finger, the other hand stayed against her throat. “Many reasons. But basically because you looked like you might hop in. And there weren’t many witnesses around.”
Alyssa forced herself to ask the question she was in two minds of having answered. “What are you going to do with me?”
“I’ve been waiting for that question. How about I make a deal with you? Call your friend and convince her you’re going somewhere without me. Doesn’t matter where. You just need to remove me from the equation. Then I’ll answer all your questions and I won’t hunt down your friend or parents.”
Alyssa knew he wasn’t giving her much choice. She’d ring Erin without the incentive of her questions answered. “I need to use the bathroom first.” After his earlier threats she wanted to make sure he wouldn’t leave her handcuffed to the bed until she wet herself. Even though she knew it was a minor concern, at least it was a concern she could deal with. One step at a time.
Nathan continued to look down at her, his eyes emotionless again. Then he moved off the bed. He took a key from his shirt pocket and unlocked the handcuff from the bed. He let it dangle from her wrist. “Make it quick.”
This time when Alyssa slung her handbag over her shoulder, Nathan didn’t stop her. He stood to the side as she stumbled to the door. When Alyssa glanced at the tray of food, he laughed and she looked over at him.
“It would have made it a lot easier on you if you’d eaten it.”
Alyssa took that as confirmation the food was drugged and the hollow pit in her stomach seemed justified. She hurried to the bathroom, worried Nathan might change his mind. The moment she was in there, she locked the door. As soon as she’d used the toilet, she rinsed and filled the bottle she’d found in her bag earlier. She drank from the tap and then turned it off. The handcuffs hit the metal and she cringed at the sound.
A movement caught her attention and she looked up to stare at her reflection. It felt like she looked at someone else. Even her mind barely registered any thought. Alyssa was glad of the numbness that seemed to settle in. The scream echoed in there, but not many other thoughts surfaced. Or those that did, she brutally shoved away. She couldn’t think. Not without becoming a rabbit. She had to stay calm and in control. Well, as much in control as a person held against their will could be. She looked at the window again. If only it was larger. Pushing that thought from her mind, she forced herself to unlock the door.
Nathan leaned against the wall across from the bathroom. He said nothing. He watched her as she paused in the doorway. She stood there and waited to see what he’d do. He pushed away from the wall and handed her phone to her before he walked back to her prison. She looked down at it then over to Nathan as he stepped into the room. Was she meant to follow? She took a few steps forward. Maybe he was going to let her call her friend without listening in. She didn’t know. It seemed unlikely. So she walked to her prison and stopped in the doorway.
Nathan sat in the armchair. That only left the bed. If she didn’t need to sit so badly she wouldn’t have considered it. But her legs felt wobbly and she knew if she didn’t sit soon they’d give out on her.
Alyssa dialled Erin’s number. She picked up on the second ring.
“What have you been doing all day? I’ve been waiting and waiting for you to call. It’s nearly seven p.m. Over twelve hours I’ve waited. You should’ve called before now.”
“Sorry, Erin. I guess I was having so much fun I lost track of time.” Alyssa glared at Nathan as she said this, and was annoyed to see her words amused him. She could barely believe she’d slept the entire day. Maybe it was from the drugs she’d been given the night before. Another question she couldn’t answer.
“So where are you? What have you been doing? When are you coming home?” Erin fired the questions at
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley