Kidnapped

Chapter Seven

"Aubrey?"

Audrey stepped into the basement, a few moments after Jake had left, closing the door behind her. The look on her face told me she had seen everything.

I couldn't help it. I started crying.

"Hey," Audrey said softly, sitting down next to me. "It's ok."

I shook my head. "But it's not. Either neither of us are ever getting out of here, or I'll never see him again."

"Neither of us?"

I shook my head again. "Victor isn't going to let you go even if he gets the ransom money!"

Audrey's eyes widened. "What? But...but he can't do that!"

"We have to escape," I whispered, not bothering to wipe the tears off my cheek.

"Psst."

I looked around. "What was that?"

"Hey," said a voice.

I saw Elara standing in the doorway.

"Don't let them know I'm here," she whispered, stepping in quietly.

"What is it?" Audrey asked.

"I can help you escape," she announced.

"Really?" I asked.

Elara nodded. "They've got no right to keep you here."

I looked at Audrey. We were actually gonna go home!

"How can you help us?" Audrey asked her.

"Well, we have to make a plan. How about tomorrow night? I'll volunteer to be the person guarding the front door. Then I'll just let you out."

"What if they don't let you because they suspect you might be helping us?" I wondered.

Elara looked at us slyly. "Leave that to me," she declared. "I have more skills than these guys realize."

***

"Psst!"

"What was that?" Audrey asked me.

"Hey! Psst!"

I looked around, and saw Elara peeking out from the kitchen. She motioned for me to come when I met her eyes.

"Come here," I told Audrey quietly, then got off the couch and headed into the kitchen.

"What is it?" I asked Elara.

"Ok, last night was Brick's last shift of the week, and this morning I volunteered, saying I hadn't in forever; plus I wasn't feeling great and there was no way I could get to sleep." Elara winked one of her bright blue eyes.

"So...you're just gonna let us out?" Audrey asked, keeping her voice low.

"Well...yes. But it's a bit more complicated than that. I...found Victor's supply of chloroform the other day when I was cleaning."

I stared at her until it clicked. "You want us to knock you out?" I took a step back.

"Sort of? I'm going to unlock the door for you, then you guys will...well, yeah. I need you to knock me out. How else would I explain how you got out? They'll think I helped you, and kick me out. I...know it's not the best place to live. But it's better than going out and fending for myself, and to be honest, I kind of like it here. So this is the only way the suspicion won't get thrown on me."

I bit my lip and glanced at Audrey. "I don't know," I told Elara. "I don't want to hurt you."

Elara laughed. "You know what would hurt way worse? If you knocked me out the way Victor likes to. And you know how that feels."