The Trench

Chapter 51 - Stone Cold

Rileys POV

I woke up a few minutes ago but I have yet to gather strength or clarity to open my eyes, my mind is still foggy and I feel like I'm in a daze. My body is laying on a hard, cold surface; I can feel the smooth texture against my cheek and hands. The place I'm in has an old and musty smell to the air and I can feel my nose crinkle in distaste.

A few more minutes go by with me laying in the quiet space, I can hear a faint dripping noise coming from behind me and the muffled sounds of a storm. From my senses I gather I'm inside somewhere, laying on my side, and I finally muster the nerve to open my eyes.

For a moment my heart lurches, even after opening my eyes it's pitch black. I glance around in minute panic until I turn my head slightly and look behind me. Laying on my side I was facing a wall so I roll myself over onto my back to take a glance at my surroundings, my body aching in protest.

One tiny window sits at the top of the wall adjacent to mine, it's still dark outside and the moonlight is the only light casting a small beam into my cell. The room is small, about the size of my bedroom at home from what I can see with one wooden staircase on the far wall. I gather that I'm in a basement somewhere, with concrete walls.

I sit up hesitantly only to wince and groan in pain, I vaguely remember being hit over the head and I bring my hand up to touch the side that is throbbing. Fingers graze over dried blood matted in my hair and I roll my eyes as memories flood to me.

I'm so fucking stupid, I had my gun and I wasn't fast enough.

I reach my hand into my jacket to find my holster was empty, I nod knowingly and check my pockets. She took my gun and my phone, great. For a moment I sit in more silence, scenes flashing through my mind as I replay Mae pulling the trigger. Blood flowing through dirt and rock. A stinging sensation pricked the back of my eyes and I blink rapidly, crying won't help my situation.

I couldn't keep her safe, I couldn't keep Hallow or my brother safe either. I think forlornly, cursing myself for unknown reasons driven by guilt. I knew my brother wasn't my fault, I wasn't even there when it happened but somehow I still feel guilty. Guilty because he had asked me to come along but I went to the wedding instead, maybe if I had gone things would be different. I couldn't help but to blame myself for Hallow too, I know I had double checked the barn but I should have got her out first and none of this would have happened. She would still be grazing underneath her favorite tree and munching on her favorite treats beside Titan at the gate.

Aimee would still be alive if I had been more careful, watchful, observant of our surroundings.

Now I understand how she felt when Emily died..

I shake my head and stumble weakly to my feet, moping about things I cannot change won't do me any good. I'm stronger than this, I've survived through so much already I wont let some girl with a gun knock me down now.

My eyes are finally adjusted to the dim lighting and I look around for some kind of weapon, for a moment I think it's beyond hope. There's nothing in this place but the window which would make too much noise to break, and potentially cut up my hand in the process. The floor and walls are all concrete, with no cracks or loose pieces to bash someone's head in defense.

I stood in the middle of the room, hands on my hips as I look around. Finally my eyes settle on the wooden staircase and I smirk as I make my way to it. After a few steps I'm standing beside it and I start running my hands over the underneath of the steps and support beams. After a few moments I find a significant split in the wood board and my eyes light up, wiggling my fingers underneath the split off piece I get a good grip on it and yank.

There's a soft sound of splitting wood as the piece comes flying off in my hands and I stumble a few steps back, I look down in triumph at the shard in my grasp and guestimate it's about eight inches or so.

With a nice point on the end.

It's no knife or gun, but in my situation anything is better than nothing. If all else fails I can try and break the glass, but if they don't know I'm armed it will work better on my behalf.

As I'm standing there admiring my new weapon I hear clicking noises of locks being turned and I glance up at the top of the stairs, feet start moving down and I place the wood shard in the back of my pants underneath my jacket.

My capturer gets to the bottom of the stairs and stops, staring at me with an expressionless face. It's then my eyes flicker to the top of the stairs, and the tiny beam of light coming from the cracked door.