So this is where he’s been hiding.
I slowed the car and pulled up to the cabin cautiously.
Jeremy stood at the door with a shotgun in his hand.
“Would you look at that?” he yelled. “You made it on time!”
I got out of the car and saw him properly.
His hair was greasy, his shirt stained with sweat. He hadn’t changed much—just more grey in his hair, yellowed teeth, and an even nastier beard.
“I’m here,” I said, keeping my voice steady through sheer force of will. “And I have the money. Leave the children and let’s go wherever you want.”
I opened the trunk, pulled the bags out, and walked toward him, every step feeling like I was walking into a trap I couldn’t escape.
“Come in, love. Let me take a good look at you,Jiya,” he murmured into my ear as I passed him.
I shuddered. My stomach churned violently.
He shoved me inside the cabin.
There was still light outside, enough for me to see everything clearly.
The children were strapped into chairs, gagged, crying. Cobwebs covered the walls of the dimly lit cabin. A table sat between two armchairs, a chimney rising on one wall. In one corner was a bed with torn, filthy sheets. A small kitchen peeked out from the opposite corner.
I ran to the children immediately and wiped their tears.“I’m here now,” I whispered. “Don’t worry. Everything will be okay.”I started to untie them.
Jeremy struck me with the shotgun—hard.
Pain exploded at the side of my head.I fell forward, my face hitting the floor, stars bursting behind my eyes.
He kicked me in the stomach.“Now, now!” he said. “Not so fast.”He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me up.
White-hot pain tore through my scalp. Blood trickled down from a cut on my head, warm and sticky.
The children started crying again, louder now, terrified.
“What do I see here?” he said.
His hands were on me—everywhere.
I squirmed, nausea rising fast.
He found the gun I had hidden and threw it across the room.“Now, what did I say?” he said calmly. “No weapons, right?”He slapped me again with the shotgun.“Why can’t you ever listen?”He shoved me to the floor.“You never did listen. Even when you lived with me, you never listened.”He kicked me again—harder this time.
I wriggled away, curling inward, trying to protect myself.
“You need to be punished so badly,” he said, kneeling beside me. “And I can’t wait to do that.”His face hovered inches above mine. He licked his lips. Sweat dripped off his face and onto my forehead.“No one is going to save you this time,” he said softly. “You will not get away this time. I’ve waited too long for this.”
“Let the girls go,” I pleaded, my voice breaking. “You have me now. Just let them go.”
“Let them go?” His expression twisted. “Are you crazy?”
“You bastard,” I spat. “You lied. I won’t let you get away with this!”
His malicious, maniacal laugh filled the cabin, terrifying the children.“They’re my leverage,” he said. “For even more money. I was never actually going to let them go. Did you really believe I would?”
My eyes widened as he roared with laughter.“You can’t do that,” I said. “I won’t let you.”I tried to get up.
