Page 32 of Captured Immune

“Who’s your boss?” My breaths are short, and my chest feels tight. I’d like to think this is a dream, but it feels too real.

“You’ll meet him soon.”

Call it a gut instinct, but something tells me I don’t want to meet her boss. “How did I get here?”

“Two of our agents escorted you in. They sedated you in your sleep with a harmless injection. You’re waking up around the hour you’re supposed to, so that’s good.”

The tranquil way this girl says all that does nothing to silence the danger alarm blaring in my head. Also, how can she tell me so casually that I’ve been “sedated”? Is knocking people out and dragging them out of their home against their will a normal occurrence around here?

The baby growing inside me tells me Katie is anxious. It’s not the same anxiousness I feel. Mine is laced with a pounding fear while Katie’s is more like what I feel when I’m running a few minutes late for work.

I wish I knew how this baby is sensing other people’s emotions. It happened last night with Trey and now Katie. I’d like to say it’s a pregnancy thing, but I’m pretty sure it has more to do with Trey being from an alternate universe. I’d be a little more freaked out by it if I hadn’t woken up in a bed that doesn’t belong to me.

“Why was I kidnapped?”

“Whoa, hold on there,” Katie says with a hand out, palm forward. “Let’s not use such harsh words. We prefer to say that we’re borrowing you.”

Borrowing?She can’t be serious. “Borrowing usually means you have intentions to give it back.”

“Then yes, to your definition, you’ve been borrowed.”

I suppose that means they’re not planning to kill me. That’s good, right? “When do you people plan to return me?”

“That, I’m unsure of. It probably depends on how long it takes to figure you out. Anyway, I think that’s enough questions for now. My boss will be here soon, and I’ve gotta get you cleaned up. Your pajamas are dirty.”

I glance down, and she’s right. There’s literal dirt, all brown and crusty, across the bottoms of my pajama pants. I was not wearing these when I went to bed last night, which means someone dug through my drawers and dressed me before stealing me from my apartment.How did I get so dirty?

“I’ve picked out a new outfit for you. It’s on the counter next to a pair of flats.” Katie points toward the bathroom. The door sits ajar, giving me a view of the toilet. From the pocket of her dress pants, Katie produces a small metal key. “I’m going to uncuff you, but only if you promise not to hurt me. It’s my first day working an on-base mission, and I’d prefer it if everything goes smoothly.”

She’s slightly smaller than me, so I think I can take her, but I don’t know what or who lies beyond these bedroom walls. Also, I think her innocent face is just to fool people. I bet she knows karate or something.

“What if I don’t want to change my clothes?”

Katie shrugs. “You’re welcome to stay in your dirty pajamas, but I think you’ll be more comfortable not. If you really want your current outfit back, I’m happy to launder it for you first.”

It boggles my mind how she’s speaking to me so friendly. This isn’t how I imagine most kidnappers talk to the people they’ve kidnapped. “I’ll change my clothes.”

“Great, and you promise not to hurt me if I release you?”

Only if you promise not to hurt me.“Sure.”

Katie uncuffs me from the bars of the bed frame. “I’ll give you a few minutes to get cleaned up. Feel free to shower too. I’m not sure when you’ll get a chance to next.”

That doesn’t sound promising.

From the bathroom, I sense Katie’s anxiety growing. I can’t see her, but I know she’s pacing the bedroom. Somehow, this baby knows every emotion running through Katie. From how weak or strong it’s coming to me, I know her distance from me too. Since she’s the only person I can sense right now, I’m going to assume there’s no one else nearby. Either that, or this baby can only sense one person at a time.

I’m in the middle of showering the mysterious dirt off my feet when Katie knocks on the bathroom door, which does not have a lock. I checked.

“You almost done?”

“Almost.” I turn the shower off and step out to examine myself in the mirror. There’s no evidence that I’ve been hurt in any way. I suppose that’s a positive.

I come out wearing black flats, a white T-shirt that dwarfs me, and a pair of ugly orange shorts. I return to the bed where Katie, if that’s her real name, cuffs me back to the bed frame. I go willingly because I don’t know what else to do.

From watching true crime shows with Javina, I’ve learned that the victims who comply with their kidnappers’ demands are the ones with the highest percentage of making it out alive. So far, it doesn’t seem like Katie wants to harm me. I’m sure her boss does though.

Whatever happens, I have to get through this alive—for the baby. The first chance I see of a possible escape, I’m taking it.

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