Protected

Watch your Step

        I wake up the next day sore and cranky. My wrists hurt from the bonds, and I'm achy all over.
      I sit up and notice Carson in the corner, staring at me. "Stalker." I say pointedly. He laughs and wakes Syd.
     The door slams open. "Morning Kiddos. It's time to move. Get up." Smalls commands. He pokes us as we walk by, and as I pass, he reaches into my pocket and grabs my phone. "None of this for you little lady."
      Smalls passes it off to Boss, who is standing next to him. Boss laughs and throws my phone, shattering it off the wall.  "There goes all communication and hope of escape."
        I bite back a nasty remark and keep walking. "To the living room." Smalls instructs.
      We stand next to the couch as Boss and Smalls grab cloth to make gags.
       Smalls heads for Syd and Boss does me, wrapping the strip of cloth around my head and tying it tight. My mouth is pulled painfully at the corners and I whimper. A hand smacks me full on the face. "None of that whining missy." Boss growls as he pulls his hand away.
      Carson opens his mouth to say something when Smalls quickly wraps a cloth around his head, stifling him.
      "In here." Boss says, pressing a button. The wall of the fireplace swings out and I gulp, it's dark and cobwebby inside.
       "Go." Boss says, and shoves me.
I stumble forward, and fall to my knees.
      Boss laughs as he leaves, saying, "I've found rats in there. If I were you, I would watch your step."

       Hearing the police search the house was one of the worst things I've ever had to go through. They were right there, our key to freedom, and yet had no idea about our little room. We could do nothing to alert them of it. I close my eyes tightly and don't let myself cry.

      Smalls comes in later with water in Dixie cups and bread. The food is like cardboard as it scrapes down my throat, and I swallow hard.
      We're ushered outside to where a  work van was waiting. Carson, Syd and I were forced into the windowless back. I took the time to glance at the side of the van. It read Ackley Plumbing.
        I remember Smalls mentioning something about turning away calls.   
        Once they made sure we were secure in the back, they climbed in the front and we were off. "To Minnesota!" Boss cries, I hear him through the barrier between the cab of the van and the back. Minnesota. That's so far, we'll never be found.
          Staying in the darkness for so many hours is terrifying. The only way you can tell time is by your stomach, and with the way mine was growling it must be nearly dinner time. Carson had wriggled over next to me and had his side pressed against mine. I'm normally not a big touchy-feely girl but it was very comforting, so I allowed him to do it. Syd was motionless.

          It felt like forever before the truck finally stopped and we were hauled out. It appeared we were staying in a barn. Smalls led us to a cold cellar where farmers would have kept fresh vegetables.
         I felt this uncontrollable fear bubbling up in me about being shut in the dark. When my gag was removed I start pblubbering about claustrophobia and beg Smalls to give us a lamp. He consented, and that's how we got ahold of a flashlight.
         But when Boss came to check on us, he decided it would not be smart to leave us with a flashlight, and so we were plunged into darkness. Our prison was circular, just wide enough for us all to sit cross legged around the circumference. There is no way I'm getting any sleep tonight. I can barely stretch my legs across this stupid room!
         Carson, Syd and I chatted on and off. Then, I have no idea how, Syd fell asleep. That left me and Carson.
         "I bet my moms worried herself into the hospital by now," I say.     
          "Maybe." Carson replies. "My moms not going to sleep for weeks. And then she'll just..." He trails off.   
          "Give up?" I supply. He looks at me.
           "Yes, but please don't talk about it. We don't need to get ourselves all worked up."
          I said I didn't think I could be any more worked up. "My hairs a mess, I'm sure my makeup is running and I'm exhausted. I don't look so hot."
         "You don't look half-bad. From what I could tell before we got our light taken, your makeup isn't running. You just looked tired with slightly messy hair. Not awful though, believe me."
        I glare where he is in the darkness. "That makes me feel better."
         He chuckles.
      "Don't laugh!" I snap, "It's not fun living life looking ugly!" Like always.
       "Lexi trust me! You don't look awful!"
       "Easy for you to say." I mumble. "You always look fine."
         "I have my off days, just like you're having now."
     "Carson! Mind your mouth. That wasn't nice! It's bad enough having the girls tell me I look awful, now I have to deal with what you think too?"
         "You care what I think?" His voice lights up.
           "Well all girls care what guys think, though they might not voice it."
      His voice falls. "I thought you were saying you like me back."
    "You like me?"
      He pauses. "How could you not tell? I always check on how you're feeling, I tease you, and I always defend you from the girls and the guys. If I made it more obvious it would be gross." He pauses and stammers. "I might as well tell you to your face. And please," he hurries on when he heard my intake of breath, "don't let this change how you act around me. Please."
         He exhales a shaky breath and I smile in the darkness.
       "I won't. For now, nothing has changed, other than you told me to my face. Now let's get some more rest, okay?"
        "Okay." He agrees. We both know we will sleep fitfully if at all, so we have to get all the rest we can. Even if it's not actually sleep. My last thought before I doze off is that we never got dinner.