writing help: I was just writing one day and I got this but it doesn’t go to a story or anything. - Help.com

So far so good. You had me hooked with the sycological/physical imagedry of the characters state of being. I look forward to purchasing the finished product from Amizon one day :)

Very nice :) I wanna read more :) Thats really good. Lot of mistery and questions can be formed from that Like who are ‘they’ and stuff. Good start :)

x

Hey, uh I posted this and I added to the story a bit. Um so I was hopping for more feedback.

I could feel my body shaking, like an earthquake was going through me. My breath unsteady, even though I was calm. I’d gotten used to it… the darkness, the smell, the taste, or a least my body had. My head hadn’t caught up yet. My head was throbbing so hard I was sure that you could see it growing bigger, only to shrink and repeat the process. No one seemed to notice though, except for me. Then again they might’ve just been ignoring it…giving me no notice. I think that’s their plan. Ignore me ’til I go insane. I hated to think it, let alone admit it was true, that their plan was working. That I was slowly going insane.

I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. I couldn’t think like that. I was going to be fine. They would find me. They always found me.

I didn’t have the best luck. 15 years and always in trouble. No matter what I did, who I hung out with, where I was, it didn’t make a difference. I always ended up lost and alone. I couldn’t being boring if my life depended on it and it seemed, especially now, that my life did.

Even now kidnapped and held hostage I was going to get myself in trouble. I could see them playing poker a few feet away. I started humming. It was just a song I’d heard on the radio, the day they kidnapped me. I had good memory with music and I could remember the entire song, lyrics and beat included. I was quiet at first so they wouldn’t hear me. But I got louder every second and too soon I was singing. That got there attention.

Anyone who met me knew I was a danger magnet. I attracted danger like there was no tomorrow.

The people who hear of me always assume I was in a gang, I did drugs, I was suicidal. I’ve never been in a gang. Never done drugs and despite popular belief I’m not suicidal. I may not like my life, but I like living.

At first they just told me to shut up. I didn’t and 5 minutes later I was being approached by the one of the guys at the poker table. He was healthy. He obviously lifted weights. He was tall too, maybe 6 feet.

I don’t think he would have approached me if I wasn’t annoying him so much, with my singing. After all they ignored everything else I did.

“Do you know what shut up means?” He asked. His voice was smooth, musical almost. He didn’t ask like you would expect. He could have asked for a pencil in the same tone and I would have thought nothing of it.

Most hostages stay quiet almost silent when this happens to them but me, I’m not most hostages.

“Generally to be quiet, but I’m thinking you’re referring to 5 minutes ago. So shut up would mean to stop signing.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“I have issues with being ordered around.”

“Well then would you please stop singing while my friends and I play poker? It’s quite distracting.”

“Just while you play poker?”

“Yeah.”

“I can sing all I want, just…”

“later.” he finished for me. “You have a beautiful voice. I’m sure a few of us will prefer it to the silence that usually consumes the place.”

“Well then by all means continue your game, I can wait.”

“Well then by all means continue your game, I can wait.” I smiled sweetly.

“Thank you.” He smiled politely and walked back to the game. I watched the rest of the game silently. There were three guys playing. They didn’t really look like brothers but they treated each other as brothers and I don’t mean fraternity brothers or best friends so close they’re almost brothers. The acted like brothers, that shared a mom and dad and grew up together. Thinking about it, I couldn’t help envy them a little. Too have a family that loved you. Staying in one town longer a year. I shook it off.

The tallest one had the most muscles. He could have been a body builder. He looked like the protecter, but I couldn’t be sure. If I had learned anything it was that appearances meant nothing no matter how little they were. He had dark brown hair and electric blue eyes. His hair was a buzz cut, I think. Guys hair? Not my thing.

On his left was the guy that talked to me earlier. He was the second oldest. I couldn’t label who he was in the family but as a person he seemed like the responsible one. Always thinking about the consequences to his actions.

