Against the clock

7.

The room fell into an uneasy silence. After the messed-up 'game,' he tied me up even tighter, if that was possible. Couldn't tell the time, but I figured this was our messed-up dinner and bedtime, all in one.

The air got weird between Derek and me after that sick challenge. We both slinked back into our corners. Our lips had brushed accidentally during that screwed-up task. Forced, not by choice. We sat in silence for a couple of hours, the weight of what went down hanging between us. I was amazed that his bladder was still holding on. We'd been stuck here for almost a day now, and he was still holding it in. It was easier for me, though – he had undone my chains for a while.

I drifted asleep, my head supported by the wall behind me. I don't know how I slept, but my head kept falling forward. He had tied me so tightly that it was impossible to lie on my side. Derek drifted off as well, but he was lying on his side.

Derek and I were abruptly roused from our fitful sleep, disoriented and on edge. A deafening sound echoed in our ears, making me almost jump out of my skin. The frigid air clung to our bodies, intensifying the discomfort of the cramped and confining room. It kept going. 'What the hell is that?' Derek's voice, tinged with confusion and urgency, cut through the disorienting cacophony. I struggled against the restraints, the metallic clinks adding to the chaotic symphony.

Another round of the ear-splitting noise ensued, triggering a sense of desperation and anxiety that gripped us both. The cold seemed to seep into our bones, adding an extra layer of torment to the already nightmarish situation.

'Stay calm, Meredith,' Derek's voice, though strained, carried a hint of reassurance. But the unsettling noise persisted, distorting our perceptions and pushing the boundaries of our sanity.I strained against the restraints, my palms growing slick with a cold sweat. Derek, too, wrestled with the bonds that held us captive. The metallic clinks reverberated in the air, a dissonant counterpoint to the enigmatic noise that continued to assail us. Suddenly the noise stopped.

In the abrupt silence that followed, a disconcerting stillness settled over the room. Derek and I exchanged glances, our senses on high alert, attuned to the eerie quiet that replaced the tumultuous symphony. Derek's voice, now a hushed murmur, broke the silence. 'What just happened?' he questioned, his eyes scanning the dimly lit space for any sign of change. 

'I guess that was our alarm' he said calmly. 'God' I muttered looking at the ground. Time seemed to stretch in the uneasy stillness, punctuated only by the occasional creaks and groans of the confined space. Every sound, every shadow, heightened our apprehension. I could almost taste the fear in the air, a metallic tang that matched the coldness of the room.

After several hours of brooding silence, my stomach rumbled loudly, a stark reminder of the passage of time. Unable to ignore the gnawing hunger any longer, I finally broke the oppressive stillness. 'Are you hungry?' I asked, my voice cutting through the heavy air.

Derek's gaze met mine, and the hunger mirrored in his eyes confirmed my suspicions. 'Yes,' he replied, his voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. 'But, to be honest, I have to go to the bathroom more urgently.'

I regarded him with a nod, a silent acknowledgment that echoed the shared understanding of our predicament. 'I figured. It has been a long time,' I admitted, the gravity of our situation etched in my weary expression. His gaze lingered on me, and a question hung in the air. 'When did you go?' he asked, his voice bearing a mix of curiosity and a hint of resignation.

I met his inquiry with a straightforward response, 'When you were sleeping and I was untied. I did it in the plastic bag over there,' I explained, subtly gesturing with a tilt of my head toward the bag lying in the dimly lit corner. 'Lucky you,' he remarked with a wry grin. His voice echoed in the confined space. 'I hope he comes back soon so that I can ask,' Derek said, a flicker of humor in his eyes. I raised an eyebrow in surprise. 'You hope he's coming back?' I questioned, incredulous.