GONE

10

GRACE

I wasn't sure what time or day it was now. Ever since we had been moved from the barred cage into this hollow decaying room, my thoughts were all jumbled over.

Where was he?

He hadn't shown his face since what he had done to me and Tommy. After almost an hour of pretending to be a dog and him realising that there wasn't much else I could do, he left but not before bruising me just above my cheek, which was now progressively healing. I was thankful that he finally left us alone but my thoughts began to stray.

Was he planning something worse?

My stomach churned anxiously as I thought about what he'd do.

Would he rape me? Would he stab Tommy again? Or would he just shoot us both?

We had disobeyed him so many times I had lost count. But I couldn't let him think he got the best of me. Although he might've snatched a piece of me forever, I was determined to fight back.

It was false hope. False hope thinking that we both were going to get out of here alive. After Tommy's harsh words the other night, I saw the determined look on his face. As if he would do anything in the world to try and get out. For him, for me. For us. I knew he was hurt. I had heard him crying himself to sleep the other night but I pretended I was asleep. I didn't want him to think I was judging him.

I just wanted him to have peace.

So when I finally choked up the words, swallowing my doubts and fear as I gave him a smile. A look of relief washed over his face and it left a small dent in my heart.

He felt safe around me.

And I felt the same.

"So? What do you think?"

Tommy's voice snaps me out of my thoughts as I turn my head towards him, seeing him sitting on his mattress, legs crossed as he maps the plan on the cold concrete floor beneath him with his finger.

"Hm?"

He lets out a sigh before rolling his eyes as he ruffles a hand through his hair. "Please listen Grace, you know we don't have all day"

I wanted to grit my teeth in annoyance. The thing was, we did have all day. It was likely Luke wouldn't show his face around anytime soon so that means we had the time to kill. And for some weird reason, I didn't like the fact that we were planning on escaping knowing damn well how high the risks were.

Our lives.

"When Luke comes back, you're going to pretend your sick. Say you got your period and you have bad cramps, so he'll walk over to the bathroom. He'll forget to close the door so I'll leave something small to trap the door open, so while he's tending to you I'll jump him from behind, knock him out and then we get the fuck out of here"

His plan seemed smart. Yet he seemed to forget that he wasn't alone.

My face scrunches up. "You're forgetting something. What if he doesn't come alone?"

I watch as a concerned look crosses his face. "Shit" he mutters to himself before his fists ball into a tight fist. "I hadn't thought of that"

I nodded. It was okay. I knew he wanted to act like he was fine but I knew deep down inside him he wasn't the only one suffering. He didn't need to have it all planned out. As much as I hated it here with every passion, if we didn't think this elaborately through, we would be fucked.

He begins pacing around the room as I watch him twitch in agitation. Before it finally releases. "Fuck!" Shouting in anger, he smashes his fist into the concrete wall and I let out a gasp as he doesn't react.