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“I…I don’t know. I think I got knocked unconscious.”
“When you wake up, what do you hear?”
“Water. It sounds like water washing up against something—boats or maybe the shore. I can’t tell. I’m being carried, and I can hear their footsteps. We stop, and I’m pushed down on my knees. The floor is wood. It smells bad.”
“What does it smell like?”
“Like dead fish and mold. Everything feels damp. Someone’s standing over me, tying my hands behind my back. I can’t move!”
“Take a deep breath. Can you hear anyone talking?”
“Yes.”
“What are they saying?”
“I…I don’t know!”
“Relax, Kera. You’re safe here. Focus on what they’re saying.”
“They’re…they’re talking about my dad. One of them says he’s finally going to get his payment and that this is a great plan, but the other one’s not sure. He thinks my father will double-cross them, and they won’t get paid.”
“Do they say anything else?”
“I…I can’t hear them. They moved away, and I’m alone. I try to scream, but my mouth feels so dry…there’s something tied around my head and in my mouth. I…I think it’s a bandana. They leave me alone for a long time.”
“What happens when they come back?”
“Someone takes out the gag. He tells me not to scream, then gives me water. He shoves something else in my mouth—bread with peanut butter on it. It smells nasty, and I spit it out. He smacks my face.”
“Do you know if it’s the same man? The one you saw at your parents’ house?”
“I don’t know. He never takes off the blindfold.”
My limbs are tense, and my chest feels tight. I can feel the thrumming of my heartbeat in my neck and temples.
“Remember that you’re safe now, Kera. Take a deep breath…There you go. Can you tell me what happens next?”
“I’m…I’m alone again. I can’t see, and no one comes close to me. I don’t know how long. I keep trying to sleep, but my shoulders hurt so badly, I can’t get comfortable enough. Someone comes in and gives me more water and a piece of a sandwich. I’m too hungry to spit it out this time. I try to talk to him, but he doesn’t answer me.”
“Can you tell me what you feel?”
“It’s cold,” I say. “I can tell when it’s daytime because it gets a little warmer but not much. I try to remember how many times that’s happened, but I’m not sure. I don’t know how long I was knocked out. I’m so hungry and thirsty, and I’m just waiting for someone to bring me food and water again.”
A shiver runs through my body.
“They’re talking about me,” I whisper. “They’re saying it’s past the deadline my father was supposed to pay the ransom. I think…I think they’re going to kill me. When I hear footsteps on the stairs, I try to struggle against the ropes, but it doesn’t help. They say they’re going to…going to…”
I choke back a sob. I can’t say the words.
“He…he’s holding my mouth open and shoving something inside. I…I can’t close my mouth. Oh, God! He’s…he’s…”
“Kera! Kera, listen to my voice. You aren’t there. You are not on that boat. You are safe, here in my office. Do you understand? Come back here now.”
“Yes.” Tears are streaming down my face when I open my eyes. The room is still dim, but even the small amount of light hurts my eyes. “They raped me, didn’t they?”
I sit up and look at Deklan. His hands are clenched into fists against his thighs, and his jaw is clenched. My heart beats in my chest as I wait for him to explode, but he doesn’t. Something isn’t right about his reaction. I can see his anger, but I expect more from such a revelation.
“You already knew about it.”
