Page 78 of Coach
Sure, they were probably faster, more fit. But I would have my desperation and the lack of visibility working in my favor.
Before I could think of a way to get them to drop me, though, the two of them did it for me.
Well, fine, they placed me down. Surprisingly gently, even. But I was determined not to think anything nice about the men who were probably going to paint the ground a lovely new shade of blood red with brain matter accents.
Trix.
That was all I could think about right then.
What would happen to Trix if I died out here?
I knew Saul said he would take care of her for me. But how long would it take for him to realize I was missing? To comelooking for me? To realize I wasn’t coming back and my sweet, innocent dog needed him?
If it was just a few days, she might be okay.
Her water bowl was enormous. I kept a smaller one in the bedroom for when we were sleeping at night.
I’d just emptied a big bag of dog food into the bin. It only had a flip top with a small latch. If she was hungry, she would figure out how to open it.
She wasn’t going to dehydrate or starve to death. Just get really, really sad and confused.
But maybe this was a situation where having a neighbor was handy. Surely, he would get sick of her barking eventually and try to see what was going on.
My thoughts were interrupted by a groaning sound, as if one of the men was lifting something heavy.
Lifting what? Out in the middle of nowhere.
There was a loud metal clang that had me jolting. But before I could even wrap my head around it, the hands were back at my arms.
And as a unit, all three of us were moving.
Going down.
Steps.
There were steps in the middle of nowhere.
Leading somewhere underground.
Their torture chamber, most likely.
That was great.
Fantastic.
The air grew cooler, then downright chilly, making goosebumps prick my skin and a chill rack my system.
I couldn’t say how long I was dragged, but eventually, I found myself dropped down onto a cold metal chair.
Someone’s hands grabbed my arm, freeing one of my wrists, but only so he could work the handcuff through one of the back rungs before securing my wrist again.
There was more shuffling, then the loud metal clang again.
And then, suddenly, light flooded the whole space, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut as the brightness sliced at my eyes.
I gave myself a minute before forcing them open, enduring the ache as my eyes adjusted.
There wasn’t much around me.
