Page 77 of Guarded from Danger

I’ve been running through it ever since I woke up in the trunk, maybe ten or fifteen minutes from here.

Whereverhereis. From the brief glimpse I got as Amberson dragged me into the barn—I was still pretending to be unconscious, so I didn’t want to risk opening my eyes for too long—all I saw were trees and grass and a dirt road with only a single set of tire tracks on it.

Not too far from Lucy’s parents’ place in Olmos Park, I bet. Amberson wouldn’t want to risk both Lucy and I waking up in the trunk and complicating things. He wants to hurry and get this game started.

Because that’s what it is. It’s Expiration Date all over again, except this time, with two people trapped instead of just one.Everything’s the same—the shackles chained to the wall, the meager pile of food and water, the hole in the floor… and that damned rope hanging from the ceiling.

The only difference? There are two this time. An opportunity for the couple to end things together instead of watching each other slowly waste away.

How fucked up is that?

I’m almost glad Lucy hasn’t woken up yet.

Shit. She’s going to be so scared. She might even have a flashback and try to escape, hurting herself in the process. And I can’t comfort her the way I want to, not if I want my plan to work.

It’s clear Amberson is waiting for us to regain consciousness. Through my slitted eyelids, I can see him pacing, his feet kicking up puffs of dirt and bits of old hay as he moves. Every minute or so, he pulls out his gun to inspect it, checking the chamber and making sure the safety is off.

Andthat’swhy I haven’t made my move. I can’t. Not until I get him away from Lucy. I have a stash of zip ties and my small Ka-Bar in my pocket, and it was just me, I wouldn’t hesitate to take on Amberson. But with the gun, and Lucy here, chained up… it’s too risky. The second I try anything, he’ll threaten to kill her.

But once he leaves the barn, all bets are off. He thinks he has it all figured out, but there’s something?—

A soft groan breaks the silence of the barn.

Lucy’s eyes blink open, dazed and unfocused. Her brow creases with pain, and she reaches her unrestrained hand towards it, but it’s an uncoordinated movement and she nearly misses her forehead.

Amberson steps closer, so he’s maybe ten feet away, and his mouth curves into a predatory grin.

“What…” Her voice is slurred. Confused.

“You’re awake.” Still grinning, the piece of garbage takes another step towards Lucy. His teeth flash a dull white in the dim of the barn.

“Don’t get any closer to her,” I growl. There’s no point in playing pretend anymore, not when the game’s about to start.

“Xavier?” Lucy turns to me, her eyebrows arched in question. “What… where are we?”

“It’s okay, Luce.” Scooting over a few feet, I take her hand with mine. “It’s going to be okay.”

Amberson laughs. “I think your idea of okay isn’t the same as mine.”

“Xavier?” As realization sets in, Lucy’s chin wobbles. Her voice shakes. “Are we?—”

She stops. Pulls at her shackled wrist.

Horror fills her gaze.

“No.” Then louder. “No.”

“Lucy. Look at me.” I squeeze her hand. “It’s okay.”

Her breath comes in rapid gasps as she tugs at her shackled wrist, yanking it against the thick metal. “Oh, no, no, no?—”

“Ah, this is great,” cackles Amberson. “I don’t usually get to see this part in person. It’s so much better this way.”

“Lucy. Stop.”

But she’s panicked. Frantic. The instinct to escape is too strong. Lucy’s pulling at the shackles, bruising her poor wrist and ankle, possibly lost in a flashback already.

It’s horrible watching her suffer like this.

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