𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 • 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭

𝟒𝟓: 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

It was dark in the back of the taxi.

Or at least she guessed it was a taxi. Whatever she inhaled from the cloth made it hard for her to comprehend much of anything as she blinked back to consciousness.

She vaguely heard Archer reassuring the driver she was only drunk, right before slipping over a fifty dollar bill.

The driver's questions subsided. Money was a funny thing.

Now, slumped in the backseat, Sophia could barely lift her head, unable to look out the window or guess where she was being taken.

She realized her jacket was gone, leaving her in her white long-sleeve and jeans.

Thick fog muddled her brain, her vision going in and out. Her head was pounding. She felt like she was sinking further and further into the leather seat, her body made of concrete.

Archer's hand was stretched across her lap, holding onto her leg. He wasn't letting go. There was no way out.

Then, another thought struck her. Her phone.

Maybe her location was on, or she could try and get an emergency call through to the police.

With difficulty, she slid her hand towards her back pocket. Too much difficulty. Archer's grip latched onto her wrist, stopping her attempt.

"Too slow. I already checked." He sighed like it had been an inconvenience to him. "I have no idea where your phone is. Shame, I was going to send a few little messages to your boyfriend."

Oh, Walker.

She could only groan in response at the mention of him, her stomach twisting. It was obvious he hadn't reached her in time, seeing as she was in the backseat of an unknown vehicle heading god knows where.

Sophia silently begged that he was okay.

It wasn't much longer before the car slowed down, traffic flowing past them while the driver pulled off the road and onto the shoulder.

Her heart was screaming in her chest. Run. Get as far as you can. Find help. But even if the brain fog was now slowly clearing away, her limbs still refused to cooperate.

Lifting her head, she made eye contact with Archer. When she finally tried to talk, the words tumbled from her lips in a breathy mess.

"You...you have to let me...let me go." She struggled against the strangled feeling in her lungs.

His brows lifted in what she interpreted as mild surprise. Not shock, or worry. Just a curiosity that settled over his features as he reached for the door handle beside him.

"You're a fighter now, aren't you?" He cooed. "It usually takes longer than this for the effects to begin to wear off."

His mocking tone made her wish so badly to be able to punch him right then. Or kick him. Or do anything to make him feel pain.

But all she managed was a pitiful shuffle away from him, towards the other car door. He watched with humor, letting her make it within a few inches of it before grabbing her arm, dragging her back towards him.

Archer popped the other door open, leaning down and scooping her up. His grip tightened around Sophia's waist, making her skin crawl.

Her eyes fluttered shut against her will as he stepped inside a building. Through her dream-like state, she registered an elevator ride, then two flights of stairs. Archer finally lowered her feet to the ground, opening a door and dragging her in along with him.

No no no, please.

She didn't want to go like this. All alone, far from her friends. From her mom.