Next to him was the youngest of them all. I couldn’t tell from his looks. He looked as tall as the guy who talked to me earlier, but the oldest one kept making teasing remarks about his poker skills. He had long dirty blond hair. His hair stopped a little after his ears. He kept it messy so the cut didn’t look weird. He seemed like the suffer in silence types, we had something in common. If anything he seemed like he struggled with the life style more then his ‘friends’ did, as if he didn’t really want to be here. I didn’t understand what was keeping him here. But it really wasn’t my business either.

(Y) :) thumbs up!

i changed it a little and added a lot. its not done yet and im still adding a lot of stuff in the beginning. I thought the first paragraph made more sense with the story this way but tell me which one you liked better. =)

I could feel my body shaking, like an earthquake was going through me. My breath unsteady, even though I was calm. I’d gotten used to it… the darkness, the smell, the taste. After being kidnapped the first couple times you get used to the same warehouse smell and look. But being mentally prepared didn’t mean my body didn’t react to it. Shaking and shock happened first. Then I’d start to adapt. That scared me more than anything. That I would get used to this before they found me because then maybe I wouldn’t want to be found. I wasn’t even sure they were trying to find me.

I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. I couldn’t think like that. I was going to be fine. They would find me. They always found me. I didn’t have the best luck. 15 years and always in trouble. No matter what I did, who I hung out with, where I was, it didn’t make a difference. I always ended up lost and alone. I couldn’t be boring if my life depended on it and it seemed, especially now, that my life did.

Even now kidnapped and held hostage I was going to get myself into trouble. I could see them playing poker a few feet away. I started humming. It was just a song I’d heard on the radio, the day they kidnapped me. I had good memory with music and I could remember the entire song, lyrics and beat included. I was quiet at first so they wouldn’t hear me. But I got louder every second and too soon I was singing. That got their attention.

Anyone who met me knew I was a danger magnet. I attracted danger like there was no tomorrow.

The people who hear of me always assume I was in a gang, I did drugs, I was suicidal. I’ve never been in a gang. Never done drugs and despite popular belief I’m not suicidal. I may not like my life, but I like living.

They ignored me for a good few hours but apparently they get cranky when they play poker because they stopped ignoring me. At first they just told me to shut up. I didn’t and five minutes later I was being approached by the one of the guys at the poker table. He was healthy. He obviously lifted weights. He was tall too, maybe six feet.

I don’t think he would have approached me if I wasn’t annoying him so much, with my singing. After all they tried to ignore me as much as they could.

“Do you know what shut up means?” He asked. His voice was smooth, musical almost. He didn’t ask like you would expect. He could have asked for a pencil in the same tone and I would have thought nothing of it.

Most hostages stay quiet almost silent when this happens to them but me, I’m not most hostages.

“Generally to be quiet, but I’m thinking you’re referring to five minutes ago. So shut up would mean to stop signing.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“I have issues with being ordered around.”

“Well then would you please stop singing while my friends and I play poker? It’s quite distracting.”

“Just while you play poker?”

“Yeah.”

“I can sing all I want, just…”

“later.” he finished for me. “You have a beautiful voice. I’m sure a few of us will prefer it to the silence that usually consumes the place.”

“Well then by all means continue your game, I can wait.” I smile sweetly.

“Thank you.” He smiles politely and walks back to the game. I watched the rest of the game silently. There were three guys playing. They didn’t really look like brothers but they treated each other as brothers and I don’t mean fraternity brothers or best friends so close they’re almost brothers. The acted like brothers, that shared a mom and dad and grew up together. Thinking about it, I couldn’t help envy them a little. Too have a family that loved you. Staying in one town longer a year. I shook it off.

The tallest one had the most muscles. He could have been a body builder. He looked like the protecter, but I couldn’t be sure. If I had learned anything it was that appearances meant nothing no matter how little they were. He had dark brown hair and electric blue eyes. His hair was a buzz cut, I think. Guys hair? Not my thing.

On his left was the guy that talked to me earlier. He was the second oldest. I couldn’t label who he was in the family but as a person he seemed like the responsible one. Always thinking about the way his actions effected people, the consequences. He reminds me of Mike.

