Trapped

by Sally Mason

  I gasp.

  There’s triumph on his face. “I guess he forgot to mention that little detail.”

  For a moment, I’m totally thrown off course. I recall the conversations I had with Finn about my ordeal. He genuinely seemed shocked and appalled. There’s no way this could have all been an act.

  “If he was Napoleon, why would he beat you up?” I counter, convinced of Finn’s innocence.

  Jed even has an answer to that. “It could’ve been a diversion.” When I go rigid, he adds: “I mean, I’m not saying it’s Finn. All I wanted to show you is that Napoleon could be anybody. Since he’ll never reveal his true identity, you’ll never know.”

  The fact that I will likely never have closure brings new tears to my eyes. As long as Napoleon is a mystery to me, I will never 100 percent trust a guy.

  “He’s just a coward,” I mutter, my voice slightly trembling.

  “Don’t be upset, honeybun.” Jed’s fingers brush my cheek. “This was supposed to be a fun game.”

  I recoil under his touch. “You know what, Jed? You’re just a total pervert. I hate you.”

  His hand withdraws as he chuckles. “Don’t be a party pooper, or this will turn into your worst nightmare yet. I’ll torture you again like the last time. The dog leash is still around and I can dig up plenty of crawly things around the lake.” There is a cruel smirk on his lips. “Napoleon also has some pretty crazy ideas of his own. After we’re through with you, you’re gonna stay at that loony bin till you’re old and wrinkly, so be good.”

  His threat hangs over the car like an angry storm cloud. My stomach turns into a solid knot. Suppressing the rising tears, I glare out of the window, my hands balled to the tightest fists. My fingernails cut into my palms, leaving a sharp pain behind which keeps me halfway sane.

  I will survive this! It is a statement I repeat over and over in my mind to drown out the incredible fear that is attempting to bubble to the surface. Deep down, I know that this time, there’s a good chance they will kill me. It has always been hanging over my head during my first abduction, knowing that Jed wouldn’t have revealed his identity if he wanted to let me go. Only Napoleon’s continued secrecy had put me at ease, though I’m still not sure if I wasn’t lying to myself.

  When I gaze at Jed, who is humming to the Christmas song like he’s trying to get into the holiday spirit, my anger seethes. He doesn’t deserve to be happy; as a matter of fact, he doesn’t even deserve to live. My torment will never stop unless he is dead. In a moment of total insanity, my hands ball to fists. I’m ready to take a swing at him until the rational part of my brain takes back over. We are in a moving car, driving close to fifty miles an hour. If I lunge at him and he loses control of the van, we will both die. On top of that, Napoleon will kill Hallie. No, for the moment, gritting my teeth and playing his game is all I can do.

  I lean back and close my eyes, controlling my breath to calm my nerves. We continue to drive through the night. He leaves the highway at the Sabattus exit, actually passing the hospital before turning onto Route 197 toward Tacoma Lakes. He turns onto a bumpy dirt road, which is narrow and fully covered by snow that crunches under the tires. Hanging tree branches curve across like a solid roof, robbing me of the sight of the pale winter moon.

  In a curve, the van swerves to the right, but Jed gets it back under control before he hits a snowbank. A short while later, he speeds down a gentle slope, coming to a halt at the end of the road.

  A log cabin lies in the moonlight. The property borders on one side with the lake, but is otherwise only surrounded by trees. It’s rather small with an elevated deck out front that faces the water. It’s a typical summer holiday home. I wonder whether the owners know that their vacation paradise is used in the commission of several felonies.

  Jed ushers me up the wobbly steps that lead to the deck. With a welcoming gesture, he holds the front door open for me. “Home sweet home, honeybun. I hope you like it.”

  The place is actually quite cozy and quaint. A light scent of pine emits from the wood paneling that covers the walls all the way up to the cathedral ceiling. Large windows open up to the deck and the lake; the view in the daytime must be stunning.

  A fire is crackling in the open fireplace and the cabin holds the heat well. It’s almost roasting. The whole downstairs is an open floor plan. I can see the kitchen out back to the right and part of a bedroom through a cracked door on the left. A set of stairs leads to a landing and another room upstairs.

