Chapter 25 #2
He lies back and rolls to his side, then tosses his free arm over my stomach as he rests his head on my chest. “Sweet dreams, Annie.”
I gag as I turn my head and stare at the wall and pretend I’m anywhere else but here, that I’m with Ben. Poe’s body gets heavier, and his breathing evens out. His hot, disgusting breath is like fire on my skin, and his weight a boulder I have no choice but to suffocate under.
I remind myself that escaping is impossible, so I don’t bother trying. Even if I grab his knife and stab him, I’d have to be fast enough to slice him in the right place to kill him. Otherwise, I’d just risk pissing him off, and maybe he’d take that anger out on Tara.
The small view outside this prison isn’t really big enough to see anything, but I still look at it for hours.
Maybe I’m seeing things, but I could have sworn I finally saw something move.
I blink to clear the tears that have never stopped, and there it is again, movement.
Is it an animal? Ben? Please let it be Ben.
I watch and watch, but then there’s nothing.
I’m never getting out of here.
A part of me hopes Poe will stay sleeping because then I at least know what’s happening.
If he wakes up, I don’t know what will transpire next.
He’s already hand-fed me. Will he try to shower me, too?
Oh God. The thought makes me heave. Poe twitches at the sound, but thankfully, he doesn’t wake up. He tightens his hold, though.
I’m not sure how long he’s slept, but I do see the sunrise, so at least I know it’s morning. I have to pee so bad that I can’t wait any longer without wetting myself. I seriously debate peeing on myself, but as crazy as this guy is, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’d like it. “Benjamin,” I whisper.
He wakes up, but he does it with a start and jumps up so fast it nearly pulls my arm out of its socket. I cry out in pain. “Oh, Annie. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. Good morning.” I fake a smile.
“Good morning. How did you sleep?”
I didn’t. “Good, but if you don’t mind, I really have to use the bathroom.”
“Right, of course. I do too. Come on, we’ll go together.”
I recoil, but he’s untying me, so he doesn’t notice, and for the first time in hours, I’m able to bend my legs.
When I get to my feet, my knees are weak and tingly, but he’s pulling me toward the door, so I have no choice but to follow or fall and be dragged.
He pulls me directly into a small bathroom across the hall and turns the light on. I squint at the brightness. “Can you uncuff me so I can use the toilet.”
“No.”
“Please, I’ve been good.”
He reaches up for me and force myself not to flinch. His hand is ice cold as he holds my face, and when his lips touch mine, a part of me dies. He hums. “You are good, Annie. I will reward your behavior.”
He uncuffs me and I am humiliated as I sit on the toilet. He washes my hands for me when I’m done, scrubbing until the skin is red. When he reaches for the cuff, I smile. “I won’t run. I promise.”
“Even if you did, you won’t get far.”
When he opens the door, I have a decision to make. And I do it without hesitation. I tear off across the hall and slam the door, then turn the frail lock. “That’s not smart, Annie.” Poe says in a creepy warning.
I know I don’t have a lot of time, but I have to at least try. I run to the closet and open the door, and Tara doesn’t even open her eyes. “Tara, wake up!” I grab her thighs and try to lift her, but I’m so weak. “Wake up, wake up, wake up. We’ve gotta get out of here.”
I try again, and that’s when the door opens. Poe walks in, slapping a paddle against his palm. Fuck that. I decide to charge at him to take him off guard, but a sharp noise cuts through the air.
A sudden rumble, a growl, vibrates the walls, and then I see him.
Ben doesn’t even look at me, he goes straight at Poe.
He wraps his fingers around his neck, then throws him to the ground.
Following him down, Ben clamps one hand around Poe’s throat, then uses the other and starts pounding Poe’s face.
Poe tries to scream with what little oxygen he can get, and then a bunch of other guys storm in and it takes two of them to pull Ben off Poe, and a third to prevent him from going back at him.
“What the fuck?” Drew is lifting Tara off the hook, and another person I don’t know goes to help him.
My knees wobble and before I can fall, Ben is there. He has me in his arms and I shove my face in his neck. “Joan Wick?”
“She’s fine. It wasn’t her.”
“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have—”
“I’m the one who’s sorry.” Ben rumbles as he carries me down the hall.
We get outside and I take a few seconds to realize we’re in the middle of nowhere. A million questions are running through my mind, but I couldn’t care less about details right now.
He opens the back of a Tahoe and sets me in the seat. “Look at me.” Our eyes collide and when he reaches up to hold my face, his fingers are trembling. “Are you okay?”
“I knew you’d find me.”
“Took way too fucking long. Where are you hurt, what—”
“I knew you’d find me.” I cut him off. “I was scared, but I knew you’d find me. I’m sure I’m going to have nightmares, but I feel like I’ve been living in one for so long. It’s finally over, isn’t it?”
“No.” His lips curve up and he bends down to brush them over mine. “We’re just starting, Blue.”