Next to him was the youngest of them all. I couldn’t tell from his looks. He looked as tall as Mike, but the oldest one kept making teasing remarks about his poker skills. He had long dirty blond hair. His hair stopped a little after his ears. He kept it messy so the cut didn’t look weird. He seemed like the suffer in silence types, we had something in common. If anything he seemed like he struggled with the life style more then his ‘friends’ did, as if he didn’t really want to be here. I didn’t understand what was keeping him here. But it really wasn’t my business either.

The poker game lasted at least a good 3 hours after that but I couldn’t be sure because I’d been dazing in and out every few hours since they kidnapped me. Stupid sleep. I willed myself to stay awake. I wanted to be awake when the game ended so I could start singing. I know, I know! How stupid could I be? I got lucky last time, but I couldn’t help it. Besides if they were going to kill me they were going to do it whether or not I sang, hummed, talked, or anything really. Only thing stopping them was the calvary and I don’t see one coming around this mountain.

Game lasted another hour and I could’ve swore that they started a new game while I was asleep but I didn’t say anything. That last hour was mind-numbing with a double shot of boring. There was a clock behind me but a column was in front of it. It was hard to see and I didn’t even know if it worked, so I started basing the time off my kidnappers. When they switched shifts, when they ate, when they got up, and when they started the now ritual poker game. I was positive it was Mike’s idea. He did it just so I had to shut up for a few hours. He always shot a smirk at me when he sat down and dealt the cards. I smiled sweetly and shut up though. If he was going to keep his end of the deal then so was I.

Tonight’s game ended rather early but I didn’t start singing as I had the last couple nights. I was just too tired. I could tell Spark was surprised with my action, as he took his post for his night shift. I was almost asleep when I heard his voice. It was the first time he’d really talked to me.
“So, why aren’t you singing tonight?” It took me a minute to process his question.
“I, I’m just tired.”
“Oh.” After a few minutes of silence my eyes started to droop again.

The sun woke me. There were a few holes in the old warehouse we were in and one happened to be right over my head. So every morning I wake up when the sun shines through the hole and on to me. Spark had just went into the back room. Bashful has the early morning shifts. He’s kinda cranky in the morning. Here he comes now. He comes out in jeans and a t-shirt. His hair rumpled and his eyes are barely open. He obliviously just woke up but his clothes suggested otherwise. It made me wonder if he slept in jeans or if he changed before coming out.

Good morning, would have been nice but he didn’t say anything as he sat down at the table. When the guys weren’t playing poker they would put the fold up table in front of me so I wasn’t just sitting in a chair in the middle of a room. So of course there were chairs to sit in while they were on shift. After a few minutes he didn’t say anything. He had his head down on the table. At first I was put off in the morning by his bad mood because it was so different from his usual polite attitude. But I soon discovered it wasn’t me but the mornings he couldn’t stand.

“Good morning.” I said trying to be polite. Most mornings I would let him rest and wait for Mike to come out in two hours. Bashful had two shifts but they were shorter than the normal shifts. Instead of 4 hours he had 2 hour shifts. I assumed it was because he took the most inconvenient times. He had 6-8am and then Mike would come out until noon. Then Spark had me until 4pm. Then Bashful’s shift ended at 6pm. Mike would take his 4 hour shift and then Spark was out here ’til 2 in the morning. Then they would repeat the routine the next day.

I was restless this morning though and I wasn’t all that willing to let him rest for two hours while I waited in silence.

“Morning.” he mumbled.

“If you are so bad in the morning why doesn’t someone else take the morning?” I asked now that I knew he was awake.

“Out of the three of us I’m the best in the morning.” That was the only answer he gave. I waited a few minutes to see if he would say anything else. He didn’t. I couldn’t sit in silence though.

“Is there a radio around?” I asked. He raised his head from the table looked at me and I assumed he wanted to know why I wanted one. After all this wasn’t a store, I was a hostage and you couldn’t give me anything I could possibly use to escape.

“I can’t sit in silence.”

“You normally do.”

“Well I can’t today.” I snapped. He had a hurt look for a second and I almost felt bad for snapping at him but then I remembered he kidnapped me. I shouldn’t feel bad about hurting him. “If I think about things anymore I’m going to go insane.” He seemed to contemplate what I said. Then he got up went into the back room and got a radio. It was small and crappy but it worked and that’s all that mattered.

