Page 26 of Let Her Hide

Her dreams were dark and full of menace, a twisted landscape where the line between reality and nightmare blurred until they became indistinguishable. Wrapped within this nightmarish tapestry, she saw the man who had taken her sister – a faceless figure who seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at once.

"Who are you?" she screamed into the void, her voice echoing back to her as if from a great distance. "Where is she? What have you done with her?"

But the faceless man offered no answers, only laughter – a cold, cruel sound that sent a shiver down her spine and filled her with a bone-deep dread. As she tried to run from him, the ground beneath her feet shifted, and she found herself sinking into a quagmire of despair.

"Help me!" she cried out, desperation clawing at her throat. "Someone, please help me!"

At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to wake up to escape the nightmare.

But the more she struggled, the deeper she sank until darkness swallowed her whole.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Gary settled into his worn armchair, a cup of steaming tea in hand, as he listened to the rain gently tapping on the window. He had always found solace in the quiet nights that enveloped his quaint home – a brief respite from the world outside. The creaking floorboards and the familiar hum of the refrigerator were the only sounds filling the silence.

That was until an unfamiliar noise caught his attention--a grumble from outside.

"Someone's out there," Gary muttered under his breath, curiosity piqued.

He leaned forward, squinting through the window. A shadowy vehicle sat parked just outside his driveway, its hood raised like a gaping maw. Concern tugged at him; no one should be stranded this late. As a retired mechanic, it was second nature for him to offer help.

Gary stepped out into the warm night but was instantly hit with a gust of wind. It howled around him, carrying whispers of unease.

"Hello?" Gary called out, raising his voice. "Do you need help with your car?"

No response came, but Gary pressed on, determined to uphold his reputation as the friendly neighborhood handyman. He'd always loved helping his neighbors and friends with their cars, even if he had retired years ago.

As he neared the vehicle, something caught his eye – a missing license plate.

Gary's heart raced as he approached the car. He peered through the open hood, examining the engine. It seemed fine to him. He checked the tires, the lights, and the gas tank. Everything was in order except for the missing license plate. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He circled around the car, looking for any clues that could offer an explanation. Did the driver leave the car here and run off to get help elsewhere?

"Hey!" Gary shouted again, his voice wavering ever so slightly. "Anyone here?"

Just as he reached for the car door, a sudden force slammed into Gary from behind.

Pain and confusion clouded his vision as he crumpled to the cold, wet ground, the world around him going dark before he could even process it.

***

Gary’s eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the darkness of his surroundings. He felt boxed in by walls of metal, the air thick and oppressive.He tried to move but found himself confined in what seemed like a small storage container – windowless and suffocating. Panic rose in his chest, threatening to choke him.

Where am I?he wondered, his heart pounding. Was this some sort of nightmare?

How did he get here?

Then, he remembered--the car. The seemingly missing driver...

It must have all been a ploy to capture him. But why? What would someone want with him? He was nothing but an old fool with many regrets... was this really where he was going to die?

Gary tried to stand, his legs weak. He thought about his daughter, Tilly. God, how long had it been since he'd seen her? Ten years, twenty? They'd never been close. He'd always regretted leaving her when she was a child, and though she reached out to him when she was an adult, they were never quite able to get their relationship to where it needed to be. Most days, he just tried not to think about it, but now, as he faced what could be the end of his life, Tilly was all he could think about.

As Gary's thoughts drifted back to Tilly, he felt a sudden surge of determination. He couldn't die like this, not when there was still so much left unresolved. He had to find a way out of this container and get back to his life, to his daughter.

He searched the small space for any signs of an exit, his fingers grazing against the rough metal walls.As he adjusted to the darkness, Gary noticed a faint sliver of moonlight filtering through a narrow opening. Desperate for fresh air, he reached out with a trembling hand.

But just as his fingers grazed the gap, an agonizing sting pierced his skin.

"Damn!" Gary yelped, recoiling from the pain. What the hell was that?

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