Ablizorm

The Picture - Dec 08

When Toni awoke, it was to a brilliant flash of color flitting across her mind. In a daze, she opened one eye warily. At first, all she saw was a blur of green and white, before the room around her took shape. She closed her eyes again, disoriented. She could tell she was lying on her back, her arms pressed to her sides. Her head was lifted on what she assumed was a pillow, soft but firm. Her neck felt stiff, as though she'd been in that position for a while. She blinked open her eyes, surprised to find herself...exactly where she was when she had...fallen asleep.

She pushed herself into a sitting position, glancing around the sitting room. The tea cup was nowhere to be seen. And neither was Zorablim. Toni narrowed her eyes. I have to get out of here. Before she gets back. Before she drugs me again.

Toni stood up, made for the door, then—stopped. There was a rustle in the hallway; someone was there. Toni froze.

"You sure she's here" someone said, their footsteps getting closer. Toni was shocked out of her frozen state when she recognized the next voice. "Of course," Zorablim drawled. "Out cold. Follow me" as the footsteps grew even louder, Toni snuck into the kitchen, flinching at how loud her sneakers sounded on the wood floors. The kitchen was small, with block-like counters and small cabinets. White curtains covered small windows. There was no place to hide. Toni scanned the room. In the corner, a narrow door led to what she assumed would be the pantry. Just as she slipped in, she heard a shocked cry. She used the moment to close the door with a sharp click. I just essentially trapped myself in here, Toni thought. What was I supposed to do? They were right around the corner. Toni felt her heartbeat pick up. She didn't know what to do.

"SHE WAS RIGHT HERE" Zorablim screamed. Toni shuddered, pressing her ear to the door as the voices broke out in furious whispers. After holding her breath for a few seconds, she still heard nothing. She had come to the detective's house in search of answers. Answers, she never actually got. Why was the cloth the same color as the beans in the Azep delivery. Did Zuri know about all this? She was, after all, the one who ordered the food in the first place. Either that, or that was a pretty shitty delivery guy. Toni brought her legs to her chest, resting her head on her knees. She didn't want to think about this. She took the moment to survey the room. Cans and cans of beans, oats, corn, and dried fruit, along with baskets of potatoes, onions, beets and carrots lined the thin shelves. About a dozen cases of bottled water were shoved against the wall. Wait. Water. Water. An idea started to form in Toni 's mind. She just hoped it would work.

Toni assumed that the visitor had left, quite angrily if the screaming was anything to go by. She figured, no, hoped the detective was in the kitchen, though judging by the muted sound, she was probably in the sitting room. It was one of the two, Toni thought, since, if I remember correctly, those seemed the only rooms in the open-plan format. Toni pressed her ear against the door again, pleased to hear shuffling. I guess they think I must have escaped. Makes sense, seeing as they haven't torn down the house yet. Either that, or I'm not important in whatever they're planning. Toni sat down, getting to work. This might take a while...

She ripped open the last of the plastic wrap surrounding the bottles, pushing it to the side. She could feel it, that thing, that unexplainable feeling churning in her stomach. She reached out her arm, promising herself that she'd practice later. She hadn't really had the time, her days having been so eventful. She knew she had felt it, every time she gulped down a glass of water or took a quick shower; that insistent feeling that gripped her heart. Of course, she had also been neglecting it for other reasons. The feeling led her to Ellie, and thinking about her friend was still slightly painful. She refused to believe that Ellie was gone. Because she isn't. 'Else I wouldn't be here, trapped in a pantry.

Toni got the last of the water out, finally ready to admit that she didn't have much of a plan. She pressed her hands down to the floor and silently lowered herself to the ground, hoping to peek under the door. There were no feet in sight. Which could mean one of two things. Either she was somewhere else in the house, or her feet were on the table. Toni very much doubted it was the latter, as she couldn't imagine the Detective with her feet anywhere off the ground. Still, she was wary as she pushed the door open, wincing as it clicked. Toni bit the top of her lip nervously. So Zorablim was in the sitting room; on the phone? It explained why she was talking, at any rate, since Toni was sure the detective was alone. Aside from me, of course, Toni thought as she pressed herself against the counter. Clutched in her left hand was one of the water bottles. She could hear the detective talking in the other room. Toni inched to the doorway, peeking out into the sitting room. Unfortunately, with the detective in the sitting room, her original plan was a bust. Fortunately, Zorablim was facing the opposite direction. Then again, Toni thought dejectedly, said direction is towards the door, my only means for escape. Toni scanned the room, a new, very flawed, entirely luck-dependent plan forming inside her head. Time for some improv.