“Ada!”
“He shoved me into the trunk of my car.The emergency trunk release isn’t working and we’re moving again.Slowly, but moving.I think… Jag, I think he’s crazy.”Her voice shook.She sounded so scared.
“Got him again,” Knight muttered.“He’s driving around the parking lot.Probably looking for some cover.”
“Knight’s got you,” I said.“We’re comin’, honey.”
“Tell her to try to break out one of the taillights from the inside,” Knight urged.He was standing close enough I had no doubt he heard easily enough.
“You hear that?”I demanded.
“Yes.I’ll try.”
“Get it out so you can see what’s coming at you.”
There was a muffled beep.“Fuck!”Though she still whispered, there was no mistaking her frustration.“My fucking battery is dying.How is this my life?”
“Leave your phone on,” Knight yelled.“Hang up and leave it on so I can track you.”
“Okay.”
“We’re coming, Ada,” I said again.“You keep yourself safe until we get there.”
“Jag?”Her voice trembled and I wanted to murder that rodent, Rat Man, slow and bloody.
“I’m here, baby.”
“I love you.You don’t have to say it back, I just want you to --”
“I love you too, Ada.I’ll tell you properly when I get you home.Yeah?”
“Yeah.”She sighed.“Be careful.”The call ended.
I stared at the dark screen for several seconds before I surrendered to the rage inside me.I shook as my roar echoed across the area.
Chapter Twelve
Ada
The darkness of the trunk pressed in on me like a physical weight, my breath coming in short gasps as I fought against the rising panic.My scalp still burned where Rat Man had grabbed me, the memory of his fist connecting with my face a dull throb across my cheekbone.I forced myself to think, to focus.Jag was coming.Knight was tracking my phone.I just needed to stay alive, stay smart, and give them time to get to me.
I made sure my phone was on battery saver.The screen dimmed instantly, casting an eerie blue glow across the confined space.I silenced it, making sure even vibrate was turned off.The last thing I needed was for Rat Man to hear it and take it from me.Knight needed that signal.He hadn’t searched me yet.From what I’d seen of him so far, he didn’t seem too stable.If I was lucky, he wouldn’t think to search me now.
I slid the phone deep into my back pocket where it wouldn’t easily fall out.Not ideal, but better than nothing.
The taillight took some doing in the dark, especially since I had no idea how to go about pulling out the light.I only tried to keep myself from spiraling into terror.The truth was I’d never been so scared in my life as I had been since Rat Man grabbed me.
Sweat trickled down my neck as I shifted position.We moved faster now, though still not like we were on the open road.More like a side street or something.The car hit a pothole, throwing me against the side of the trunk.My head cracked against something metal, and stars burst behind my eyes.I bit down hard on my lip to keep from crying out.Rat Man didn’t need to know I was conscious and fighting.
When the spinning stopped, I went back to the light.Took some work, but the taillight finally gave, and I wiggled it free.One final wrench and it came free in my hands, leaving a small hole where the light had been.
Cool air rushed in, bringing with it the smell of river water and a rusty, fishy smell that had me wrinkling my nose.I pressed my eye to the opening, blinking against the light.
Through the small hole, I could see we had stopped moving.The car was parked in front of an enormous warehouse, its metal skeleton old and tired looking.Most of the windows were broken, looking like jagged glass teeth in gaping maws.
Water glinted in the distance, the river probably.I tried to get a better look at my surroundings.The area seemed deserted, no other cars visible, no people moving about.Just me and Rat Man.I had no idea if he had help or if we were alone.
The crunch of gravel snapped my attention back.Footsteps approached the car, heavy boots coming into view through my makeshift window.I pulled back instinctively, even though I knew he couldn’t see me watching.The footsteps stopped right outside the trunk, and I heard a muttered curse.
