Safe

Five

It was sad when Nike realized that life had become routine. In captivity, her life had routine.
Sometimes, it didn't feel like she was in danger. When it was just her and Tj in the house, they'd play board games, ludo most of the time. They talked too since there wasn't much to do and Nike was grateful.
Tj was nice. He listened to her, took care of her and most of all, protected her when the other men came to the house.
It was a little easier to deal with everything when he was with her. Time was inconsequential in the small space they shared. Morning gave way to night and that was it. She had no idea how long she'd been in there. It would be nice to know but everything was going to well that she feared asking Tj such questions would make him angry so she kept quiet.
"Do you want anything else?" She heard Tj ask.
"Can we play ludo again please?"
He shook his head with a smile.
"Nike, we just played a round now."
"But I'm already bored!" She complained.
"I can't help you then because I don't have another round in me."
Nike pouted in annoyance then tried again.
"Will you sit with me then? We don't even have to talk."
He considered it for a minute then with a sigh, sank into the seat across from her.
As promised, neither of them spoke. Nike played with the zipper on her jeans absently while Tj slept or at least she thought he was sleeping. He sometimes sat with his eyes closed seemingly asleep but more aware than anything.
Trying not to disturb him, she slipped out of the room and into the toilet where she did her business and washed her hands as quietly as she could.
She opened the door and gasped as she came face to chest with him. He was on his way to the only bedroom in use, the one with the small bed they slept in separately of course, and she was going back out to the living room.
Tilting her head up to look at him, she found him already looking at her, something unfamiliar in his eyes.
"I... Um." She stuttered as she backed away from him. He moved to the side and she slipped past him not daring to look up again. She heard the door shut and let out a relieved breath. That was uncomfortable, she mused.
To keep busy, she messed with her braids redoing the untidy ones and wishing desperately that she could take them out and wash her hair. She could ask, but why would she poke a sleeping beast? She was already pushing her limits playing games with him and being taken care of so well. If there was a handbook to being kidnapped, she didn't think it'd include being treated so well.
With nothing else to do, she curled up in the chair and nodded off. It was mid morning when she went to sleep and as the day progressed, it got hotter and she became uncomfortable.
Half awake, she sat up and shrugged off her shirt leaving only a tank top on then sank back into sleep.
Tj almost had a heart attack when he entered the living room and found her half dressed. He swallowed tightly as he took in her slim frame folded in the chair, her hair was tied away from her face and her mouth was slightly open as she slept.
She looked so peaceful and so beautiful that it hurt to look at her. Not for the first time, he wished things were different. That he'd met her at a party or a friend's place. That he was just a random guy she could get to know not the criminal who'd shot up a mall and kidnapped her. Maybe then he wouldn't feel so guilty for seeing her the way he did.
He rubbed his head roughly and went to get a drink of water. Anything to get his mind off her, he would do. He wandered outside with his water and sat on a tree stump outside the house. It was too hot to be outside but the alternative wasn't particularly enticing besides the trees gave enough shade that he wouldn't bake sitting out there.
It was eerily silent outside. Not a single soul lived anywhere for miles. It was why it was so suitable for a safe house. There was almost no chance of stumbling on it and whatever went on there was a guaranteed secret. After drinking some, he poured the rest of the water over his head and shook it off reveling in the coolness of it.
A little more fresh air and he wouldn't even remember the girl trapped inside with him. In a way, he was trapped too. Between his responsibility to the boss and his feelings for her, there was nowhere to run.
Inside, Nike opened her eyes slowly, woken by the balmy heat that wrapped around her and rose from her place. She wondered why the house seemed stiller than usual and wandered into the room to look for Tj.
He wasn't there and she retreated still wondering where he was. As she shut the door, something caught her eye and her heart jumped. Slowly, she inched the door open again and crept inside wondering if she had enough time before Tj returned from wherever he went.
It was right there, his cellphone peeking out of his pants pocket slung carelessly on the bed. She could call her parents with it. Even the police!
She reached for it but jumped when the door opened. She whirled around quickly and swallowed.
"I was.. um... I was looking for you. I woke up and you weren't here and I was.... um."
He looked her over with narrowed eyes and dropped an empty water bottle on the floor.
"I was outside. Why were you just standing there?"
"Nothing!" She squeaked and raced into the living room. He followed and leaned over her as she sat.
"If I find out you did anything stupid in there, you'll regret ever being born. You understand?"
Nike nodded vigorously believing him totally. She wouldn't give him an excuse to hurt her.
"Good. You can come and sit outside for a while. It's cooler there."
Gratefully, she followed him outside and sat on a stump while he lounged against a tree behind her. She tried to be subtle as she looked around not wanting him to notice her movements.
The yard covered in gravel, gave way to a path cars obviously came through but other than that, it was dense forest all around. Anyone leaving would have to leave by that one path and there was no way of knowing how far it was on foot. If she ran, he would probably catch her because he knew the way better than she did.
Still, it was a chance. The second one that day. She couldn't let it slip away.
Bracing herself to run, she almost jumped out of her skin when a hand grabbed her arm.
"Let's go inside." He said and pulled her up.
Her heart jumped wildly against her chest as she stood, a bit shaky on her legs and followed him in.
Had he suspected she was going to run? Was that why he was taking her inside?
She dug in her heels as he pulled her knowing that if she went inside, she might not get the chance to come out again.
"Um.. can we stay a little longer?"
He stopped and looked down at her.
"No!" Then resumed pulling her again. She followed him silently trying to avoid suspicion and sat on the chair. He locked the door and put the key in his pocket then turned and entered the room.
When the door shut, Nike bit her lip and cursed hating that he'd been vigilant enough to guess her thoughts.
She wished there was something she could do to pass the time but there wasn't. Even if Tj would consider giving her her phone, it'd run out of battery and it couldn't be recharged since there was no electricity out in the middle of nowhere.
The old kerosene lamps they used were the only source of light in the night and it was incredibly archaic considering the house was modern and would be even more beautiful if it were furnished.
Going out of her mind with boredom, she found herself thrown back into memories from a few days before she was kidnapped. The morning of especially.
Sade curled up on the couch, Lola holed up in her room and Lekan being a pest as always, she thought about how she'd give anything to have him yell at her again. Her parents were definitely out of their minds with worry by then. They'd never been good at staying away from their children and always required them to call home every day to make sure they were safe.
It was the first time in her whole life that she'd gone a day without speaking to her family and without them, she felt even more lost and desperately sought something to hold on to.
Quickly, she made her decision. She wasn't going to sit there and hope they would let her go. They obviously had no plans to do so and sooner or later, they would kill her. She couldn't let that happen, not when her family were waiting for her.
By that evening, she was ready to give it her all. She was going to run and if he caught her, at least she tried.