Page 10 of Devil's Embrace
"She's five years old."My maternal outrage gave me courage to speak up."She's terrified.What do you expect?"
His fingers tightened on my arm, sending fresh waves of pain through my shoulder."I expect you to control your child, or I'll do it for you."
The threat hung in the air between us, clear and chilling.I twisted to look at Mina, her small face streaked with tears beneath the unicorn hood."Mina, baby, I need you to be very quiet now, okay?Can you do that for Mama?"
She nodded, her bottom lip quivering with the effort of suppressing her sobs.My heart broke at the sight, at her trying to be brave when she should never have to face this kind of fear.
"Good girl."
The killer released my arm only to reach into his coat pocket.I tensed, expecting him to pull out his gun, but he produced several black zip ties.My stomach dropped.
"You're both coming with me.Turn around."
"No.No, we're not—"
He moved with shocking speed, spinning me around and wrenching my arms behind my back.The zip tie pulled tight around my wrists with a distinctive plastic click, biting into my skin.I gasped at the sudden pain and restriction of movement.
"I don't need your cooperation."I felt his lips moving by my ear and felt the heat of his breath."Just your compliance.There's a difference."
With my hands secured behind my back, he turned me to face him again.His eyes were like ice, revealing nothing as he studied my face."If you scream or try to run, I'll kill you both.Nod if you understand."
I nodded, swallowing the sob that threatened to escape my throat.
"Mama?"Mina's voice was small, confused.She reached for me, her little hands clutching at my jeans, but with my arms behind my back, I couldn't even touch her for reassurance.
"It's going to be okay, sweet pea.We just need to go with this man for a little while."
The killer turned his attention to Mina, and I tensed, ready to throw myself between them despite my bound hands.But he simply kneeled down to her level, his movements controlled and deliberate.
"Hello, Mina.You're going to come with me and your mother.If you're quiet and good, no one will get hurt.Do you understand?"
She stared at him with wide, terrified eyes, then looked to me for guidance.I nodded, trying to convey reassurance I didn't feel."It's okay.Just do what he says for now."
Before I could say more, the killer straightened and scooped Mina into his arms in one fluid motion.She let out a startled cry, her small body going rigid with fear.Her unicorn hood fell back, revealing her blonde hair, so like my own.She struggled briefly, her little legs kicking against his chest, her hands pushing at his shoulders.
"Stop."He didn’t raise his voice, but it still rang with authority.
To my horror, Mina went completely still, like a rabbit freezing before a predator.Her eyes, wide and blue, locked onto mine over the killer's shoulder, silently pleading for help I couldn't give.
"Good girl."He adjusted his hold on her with disturbing ease."Now we're going to walk.You," he addressed me, "in front of me.Remember what happens if you try anything."
With my hands bound behind my back, I had no choice but to obey.He guided me with a firm hand on my shoulder, steering me deeper into the alley, away from the main street and any chance of rescue.Mina remained rigid in his arms.
We moved through shadows, the killer directing our path with occasional pressure on my shoulder.I stumbled once on the uneven pavement, and his grip tightened painfully, preventing me from falling but reminding me of his control.
I could still hear the distant sounds of Halloween festivities—music, laughter, children calling "trick or treat" to neighbors who had no idea that real monsters walked among them.The sound of normalcy just beyond our reach was almost worse than silence.
"Where are you taking us?"
"You'll find out soon enough."He guided me around a corner into an even darker section of the alley network.
My mind raced with terrible possibilities.Would he kill us once we reached wherever he was taking us?Use us as hostages?Something worse?The not knowing was its own form of torture.
But beneath the terror, a different emotion was taking root.Cold, hard determination.This man might control our bodies right now, but I wouldn't let him break our spirits.I wouldn't let him hurt Mina if there was any breath left in my body.
As we approached what appeared to be a black sedan waiting at the far end of the alley, I made a silent vow.I would find a way out of this.I would get Mina to safety.And if I couldn't, if this was truly the end for me, I would make sure my daughter survived, even if it meant making a deal with the devil himself.
The killer opened the car's back door with one hand, still holding Mina with the other."Get in.”
