“Bathroom’s open,” I announced.
“Thanks.” He stepped away from the window and walked past me. I took his place at the window and started using my body weight to pull against the planks.
It took more than one tug, but I was finally able to pry a board free. I looked out the window, trying to figure out where in the hell we were. This cabin felt familiar, as if I knew it and it was completely different.
“What? How did you do that?” He stared at the board on the floor. “But good work. I think I loosened them up.”
I groaned. “Does it matter?”
“Now that the window is open we can signal. Someone can find us.”
“Crew, there is no traffic out there. This cabin is remote. For a good reason. It’s not as if someone is going to walk by and hear us. That would be stupid. Utterly ridiculous. Do you know how dumb that sounds? Do you even hear yourself right now? What are you th
inking?” I was exasperated with him. Did he have to be optimistic all the fucking time?
“Hey, hey. I’m sorry.”
My hands had begun to shake. I didn’t realize just how harsh I sounded until I saw the look on Crew’s face.
“I-I didn’t mean that, Crew. I don’t know why I said it that way. I’m the one who is sorry.”
He moved from the window. “Hey, it’s not easy being stuck in here and not knowing when we’ll get out. I don’t blame you. It’s okay. You’re just letting off steam.”
“Still. I shouldn’t have said it that way.”
“We’re both frustrated. And hungry,” he added. “But they should bring a tray down soon. They do it like clockwork.”
I blinked. “What?” The fear rippled in my chest. I must have misheard what he said.
“You know, the guy who leaves the tray at the bottom of the stairs.”
I shook my head, realizing, the cabin had morphed into part of the basement. There was a staircase where the kitchen table used to be. The staircase. And cement walls replaced the wood paneling. I turned to tell Crew something about this prison I recognized. I needed him to know it was the same kidnapper. It had to be. We were in the basement. I knew this place well. When I turned he was gone. Vanished.
God, the nightmare was different now. It had come back stronger.
I pushed off the bed, aware of how tender my head was from the headache. The pounding hadn’t eased much. I waited a second to get my bearings before trying to take a step. I didn’t like feeling dizzy on top of everything else.
The door handle rattled, and I saw the deadbolt twist.
This time I ran straight toward it.
10
Knight
The plan felt loose and flimsy and I wasn’t sure how long I could keep up this charade.
I should have driven faster, but something kept me from pressing the gas pedal all the way to the floor.
I thought about the Castilles. I thought about Seraphina. I thought about Crew. I couldn’t help but wonder which life would be better for her; the one on the run always checking over her shoulder waiting for the Castilles to catch up to her, or the one where she stayed in a loveless controlling marriage with a family who looked right through her every night at the dinner table. I inhaled, thinking she had no good choices. She had to decide between the worst and darkest options in front of her. It made me sick to think that my light sweet sister had nothing but fear and hard decisions ahead of her.
The screen on my dashboard lit up with a call. It was Seraphina.
“What’s going on? I know I missed the world’s greatest cheesecake.”
“Oh my God. I don’t know what to do.” She was panicked and out of breath.
“Okay. Okay. Slow down and tell me what’s going on.” I waited for an explanation. Everything had been boring and uninteresting twenty minutes ago.