Something catches my eye on the wall next to me that I so blindly missed this whole damn time. I curse inwardly for not seeing it sooner and could have possibly been out of here so much quicker.
A tip of a skinny nail pokes out of the wall, gracing me with its presence. I scoot over to the left carefully to avoid any contact with my back or sudden movements, and curse under my breath at the strain.
Finally, I’m able to reach it after what feels like way too much energy to do something so simple. I wrap my fingers around it and attempt to pull it out. I wiggle it over and over again and it gives in little by little. I pause for a moment, taking a breath, and continue the maneuver over and over again, feeling it give more and more. Once I feel that I have it loosened, I yank and it comes right out.
“Fuck, yeah!” I screech and quickly close my lips. I freeze for a moment to see if he heard me from upstairs, but nothing happens.
“Are you okay?” Panic rises from Monroe.
“Yup, I’m fine but I think I got something to get theseannoying cuffs off. Keep a look out, why don’t ya?” I respond back in a whisper.
Carefully, I move to the middle of the mattress and turn the front of my body towards the wall. At the edge of the disgusting mattress, I use the nail to dig into it, creating a tear. Once I make a big enough hole, I slide my hand inside to feel for any sort of spring. Feeling inside, I find little small loops and pull to break it off. It takes me a few minutes, some curse words and cuts on my fingers to finally get a piece apart.
Angling the two pieces, I insert them in the lock hole. I work it trying to get it in the right spot so I can pick the lock. Thank you, Dad, for teaching me this simple easy thing. It came in handy when I needed to get into a house for a surprise visit. He even locked me up to prepare me for this very situation.
I work the lock, huffing each time it fails, but the sound of hearing the lock click and the cuff falling from my skin gives me so much relief. The next one came easier and that cuff falls right off clattering to the floor. The sweet, sweet sound is like music to my ears. I take a moment and stretch out fully without being restrained and stand up slowly to make sure I don’t fall right on my face.
“Celeste, did you just get out?” Monroe stares with complete shock as I walk right in front of her.
“Pays to be raised by the Mafia, huh? I bet you don’t get taught how to get out of metal cuffs by the FBI.” I smirk down at her before gradually lowering myself to start on hers.
As I get one cuff off her ankle, I hear the locks to the door at the top of the stairs unlock and the door squeals open. My body freezes with panic. My mind starts to race with the fact that I wasn’t able to get the girls out quick enough and try to form a plan on what to do. I slide the nail and metal piece to Monroe.
“I’ll keep him busy, get you and Sam out of here,” I murmur to her before pushing back to a standing position.
Scouring the room, I try to find something to use against him but his footsteps come down faster as if he knows something is off. Well, I guess he’s going to meet The Reaper and all its glory.
Istand in the middle of the room projecting power and confidence. I pick at my nails as if I’m bored waiting for him to finally grace me with his presence. My body is screaming at me to sit the hell down but my pride is telling me to stand straight like the bad bitch that I am. Adrenaline starts pumping through my veins, boosting me higher, blocking out any weakness that I may have at this moment.
He gets to the bottom step and stops abruptly with pure shock on his face. In his hand he has a bag of jawbreaker candy and a jagged knife in another. From what I saw from prior victims, he shoved those big fuckers down their throats when their time was up. This confirms that something changed and it’s our time to go.
“Jesus Christ. Tell me, how did you escape, little demon?” He eyes me as he moves to my left.
I remain in my spot without flinching or taking a single step. Masking my face with boredom, I track every single step he takes. He sets the bag of candy on the metal table, keeping the knife in his hand. He begins to circle me as if I’m a prey he’s been dying to catch.
“Christ isn’t going to save you today. In fact, he’s very disappointed in you. The only place you’re going is to the pits of hell, trapped, burning with the constant replay of yourdeepest darkest fears. Tell me, Oliver, have you repented for your sins?” Looking up at him, I drill my eyes into his, giving him a sinister smile.
He launches himself towards me and I sidestep him barely out of his reach. Catching himself from crashing into a wall, he whirls around and charges me again as if I have a red cape and he’s the bull with blistering rage.
The knife swings in the air and I duck to avoid it and swing a right hook into his side. He fumbles for a moment but quickly recovers before he kicks out and lands a blow to my stomach. The impact is hard and sends me flying to the floor.
I notice Monroe getting up from the floor and free from the chains, hurrying over to Sam. He notices the same and changes direction to them, but I kick my leg out causing him to collapse to the ground. Knife still in his hand, he lifts himself off the ground at the same time as I do, returning his attention back to me. He obviously sees me more of a threat because his attention is back on me. Swinging the knife, I’m not quick enough to avoid it and it slices me on the shoulder.
Stepping into my boundary, he raises the knife again but I quickly block and elbow him in the face. His face snaps to the side but slowly turns back to me as if he’s been possessed in that moment. In one swift movement, I’m slammed against the wall, with one hand wrapped around my neck, and the other with the knife angled towards my face.
Monroe is quickly working on the lock but it’s giving her a harder time to get Sam’s undone. Please get her out, I want to scream. I send a silent prayer for whomever is listening to let them get out of here, let them live.
“Not so strong now, are you? As much as I want to end your pathetic life, which one of them should I take first? Who would cause you more pain? Maybe the FBI agent? No. She won’t hurt you. What about the single mother?” he starts to antagonize.
“I’ll kill you. It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. No one will miss you. In fact, many will cheer and rejoice once your very existence is wiped away from this Earth. You will fail your mission.” My tongue will get the best of me one of these days.
He releases my neck but angles the knife to my throat. The tip of the knife nicks my skin but nothing to cause any damage.
Without warning, I grab his wrist holding the knife and thrust it forward before moving my neck out of the way and twist it as hard as I can, causing a snapping sound. He screams in agony and drops the knife. I escape from the wall and take the opportunity to get the knife.
“You wretched animal,” he booms, grabbing the back of my hair right before I can get the knife.
His knee comes up to my stomach knocking the breath out of me, causing me to fall to the ground inches away from the knife. Grabbing an ankle, he tries to drag me, but I try to cause my body to turn into dead weight and kick out at him. Knife forgotten, he lets go of my ankle and his fists start raining down on me. I try to block his blows but some land on their mark.
