“Hungry?” Jeremiah asked and pulled out an apple.
“Yes,” I said. There was no sense in refusing food. I’d need it to keep up my strength for when I ran.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, sir.”
He cut off a slice and fed it to me. I chewed and swallowed without looking at him or even tasting the fruit. When it got to the last slice, instead of giving it to me, he forced two fingers inside my mouth. I gagged and spit into the dirt. Jeremiah laughed.
“It’s gonna take some work to break you in, won’t it? You’re a spoiled little bitch, huh?”
I clamped my mouth shut and refused to answer. Jeremiah had knives, several of them, stashed all over his body. If I could get to one of them, I might be able to cut the bindings from my wrists and ankles. I might be able to cut him with it too.
Could I do it though? Stab him as if he were a Rabid? Maybe, but if I hesitated in the least, it might mean my death. A better option would be to run.
“Well, I’m whooped,” Jeremiah said, “I was up all night partying with your boyfriend, then negotiating this trade with Brother Larry, and then I had to come and collect my payment.”
“How did you do it? Without anyone hearing you?” I asked.
“I shut the windows and gassed the house. Climbed up the stairs and injected you with a sedative so you wouldn’t wake up until much later. Carried you off to my rig. You don’t weigh much.”
“And no one saw you?” I asked, hoping against hope that someone had.
“If they did, they’ll go tell Brother Larry and he’ll take care of it for me. It’s a nice little arrangement we have, don’t you think?”
I felt like throwing up.
“You’re going to want me on my A game tonight when we go Rabid hunting, so I’m going to catch a few Z’s while you chill out in the cage.”
My eyes darted toward the menacing structure. “Can’t you just leave me here? I’m tied up. I won’t go anywhere.”
“I’m not taking any chances with you, Joshua. I’ll put a blanket in there, make it cozy for you, like a dog. You should nap too. It’s going to be a long night.” He winked as he stood, stretched out his bulky arms and back, then went over to the Humvee and withdrew a blanket, a bottle of water, and what looked like some jerky. He climbed the side of the rig and stuffed all of it into the cage. Then he came back for me.
“Up you go,” he said, and swung me over one shoulder. My arms dangled behind his back, and I could almost reach the knife holstered to his belt, but it would require tugging on a button to free it, and he’d likely feel the pressure. There was another blade stuffed into his combat boot without any sort of guard. Maybe I could take that one without him noticing.
“Wait,” I said as he dropped me on my ass on the metal floor of the cage. “I’m scared. I don’t like cages. Don’t leave me here.” I gripped his calf with both my hands digging into his solid flesh while my fingers skimmed the knife’s handle.
“No one likes cages, but you’re going to have to prove you can be a good bitch before I let you sleep inside.”
“Please?” I glanced up at him and blinked, making sure to look as timid and harmless as I could, which wasn’t hard to do.
“Yeah, you keep looking at me like that and I’ll be stuffing my cock down your throat in no time. That’s one way to earn a nice, soft bed.” He gripped my face and squeezed my cheeks until I was sure there’d be bruises, then shoved me backwards and locked me inside the cage. The padlock was huge and attached to thick metal chains wound tightly around the bars. The key to the padlock was one of several hooked on his belt. There was no way I was getting out of here without it.
But if I could surprise him…
I scooted away, hiding the knife I’d stolen between my legs. Jeremiah looked me over once more. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
He climbed down from the roof and disappeared inside the rig with a slam of the metal door. I almost started hyperventilating right then, but I forced myself to breathe deep and evenly. I had a job to do. I had to get away. I turned the blade of the knife on my bindings, slowly sawing away at the rope while being careful not to cut myself.
First, I’d get free of these ropes. Then I’d figure out a way out of the cage. Then I’d run.
I stared at the forest that surrounded me, full of Rabids and other unknown threats, but none of them seemed nearly as terrifying as the man holding me captive.
I’d take my chances.
SEVENTEEN
CIPHER
