Page 35 of Breaker

The car lurched to a sudden stop, jolting me from my thoughts. I blinked, my eyes struggling to adjust to the abrupt change in surroundings. Gone were the open roads and sprawling fields, replaced by a dense wall of trees that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.

Robert’s movements were swift and precise as he killed the engine and stepped out of the vehicle. The slam of his door echoed through the stillness, a jarring reminder of the danger that lurked beneath his calm exterior. I watched, my heart hammering in my chest, as he circled around to my side of the car.

“Get out,” he commanded, his voice as cold as the steel of a blade.

I hesitated, my fingers trembling as I reached for the handle. I tugged on it, but nothing happened, then I remembered he’d engaged the child locks. My uncle opened the door. The air outside was thick and heavy, the scent of pine and decay mingling in my nostrils. I stood on shaky legs, my eyes darting from the imposing figure of my uncle to the narrow path that snaked into the woods.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Robert’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “You’ll see soon enough.”

He grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh with bruising force. I stumbled as he pulled me forward, my feet catching on the uneven ground. The trees closed in around us, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers, ready to snare me in their grasp.

With each step, the weight in my chest grew heavier, the air harder to breathe. I needed Breaker. I had to survive and find my way back to him.

Please. Please, let him find me. Let him save me from this hell. But as the woods swallowed us whole, as the darkness pressed in from all sides, I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that my pleas would go unanswered. That I was truly alone, at the mercy of a monster with no conscience and no remorse.

And yet, even as the fear threatened to overwhelm me, I clung to the tiniest spark of hope. The hope that somewhere out there, Breaker was fighting for me. That he would move heaven and earth to bring me back to him.

A cabin loomed before us, a decrepit shell of weathered wood and broken windows. Its sagging roof and rotting boards spoke of years of neglect, a forgotten relic hidden deep within the woods. As we approached, my heart hammered against my ribs, a sickening sense of dread washing over me. How had my uncle known this place was here? Had he used it before he’d gone to prison? Or had the people who had helped abduct me been the ones to tell him about it?

Robert’s grip on my arm tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like vises. “Home, sweet home,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “Don’t worry, Juniper. We’re going to have so much fun together. And when my friend arrives, you’ll finally learn your lesson.”

I tried to pull away, but his strength was overwhelming. He dragged me up the steps, the door groaning on its hinges as he shoved it open. The interior was just as decrepit as the outside, a musty smell of decay and rot assaulting my nostrils.

“P-please,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Please, let me go.”

Robert’s laughter filled the room, a harsh, grating sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Oh, Juniper. You’re not going anywhere. You’re mine now, and I’m going to make sure you never forget that.”

He forced me into a chair, its wooden frame creaking under my weight. With swift, practiced movements, he bound my wrists and ankles, the rough fibers bit into my skin. I struggled against the restraints, but it was useless. I was trapped, helpless, at the mercy of a man who had no mercy to give.

Think, Juniper, think.My mind raced with possibilities. There had to be a way out, a way to escape this nightmare. But as Robert loomed over me, his eyes glinting with a sadistic pleasure, I couldn’t see it. All I could see was the darkness closing in, the walls of the cabin pressing in around me, suffocating me with their isolation.

Breaker, please. Find me. Save me. Don’t let him win.

But the only answer was the sound of Robert’s laughter, echoing through the cabin like a death knell. And as the tears began to fall, as the hopelessness threatened to consume me, I wondered if I would ever see the light again.

Robert’s laughter faded into a menacing chuckle as he leaned in close, his breath hot against my cheek. A chill skated down my spine, and I fought hard not to flinch away from him. He’d enjoy it if I did. He thrived on making people fear him, especially young girls and women.

“Rest now, Juniper,” he whispered, his voice dripping with false tenderness. “You’re going to need your strength for what’s to come.”

With those terrifying words, he straightened up and strode toward the door, his footsteps heavy against the worn floorboards. The door closed behind him with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the cabin like a final judgment. And then, silence. A suffocating, oppressive silence that wrapped around me.

I sat there, my body trembling, my heart pounding in my chest. The ropes cut into my skin, a constant reminder of my captivity. But even as fear threatened to overwhelm me, I forced myself to focus, to take in my surroundings with a desperate intensity.

The cabin was small, barely more than a single room. A threadbare mattress lay in the corner, its surface stained and lumpy. A rickety table stood against the far wall, its surface littered with empty beer cans and cigarette butts. Considering the state of the cabin, those looked too fresh to have been here for years. Had someone been staying here?

My gaze darted around the room, searching for anything that might aid in my escape. A loose floorboard, a forgotten tool, a sharp edge to saw through my bonds. Anything! But there was nothing. Nothing but the emptiness of the cabin and the weight of my own helplessness.

As despair threatened to engulf me, I closed my eyes, conjuring up the image of Breaker’s face. His strong jaw, his warm brown eyes, the way his lips curved into a crooked smile when he looked at me. I could almost feel the touch of his hand against my cheek, the rumble of his voice as he whispered words of comfort and reassurance.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the fear and the uncertainty. I would not let Robert break me. I would not let him win. I was Juniper Kelley, and I was a fighter. I would fight with every ounce of strength I had left, until I was back in Breaker’s arms, where I belonged.

As my gaze swept across the floor, I noticed a glint of metal peeking out from beneath a tattered rug. My heart leaped in my chest, and I stretched my feet out, straining to reach it. With a bit of effort, I managed to hook the edge of the rug with my heels, pulling it back to reveal a small, rusted nail.

It wasn’t much, but it was a start. I managed to get up, then decided to do this as quietly as possible. If I went hopping across the floor, my uncle might rush inside. I laid down and inch wormed my way over to it. The metal was cool and rough against my skin.

I set to work, using the nail to pick at the knots that bound my wrists. The process was slow and tedious, and more than once the nail slipped and bit into my wrist. I refused to give up, refused to let the fear and frustration overwhelm me.

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