left in the tank, and what I do have in reserve I need to save. Just in case I get a moment, a chance.
I stretch out my legs and massage my calves.
And I try not to cry, because I can’t spare the fluids.
The heat of the place is overwhelming as I lean against the metal of the container.
A loud thump sounds against the outside and I jump, leaping away from the spot, and then the thumping sound moves with me.
All around the container I hear it. Bang, bang, bang.
It echoes around the bare space, vibrating inside my aching head. I clamp my hands over my ears.
It’s him. I know it’s him. It’s exactly the kind of sadistic asshole move he’d pull. I can picture him smirking, cackling at the thought of my reaction. I don’t care. I need air. I need daylight. I need water.
The door to the container is pulled open, metal jarring on the concrete, and I squeeze my eyes shut against the sudden inpouring of sun. It feels so bright I might go blind, and I shield my face with my hands, backing off into a corner.
“Wakey wakey, rise and shine,” he cries, a parody of a father calling his kid down for breakfast. “Daddy’s home.”
He walks inside, clangs the door behind him.
It’s not completely shut. A crack of light and blessedly fresh air trickles in.
He pauses, his outline huge in that sliver of sun.
He makes a big show of sniffing and pulls a disgusted face.
“Baby girl, did you wet yourself? I think you did…now, would you like a nice drink of water? Maybe a soda pop? An ice-cold beer?”
I can barely speak, and my voice cracks as I mumble, “Please. Yes. Anything. I’m so thirsty.”
“I just bet you are,” he replies, edging towards me. “Well, hopefully your big strong boyfriend will be delivering your ransom soon, and you can go back to your perfect little New York life.”
He asked Maddox to bring the money? I can’t believe he’s actually willing to face him…that he’s actually coming here. Maddox. My heart sings with hope at the idea of seeing him again and all of this ending.
“Aw, sweetheart, you looked so happy for a moment then. It must be love. But before you get too carried away, let me give you a few facts. Your precious Maddox won’t be coming here.
He’s heading to New Jersey, where I’ve given him a specific drop-off point for the cash.
He’s probably expecting me to be there. Or even you to be there.
Neither of us will be. I’ve got another friend of mine staking the place out.
It’s amazing how many useful people you meet in the joint, willing to do pretty much anything for a taste of a payday.
So, once he lets me know that your quarterback hero has done the right thing, then I’ll let you go.
Maybe. I mean, it’d almost be worth ten million just to steal you away and keep you as Daddy’s little plaything for a while longer. ”
Ten million? Shit, that’s a lot of money.
“You know, I should probably pay my other little girls a visit, too.”
Ice cold fear creeps along my spine. “N-no,” I croak out.
He looms over me. “What was that, sweetheart? Shall I go get the girls too? You want us all to be one big happy family again? That could work—truthfully, you’re a little old for me now, baby.
But Melody…she’s ripe. And Iris will get there in time.
Jayden could serve other purposes. Perhaps I’ll rent him out by the hour. ”
The images strike terror in my heart.
The depth of my fear unleashes something in me. My warrior makes one last appearance. I know I don’t have much left and that no amount of Pilates can prepare a girl for fighting a jail-toughened man.
But I also know that I have to try.
I lash out with my feet, catch him unawares, and sweep his ankles from beneath him.
He cries out as he falls to the ground. As quick as I can, I scramble up, clinging on to the sides of the container for support, desperately trying to make my way to that crack of light.
To the door, to freedom. My legs are weak and my vision is blurred, but I’m so very close…
I stagger, stumble, crash down to my knees. He’s snagged me, one big hand wrapped around my calf, dragging me back to him. I try to scream, but it’s a weak and hollow sound. My arms stretch and push, but I’m not close enough. I’m not strong enough.
My head bumps as he pulls me, and as soon as I’m in reach, he slaps me around the face so hard I see stars. “You little bitch,” he hisses. “I’ll show you who’s in charge here.”
I try to claw at his face as he climbs on top of me, try to use my knees to unbalance him.
He tears at my top and shoves a hand down the front of my sweats.
The foul heat of his breath on my face, the painful pinch of his fingers on my bare skin, the sheer weight and pressure of him…
it’s too much. I’m back there again. Back in my childhood room, wishing I could die.
Staring over his shoulder and pleading for it to stop.
He leans down to kiss me, and I bite his lips as hard as I can, shoving at his chest with ineffective hands. I am losing this battle, but I will go down fighting. I will not let him do this to me again without giving my all.
He bangs my head once, twice, against the floor, and the pain explodes all around my skull. His hands creep around my neck. He starts to squeeze. He calls me terrible names, telling me I’m a worthless slut, that I ruined his life.
I close my eyes. I think of Maddox, my happy place. My home. If I’m going to die here at the hands of this man, his evil face will not be the last thing I see. Please Goddess, I pray, keep my sisters and my brother safe. Let Keres know I tried to be a warrior. Let Maddox know how much I love him.
The breath is being choked out of me, and I start to black out.