  “Where’s Hallie?” I hiss, hugging my arms around my chest.

  He points at the landing. “She’s up there.” Invitingly, his arm swings toward the sofa. “Come on, get comfortable. I’ll get you a drink. What would you like?”

  “Well, I don’t believe you.” I glare at him. “If she’s here, I want to see her. You swore you’d let her go.”

  His laugh is vicious this time. “Well, I lied. She ain’t going anywhere and you can say hello in the morning. For now, she’s asleep. Napoleon knocked her out when he left.”

  I can’t believe I was that gullible. “If you don’t let her go, I will—” The sentence hangs unfinished in the air. There are not really any believable threats I can make.

  “You’ll do what?” His voice is full of amusement.

  “I’ll kill you,” I blurt out. The words sound like a joke even to my ears. Who am I fooling? I don’t have a weapon, but even if I did, he is a championship boxer who can fight off any attack without even breaking a sweat.

  His eyes darken before he slaps me hard across the face. “You’ll behave, or I swear I’ll take it out on Hallie.” His finger points at the sofa. “Now sit your ass down before I drag her downstairs and pop her cherry right in front of you.”

  My body shakes uncontrollably when I lower myself onto the couch while Jed disappears in the kitchen. The metallic taste of blood is in my mouth. My cheek stings like hell, but the pain is nothing compared to the dull ache drilling into my heart like an auger. How could I have been so stupid to ever believe him? I should have known better.

  Stifling heat chokes me, but I’m shivering from cold sweat at the same time. My chest is so tight that I can barely breathe. The rapid pounding of my heart drowns out every other sound in the room as tears begin to fall. I bury my face in my hands, focusing on my breathing.

  Don’t lose it, I tell myself. Not in front of Jed.

  When I look up, he’s right in front of me, watching me intently. A steaming cup of tea is in his hand, which he places on the table right in front of me. “You can sleep on the couch tonight since I’m exhausted. The door is locked with a deadbolt and all the windows are nailed shut, so there’s no way out.” He sets a razor blade right next to the tea. “Here, in case you want to feel better. The bathroom is to the left of the kitchen. Sleep tight, honeybun.”

  After the bedroom door closes behind him, my fingers run over the razor blade. Maybe once he’s asleep, I can take him out. If he disarms me again, there will be serious repercussions, not just for me, but Hallie as well. It might be my best option to end this ordeal quickly, though. When the key to the bedroom door turns, my shoulders slump. So much for that idea.

  An incredible pain washes over me, which robs me of my breath. The razor blade is teasing me, the urge to find a quick relief overpowering. Just one more time will give me strength. Trying to battle the growing urge, I replay Reggie’s words during the last group session before the break. It takes courage to fight the addiction. I want to be courageous so badly, but my newfound strength is dwindling. I just want to go to sleep without the pain.

  Ten minutes later, I give up the fight. With my back against the wall, I slide onto the bathroom floor after making three quick parallel cuts in my forearm. The searing pain from the red rain spilling from my veins lulls me into a total sense of oblivion. With a deep sigh, I indulge in the hot and cold flashes, and for just one brief moment, I forget all the things that keep me from breathing without the pain.

  CHAPTER 16<
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  When I awake at the crack of dawn, my throat is raw, a dull ache pounding in my head. In some ways, it feels like a bad hangover from a drinking spree gone astray, even if the underlying act was nothing more than self-mutilation. I lie still on the couch, feeling like total crap, while trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my lower arm. I curse myself for the relapse.

  My eyes are still closed when a warm body cuddles into me. I know instantly that it’s Jed from his aftershave.

  “I saw the blood in the bathroom. Did you have a good time, honeybun?”

  His question makes me feel even more despicable. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?”

  He wipes a strand of hair from my face. “Of course. I didn’t use to get why you cut yourself, but Napoleon explained to me that it’s like an addiction. You can’t help it. It numbs the pain you feel inside you. Intriguing, when you think about it. Inflict more pain to kill the other. It sounds ridiculous, but it must work since quite a lot of people are doing it these days.” He bends forward and his breath tickles my neck. “Tell me, honeybun. Did it make you feel better?”

