Page 201 of Only Be Mine

Footsteps approached.

Something heavy struck the back of my head and everything went dark.

I blinked my eyes open, a thin line of daylight filtered through the blinds. The rain had stopped.

My face felt twice its size. Blood had dried stiff against my shirt. My head throbbed in dull, rhythmic waves.

I tested the rope that held me.

Still tight.

I forced myself to breathe slowly. Think.

There was a wet bar just a few feet away.

If only I could get a knife.

I rocked the chair carefully this time, inching backward. Every scrape of wood against concrete felt loud enough to echo through the house.

No footsteps.

No voices.

When the chair bumped the bar, I leaned as far as my restraints allowed and caught a glimpse of a small knife. I used my face to pull it to the edge, then gripped the blade with my teeth.

I dropped it into my lap.

Worked it into my fingers, and cut…

The rope resisted at first, then gave.

One wrist came free, then the other. I released my legs, and when I stood, I nearly blacked out again.

I grabbed the counter until the room steadied.

I took stock of my surroundings - there was no door to the outside in the basement.

Only stairs.

I picked up a hockey stick from the wall without thinking, needing something solid in my hands.

The stairs creaked softly under my weight as I climbed.

The door at the top was closed.

Please don’t be locked.

Of course it was… I slid the knife into the frame and twisted until I heard a faint click.

The knob turned.

I pushed the door open slowly.

The kitchen was empty.

I moved as fast as I was able through the kitchen, then the living room, carefully scanning corners, doorways, shadows…

The front door was five steps away.