In Unsafe Hands

Chapter 28 Plans

The sun was just beginning to creep up the hill when I woke. I staggered to my room a wave of nausea hitting me. I rushed to the bathroom where I promptly threw my guts up. I rested my head against my hand, the coolness of them relieve some of the pain in my head. I threw up some more before washing my hands and rinsing out my mouth. I staggered back into my bedroom, collapsed on the bed, and fell into a restless sleep.

A few hours later I woke up to the fully risen sun in my eyes. I groaned and rolled over. I laid on my side for a while until I heard noise in the kitchen. Gaige must be awake, I thought. I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. I gotten the means to escape now all Nathan I needed was a plan. I wanted to rush down to the basement to talk to Nathan but I knew couldn't. Gaige might be suspicious. I had tried my best to conceal the fact that I had added pills to his drink but he may have noticed. I silently prayed he didn't, that he would think that maybe he had just had too much to drink. I wished but didn't have much hope.

 Another wave of nausea hit but this time it was from fear. If he found out would he throw me in the room in the basement? Would he cut me again? I slowly traced over the faint mark on my arm that was already beginning to fade. Apparently it hadn't been as deep as I thought. I swallowed past the lump in my throat. I stared at the ceiling until I worked up the courage to go into the kitchen and face Gaige. I slowly moved to the door, my steps unsteady. I took a deep breath before opening the door. Gaige sat at the table a large steaming cup in his hands and a bottle of aspirin on the counter.

We quietly greeted each other. I poured myself a cup of coffee but didn't add anything preferring to drink it black, for this morning at least. Gaige scooted a plate of toast towards me. I grabbed one of the buttered triangle shaped pieces and began nibbling on it. Apparently, we both didn't have much of an appetite this morning. "We may have over done it last night huh?" Gaige whispered. I nodded then winced at the pain it brought to my head. " Here" Gaige lightly tossed me the bottle of aspirin. Spilling some of my coffee in the process of catching the bottle. Gaige wiped up the mess giving me time to pop some of the pills into my mouth. We both nibbled on toast in silence waiting and hoping for the pills to, hopefully, relieve the pounding in our heads.

Gaige walked toward the living room and I followed him. We both sat silently sipping our coffee. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes. I promised myself that I would never drink like that again. Although this time had been worth it, I doubted any other time would be worth it, and hopefully, no other time would call for it. That is if Nathan and I could come up with a plan and if it would work. I kept my eyes closed and let myself daydream of escape. A thought popped into my head, one I had not thought of. What would I do after I escaped? I did not know exactly how long I had been here? Was it weeks or months? It could very well be weeks but time passed differently trapped in a house. 

I hadn't seen many clocks in the house except in Gaige's room. I thought about asking for a watch but decide it was best not to know how much time was passing, it would only made me more depressed to know how much time was passing. Had my birthday come and gone? When I escaped would I go back home? Go back to the place where I was unloved? I would escape from one prison to go to a home filled with anger, bitterness, depression, and hate. Maybe I could live with my sister? Would they let me stay with them? Maybe, maybe not. She was my sister but could they afford to board me? Maybe I could find a job, work my way to supporting myself. I wouldn't know until I got there if I got there. So many ifs! Too many ifs! It only worsened my headache.

I decided to not think on it anymore, it only made my head, and my heart hurt. I cleared my head and eventually fell asleep. For the second time today, I woke up to rush to the bathroom to puke my guts out. Again, like that morning Gaige was in the kitchen when I came out. I sat down at the table and began twirling one of the empty bottles while Gaige bustled around. Eventually, he turned to me and handed me a hot cup. "What's this?" I asked sniffing it. "It's my own personal brew. I've found it to help me when I've had too much to drink." He murmured quietly." What's in it though?" I asked, still hesitant." Mostly a mix of herbs like ginger and peppermint. My dad was always in a bad mood the morning after a heavy night of drinking, so I learned a couple tricks to deal with a hangover" I nodded absentmindedly. I took a sip and coughed. My eyes watered at the spicy taste. "That would be the ginger. Should have warned you, I add a lot of it, helps with nausea." This time I took a smaller sip. My eyes still watered and I wanted to cough, but it was better. The more I sipped the more I found that it did help soothe my raging stomach.