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In the two days since she’d discovered the combination, she’d practiced opening it just before dawn, when she was sure the pair were fast asleep. While she hadn’t dared to actually climb out of her cage again, just the satisfaction and joy of knowing that she could, when the time came, was life changing.
When the time was right, she’d set herself free.
Now he opened the cage door, a big grin on his stupid face. “Hurry up and do your business. We’ve got an adventure planned for today.”
Jane scooted out and made her way to the drain to pee. She was no longer embarrassed by this simple act. If he wanted to stand there and watch her, she didn’t care. She focused instead on his words.
An adventure? Was that code for yet another humiliation or torture? She wouldn’t worry or anticipate. She would take what came as she bided her time and continued to formulate her escape plans.
When she had finished and dropped her used newspaper into the diaper pail, she went to stand by the spigot for her daily hose-down.
She lifted her arms and closed her eyes as the cold water sprayed over her. She kept her eyes closed as Robert rubbed liquid soap over her body and through her hair and then rinsed her. As he manhandled her, Jane took refuge in her fantasies. She spread her wings wide and took off, flying over the ocean. She was joyous and free, the breeze lifting her hair, the sun warming her back.
Robert allowed her to dry herself and then led her upstairs, where Brenda was busy packing what looked like a large picnic basket with provisions. She, too, was dressed in jeans and sneakers. They were going outside, based on the picnic and the clothing. Jane’s heart leapt with excitement at the thought they might be leaving the premises.
Robert tossed her a protein bar and a bottle of water. An entire protein bar just for her! Jane quickly unwrapped the bar and stuffed as much of it as she could into her mouth, just in case he changed his mind, or Brenda turned around and took it from her. But Brenda, humming to herself, didn’t seem to notice Jane at all, which was fine with her.
“Did you pack the suntan oil?” she asked Robert, not turning from the counter. “I want to get a little color.”
“Everything’s all packed and loaded into the SUV,” Robert replied. “Except for the girl, ha ha.”
“Truss her up and load her in,” Brenda said, finally turning around. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Jane didn’t like that she was to be “trussed up,” but she focused instead on drinking her bottle of water, which was cool and delicious. Food and water had become so precious to her. If she got out of there, she’d never take either for granted again.
When she got out of there.
They led her through the door into a four-bay garage. Jane’s heart did a sudden flip as she recalled they’d brought her there in her own car. Was it parked there, waiting for her to reclaim it?
A sudden, mad fantasy of wresting herself free of Robert’s grip and sprinting toward her trusty old Ford leaped into her mind. In the fantasy, the key was in the ignition, the garage door up. She slid into the driver’s seat before either of her captors had time to react. In a squeal of tires, she tore down the driveway and made her way toward freedom before they knew what had hit them…
The fantasy popped like a soap bubble as quickly as it was formed. There were three cars in the garage, but none of them was hers. No doubt, they’d disposed of it first thing. It was evidence, after all.
As Brenda loaded the picnic basket into the back of a big SUV, Robert placed cuffs on Jane’s wrists and ankles and clipped them together. Then he tore off a strip of duct tape and pressed it over her mouth. Finally, he lifted her into the backseat of the SUV, settling her on her stomach on the carpeted floor. Reaching in through the other door, Brenda dropped a blanket over her, covering her completely so she was in the dark. She heard the doors slam closed.
As she lay there, bound and gagged under the blanket, Jane’s heart skittered painfully in her chest. Was this the day she died?
No. Stop. Don’t anticipate. Stay right here in this precise moment. You’re still alive. Your stomach is full. You’re not in pain.
The car rumbled to life and she could feel it backing out. She heard the crunch of gravel beneath the wheels and then the change to smooth asphalt as the car sped up. Moving cautiously so as not to attract any attention, she rolled from her stomach to her side, careful not to disturb the blanket thrown over her. It was hard to get comfortable with her arms behind her back but she didn’t feel as helpless on her side.
