Kristen Zinicallei

Chapter 27

Kristen's POV

Emy went missing over 3 weeks ago, everyone is miserable. They think she's dead, murdered maybe. Nobody knows. Only if I'd walked home with her, then maybe we'd be there together, or I could've protected her. I would give anything to take her place, to be where she was right now instead.

Emy's POV

It's been 3 weeks since he took me, Jack brings me food occasionally but my blood sugar is affecting any chances of escaping. There's not much down here, no supplies, no windows, no way to get out.

Jack leaves every day at 7 AM, for work maybe? He always locks the door but I think that I could pick the lock. Here is the plan:

1. When he leaves figure out how to pick the lock

2. If step 1 takes a short amount of time plan the escape route

3. The next day when he leaves, use the escape route and run to the nearest house

The only hole in my plan was that I had no idea where I was or how far the next house would be. He normally gets back by lunch to feed me which gives me 5 hours to make this work. I want out of here as fast as possible, even if that means a few days.

***
When I awoke there were loud footsteps coming down the stairs. Jack ran over to me yelling loudly in my face. I cowered away as he raised his arm and slapped me. Over and over again he hit me and beat me. My head ached as he slammed me into the ground, my body screamed while he kicked me 'till I bled.

"Good for nothing, worthless varmint." He screamed in my face. The world spun around me and slowly faded to darkness.

***

The next afternoon after he brought lunch I heard footsteps, a door slam, and a lock click. That's how I knew he had left. I ran up the stairs and pulled the bobby pin I'd been saving, out of my hair. I stuck it in the lock, twisting it and turning it until I was finding a method that worked.

After an hour of working on the lock, I was making little progress. My head hurt and my body was shaking. My Omnipod had stopped working yesterday and I was still adjusting to the affects. I needed to rest for a little bit. My body craved sleep and I wasn't going to get it while Jack was here.

I got it! The bobby pin slid into place and turned. The door swung open, revealing a narrow hallway. I cautiously stepped out, my eyes adjusting to the dim light. The realization that this might be my chance flooded me with a mix of fear and determination.

The house seemed empty, and I had to act quickly. I moved silently, trying to memorize the layout in case I needed to escape in a hurry. My steps echoed in the eerie silence, and every creak of the floor felt like an alarm.

I reached the front door, carefully turning the handle  to avoid making any noise. As it swung open, a sense of freedom washed over me. The outside world, with all its uncertainties, suddenly seemed like a haven compared to the confinement I had endured.

My heart raced as I surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings. The neighborhood appeared quiet, and I couldn't see anyone nearby. I needed to find help, but without any sense of direction, it felt like navigating through a maze blindfolded.

I chose a direction and started walking briskly, the urgency of my situation propelling me forward. As I moved, I noticed the remnants of a fading sunset, signaling the approach of evening. Fear gripped me at the thought of Jack returning home before I could reach safety.

My weakened state slowed me down, but the determination to escape fueled each step. I scanned the houses for any signs of life, hoping to find someone who could assist me. The minutes stretched, and every passing moment seemed to heighten the risk of being discovered.