The Great Escape

Chapter 16

It's been three weeks according to the calendar in the kitchen. I stare at it bleakly as I wait for my master to show up for his breakfast. I feel like I've slipped into a bit of a routine now. The only problem is I'm still having a hard time figuring out my master's routine. I think he knows I'm watching him. Of course he knows. It could take years before you actually gain his trust. Three week is nothing to him. It was the longest and most painful three weeks of my life, though. Surely we will have to dock somewhere soon for supplies. This boat can't run forever. I wondered about Grace. If she hadn't been taken herself, she would have known fairly quickly something had happened to me. She would have called the police. Was anyone looking for me? They had to be. Even if Grace had been captured, both of our parents would have called the police by the end of the night when they hadn't heard from us. Someone would find me eventually. Second location...the thought haunted me over and over. 

"Doll-face." I hear being called. I turned to see my master smiling at me. I hadn't even heard him approach. I was too lost in thought. I scolded myself for being so absent minded. Now was not the time to drift. I had to remain vigilant; alert. 

I cleared my throat. "Yes, master?" I asked. I barely even had to force it out. It was becoming a habit, despite the vile it brought every time I said it. 

"My breakfast." he demanded as he sat. He continued to observe my every move when I was in his presence. I felt like an insect under a magnifying glass. 

"Of course." I replied quickly. I grabbed his plate from the plate warmer and brought it to him swiftly. I immediately began to pour him coffee before he could even ask for it.

"It seems you're beginning to get the hang of things." he commented. I looked up to catch his expression. He simply nodded for approval. "Keep it up and we will make progress sooner than you expect". He said smiling at me. It wasn't warm, though, and I felt sick. I sat next to him at the bar and ate a small portion of eggs.  On more than one occasion I considered using the kitchen utensils as a weapon. But I wasn't sure what good it would do me. I was still stranded out in the middle of the ocean and there were still other men aboard this ship who would do me harm. I didn't like my master and I certainly wasn't as willing at night when he came to visit as I made it seem. But unless I wanted to be passed around to the rest of the men on board I was better off where I was. When we were finished eating he turned to face me. I looked up at him, not sure what was going to happen. He placed a hand on my thigh.

"I'll be docking the boat today." he began. My heart skipped a beat. I tried not to let my expression change. He continued to watch me for a second before he continued. "You will remain on this boat. You will not leave, you will not make a noise. There will be security surrounding the boat, as well as aboard. If you try anything, and I do mean anything, to cause trouble I can guarantee you will regret it. Do I make myself clear?" he questioned as he glared at me.

I nodded.

"Very well then." he cleared his throat. "Leave me to my work and go about your usual duties." he ordered. I obviously was still not fond of him, and only obeyed him out of fear; which he knew. It was good enough for now, but I could tell it wouldn't get me by forever. The sicko wanted me to actually be happy here. As I cleaned the kitchen I debated ways of how I could escape. Even if I could just get inside his office to see where he wanted to take me, to see where I was. There was no way I'd get away with it with the security guards. I felt so defeated. We were finally docking and my master obviously knew I would want to try and escape. 

I heard voices out on the deck. It must be the extra security , I thought to myself. Would I get in trouble for going outside if I was quiet? I decided to at least peek outside. If I'm not supposed to be there the guards will just shove me back inside. I tiptoed over to the doors that led to the deck and slowly opened them. I poked my head out and looked to the right. Nothing. I looked to the left, and bingo. Two males guards were talking to each other. One of them looked kind of familiar. I edged out onto the deck to get a better look. I gasped. The male facing me was Spencer. Had he been on the boat this entire time? Or was he one of the new guards? If so, why? I grew from shocked to excited to scared all in about three seconds. I quickly remembered our conversation on the hill...I'm dangerous...Is it drugs?....It involves them. I felt myself stiffen with anger. He was responsible for this. He had to be. 

Spencer happened to look up and over the shoulder of the guy he was talking to. His eyes grew wide when he spotted me. I felt like I could faint. I put my hand on the wall to steady myself. He quickly averted his eyes back to the other guard. They talked for just a minute more and parted ways. Spencer slowly walked towards me, as if he was just patrolling the deck. The other guard turned the corner and went the opposite way. As Spencer neared he looked around to make sure nobody was watching, then he approached me. I stayed completely still. I was sure this was a hallucination.

"Vee..." he whispered. I couldn't read his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked quietly. I wanted to smack him and jump into his arms at the same time. Was he really a part of this somehow? He had to be. There was no way he was here to rescue me, because if he was then that would mean he knew how to find me. If a guy from the high school could find me then surely the police would have found me by now. The only logical explanation is Spencer is bad and dangerous, just like he had told me he was. I don't care, my words haunted me. I wanted to hurl. 

"I can explain." he started in a hurried whisper. "Vee, I've been so worried about you." He went to reach for me and I automatically flinched without thinking. He looked sad; and I could tell that he knew why I flinched.

"Have you been here this entire time?" I asked harshly. "Did you know I was here?" my voice raised a little.

"I'll explain everything later. I promise." he replied.

"You need to explain it now." I whispered harshly. "I don't trust you. You're a part of this. You're disgusting." I spat at him.

"Vee, I swear it's not like that. Please, you have to give me a chance to explain." he begged.

"I'm giving you the chance now. So, spit it out." I hissed.

"I can't get caught. Later. I promise." he ushered. "I would never hurt you. I won't let them hurt you." he pleaded.

"They already have." I said. He stared at me for a second. Then he walked off before I could even comprehend what had happened. I wanted to run to my room and cry, but I needed to figure out a way of this stupid boat; and I had no idea how much time I had to do that before my master came back.

I looked out at the dock longingly. I looked up above me and made eye contact with the guard above deck. His eyes warned me and he spoke something into his radio. A moment later a guard rounded the corner of the boat and approached me. He put his arm around me and smiled down at me. He looked at his surroundings, checking for onlookers, then quickly shoved me back inside  and yanked the curtain shut. He threw me to the floor and kicked me. I stifled a scream and groaned. "What were you doing outside?" he demanded. 

"I just wanted some fresh air, to see the land. We've been out in the middle of nowhere for three weeks. I wasn't going to escape I swear." I cried to him. I didn't want my master to think I was misbehaving. All I had endured to please him the last three weeks would be for nothing and I would have to start over, but this time with an unclean record in his eyes. He said my first offense on my first night here was forgiven. But this wouldn't be. 

"We'll see what the master has to say about that and he can decide. Stay hidden. I won't warn you nicely again." he commanded. With that he went back outside.