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It’s like the flu, but a thousand times more frightening.
If it was the flu, I’d be home, in bed, with tissues and tea and my books and Daisy sleeping on my feet.
If I were just sick, Ben would be taking care of me.
Ben. Pain spears through my chest, so fast and vicious it brings tears to my eyes. I want Ben.
But he’s not here.
It’s just me, alone in a bedroom.
Alone for now, at least. But I’m stuck here. Tied to a chair, my wrists bound behind me, my ankles fastened to its legs.
I had a minute or so of frenzied struggling, yanking at the smooth rope holding me. But all I managed to do was tear my skin and now there are little drops of blood staining the pale blue carpet underneath me.
There was a fleeting thought of trying to knock the chair over, but it’s shockingly heavy. After a few rocks back and forth, I stopped, more scared I’d trap myself underneath it than actually make any real progress toward escaping.
Escape. The word keeps spinning in my head, but I can’t come up with anything yet. Part of it’s the petrifying fear, another the lingering pain in my head. And the disbelief my brain wants to cling to. That this can’t really be happening; it has to be a bad dream.
But it’s not, and I need to stop hoping for a fantasy.
So I scan the room, searching for some kind of clue to where I am or a way to escape.
I’m not very successful. After several minutes, all I discover is the furniture looks expensive and while there are three doors, there’s no way I’m getting through any of them tied up like this. There’s nothing distinguishing outside, just a stretch of green surrounded by trees. I could be anywhere.
As I look around, my gaze keeps darting over to the bed. It’s massive, at least king-sized, with four carved wooden posts reaching almost to the ceiling. In any other place, I’d think it’s beautiful.
Not here. Because as soon as I look at it, I start to hyperventilate, thinking about why I’m in this room and what Alec has planned for me.
Alec. What does he want? Why am I here?
And why didn’t I run back into the house and put those earrings on? If I had—just another few minutes, I still would have gotten Laila to school on time—Ben and Cole and his team would be coming for me. Once I didn’t show up to get Laila, Ben would know something’s wrong.
Laila. Tears burn behind my eyes, pushing to get free. Our shopping trip. I was so excited for it. To take her for a real manicure, like grown-ups do. Buy her a little present, something just from me.
What if I never see her again? What if I never see Ben? What if my dream of a marriage and a family with him is nothing but that? A dream that never comes true?
No. When Ari was abducted, she didn’t allow herself to be a passive observer. She took action. She used the tools she had, and she got herself free. I may not have special tools, but I’m not helpless. I just need to wait for the right opportunity.
“Ah, Thea, you’re awake.”
The sudden noise makes me yelp in fear, jerking back so abruptly the chair rocks on its feet.
Alec rushes over, steadying it, flashing me a stern look. “Be careful, Thea. This chair is heavy. You could really hurt yourself if it fell on you.”
Oh, God. Why did I have to do something that made him come closer to me?
He’s right in front of me, looming so close I can see the little spot under his chin he missed shaving, the small acne scar on his cheek, and the healing scab on the side of his nose. So close I can smell the mint on his breath.
He changed his shirt; I realize distractedly. The old one was all sweaty. So he changed it. Why?
“Why?” I mean for it to come out steady, but it’s more of a terrified wheeze. I try again. “Why am I here?”
“Oh, Thea, I’m sorry.” His face creases in apology. “I wish I could have explained before. But I needed more time than we had in the parking lot.”
“Time for what?”
Alec leans down, so his face is even with mine. He touches a curl that’s falling across my forehead, pushing it behind my ear. He doesn’t seem to notice the shudder I can’t hide, even though I’m terrified of making him angry.