He set it on the table with a deck of cards I hadn’t seen him walk out with. He pushed both items toward me before putting his head back done. I turned the radio on to the first station playing a song I knew and then grabbed the cards. I decided on playing solitaire while I waited.

I kept changing the station. Bashful still had his head on the table I don’t know if he’s asleep or not. Solitaire only kept me distracted for about an hour.

In one hour Mike will come out, hand me a granola bar and water. Then he’ll sit across from me and start sketching. I haven’t been able to peek at any of the sketches, but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying. He’s caught me a billion times but who’s counting.

Thinking about Mike, Spark, and Bashful and my time spent with them kept me busy for the hour and I found myself jumping out of my skin when he walked into relieve Bashful. I turned the radio off and watched him in silence like I did every morning. He tapped Bashful on the shoulder, told him to go back to bed. Bashful would get up sleepily wave to me with a yawn and head to the back room. Before sitting Mike heads to the kitchen and gets me a granola bar and water. He came out with his sketch book. It surprised me that he kept in in the kitchen.

We sat in silence for a long time, an hour? I thought he was just gonna ignore me forever.

“You could just ask.” I looked up with a puzzled expression to find myself staring into his brown eyes. He glanced down to the sketch book pointedly. “About the drawing.” He clarified.

“I could, but what’s the fun in that?” I stand up and I see his eyes flicker to the chain attached to my wrist and the wall behind us. “Besides I really didn’t take you as the sharing type.” I walked over to the trash bag a few feet away, and threw my granola bar wrapper in.

“Really?” And here starts the game of cat and mouse. I just nod and sit back down.

“Open book.” He raised his hands in surrender to make his point.

“If you say so.”

“No, really. Anything you want to know.”

“Ok, I’ll bite. Name?” I knew he wouldn’t answer. Who would tell the kidnappey the name of the kidnapper. I mean what if I got out, told the cops. He’d be in big trouble.

“That’s a trick question.”

“Hey, you said open book.” I raise my hands in surrender, mocking him.

“No, your right. Names Romeo. Nice to meet you Juliet.” He was hiding a smirk. Not that he didn’t have a poker face, a good one at that, but I know men.

I smiled. “Tell me Romeo, got a girlfriend?”

“No actually. Too busy.”

“Oh, so you’re a workaholic?”

“Most would agree.”

“You don’t?” Mental check. I’m intrigued, about Mike. Help me.

“No I do. Just don’t think what I do is work in the traditional sense. But I’m sure you already knew that.”

I was tempted to ask about me. What job I was? But if I got into that, then the book would close, and I was just getting started. “Trust me, I know all about it.” I thought there was confusion in his eyes but it was gone so fast. Gotta envy the control of emotions.

“Been kidnapped before?” So, he is curious.

“Few times.” I give him an answer, he gives me an answer. “Hostage? or Payment?” A thin line separated the two.

“You tell me.”

“Well I haven’t done anything too bad, lately. So either you’ve been searching for me for awhile or I’m payment. Which is it?”

“Let’s just say I didn’t know you existed ’til 6 days ago.” I nod slowly. So I didn’t get myself in this mess. Really do have the worst luck.

“What are you drawing?” He looks up and smiles and for once it’s not a smug smirk. I closed the book this time. I know it’ll open on it’s own, but until then I can take care of myself.

We talked while he drew a phoenix or some flying mystical creature. I was pretty sure it was a phoenix. I’ll ask later.

After a few hours Spark came out for his shift. Mike left with a smirk and a ‘See you around the castle, Juliet’. I smiled and watched him disappear behind the doors that led to freedom.

When I couldn’t see him anymore, I stared longly at the door for a second. I sighed and tuned to Spark who had a slightly confused face. I didn’t understand why, until I replayed Mike’s last words in my head. ‘See you around the castle, Juliet’ Castle and Juliet must be what confused him. I didn’t feel like explaining it to him though. It was something just between Mike and I.

“Hi.”

“Hey.” He answered with a big grin.

“You sleep well?” I asked. I couldn’t think of anything else.

