Chapter 29
Dawn
Iwasn’tsure if my eyes were open or closed. Everything was dark. My body was sore and I couldn't move my hands from above myhead.
I tried to move the rest of my body, but pain shot up from my feet to my legs—everywhere. I cried out in fear and pain. I moved my head to one side, then the other; I couldn’t see anything. I was pretty sure my eyes were open. Had I been blinded in theaccident?
“Elijah?” I called out, hoping for an answer. My voice wasweak.
I was lying down on something hard, but it wasn’t cold like the ground. I hadn’t been thrown from the car—at least, I didn’t think I hadbeen.
I faintly remembered being pulled from the car by rough hands. They were hands I was used to, and they were not gentle. I heard grunting and someone talking in a German accent but I couldn’t make out what was said, or by whom. I couldn’t get my mind to move my body. I washelpless.
“Elijah!” I called out again, louder this time as panic began to set in. I pulled on my arms, trying to get them unstuck. It felt like my wrists were tied with a thin rope, cutting the circulation off. “Help!”
I kept yelling, pleading for Elijah, anyone, to help me. My voice grew hoarse before the darkness and the pain took over my body onceagain.
* * *
Openingmy eyes some time later, I could see the morning sunshine through a flimsy, dirty curtain. It was a dull light, coating everything in a haze around the smallroom.
There wasn’t much to it. One door was to the right of me, and a small four drawer dresser stood next to me, out ofreach.
I couldn’t see what my hands were tied with as they were still up above my head. I could hardly feel them. I was lying on a dirty green mattress. There were no blankets, and I wore the same clothes I had on when I left the house. At least knowing I still had clothes on was arelief.
The room smelt dusty, almost musty in a way. It seemed like no one had used the room, possibly this house, for a longtime.
Flopping my head back down, I sighed. I had no idea where I was or when I would be let loose. I had no idea what time it was. Would I diehere?
I must have dozed off, as I was woken up when the lock turned in the door. I stayed still, faking sleep. The door slowly squeaked open, inch by inch. I leveled out my breathing, even if it meant I wouldn’t be free of the rope on my hands anytimesoon.
The heavy footsteps carried whoever it was towards me. When the person was close enough to the mattress, he kicked the edge of it, hitting my foot in the process. I jerked but kept my eyes closed and breathing even. I didn’t trust him; I didn’t even know who itwas.
“Still out,” he said loudly as he stomped out. His voice was scratchy and deep. It was not someone I knew, nor did it sound like someone I’d had to pleasebefore.
“How much did you give her, anyway?” I heard Morgan say from near thedoor.
“Enough,” the man replied. I could picture him shrugging like it wasn’t a bigdeal.
“Whatever,” Morgan sighed. “Getlost.”
“Got it boss,” he said, all too happy to oblige. “Still don’t know what you want with her. She’snothing.”
“I said get lost, Paul!” Morgan seethed a banging sound reached myears.
“Ich werde,” he mumbled before stomping away, slamming a door a few seconds later. Morgan groaned before entering theroom.
His footsteps were softer but his breathing was heavier, for a reason I couldn’tguess.
“Oh, my pretty girl. Look at what I had to do,” he sighed, bending down so he was closer to me. I felt him brush some of the hair off my face. “I didn’t plan to cause you any harm, but I had to haveyou.”
He sighed again. I could feel his eyes on me, looking me over. I wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but I had a pretty goodidea.
“Oh, for the love of . . .” I heard my mother mumble as she passed the doorway. She stomped angrily away beforereturning.
“What are you doing, Joan?” Morgan asked withworry.
“Waking her up,” she answered hotly, before dumping water on top of myface.
