"Since I can't get out anyway, do you think you could pass me down something to cut the zip tie on my ankles?" I asked. That didn't seem like too much to ask. "It won't be any fun for you if I drown before the water gets to boiling point."
"That's very true," he drawled.
I grimaced to myself. A thing could either be true or not. It didn't need to be qualified with ‘very’ in front of it.
Yeah, I focus on niggling things at the wrong times. So sue me.
He disappeared, returning a minute or two later with a pair of scissors.
"Catch," he tossed them down to me. He watched until I caught them, then jumped off the ladder, his footsteps moving away.
I caught them and turned around, pressing my back against the slowly warming vat. I raised my sopping legs and sniped off the zip tie.
There, that was a little better.
"Thanks," I called out over my shoulder.
"It's the least I could do to prolong my amusement," he said.
Of course that was why he did it. Sadistic bastard.
I slipped the scissors into my pocket and kicked my way over to the opposite side of the vat.
I felt along the side, searching carefully in the dim light. I almost missed it, almost swiped my hand along the steel too quickly. But I found it.
Grooves in the side of the vat. An escape route for anyone who fell in accidentally.
I sent a quick thanks for the OSHA people who gave a thought for the health and safety of workers. A safety feature like this would be a relatively recent addition, making me wonder how long this vat was down here.
"Is the water feeling more pleasant now? Hypnos asked.
"It's actually quite nice," I said. It was almost as warm as bath water. "I don't suppose you can throw in some bubble bath? Maybe a rubber duck?"
He laughed. "Those would be wasted in there."
"That's what I thought you'd say." I glanced back to make sure he hadn't climbed back up the ladder before working my hands and feet into the grooves and climbing slowly.
Dripping, I reached the top of the vat and grabbed the lip, pulling myself over as quickly as I could and dropping to the floor.
I winced, hoping like hell he didn't hear the wet plop as I landed.
I dropped to a crouch and waited.
"It should be getting nice and warm by now," he called out. "I'm sorry it won't warm up any faster."
I stood quickly so I could project my voice. Hopefully I sounded like I was still inside the enormous vat. "That's okay. I'm not in a hurry."
There was that evil chuckle again. "Of course you're not."
I pulled the scissors out of my pocket and stepped slowly around the vat, moving toward his voice, keeping my eyes and ears open.
After a step or two, I stopped to push off my footwear. Bare feet would be quieter than slopping along in my work shoes and socks. My shoes were probably ruined at this point anyway. If I wasn't already angry, I'd be angry over that. Those were a perfectly good pair of comfortable, worn in shoes.
I came around the side of the vat to see him sitting in the rickety chair he'd been in when I regained consciousness. He was bent over his phone, intent on something on the screen.
Young people and their technology, I thought to myself.
He was older than me and I was grateful for the distraction. Now, if it kept him busy for just long enough…