  I fight the urge to push him away, opening my eyes instead. His dark orbs are like liquid gold as they pierce into me. I detect a hint of glee. When I realize that our lips are only inches apart, a shudder runs through me. He must be getting ready to kiss me. I turn my head away.

  “It didn’t help,” I lie. My voice is feeble and absolutely not convincing.

  His fingers run over the bandage I found under the sink in the first aid package after the freezing bathroom floor became unbearable. “I should take a look at that later. We don’t want you to get an infection.” He grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. “But first of all, how about some early morning fun? Let’s begin by you kissing me, and I mean, really kissing me. Like you mean it.”

  I laugh bitterly. “Fat chance. That’ll never happen.”

  “Oh, it will, honeybun,” he says in a husky voice. His thumb traces my bottom lip. “If you don’t make me happy, I’ll take it out on Hallie. For the moment, she’s safe. Since I’m not attracted to her, I won’t touch her. I want you, honeybun, but not like the last time. I realized last night that I went about it the wrong way. You have to give yourself freely to me.”

  The whole concept makes my stomach turn. “What is this, Jed? Some wishful thinking that I’ll become your girlfriend and we play house. You kidnapped me—again—and I’m your prisoner. That’s not really a strong basis for a love affair.”

  His eyes darken as he clicks his tongue. “Maybe not, but then I suggest you become a really good actor. I want this. If not, I’ll make Hallie suffer and have you watch every step of the way. It’s all up to you. As I said before, only you can save her.”

  The thought that he will tear her innocence away right in front of me drives tears to my eyes. That night when Napoleon took my virginity, something died inside me. I don’t want to have Hallie experience the same. After she already lost her parents, this could break her. “How do I know she is even here? You lied to me before. Maybe Napoleon took her.”

  Jed sits up and stretches. “You’re right, honeybun. I’ll prove to you that she’s here, but let’s make breakfast first. She hasn’t eaten in a couple of days and sure must be starving.”

  I wonder if he allowed her to use the bathroom or whether she also had to pee in a pot right in front of him. With some reluctance, I follow him into the kitchen, which is a standard vacation home setup. Small stove, single fridge, and just big enough to have a person turn around while working. Padlocks are on all the cabinets and the fridge, which is another blow. There is no way for me to get a knife or another weapon.

  He unlocks the fridge. “Do you want bacon with your scrambled eggs?”

  I will need all the strength I can get to pull through this. “Yes, please.” My stomach is queasy, but I’ll force myself to eat. My eyes fall onto the bathroom door. Nature is calling. Without asking for permission, I walk inside and slam the door shut.

  “There is a spare toothbrush in the cabinet under the sink,” he calls from the kitchen.

  While I relieve myself, I scan the room for possible weapons. The mirrors, which would have been my first choice, have been removed and there is nothing sharp I could use to stab Jed with. The razor blade I left on the sink is gone, together with any sign of my self-harm efforts. Jed must have scrubbed the place clean before waking me. The distinct scent of bleach is still in the air.

  I check under the sink, but there is nothing other than the first aid kit, without the required scissors, and a new toothbrush. Toilet cleaner, bleach, and other chemicals could have worked to cause some serious damage, but Jed thought of everything. He totally baby-proofed the place, which also comes in handy to keep kidnapped victims confined.

  When I step back into the kitchen, he portions the eggs onto three plates. “Eat up, or Hallie will get cold breakfast.”

  The smell of the food proves too much. I rush back into the bathroom before my stomach heaves. I haven’t eaten or drunk anything since lunch yesterday and only manage to choke up dry air. Continuing to gag, I feel totally helpless while doubled over in front of the toilet. Every muscle in my body convulses as minor explosions set off in my head every time I retch. Desperate whimpers mix with the gurgling sound resonating from my throat. When my stomach finally settles, my skin is covered in cold sweat.

  Jed hands me a small wet towel. “I’d better fix you some tea.”

