Page 21 of Wraith

Chapter Twenty

Three days passwith nothing but snow. Enough to nearly cover the small cabin. The snowmobile that was left outside is nowhere in sight, not that I knew where it was in the first place. Wraith has slept most of the time, making the small area blissfully quiet, save for the howling wind. “How many inches today, you think?” so he's awake. Looking down from the bed, I see his eyes wide open, studying me. Our prisoner/captor situation nowreversed.

“Don’t know.” I limit my words to short sentences, knowing that the man has skills in getting people talking, even without the use of torturetools.

“The wood is starting to run low. I’m going to have to go out and dig up the supply or we are going to freeze.” His words annoy me, as if he thinks that he is able to just up and walk out of here without my say so. Which he doesn’t have. “That being said you will have to untie this.” He holds up his hands as best as he can behind his back. I had woken yesterday with him looking me over while I slept.Again. It took only seconds for my foot to connect with the side of his head, effectively knocking him out and allowing me to tie him up. I knew I should have done it before, seeing as how he was more than capable to get up and go outside to relieve himself twice already. With my gun trained on him of course. Now he sits on the floor next to the bed with his hands tied behind his back and his ankles tied together while being attached to the bedframe.

“Not going to happen. You tell me where to go and I will find it.” Or I will try anyway. Navigating myself through a whiteout of snow might be a littlecomplicated.

“Suit yourself, just don’t get shot.” He smirks at me then proceeds to tell me where his supplies are located. Alongside the cabin on the north side of the wall. Underneath a tarp, like the sled should havebeen.

After pulling on layer upon layer to protect myself from the elements, I step outside. The cool air hits my face with the sharp sting of blowing snow. With the wind blowing up against the small building, a tall snow drift was formed, tall enough for me to barely see above. Peeking over the top of the tall drift I get a tingling feeling of being in someone’s crosshairs. I knowheis out there, whether he is going to come after me or not, I’m not sure. I decide not to dwell on it and move toward the back of the cabin in search of the wood stack. It doesn’t take me long to locate it. Pulling the tarp over the neatly stacked wood I go about filling my arms and carrying the stacks inside to replenish the indoor supply. Each time I step through the door Wraith keeps his eyes trained on me. I pretend not to notice, as I have for daysnow.

It doesn’t take long before I have a sizeable stack next to the wood stove. “you probably should go and fill up the pot, too. Water must be running low. Make sure to boil it for ten minutes before letting it cool. Then youcan—”

“I think I can handle it without your instruction,” I snap, annoyed with his overbearinginstruction.

“Just trying tohelp.”

“I don’t need your help.” Grabbing the nearly empty pot from the stove with my gloved hands, I bring it outside and begin packing in the top layer of snow when I hear the crack of a branch off in the distance. I jump up and grab for the pistol tucked in the back of my pants. I catch the sight of snow falling from a tree along with the branch it snapped from the weight. As if to assure me further it happens again. The heavy snow causing the branches to collapse under the pressure. The cracking sound not as loud this time around. I let out the breath I was holding and wait for a moment before tucking my gun back into mypants.

With the pot in my hands, I go back inside and place it on the stove. “If you want—” Without a second thought I’m stopping his words. Finding the gun in the back of my jeans again I bring it up under hischin.

“What I want, is for you to keep your mouth shut. If I want your opinion I will let you know. Until then, if you rather not have another hole in your head, you will keep your mouth closed,” I growl into his face close enough to feel his breath wafting over mylips.

“Whatever you say, tiger.” He lets a slow lazy smile spread across his lips and I find my gaze lingering too long. His beard has grown a little thicker the last few days of our captivity, causing my lower belly to heat at the thought of how it would feel brushing along my skin. But with that thought comes the image of what it would look like drenched in blood if I pulled this trigger right now. The need to kill him is racing along the need to do other things to him and its fucking with mymind.

“Shut up.” I stand, pulling the weapon away from his chin. “I can get a lot more done if I don’t have to hearyou.”

---