Improvise or Die

4

Around what felt like day three, although I could not tell, the door opened as Murdoc was about to start again. He held a knife to my throat as Mac walked in. The blade caused pressure on my throat and I couldn't even speak, and more tears leaked out. I barely knew this guy who I wanted so desperately to save me. I wondered if I could even trust him to not let my throat get slashed.
     "Let her go, Murdoc. You want me. Here I am," Mac told him confidently.
     "Now, MacGyver, you didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?" Murdoc snarked. He chuckled lightly to himself.
     "Let her go. She has no part in this."
     "No, you know, I'll give you a few minutes with her before I return to have some fun with you both. It makes this game so much more fun."
"This isn't a game, Murdoc. She's a person. You can't keep playing with people's lives," Mac argued.      
"You're in my room," Murdoc argued back. "You can't try your same escape attempt like you did last time though. I removed everything from the room, and I had my guard take your Swiss army knife. Plus, I have a new lock on the door," he added before shoving Mac over. "The challenge is part of the fun," he commented before leaving the room. Mac came over to me.
     "Here." He took out the IV and used it to get the cuffs off. "I escaped once. I'll do it again," he assured me. He paced for a few seconds as he thought. "Ok. Throw that chair as hard as you can against the wall. It should break the legs," he urged as he looked around the room. I tried but I was nowhere near full strength. "I'll do it," he mentioned. He threw it hard and it broke the legs off. He came up to me and whispered in my ear. "I'm on coms with Matty, Boze, and Riley. I had them off when I got searched so they wouldn't know. On my signal they come in and get us out safely." He used the leg of the chair to then break the doorknob off of the door to get us out. "Now, Matty," he whispered. We got out and just as we thought we'd be attacked by Murdoc's guards, SWAT burst in. They caught Murdoc before he could run and took down his guards. I could finally relax and that's when the pain and everything set in. I grabbed Mac's arm as I passed out. I woke up in the hospital.
     "Where-what happened?" I asked the nurse who had just come in to check vitals.
     "You were attacked but you'll be okay. Your boyfriend just went to get something from the vending machine." Boyfriend? I was confused. As she left, she told someone right outside the room that I was okay. "She's awake now. She's gonna be totally fine." Mac walked in.
     "Hey. Sorry if I creeped you out with the whole boyfriend thing. They wouldn't let me sit in here while you were unconscious unless I was family and I managed to get them to let me if I said I was dating you," he explained. He sat in a chair next to the bed and took my hand in his to let me know he was here for me.
     "It's fine," I told him softly. I was feeling a tad weak still.
     "How are you feeling?"
     "Kind of weak but better than I did. How long have I been out?" I wondered. It was daylight but that meant nothing.
     "A couple hours. Not real long. Are you sure you feel okay other than weak?"
     "Yes. I feel fine otherwise. I'm in a little bit of pain, but not bad," I assured him. It was nice having someone check up on me and care about me for a change.
     "Good. I'll get some water from the nurse for you." He started to get up, but I grabbed his arm.
     "Thank you," I told him.
     "It's no problem for me to get you water," he replied. I don't know if he was pretending he didn't know what I meant or if he genuinely didn't get my point.
     "No, for saving me. I didn't think you'd come." He sat back down.
     "Why wouldn't I?" he asked in disbelief.
     "From what vague concept of time I had, it was almost three days. I started thinking you didn't get my signal and you weren't coming. Besides, I'm nothing to you. You barely know me. I had known you for a few hours."
     "I got your signal and that's precisely why I took so long. We had to coordinate how to get you out without tipping Murdoc off. It also wasn't three days; it was just over one. That drug seriously messes with your head, so I get that time makes no sense down there. He sent the signal a while after you recorded it. It was late and dark once we coordinated everything and it was safer to wait until the morning to get you out," he explained. "I promised you I'd protect you and I was gonna do everything in my power to get you out," he assured me. "By the way, this is 'R', sign" he told me as he smiled while he showed me the proper sign for 'R'. "I figured out what you meant though." I chuckled slightly. He brought me back some water.
     "Mac, what happens now? Where do I go? I know Murdoc is in custody, but I don't exactly feel safe going home," I asked. I was truthfully hoping I could stay with Mac. He was the only person I trusted to keep me safe and the only person to show me this much genuine kindness in a long time.
     "Until we figure everything out, you're staying at my place. Bozer is moving out today anyway so you'll have a bedroom and everything," He assured me.
     "Why's he moving?" I hoped he didn't move out because of me.
     "He's moving in with his girlfriend. Listen, I hate to do this, but I need to finish up some stuff with my boss and the rest of the group. I have someone with the Phoenix Foundation waiting in the lobby who will take you directly to my house and wait there with you until I get home. I promise it's safe." I somehow trusted Mac, but I still couldn't help but doubt that I would be safe.
   "You're sure?"
     "Positive. You shouldn't have to wait there for me too long." I nodded.
     "I trust you. Go do your work."
     "I'm glad you're feeling better. I'll see you soon," he assured me before gently patting my shoulder and leaving. Once I was cleared, I was helped out to the car with a man I didn't know.