She could see the words hit him like physical blows. His face went from red to nearly purple.
“Just go sit on the sofa and stay out of my way,” Todd said, his voice nasty and mean. “I’m glad I didn’t have to listen to your smart mouth for the past twelve years.”
“Yeah,” Trinity chimed in, high-fiving Maddy. “Maddy’s intelligence would have fried what little brains you have a long time ago.”
Both girls were using defiance to cover theirfear, and it was working. Sort of. At least it made them feel braver than they actually were.
“Seriously,” Todd seethed, taking a step toward them. “You two smart mouths get out of my sight before you see just who I really am.” His voice took on a dangerous edge that made both girls decide maybe they’d pushed him far enough for now.
“I think it’s too late for that,” Maddy said quietly. “We already know exactly who you are.”
She pulled Trinity toward the living room area, away from Todd and his barely contained anger. They sat on an old sofa that smelled like mildew, and Trinity immediately leaned close to whisper.
“We need to get out of here.”
Maddy nodded.
Trinity’s eyes scanned the room with a kind of tactical awareness. “There are three windows that I can see. None of them looks bolted. Just old latches.”
“How did you notice that so fast?” Maddy asked, impressed.
Trinity shrugged. “Military parents and uncle. They taught me to always look for exits. To assess every room I walk into.” She paused. “We could probably get one open if we had a chance.”
Before they could formulate a more detailed plan, Trinity suddenly froze. Her hand shot out and grabbed Maddy’s arm, her eyes fixed on one of the windows.
“Don’t look now,” Trinity whispered, “but I think there’s a bear outside.”
Maddy’s heart jumped into her throat, but she turned slowly to look where Trinity was pointing. A large shadow had fallen across the window, backlit by moonlight.
Not a bear.
Christopher.
His face was pressed to the glass, peering inside carefully. He spotted them immediately, and relief flooded his expression for just a second before his face went hard and tactical again. He put his finger to his lips, signaling them to be silent. Then he gestured for them to hide.
Both girls nodded in understanding.
Maddy’s mind raced. They needed to get away from Todd and to a safe place while Christopher did whatever he planned. The bathroom. It had a lock on the door.
“Hey, Mister,” Maddy called to Todd, who was still pacing in the kitchen area, his phone pressed to his ear as he tried to call someone. “We need the bathroom.”
“I think it’s down the hall,” Todd called back without even looking at them. He was too focused on whatever call he was trying to make, too distracted to care what they were doing.
Perfect.
Maddy and Trinity moved quickly down the short hallway, their footsteps quiet on the old wooden floor.They found the bathroom: small, outdated, but functional. A bathtub, toilet, and sink. Maddy pushed Trinity inside first and followed, locking the door behind them with a soft click.
Trinity immediately understood what Maddy had in mind. She made them both climb into the bathtub, where they sat with their backs against the cold porcelain, holding hands again.
“He’s going to save us,” Maddy whispered.
“I know,” Trinity whispered back. “Uncle Christopher is a hero.”
And sitting in that bathtub in an old cabin in the woods, with a man who’d kidnapped them just down the hall, both girls felt confident for the first time since Todd had grabbed them on the beach.
Because Christopher had found them.
And everything was going to be okay.
