Hours have gone by since Ella has seen Shawna. She released her from the chains that confined her sometime late last night. Morning has now come and she has yet to be able to find Shawna in the house.
After checking the doorknobs to see if they have been disarmed and figuring out really quickly that they have not been, she decides to ravage the fridge for food. She is starving and dehydrated.
She opens the fridge and smiles a little once she sees that it is stocked full with food. She begins pulling things out and ripping the packages open to shove them into her mouth.
Shawna bursts through the door with a huge smile on her face. Ella turns to see the wide open door and briefly wonders if she will ever see what is beyond that door ever again in her life.
"You will never believe the conversation I just had!" Shawna laughs as if replaying it in her head. Ella stands in front of the fridge, staring at her, waiting until she talks again. "My good buddy just came here and took me for a drive. He said he was arrested last night! Can you believe it?"
Ella does not respond. She is still confused.
"He got in a fight with his girlfriend and police arrested him thinking it was you and me! They actually thought he was a chick!" Shawna laughs hysterically. "And now they think he must be involved in this somehow."
This news gives Ella a glimmer of hope to hold onto. She knows police are looking for her and they are close which is enough information for now to keep herself going and to continue fighting.
"Well, did he tell them?" Ella asks. "Did he betray you?" She tries to get information out of Shawna without her suspecting she is still trying to escape. She knows that if Shawna's friend told police where she is, it may mean police are on their way to rescue her right now.
Shawna slaps her hand on the kitchen counter as she doubles over with laughter. Ella debates with herself about smashing a frying pan over her head while she is not looking. She knows this will only anger her and cause her to lash out and hurt her. She can't risk that at this point knowing that her freedom is so close.
"Of course he didn't tell them where I am! He said he doesn't know where I am and they totally believed him!" Shawna shouts with excitement at her friend's loyalty to her.
Ella smiles to match her expression to fool her about her thoughts but deep down she is hiding the fact that this news has crushed her inside. All the hope she was just given has slipped out of her hands in the matter of seconds.
"I can't believe they actually trusted him. Those idiots!" Shawna cries with happiness.
"So what does this mean? For us?" Ella asks. "Now what?"
"This means we can live here without worrying about interruptions from the police." Shawna walks closer and shakes Ella. "Isn't this great?!"
Ella nods and smiles to hide her pain. "So great." She turns away from Shawna, shoving her head back into the fridge. She needs to find a way out of here. "So, are we going to live here for the rest of our lives?" She asks, lifting her head out of the fridge. She has a plan that may or may not work to free her.
"Yes." Shawna smiles. She tilts his head after thinking about what she said for a moment. "Why? Do you want to leave me?"
"No, no not at all." Ella says, playing along. "I just think maybe moving to a new home wouldn't be so bad." Ella knows that a move would mean she needs to take her outside and that would give her a chance to escape. "I think we should pick out a house together. One we can both fall in love with. One we could see ourselves starting a family in." The words burn Ella's throat as she says them. She knows she needs to continue to play the game if she wants a better chance at winning it.
Shawna eyes widen with happiness as Ella speaks of their future together. She walks over, grabs the back of her head, and pulls her closer so she can kiss her forehead. "A family?" Her voice cracks as she verges on crying from all of the joy she feels knowing that Ella feels the same way she does now.
She nods and smiles too. "We can go house hunting together and really find a place that speaks to both of us." She fights the urge to punch Shawna. "And I can dye my hair so no one will know it's me."
Shawna grabs Ella's hands and squeezes them tight. She can't wait. "Let's start immediately." Ella nods and takes a deep breath, fearful for what is to come.
AN: what are your thoughts after reading this chapter?
