I know the voice. It’s the one that lives in the back of my head,or one of the ones that lives in the back of my head. The one that guides me when I need it.
That’s right, take a slow breath, calm down.
My mother.
“But I can’t.” My heart pounds in my ears. “Great, now I’m talking to myself.”
You know that’s not what it is. Calm down. What should you do next?
Remembering what she used to do when I would get overwhelmed.
“Drew, calm down.” I whisper to myself. “Deep breath.”
Her voice repeating in my head as I talk myself through how to lower my heart rate.
Inhaling 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale completely.
Repeat.
Again.
One more time.
Now think: what should you do next?
Opening my eyes, I try to look around me, still not seeing anything. Moving my foot, hoping to find anything, but still coming up short.
Maybe I can reach my feet and untie them?
Negative.
My arm snags on the carpet.
There it is.
“Idiots,” I mumble.
So whoever planned the abduction, smart. The ones who actually executed it, not so much…
Flipping the buckle open and sliding the watch off my wrist, just needing a place to hide it.
Now where?
“I don’t know.” The emotion taking over me once again.
Yes, you do. Calm down. Think…
The car slows down as it veers to the left.
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself.
Drew, think. We gave you everything you need.
The scene plays in my mind. Dad and I are in the garage. My brothers are both already out of the house. He’s lifting the flooring.
“Time crunch, drop it in. It doesn’t matter if whoever has you finds it. Any extra help you can give can make the difference.”
Pulling the floorboard back, I tuck the watch in enough. Will the car stay with me? Who knows?
