Page 43 of Trapped: Until The Darkest Of Night

Lou looks past me, her mouth gaping and her eyes like spherical marbles. I can’t tell if she recognizes her own clothes—I’m not saying anything, it’s to surprise her.

I open the drawer in the lower part of the closet. “Socks and underwear are in here.” I point to the other side. “Shoes are over there.” Her gaze returns to me, and for the first time, I can’t read it.

“And up there is everything else you’ll need. Shampoo, shower gel…tampons and stuff.”

Her eyes bore into mine. That unsettles me. I’m sure she’s wondering how long I’ve been preparing for her kidnapping.

I think about explaining the whole thing to her, but don’t. She doesn’t have to know everything at the beginning since it might only increase her fears.

“Okay… I’m gonna get started on that fire,” I say instead since she remains silent.

I pause on the threshold of the corridor: “Towels are in the overhead cupboard.” I almost forgot.

Lou’s eyes follow me. Her whole body looks petrified.

Now what did I do wrong? I would like to ask her. Louder than normal. But I hold back and go outside.

I get a bundle of firewood from the rear storage compartment and search for a few rocks at the edge of the forest to use as a barrier for the firepit.

As I lay out the circle, I glance up at the sky. The white ice crystal clouds from midday have given way to billowing cloud towers in the south. Their undersides are a stormy gray, hanging full of raindrops. Typical storm clouds. Still, I don’t stop and build a fire out of thick spruce wood. Thunderstorms in the Yukon are unpredictable. It is quite possible there will be thunder and lightning in a few hours.

As I stack the logs, my thoughts return to Lou. You just have to get to know me first. If we spend more time together, soon, she won't be scared of me anymore. The fact that she wants to shower and barbecue with me is a start. She could have refused, unless she didn’t dare.

Then something occurs to me. “Go ahead and pick out what you want to eat later,” I call out loud enough for her to hear inside.

“Okay,” she calls back after a few seconds. I glance over my shoulder at the RV. I can’t see her, but she seems to be in the front area.

Didn’t she want to take a shower? Why isn’t she in the back at the closet looking for clothes and towels? Has she already discovered that I bought half her wardrobe?

Watch out! a voice in my head warns.

Is she searching the kitchen for a weapon?

I let go of the rough branch and remain still. “It’s all in the fridge. Pick something out for me, too!”

“Okay!”

I listen but hear nothing. I pretend to continue working in case she’s watching me. My senses are on high alert. But she won’t find a weapon and it’s unlikely she’ll break my neck with a plate.

I keep working, but I can’t banish the anxiety. From the east, cumulus clouds roll across the sky like dark gray avalanches. The layers of air thicken and the shadows blur with the twilight.

Watch out!

I look at the RV where everything is quiet. Cold air streams out of the forest sending goose bumps down my spine as if I sense something bad is about to happen.

And then I hear a dull thump.

It sounds like the impact of someone jumping from a low branch. I know immediately what that means.

Chapter

Twelve

Ileap to my feet and start running before I can really get traction. Gravel crackles under my boots, but the sound seems infinitely far away. As I round the RV, I see Lou scurrying across the street to the other side.

She climbed out of the passenger door window!

Something inside me goes completely nuts.

---