The temperature in the room seems to have plummeted. Goosebumps cover my arms and cold sweat has me feeling all clammy and gross. I don't know what to say. Parker hasn't moved. I might be imagining things, but I think I feel burning waves of anger rolling off of him. If he keeps that up then maybe he'll warm the room up? Should I say something to break the tension? Should I keep quiet and hope someone comes and separates us? Anxiety and the cold floor has me feeling the need to get up and move about. My bladder reminds me of its smallness. "Aw, shit!"
"What?" Parker's voice is curt, like he really doesn't want to talk to me. I'm glad it's dark, my face feels like it could set the building on fire.
"I just... I need to use the bathroom." The words tumble out of my mouth as I stand and fumble my way along the walls, hoping and praying there's a second door leading to what I need.A darker square appears in a back corner of the room. My fumbling hands find a handle and when I try the door it opens. Searching the wall just inside I find and flick the switch, a relieved sigh escaping me. The buzzing sound of a light bulb echoes, but the dim light emanating from the naked bulb up on the wall is ridiculous and barely shows me the grimy sink and the disgusting looking toilet seat. It's a lot brighter than the storage room though.
"There's a bathroom here. If you wanna call it that..." Parker doesn't respond. I close the door. There's no key in the lock. I hesitate only for a moment. Nature isn't calling, it's screaming. He'll not open the door and check, he hates me. "But with my luck he'll have found a flashlight and he'll rush in here, shining it in my face..."The toilet paper looks ancient, even in the glum light of the bathroom. I hope we don't have to stay here long, because there's not much left. The tap on the sink protests at being turned, but soon enough brown looking water trickles out. I rinse my hands as best as I can and wipe them on my jeans. Leaning on the sink I hang my head and assess my options. I can go out there and we'll keep on shutting up and hope someone comes get us. I can try to apologize to him and hopefully get us through this... thing. Or, I could stay in here. Sighing I stand up straight, redo my ponytail, turn the light off and open the door.
The storage room lies in complete darkness, the little light in the tiny bathroom has messed with my night vision. Waving my hands in front of me I try to remember where we were sitting. "Shit. I really didn't think this through."
"Watch out!" My legs smack into something. Flailing my arms I fall forward. Face planting onto cardboard boxes hurts. My stomach hits the edge of one of the boxes, the air gets knocked out of me and I lay there unmoving. For a while I'm seeing stars. There's rustling from where Parker is sitting. "Are you okay?"
"Yes." I let out a quiet groan. "Actually, no."
"Are... are you hurt?"
"No, this is nothing."
"Then what..."
My voice is trembling, it's a little hard to breathe still. "I've been kidnapped. I have no idea why, I mean I get why someone would... you... well... And I wish I could go home, but I'm here, stuck here in a creepy, dark room with someone who hates me." The silence after my little outburst is loud."I don't hate you." Parker's voice is quiet and a lot closer than expected. "Well, maybe I did, or thought I did, at first. You really hurt my feelings." If my face wasn't pressed down on the box I'd hide it in my hands.
"I know. I'm sorry. I say the most stupid shit sometimes." A groan escapes me. "Actually. All the time."
His hands on my shoulders are unexpected. "Come on Isolde. Get up from there." He's trying to drag me to my feet and slowly I get them under me again.
The head rush is spectacular. If Parker hadn't held on I would have face planted again. I blow out a breath. "Man, this sucks!" His chuckle comes as a surprise, to both of us. The sound of the door being unlocked has his chuckle and our bodies freezing.
YOU ARE READING
Despair, darkness and desire
Short StoryIsolde wakes up in pitch black room and has no idea how she got there.