“Like a baby, you?”

“I slept on the floor.”

“Oh yeah. Forgot about that.” He just looked at me. But I could tell he wanted to ask me something.

“Just ask it.”

“Doesn’t it get cold?”

“Very.” It got really cold at night. Most nights I woke up from the cold. I was surprised he never asked before. I mean he was there when I woke up. I guess he didn’t notice since he wasn’t lying on the ground.

“Oh. Shouldn’t you have like a blanket?”

“You’re the one holding me hostage. You tell me.” So I was a little snippy this morning, I had the right.

“I’ll get you a blanket tonight. If you want one?” He asked.

“Pillow too please.” I said with a my bottom lip pouting out.

“Okay, Okay. You win.” he said and smiled at me. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

The hours flews by with Spark. We talked a little but we mostly played cards. 21 was my favorite. When Bashful came out for his two hour shift I was shocked to learn of the time, but I said bye to Spark and turned to face Bashful. He seemed in a better mood than this morning.

“Hey.”

“Hello.”

Silence.

“Can I get you anything?”

I laughed and he gave me a puzzled expression. My laughter died done but my smile stayed. I waited for him to sit or say something else, he didn’t. I assumed he really wanted an answer to his question. It struck me as odd, that’d he ask such an ordinary question in such an unordinary situation.

“No, thank you.” He nodded and took Mike’s seat. We just sat in silence staring at the other, until Spark came barreling into the room out of breath. Not far behind him was Mike. They both had these frantic looks.

“We need to get out of here.” Spark said coming toward us, walking this time but still too brisk and stiff to be reassuring, which I assumed it was so I wouldn’t panic. Mike wasn’t behind him anymore. Looking around I found him in the make-shift kitchen packing things into duffle bags.

I glanced at the chain around my wrist and the slack I had too walk around. It looked like I’d make it to the kitchen. The chain allowed me to go right up to Mike but I couldn’t go past him. He was grabbing canned food, luckily it was right next to me on the table that was probably a substitute for a counter. I picked up the next can as his hand reached for it and handed it to him. He glanced up and I could register shock in his eyes before he had it under control. I caught him take peek at the chain, most likely to make sure it was still holding me. He took the can from me and put it in the bag mumbling a thanks I almost missed. I kept handing cans to him until they were all packed. Next were the granola bars I had for breakfast. Apparently there were more flavors than the one.

Once we were done I couldn’t really help anymore. Anything else that needed to be packed was out of my reach. Mike noticed and seemed to consider his options before reaching for my wrist. Holding my wrist with one hand and the key and handcuffs in the other. He looked into my eyes for a few seconds searching for an answer to his unasked question. I nodded my head. I wouldn’t attempt to escape for the few seconds I was free.

Whenever he’d unlock the cuff for me he’d have Spark or Bashful restrain me while he handcuffed me. He’d walk me to wherever it was I had to go before making sure any escape routes were taken care of before uncuffing me so I could do what I had to do.

He hesitated only a second before unlocking the wrist band and true to my word i just stood there while he placed one cuff on my wrist. I was surprised when he didn’t cuff my other wrist. I glanced up to see him looking for something that wouldn’t slow me down but also ensure I didn’t escape. He seemed to be struggling. We were on the move so a chair or other heavy object was out. He couldn’t cuff me to something that was light because I could run with it. I thought he would have cuffed me to him had Bashful and Spark not suggested someone watch me at all times until they were somewhere more permanent. He just nodded unlocked the one cuff and tugged me along to a back room I knew was a bedroom from the trips I’d taken to the bathroom inside.

He guided me to one of the two beds. “Sit.” Sinking to the bed I watched him walk over to a dresser. He pulled open a drawer and grabbed some socks, boxers, shirts and jeans. He glanced at me every few seconds. “Go wash up. We'’ll be on the road for a while.” He didn’t watch me walk to the bathroom but I knew he wasn’t worried. There were no windows for me to sneak out of. At the door I turned my head to look back at him. “Do I have enough time to shower before we leave?”

His head flew around to look at me. He paused and just nodded his head not having to ask how long I’d take being on shift most of the times I showered. I walked in and turned the shower on closing the door so I could undress.

