AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not getting in there. I can’t ride in the trunk. It’s not safe.”
His face wrinkles with disgust. “Do you think this is a fucking game, Mari? It’s not a game. Get in the fucking trunk!”
I wince at the sharpness of his words and tone. “I… I can’t. I get claustrophobic. Let me ride in the front with you.” Oh, how I wish I’d thought to bring the fork with me. The simple act of tucking it into my pocket would mean I could shove it into his neck right now and make a run for it.
He scoffs. “Yeah, right. Not a chance. You’d try to flag someone down. I’m not stupid.”
I bite my lip, trying to find a way out of this. “I mean it. I can’t go in there. I’ll have a panic attack. A heart attack. Please. I’m afraid of tight spaces.”
“Yeah, well, I’m afraid of liars and going to jail, so tough luck.” He grabs the back of my head, shoving me forward so hard my face slams into the rough material of the trunk floor. The fabric scrapes my cheek. I cry out, blood trickling down onto my upper lip from where my teeth hit. He pushes me farther, harder, so the carpet burns the rest of my face.
“Okay.” I cry. “Stop.I’m getting in.” Pulling my legs up one at a time, I climb inside the tiny, dark trunk with a thick lump in my throat. Once I’m in, I roll over, trying to control the fear swelling in my chest. I breathe in through my mouth, out through my nose.
You’re okay.
You’re okay.
You’re totally fine, Mari. Just breathe. Just keep breathing.
He grabs my hand, exposing my palm, and before I can look down to see what’s happening, he’s closing it over something sharp. Pain shoots through me, white-hot and all consuming. I shriek and gurgle, trying to free my hand, but he squeezes harder, refusing to release me.
I’m dying. Being ripped apart.
My vision blurs from the pain, the edges of my peripheral vision turning gray and fuzzy. I’m going to pass out. I’m going to die.
I’m going to pass out and then die.
When the pain is so excruciating I’m not sure I’ll be conscious another second, he releases my hand. I look down, forcing my blurry eyes to find focus as my father’s lighter falls down into the trunk next to me. It’s one of my favorite things—one of the only things I have left of him. I always keep it with me in my purse.
The thought of Chris touching it renews my fury. I glance at my palm, which is red and raw—already oozing from being seared by the flame. I pull my hand to my chest, tears painting my cheeks. “What was that for?”
“I told you what would happen if you tried to escape again, Mari,” he says. My heart breaks as he picks up the lighter and slips it deep into his pocket. He clicks his tongue with disappointment. I want to beg him to give it back, but I know it will be pointless.
“You said you’d kill me.” At this point, it’s hard not to wish he would.
“I will,” he says, shrugging one shoulder. “But I worked hard to get you here. You weren’t an easy target, Mari. Do you know how long I’ve been planning this? Do you have any idea how much preparation it took? I’m not killing you until I have no other choice. We’re going to have some fun first.”
With that, he tosses my purse in the trunk. I glance over at it, and he shakes his head. “Don’t even think about getting any ideas. I’ve got your phone.” He holds it up. “Your friend stopped calling; 9-1-1, too.”
I swallow. I didn’t realize they’d called back.
“I told you, Mari. I’m the only one who cares about you, the only one who tried to save you, and this is how you treat me. Now you’re going to see how that feels.”
He slams the trunk shut, and I’m bathed in darkness.
My throat constricts. I can’t breathe.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
I’m being squeezed to death by an invisible force.
The force doesn’t exist. I know this somewhere in my rational mind, but that portion of myself feels long gone. I’m full-on lizard brain at this moment. I can’t breathe, can’t physically fill my lungs. I’m shaking as if I’m cold, but I’m not. I’m burning up. Sweat drips from every surface of my body, and I’m dizzy and nauseous. I could throw up right now, and if he takes one more curve as fast as the last one, I just might.
My chest is heavy and painful. There’s a brick taking residence inside of it.
I’m dying, just like he wanted. I take a small piece of joy knowing it won’t be by his hand, that this will be taken away from him, too. Even if I don’t manage to save myself, I ruined his plan. One small mercy.
I struggle to take a breath, talking myself down the way Declan used to.