  All I can do is nod while leaning against the bathroom wall. My mouth is laced with the bitter taste of bile, competing with a fire that burns in my throat. I fight with the continuous nausea as the blood pounds in my temples, wishing for nothing more than some aspirins and my mom’s milk toast. Thinking about her brings fresh tears to my eyes. Now I’m sorry that I was such a bitch to her lately.

  When I stumble back out of the bathroom, Jed has moved the breakfast into the oven and is fixing some tea. A light trace of ginger emits from the steaming cup he sets right in front of me.

  “Here. My sister used tea to battle morning sickness when she was pregnant and swears it’s really good when you’re nauseous.”

  I didn’t even know he has a sister. “Where does she live?”

  “St. Louis.”

  “And how old is she?”

  “You ask a lot of questions.” Judging from Jed’s face, they do not get along.

  “Does she know you and Napoleon have been kidnapping girls?”

  His finger shoots in my direction. “Do yourself a favor and shut up. I don’t wanna talk about her.”

  I file this bit of information away in the back of my mind. If I ever need to wind him up, this will be a way to do it.

  The tea is hot and offers instant relief. I sip slowly, rolling it around on my tongue to get the nasty taste out of my mouth.

  “Do you have any painkillers?”

  He unlocks a kitchen drawer and tosses me a couple of ibuprofen. I get a good look at the other contents before he slams the drawer shut and locks it again—it holds various medicine bottles and a small knife. Picking that lock would definitely give me access to some treasures. I could probably knock Jed out if I grind up the pills and mix them in his food, or I could stab him with the knife.

  By the time I finish the tea, my stomach has settled down, yet the food still doesn’t look appealing. I nibble off small pieces of the bacon while Jed devours every bit of his breakfast. He is a fast eater and the whole affair doesn’t take longer than five minutes.

  After he scoops my leftovers into the bin, he grabs the last plate. “Well, let’s go and see Hallie.”

  “How do you even know her?” It’s a question that has been bothering me the whole night.

  A smile curls his lips. “I’ve been watching you since you were admitted to the hospital. Your brother is as careless as you and never even noticed I was following you guys. A few times, you and Hallie walked out together and seemed really friendly. I followed her one night to find o
ut where she lives. Napoleon figured you were close enough that you would come to her rescue.”

  My stomach cramps again at the thought that he has been following me around this whole time. This is so creepy. Wiping the sweaty palms on my pants, my legs carry me automatically up the steps, my apprehension growing. I’m mad at Hallie for getting herself kidnapped, but my sympathy prevails in the end. She must be scared out of her mind.

  There is only one room upstairs and it’s padlocked. Jed fumbles with the keys while I drum my fingers on the banister. When the door finally opens, I push past him just to stop in my tracks at the appalling sight in front of me.

  Despair lingers over the room as I take in her shivering, almost naked body, which is covered with bruises and small cuts. Her ankles and wrists are raw from the tight ropes which hold her in place in a spread-eagle position. Fortunately, there is no sign of blood on her thighs, and I’m relieved that Jed was not lying with respect to her V-card.

  With no heat in the room, it is freezing. A cold breeze floating in from the cracked window makes matters worse. Despite the ventilation, a strong stench of urine irritates my nostrils. I scan over the various-sized stains on the mattress, which causes anger to flare momentarily. Those bastards must not have allowed her to relieve herself away from the bed. I can only imagine how terrible and dirty she must feel.

  I lower myself next to her and fumble with the gag in her mouth. She gazes at me with utter confusion. I pull on the knot but can’t get it loose. My fingernails are too short.

  “Cut this off her,” I finally hiss at Jed with frustration. “And get a blanket.” I want to help her so badly and assure her that everything will be okay again.

  He has been watching me intently but doesn’t move. “I told you before—you’ll have to be nice if you want to help her.”

  I huff. “What do you want?”

  “For now, a kiss. A real one.”

  I massage my forehead, totally at a loss. I don’t want to play Jed’s sick game, but I have no clue what else to do to help Hallie. My knees almost buckle as I stand up. Without resistance, I allow him to pull me into his arms.