My Darkest Shadow

Chapter 34

With the roller door down, darkness filled my prison. I couldn't see my cuffed hands. Worse, scurrying sounds of rodents echoed across the room and sticky webs clung to me when I moved.

Despite this, I followed the wall to search for an escape. Swiping one hand blindly in front of me at webs, I used my other hand to guide me along the perimeter. A few minutes of exploration confirmed my fears. The only exit point was the roller door bolted to the ground at the far side of the room.

For hours, I crouched by the door waiting, hoping someone would come. Occasionally I'd swat at tiny legs on my arm or jump at the scratchy sound of rats running between walls. This was awful, the last thing I'd expected when agreeing to come back here. I should have known. Nothing ever went according to plan. My only hope was that someone would recognise I was missing before Madeline's client collected me.

Garrison wouldn't miss me until morning. The thought made me nauseated. Even then, his personal risk when getting Kael involved may keep him from coming to my aid.

In America, Lila had been fed a lie about me going to Costa Rica and visiting Maria's family home. Perhaps Lila wouldn't believe me. I hoped she'd have enough reservations to check on my story. Even if Garrison didn't, she would contact Kael.

Garrett. Until I saw him hiding on the catwalk, I'd assumed the worst of him. Was there any chance of him outstrategizing Madeline? Perhaps he intended to, but Madeline must have suspicions. Had he faked a sudden attraction to her? No, there must be a basis for it, developed during his capture.

Leaning into the door, my thoughts oscillated between different potential rescuers and various plans of escape. I wasn't confident in any of my options.

Madeline's buyer was a prospect too terrifying to dwell on. They would be a stranger with characteristics like Kael when he moved in his criminal circles. A large, faceless image formed in my mind's eye. He was cold and unsympathetic. Unlike Kael, he wouldn't be different with me. He would be cruel with unyielding resolve to use me to his advantage.

Half asleep after hours of waiting, there was a screech like unoiled hinges for the first time in years. I jumped. Someone was raising the roller door. I scooted away a little, squinting at the smallest shimmer of moonlight as it came in from the opening door. Now awake, I was freezing. Teeth chattering, I moved further away until my eyes could adjust.

Garrett ducked under the half-opened door. He didn't appear hurt. But his hair was tousled, his dress shirt opened at the top and creased. Imagining him with Madeline, I glared and looked away.

"Harper!" Garrett called in an attempted whisper. Either oblivious to my disdain or choosing to ignore it he fell to his knees beside me. "I'm so sorry. You're freezing. There are guards everywhere. It was so hard to get away."

Slipping his jacket off, he dropped it over my shoulders. The warmth from the wool coat only tempered my inner cold. Still, I didn't look at him. I felt his hand on my shoulder.

My conscience nagged at me. Give him a chance. Crazy or not, he may be your only way out of here.

Finally, I dragged my eyes from the ground to Garrett. His frown made deep creases around his mouth and eyes. He seemed worried about me. Huddled on the floor, I probably looked pathetic. But Garrett was partially responsible for this, even if I didn't understand the details.

"You and Madeline?" I was disgusted and didn't hide it from my tone. "Is this one of the secrets you kept about your capture?"

Garrett gaped at me as if I had ripped off his bandage and spat in the wound. Tucking his upper lip into his teeth, he considered a moment, staring unseeing eyes at me. It was hard for him, talking about this. But I waited, forcing myself to be patient with him.

Finally, he sighed. "Alright, here it is." Garrett ran a hand over his mouth. It scratched over the stubble on his cheek. He cleared his throat. "Stockholm syndrome. You heard of it?"

Though it sounded vaguely familiar, I shook my head.

"It's quite common in situations where..." Garrett looked up into the wooden rafters for answers. Wincing, "It was a survival response. My brain just decided the only way to survive her was to, well, love her."

"You love Madeline?"

Garrett's eyes bulged and he leaned closer to me. "No, no. I love you, Harper. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Between her and the drugs..." moisture pooled in his lids. "It was bad. I didn't know what was real anymore, you know?" He leaned toward me. His face was close but I didn't back away. "You are the only thing that's never changed. Anytime there was a threat to you, real or imagined, I'd go crazy. But Madeline thinks I'm still mad. I want to help you and I..." Voice thick before it faded, he looked down at me with moist, tortured eyes.

Garrett endured so much because of me. Even now, he'd kept up the charade of being under Madeline's control to help me. A tear slid from the corner of my eye. Reaching up, Garrett wiped it with his thumb. Without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me. His lips on mine felt hesitant and familiar. When I didn't react, he wrapped an arm around my waist to pull me closer.

Part of me felt strangely relieved. What happened with Madeline wasn't real and he knew it. In the depths of his soul, he was still Garrett. Ridding our lives of Madeline was the only way to extinguish the ghosts she'd left inside him.

Slowly, I leaned away from his kiss. Eyes closed, Garrett smiled a little. When he opened them, his eyes danced across my face. For the first time in a long time, I felt like the old Garrett was back.

Whispering, "There are guards everywhere. I honestly don't know how we'll get you out of here."

"Could you get out alone?" My pulse quickened, a plan forming in my head. "I know where Kael is." I stopped abruptly, catching myself before blurting his location. "But to be honest, Gar, I'm scared to tell you."

"I know," Garrett said softly, "but my violence toward him was Madeline, the drugs. See I always hated the guy. And the drugs suppress that natural inhibition to doing something stupid, acting on impulse. Then Madeline messes with my mind, boils it into some kind of hate that I can't tame." Garrett took a sharp breath. Running both his hands through his hair, he finished with, "But even though I've overcome that, I don't trust the guy. Maybe he's not the devil himself, but he's pretty close to it."

I nodded slowly. "I guess that makes sense. About the drugs I mean."

"What was Kael like when you found him? She probably used the same stuff on him. Bet he was crazy, violent?"

Garrett's question was in passing, likely expressed the moment he'd thought of it. But with his words came the recall of Kael's unexpected kiss, how his hand slid up my back, his lips parted over mine, and his heart pounded against my chest. I felt my face flush as my senses were flooded with the memory.

"Harper?" I jumped at Garrett's voice.

Shaking my head, "Nothing. He was just dazed, really out of it I guess."

There had been a few deaths too, necks broken with Kael's bare hands, but Garrett shouldn't know. I wished I hadn't seen it. Glancing past Garrett, I shook my head. "I don't want to talk about it. We don't have a choice but to trust him. Would Madeline let you leave?"

Garrett tilted his head, his look doubtful. "I think so. She trusts me. Where is he?"

Part of me still doubted Garrett. This could easily be Madeline's trap to capture Kael. Divulging his location could play right into her plans.

In reality, there was no other option but to trust Garrett. I'd been through my potential rescuers in my head a thousand times. There were others who would try to help me. But none were cappable of besting Madeline except Kael.

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Stockholm syndrome is real and a scary thing! Poor Garrett. But he claims to be recovered. Harper feels she must trust him. Do you trust him??

Thanks for reading everyone! XD

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