Page 11 of Save Me

I shoot him a stern look, urging him to remain calm before redirecting my attention back to the small man in front of us. His eyes dart nervously between us, his palms damp with sweat. I wait, my breath caught in my throat, for him to spit out the crucial information.

“Um, I’m pretty sure he said ‘Tell him Dane is waiting for his call’,” he finally manages to say, his voice barely audible.

D. S

A hushed silence envelops the room, my mind racing with thoughts, connecting the dots. “Thank you for your help,” I say, offering him a sincere smile, appreciating the weight of his contribution. He nods in response and quickly exits the room, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease.

“D. S—Dane... Ssssomething,” Adrian’s voice breaks the silence, his words laced with a hint of amusement.I’m dumbfounded by how effortlessly he can lighten the intensity of the moment.

“Yeah, sssssomething like that,” I mock, a sly smirk playing on my lips, relieved to feel a flicker of hope ignite within me. His hearty chuckle fills the room, momentarily easing the tension that had settled upon us.

The only thing we need is the last name of this guy, and we’d be able to track him down quicker than he can take his next piss. Lucky for me, I know a really good hacker.

Chapter 9

STARLET

*10 MONTHS IN CAPTIVITY*

Things have been eerilyquiet the last few months. Zavier’s silence has become deafening and hasn’t touched me since that day I fell. According to him, I’m ‘damaged goods’, which suits me. I’ve never felt more at ease than I do right now. Our interactions now consist of mere murmurs of “Hey” and “thank you” when he brings me food or water to wash myself. It’s safe to say I’ve been a good girl and not giving him any reason to beat the daylights out of me.

Gazing down at my hands, I notice how my nails have become unkempt and unsightly. I console myself with the thought that one day I will escape this nightmare, and Chloe and I will indulge in a long-overdue spa day. We’ll have our hair and nails pampered, just like we used to. The mere thought of all the experiences I’ve missed out on brings tears to my eyes.

I wonder how Chloe is doing. But above all, thoughts of Argent consumed my mind. It has been almost a year since I last held onto the flicker of being found when the police came knocking. I still can’t fathom how they missed the basement, how they overlooked the door. How could something so crucial elude their attention?

My racing thoughts are abruptly interrupted as Zavier descends the stairs carrying a bag of food. He hasn’t bothered cooking for me, instead, he brings me takeout from The Diner. Sometimes, I can’t help but feel that he does it intentionally, a cruel reminder of what I’ve lost, what he has taken away.

“Here, and when you’re finished eating, knock on the door,” he instructs, handing me the bag before ascending the stairs once more. His words puzzle me.Why would he want me to do that? I hastily snatch the burger from the bag and devour it hungrily, trying to distract myself from the unsettling request.

I feel like a damn animal.

After polishing the entire burger in what must be a world record time, I throw the cozy blanket off my legs and slowly rise to my feet. As I come to a halt in front of the staircase, I gaze up at it with eager anticipation.

Could this be it?

Is he letting me go?

Inhaling deeply, I begin ascending the steps one by one, feeling the smooth wooden surface beneath my feet. Doubts start to creep into my mind. Perhaps this is a cruel trick. Maybe today is the day he kills me… finally.

With trembling hands, I gently knock on the sturdy wooden door, my heart pounding in my chest. A few moments later, I hear the satisfying click of the door unlocking and Zavier slowly pulls it open. “You’ve been good, so I thought you might enjoy a proper shower,” he declares, a faint smile gracing his fatigued face. Heavy bags weigh his eyes down, his disheveledhair resembling a bird’s nest, and his clothes appear as if they were plucked from a laundry basket.

“Wow, um, thank you,” I manage to reply, my voice quivering with both fear and gratitude. I would’ve loved it if he just let me go, but realistically, that would never happen. But being able to cleanse myself properly after months is a relief.

“Just remember, no tricks,” he warns, stepping aside to allow me to exit through the door. However, as soon as I step out, confusion washes over me, furrowing my brow. To the left, there is another set of steps. Slowly, I ascend them, the bright light from outside the narrow staircase blinding me momentarily. I haven’t basked in natural light for what feels like an eternity.

Squinting my eyes, I attempt to adjust to the sudden brightness, its warmth caressing my skin. As my vision begins to focus, I turn and cast a bewildered gaze and look at where I came from. My eyes widen with disbelief. The couch is suspended halfway in the air, transformed into a makeshift door with a metallic panel affixed beneath it.

You must be fucking joking?

Right underneath the worn-out, faded couch is where the hidden staircase leads to the damp basement. The sight before me leaves me dumbfounded, realizing why the cops never discovered the secret space. The couch, cleverly designed, serves as a disguised door. When lowered to the ground, it seamlessly blends in, concealing any trace of what lies beneath.

Smart, Zavier. I’ll give you that.

He appears behind me, gently nudging me forward, and guiding me toward the bathroom. I take a moment to absorb my surroundings. The cabin exudes a sense of neglect, evident in the small oak kitchen, coated in a layer of grime that hasn’t seen the touch of soap in quite some time. The lounge area boasts three worn-out couches, their cushions sagging, and a crooked wooden coffee table in the middle, and next to the window stands a fireplace, its bricks charred and blackened from countless fires. Zavier leads me down a dimly lit hallway, revealing two bedrooms, but before I can explore further, his firm grip on my arm brings me to a halt.

“I’ll lock the door. Just knock when you’re done,” he instructs, gesturing towards the bathroom on my left.I nod, and as I enter, the door closes behind me along with the click of the lock.

The dim lighting of the bathroom casts an eerie ambiance, revealing the neglect that permeates the cabin. It has been a while since I’ve been in one of these. As my eyes scan the room, I notice the cracked tiles on the floor and the peeling wallpaper.

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