SINNERS • H.S.

10: somebody you care for

Winnie.

"Hello this is your Uber, I am out the front."

The unknown man on the end of the line responds, and my heart sinks into my stomach. I stay still, not wanting to let the man beside me know, I know he isn't my fucking Uber.

"Hello? Hello?" The man on the end of the line says, and I finally unfreeze and reach for my door, my other hand dropping my phone and reaching for my seatbelt. I cry out at the sound of him locking the windows himself, and no matter how many times I press the button, it doesn't unlock. My hands shaking against the lock and I keep my head down until I'm finally fake enough to look at the man beside me.

"This will be a lot easier for the both of us, if you do not struggle." His voice is dark, gruff. His accent is definitely American. Boston, maybe. I make mental notes in my head, remembering everything my father had told me growing up.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, trying to get as much information from him as possible. I knew he wouldn't tell me where I was going, but the more he spoke, the more detail I got.

He doesn't answer and I bite my lip, watching the street signs outside pass. I wonder if he notices that I've dropped my phone onto the ground. I can see the low light flashing up at me, near my foot. I see Josie's name flash on my screen, and I try to slide my toe against the answer button, answering her call. She's not on speaker, so I can't hear her. But she can hear me.

"Please, just take me home, I don't know you." I fake cry, my heart still beating in my chest and my hands still shaking. "Please," I beg.

The man doesn't say anything. I look outside, and see that we're passing the Basement. "Please, drop me off there, at the Basement, you're just about to pass it." I cry loudly, praying to God that Josie understands the message I'm trying to pass on.

"Be quiet." The man grumbles and I pretend to cry louder, so he thinks I'm just being hysterical, and not giving away clues.

"Here. Just drop me here, on third, near the Dentist." I cry, pointing out a spot and hoping I'm being loud enough for him to hear.

He looks at me suspiciously before pulling over. Fuck. Nobody is around for fucking once in New York. He parks in an alleyway, and I can tell this is where the ride ends. He closes the door and I pick my phone up as he walks around to the trunk of the car, opening it up. I place the phone to my ear but it's not Josie on the end of the line.

"Please, please. Call my dad. Tell him we've just passed the Dentist on Third. Uptown, a few yards away from the Basement." I panic, whispering quickly.

The voice on the end of the line surprises me. "Winnie? I'm on my way." Harry.

"Harry, please," I breathe out until my door opens and the man rips my phone from my hand, smashing it to the ground beneath us.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He growls at me. He's holding a blindfold and zip ties, but now he drops them into my seat of the car and pulls his fist back, hitting me.

If he was expecting me to pass out, the fucker has another thing coming. I throw my head back in pain and he pauses, waiting for me to stay still. Instead, I raise my foot from the passengers side and kick him in the groin..