“No.” His voice grows cross.
“Please.”
Suddenly, his eyes glow red, like some horrible hell hound and I scream, sharp edges of plastic tearing at my wrists.
My eyes pop open, heart racing and the woman smirks. “Bad dream?”
I don’t give her the satisfaction of answering. Instead, I cross my legs and say, “I need to pee.”
“Hold it.”
“Ever been pregnant? Not going to happen. Believe me, it won’t smell pretty in here.”
“Fine.” She taps the driver on the shoulder. “Pull off at the next exit.”
I was hoping for one of the nicer thruway stops, complete with restaurants and a clean bathroom. No such luck. The driver pulls off in the middle of nowhere and picks the worst sort of gas station. The bathroom is unisex, outside, and you have to ask for a key.
“Free me?” I turn, lift my hands off my lower back, and she cuts the ties.
As the van door slides open, the tip of her knife cuts my chin. “Try anything and I split your pretty face. Understand?”
I nod but doing nothing will result in death for both me and my baby. When I get to the control panel and can’t turn off the EMF, she’s going to be pissed.
Inside the sordid bathroom, I work fast. Using the blood dripping down my neck, I write on the toilet lid.
REWARD! Call 212-PATTENS.
I’d write more but Ms. Mousy knocks and shouts. “Unlock the damn door, now.”
“Just a moment.” Praying, I pee and close the cover while she pounds harder.
Slowly, I wash my hands, then open the door. Mouth tight, brows scrunched, the red-faced woman pushes me aside. Nose to the wall, she studies the graffiti, no doubt wondering if I added mine.
“Seriously? I’m not stupid.”Besides, there’s so much, what would be the point?
When she glances at the closed lid, my heart thumps and I’m sure she’ll hear. However, I’ve been scared shitless since the gas exploded so I guess, to her, I seem normal.
But what if she has to go, too?
She takes one step toward the toilet and I pinch my nose. “Sorry. Diarrhea. It wouldn’t flush.”
Please don’t lift the lid. Please don’t lift the lid.
While she ponders, I take a deep breath. Finally, a small growl comes out of her, she shoves me out the door, and I’m so relieved, I stumble.
“Pick up your feet, for Christ’s sake.” She pokes me toward the van, and once inside, reties my wrists.
The rest of the way is spent with me praying madly.Ah, God, hi. Callie here. Remember me? I really could use some divine intervention. Make someone find my message. Keep me and my baby safe.
I close my eyes and in my dream, I’m back in the safe house where Lucky and I first made love.
“I never did this before.” I bite my lower lip.
“Sex?” He chuckles, the centers of his eyes almost black with want.
“No. Jeesh, I’m no virgin. I never, ah… you know… jumped into bed with someone I just met.”
“If you want to stop, we can. I’ll go out in the snow and roll around naked until me cock shrinks.” When he grins and winks, I giggle and slip my palm over his rough beard.
“Don’t do that. I want this. I want you.”
Our kisses grow heated and unlike last time, he thrusts inside me. “Cum for me luv.”
I wake, the dream fades, and my heart races when I see the signs for DC. We exit the thruway into a section of the city where houses are boarded up, streetlamps are broken, and dim blue lights flicker behind darkened windows.
The van stops in front of one of these and I’m tugged inside.
Having slept most the way, I’m wide awake. While the house quiets down and the lights go out, I plan.
Whether Lucky finds me or not, I will be ready.
