Page 119 of Jase
I wasn’t sure if it was the silence or the lack of water that was starting to drive me crazy. The panic attacks were back, squeezing around my neck, and not being able to swallow was making it worse. Hunger I could live with, but this…this was driving me to limits I wasn’t sure I could deal with.
“It’s been hours since we heard any banging, Kody. Surely they’re still not out there.”
“What if they are? What if someone stayed behind to make sure we didn’t come out? We can’t risk it.”
Tiffany got quiet as she lay on the floor, dozing off and on, while I walked the length of the room. I never had a problem with small spaces. That was before today. The walls kept feeling like they were closing in. They were suffocating me just like the lack of water was. But I didn’t stop. I kept going, and walking, and breathing, and praying.
“I have to go to the restroom so bad. How much longer? We have to go out at some point.”
“Tiff—”
“I can’t do this anymore.” She sat up, breaking down completely. “We’re safe now. Think about it. The fire alarm stopped. The noises and voices have all gone away. No one is here.Please.I can’t hold it much longer.”
“You will hold it, or you’ll piss yourself,” I snapped. “Either way, we’re not leaving this room. Do you think I had a choice where to go when I was chained to the floor in a dungeon? Or when I was so terrified and in pain that my body didn’t give me a choice? We’re alive and safe, Tiffany. That is all I care about. If you have to go, go. You’re not going to gross me out. Not after everything I’ve lived through.”
The sobs grew louder, and I put down my gun, crouching to her side.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so cruel. I have to go too, and I’m so thirsty I can’t breathe. I’m worried about the guys. It’s been so long. I’m just…freaking out, okay. Do you forgive me?”
Tiffany threw her arms around me, crying even harder. I tried to hold in my own tears, but one slipped free, falling into her hair as I tightened my hold.
“I’ll try to go back to sleep. It’s better when I’m not awake.”
“That’s a good idea.” I helped ease her down. “Maybe when you wake up, we can get out of here.”
Tiffany curled more into herself as I stood again. Minutes passed. Longer. When light snores filled the space, I was content to stop walking completely. My lids closed as I stood still, placing my palm against the door. I tried to feel any sensations. Any talking or moving around. I felt nothing. I heard nothing. Not that I heard much before. Even with all the commotion I assumed was going on when the bad men got in, it was always more of a feeling than actual noise. A small vibrational thud here. A hum of voices there. It was never any words or distinct sounds. This room was damn near as soundproof as the house.
I turned, looking back at Tiff before easing more pressure into the wall. If I could listen real quick. If I could be swift and silent without fear of Tiffany getting hurt, maybe it would be okay. If I opened the door and heard something, I could shut it again. Or even if they found me outside of the room, they wouldn’t find her. I could be stealthy. I could be as quiet as a mouse.
Reaching for the gun and phone, I pushed harder. And harder. The snores stayed steady as I threw my weight forward and felt the door inch open.
Silence.
I held my breath, stepping onto carpet. A little more. Another step.
Easing through the barrier, I kept the door cracked as I made my way towards the room. Shoes were strewn everywhere. Clothes were torn off the hangers. There were shelves even broken in half as I got closer to the door.
Air filled my lungs as I took a slow breath. My hand was trembling as I gripped to the gun and stared ahead at the empty bed. From the light shining at the end of the comforter, I knew the hall light was on. It had me slowing as I eased my head through the threshold. A stranger’s voice had me jolting to a stop.
“I told you, I’m not leaving.”
I jerked back, spinning for the cracked door only to see it was closed. Footsteps were approaching loud and fast, and there was nowhere to go. If I tried to get the door open, I’d cause too much noise. It was heavy. I might not even succeed on my own.
Blood washed over my tongue as I bit my lip and molded myself to the inner wall just inside the opening. I kept the gun at chest height, trying to stop it from shaking in my grasp. If they came in, they’d see me, but not before I had the upper hand.
“Walk away. Ignore me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Footsteps stopped, only to surge right towards me. It all happened so fast. Darkness engulfed the entrance, and I was suddenly forcing the gun to the side of someone’s head. My heart was hitting my chest so hard, the pain was overwhelming.
“One move and I blow your fucking brains out.”
The broken-up breath barely registered as weight crashed down on the weapon and arms were locking around me. I screamed, going wild as the man’s words jumbled through the fright.
“You’re here? You’re alive?”
“Get off me!” I was twisting, fighting with everything I had. Light flooded the room, and Jase’s bloodshot eyes met mine.
“It’s me. Kody, it’s me. Oh, baby. God. Where have you been? I thought they took you. I thought—”
