You can do this.
I have no clue how to get out of here though. I’m not even sure where here is. And despite having my knife, I’m not sure I can take on Frederico. He’s not a small guy, not to mention he’s a total psycho and completely unpredictable.
Since I don’t have my phone, or keys, or anything else on me anymore, I’m assuming he searched me and took everything I could use as a weapon. It’s a miracle he didn’t find the knife, and I might only have one chance to get away, so I need to plan it wisely. I’m also incredibly relieved I took off my jewelry like I do before every workout. Somehow, I don’t think it would have gone over well if Frederico had seen my wedding ring.
I take a step forward, just as my stomach growls.
His eyes briefly narrow to slits, then he holds out his hand. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”
I don’t bother reminding him that food is probably the last thing my stomach wants after I just threw up. My skin crawls as I place my hand in his, but staying in this room won’t help me escape. And hopefully it’s a good sign that he wants to take me somewhere else.
We walk through an old, dingy hallway, and step into the open kitchen and living room area. A sense of unease instantaneously washes over me, and I can’t help but feel like something’s wrong.
Frederico drags me in the direction of the fridge, and I look around. Big mistake. There are two elderly people sitting next to each other on one of the couches, both of them with identical gunshot wounds to the forehead.
I cover my mouth and recoil from it all. This room, the dead people only a few feet away, the smell of their decomposing bodies slowly penetrating my nose, my psychopath cousin, everything.
Frederico turns around and stares at me when I yank my hand out of his.
He tilts his head to the side and pouts. “What’s wrong, piccolina?”
My eyes betray me, and they flick over to the dead bodies.
He sighs like this is just another bad day at work. “Yeah, I know. Sorry about that. They wouldn’t cooperate, but I needed to make sure we’d be safe here. I did this for you, bellissima. Only for you.”
He opens his arms and gestures for me to come to him.
I can’t.
I just can’t.
I told myself maybe I could play along for a bit, make him trust me, so I could escape easier, but I can’t. He killed two innocent, old people in their own home, just because he didn’t get his way.
There’s so much blood on his hands that I know of, and probably so much more I don’t. Who’s to say he’s not going to snap and kill me too?
So despite trembling from top to bottom, I shake my head.
He exhales loudly. “Always so sensitive.”
I don’t reply.
Suddenly, he moves, coming straight for me.
I shriek and run. Where, I’m not sure. I didn’t even have time to peek around the room after I saw the dead people. There’s a door on the far right. Not sure where it leads, but out the window, I can see some sky in the distance.
I almost make it there as a shove from behind sends me flying to the floor. I catch myself on my hands and knees, pain ricocheting through my entire body on impact.
Frederico spins me around and climbs on top of me, boxing me in with his legs.
Then he slaps me so hard across the face, my vision turns blurry, and I taste copper in my mouth.
Fuck.
“Don’t worry, bellissima, you’ll learn.” Then his hands are on my breasts, squeezing them through my sports bra, and his erection is digging into my stomach. He slides up my shirt far enough to expose my stomach and to trace my scar with his fingers. The scarhegave me and is now admiring.
Shit, I didn’t even think about that earlier.
Disgust fights with panic in my body, my brain not knowing what to do. The only thing I know is I will not let him rape me. No way in hell. I will fight tooth and nail before that happens.