The Reduction

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

James

        Zara had a breakdown the night they got to the motel. Danker had left to go get gas for the truck leaving James and Zara alone at the motel. James could've escaped once she locked herself into the bathroom. He had already ripped the zip ties with his spare knife placed inside of his boot. He decided then to find the best time to leave because he knew that Zara would have to use the restroom eventually. As he was getting up from the wall to grab his pack he heard a muffled voice in the bathroom. He found himself listening to her through the bathroom door as he gathered his things. It was not his place to check up on her. Hell, he didn't owe her anything. She took everything he had left away from him. His home in the community, his passion for his job, and his escape from the past.

Anger clouded his thoughts as he decided he needed to leave and report her whereabouts. He was going to take away her life just like she did to him. He headed towards the door and reached out for the handle. His stomach sunk as a huge bang erupted from behind the bathroom door and there was silence. She started to whimper from behind the door and James' heart broke. He realized that he had nothing to take from her because she had nothing to lose anymore.

James took a step away from the front door and turned his neck to face the bathroom door. He couldn't leave her broken all alone. She was a young girl with no direction and a curse. He couldn't leave her as the world left him behind when he was younger. He understood her for the first time. He knew what it was like to feel alone in a world full of people. He walked toward the bathroom door and pressed his forehead against it softly. He rested his hand next to his head as to feel for her pulse through the door. A sign that there was still life inside. But James knew that the old Zara from high school was dead. And he knew that she wouldn't come back.

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It was silent on the other side of the door for a long time and James' eyelids were getting heavy. He hadn't properly slept in who knows how long and his body wasn't happy. His head slumped against the wall next to the bathroom door. He was tired he didn't even feel like moving his greasy hair from his face. Danker would return at any minute and realize that he escaped from the zip ties yet didn't leave. He figured that it would be tomorrow's problem as his thoughts became too heavy to handle and the whole world became still.

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"Wake up you sack of shit." James heard as something smacked the side of his face. Stunned, James jetted his eyes open searching for where he was. Had he been captured or Reduced? As his eyes adjusted to the light in the room, his vision made out a mad Danker standing over him. James winced and threw his hands to cover his face. There were new zip ties placed around his wrists but they weren't attached to his ankles anymore. The space in his boot felt empty without his knife and he scanned the room for it nervously.

"Don't worry, we'll keep your knife safe. How'd you sleep? I could hear you snoring from the gas station boy." Danker exclaimed sitting down in the small chair placed in the corner of the room. James wasn't in the mood for small talk. He felt dirty and his stomach ached from being so hungry. He turned to look over to Zara sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked really good for going through the events that she did. She was tying her shoelaces to her converse and she slightly looked over at James. Once they looked eyes she diverted her eyes back to her shoes fast, without emotion. She must know the reason why James didn't leave and felt guilty about it. After a couple of moments of silence between everyone, Danker broke it again.

"Well, I see what's happening here. Zara," She looked up at him, finishing her shoe. Her face displaying no emotion as usual. "go and set up a shower for my little buddy so his odor doesn't make me puke. Thanks, sweetheart." Zara nodded and headed towards the bathroom without glancing at James once. Once she was out of view, James switched his attention back towards Danker. Danker was staring at him with disappointed eyes.

"So you didn't leave her alone because you wanted to have sex with her." Wide-eyed, James' face heated up from the shock of what Danker had just said.

"Wh...what...why would I? No. I would never!" James claimed as he avoided eye contact with Danker. A burst of laughter erupted from Danker causing James to question his will to live.

"I'm just picking on you little man. I know you probably passed out because of how tired and dehydrated you were." Danker said as he rose from his chair to hand James a bottle of water. James took the water, his mouth screamed for the impact of liquid to make him feel better. He chugged the water and it disappeared in a span of ten seconds. Once he finished he breathed heavily and Danker patted his shoulder to reassure him that he was okay. Zara came out of the bathroom and nodded to Danker.

"Alright go tidy up and I'll give you food when you get back," Danker said pulling James upward by his arm. James stumped to get up and walked toward the bathroom.

"Wait," Zara called making James turn back around. She walked closer to him and he started to analyze her face. It seemed to be put together. But her eyes. They were darker than before. Zara revealed a pair of scissors and gently grabbed his wrist to cut the ties. He watched her face as she softly cut the zip ties. Her touch was soft against his skin and her lashes rested gracefully against her cheeks as she looked down at the ties. When she finished cutting she looked back up at him with reassuring eyes.

"Thanks." James finally said after a few moments. He felt captivated by her eyes for a split second before they left his gaze and she turned back around. James decided that it would be best to get in the shower before Danker made another joke about the two of them. He shut the door behind him and looked around. The water splashing against the floor of the tub rang in his ears as he looked into the same mirror Zara did just last night. He couldn't even recognize himself. He had grown some hair in some places on his face and his undereye bags were prominent. He definitely needed this shower. Little did he know that with every shower he would wash away more and more of his past.