Page 12 of Guarded from Danger

A snort of laughter escapes; incongruous in such a dire situation.

But I have to do something to keep from losing my mind. Or is laughing to myself the first step towards it?

Just as I’m finishing my third lap across the cabin, I hear something different outside.

Not the occasional sounds of wildlife I’ve gotten used to, or the rustling of trees in the wind.

But something… mechanical.

I freeze, cocking my ear towards the window with the board missing.

The sound gets louder. Closer.

It’s an engine.

Oh.

Please.

A flame of hope flares to life, but just as quickly, cold terror douses it.

What if it’s not a rescue? What if it’s my captor coming to finish the job?

My heart rockets to double speed. My lungs don’t seem to want to work anymore.

I race over to the dwindling pile of food, frantically wondering if I can use the can opener as a weapon.

Fear grabs hold of me, its venomous claws digging in. My body shakes hard enough to make my teeth rattle.

Oh, please. Let this be Xavier. Or at least someone not coming to hurt me.

Outside the cabin, the car stops. Turns off. Doors open and shut.

Footsteps rustle. Not just one person, from the sound of them, but at least a few.

Please. Let it be Xavier and his team.

I almost call out, but my voice shrivels. What if it’s not him? What if it’s someone here to kill me?

Scuttling back against the wall, I clutch the can opener hard enough to hurt.

Can I stab someone with this? Would the pointy tip do enough damage?

Then I hear a voice. Low. Rumbly. Not Xavier.

“We need to check for explosives. It doesn’t look like there’s anything?—”

Another voice replies, “On it.”

Oh, please.

And then. The voice I’ve been dreaming of hearing.

It’s rough. Worried. Tinged with fear. “Lucy! Luce, we’re coming to get you. Can you call out to me? Tell me you’re okay?”

Xavier!

My first try, nothing comes out. And Xavier calls out again, more urgently this time, “Lucy! Can you talk to me?Please?”

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