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“It’s a surprise,” Markus says, his voice icy.
It doesn’t sound like a surprise should, but I don’t say that. The last thing I want to do is piss Markus off. We’ve been on such great terms, and I don’t want that closeness to go away. I’ll keep my mouth shut for now.
Picking up the bowl, I place it in the sink. When I turn around, I find Markus standing a few inches away. Jesus.
“You know for such a large man, you move like a ninja,” I blurt out.
Markus gives me as close to a smile as I’ve ever seen from him. “Let’s go. We’re going to be late for the surprise.”
I grin excitedly. “I can’t wait.”
Markus only nods, and I wonder if it’s a surprise for another test.In the car, Markus is quiet, too quiet. He grips the steering wheel almost as if it’s someone’s throat. We pass through a couple towns, and with each mile, I realize we’re headed toward my hometown of Sun Valley. I chew on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from asking him where we’re going. If I can keep the terror that’s bubbling up in my stomach down, then I’ll be fine. Maybe we’re just passing through?
That has to be it. I never told Markus where I lived. It’s merely a coincidence. Right? It has to be. Knots of fear develop in my stomach, twisting and tightening to the point of pain. Placing a hand against my stomach, I try to hide the pain.
Markus doesn’t even look away from the road, and I see that usual cold mask fall over his face. As we enter Sun Valley, I stare out the window, anxiously waiting to see what will happen next. Markus slows and turns onto a side street, then another, slowly getting closer to my house. Turning into the subdivision, I start to tremble.
Once we reach my street, I’m a complete mess, and my throat is so tight I don’t think I could speak even if I wanted to. My family home comes into view, and my chest starts to rise and fall so rapidly it feels like I’m having a heart attack.
Drive by, please drive by.
The car slows and pulls to the curb. I can see everything I tried my best to rebuild with Markus crumbling beneath my feet. He puts the car in park and reaches across the seat for the glovebox. I bite my lip to stifle the scream threatening to come out of my mouth when I see the shiny glint of the gun. What’s he going to do? Is he going to kill them… or me?
All I can think is how my sister will never be saved.
How my parents will either lose both of their children or lose their own lives.
“Please…” I beg, not even sure what I’m begging for. I do know he is not here to drop me off and let me go. He is going to use my parents against me because he can’t bring himself to hurt me anymore.
Markus’s cold eyes cut to me. There is no emotion there, just my own reflection. He’s cold, heartless, a statue. My words will not reach him, and still, I have to try. I can’t die here.
“Don’t do this, please. I didn’t do anything. I’ve been good.” His huge hand comes out of nowhere, and I flinch, afraid that he’s going to hit me.
All he does is place his hand firmly over my mouth. He shakes his head, all but saying to shut up. My eyes dart to the gun in his other hand, and the tears welling in my eyes finally fall, slipping down my cheeks without permission.
There isn’t a single ounce of remorse in his eyes.
After everything, it comes down to this.
“I want you to think long and hard before you answer the question I’m about to ask you because the wrong answer is going to result in one of your parents dying. Got it?”
Shock. It rattles me to the core. I’m not sure why, but I never thought he would go this far, that he would find a way to hurt me without actually hurting me. Staring into his eyes, I know I have no options. It’s either tell him what he wants or risk one of my parent’s dying.
That’s just not a risk I can take. He will do it. I know he will.
The Markus in front of me now is the cold, calculated one, not the man who was gentle and kind to me the other night, and not even the one who put me in the cell. This is the Markus you can’t reach, no matter how hard you try. Left with no options, I nod my head.
“Who were you trying to call in my office?” I swallow at the intensity of his stare and words. I can’t breathe, can’t do anything. He pulls his hand away to give me a chance to answer. A lie forms on the tip of my tongue… would he really do it?