“Wait.” I opened the door at the sound of his voice. He opened another draw. “Dress?”

“Jeans.” I said. He pulled out a pair of light worn jeans and maroon shirt. It was my favorite. It had quarter sleeves and the cotton was stretch so it was practical but it looked cute with maybe five buttons at the top. The sleeves had a piece of maroon colored silk come back up and attach to a button on the sleeve. I’d mentioned it in passing once when he’d given it to me to change into after my shower. He pulled out a matching pale pink bra and panties/underwear. I met him halfway and took the clothes from him.

“Thanks.” He just nodded and went back to packing. I went back to the bathroom and closed the door before undressing and stepping into the shower.

When Mike first asked me if I wanted to shower I’d been surprised. I mean I’ve been kidnapped before but never had any of them asked if I wanted to wash up, but I’d shaken off my shock and said yes. He’d given me some clean clothes and waited in the bedroom. I flushed furiously the first time he handed me bra and panties/underwear. When I’d gone into the bathroom I expected to see some cheap shampoo and conditioner but I’d found my brand of shampoo new. I was even more shocked to discover the same brand of face stuff I used. I mean who did that? I was continually surprised when I’d searched the bathroom and seen shaving cream, moisturizer, tampons, toothpaste, shower gel, make up, perfume, and lip gloss. All were the same brand products I bought and used at home. Everything was the same. They had even made sure that my shower gel was scented vanilla to match my perfume. I’d been shocked. When I got dressed I had excepted the clothes to fit but not the bra. I was surprised to see that he’d gotten my bra size right as well. I’d asked Mike about it after I entered the bedroom, he shrugged and said that he’d gotten a list of things to get for a new job and that was it.

It still creeped me out that the person who had me kidnapped knew me so well. I try not to think too hard about who it might be because if I got it wrong and I got home to accuse the wrong person I don’t know if they would forgive me for thinking they could do that to me. So I didn’t think about it.

Stepping out of the shower I grabbed a fluffy towel and dried off. I used my moisturizer and put on my jeans and shirt. I washed my face and put my make up on. I brushed my teeth. Leaving the bathroom Mike was waiting for me with my hair brush and hair dryer. I grabbed them from him and plugged the hair dryer into the wall and started drying my hair. Surprising me he grabbed another bag and went into the bathroom. He walked out just as I was finishing my hair and he held the bag open to me. I glanced in to see all the stuff I’d just used. I placed my brush and dryer into the bag. He zipped it up. I was reaching to take it from him when he shook his head. My hand stilled in mid air and I dropped it back to my side.

I was confused at first why I couldn’t take my own bag, but I understand when he pulled out the handcuffs. I put my hands out and he handcuffed both wrists in front of me. He gabbed all four bags, one for each of us I guessed. I knew they all had their own shampoo, shaving cream, cologne, toothpaste, and stuff. I’d seen it in the bathroom. He somehow managed to carry the bags in a way where he could also hold my arm just to extra careful I didn’t do anything reckless.

When we entered the main part of the warehouse again Spark came up to us and took the bags. He tied a ribbon on each of them. I assumed my bag was the pink ribbon because Mike mumbled my name and nodded to it. The other bags ribbon were dark blue, black, and dark green. I didn’t know what color belonged to who though. After he finished talking to Mike in a hushed voice so I wouldn’t hear he looked at me.

“Don’t worry, every thing’s fine.” I didn’t know if he meant fine for them or me, but I supposed fine for them was okay for me. I just nodded and gave him a small smile. His goofy grin in response made me smile for real. He saw the difference and winked at me before going to the black escalade and putting our bags in the trunk.

I looked up at Mike to see what I should do but he was taking a final look around the warehouse. Making sure we didn’t forget anything I’m sure. He felt my eyes on his face and glanced down at me.

“Who do I go with?” I asked. I noticed that there were two cars, the escalade and the sports car. Bashful was in the drivers seat of the sports car. While Spark was in just hoping in the escalades back seat.

“With me.” I nodded and we started toward the escalade. He made sure I was in the passenger seat with the seat belt. He looked at Spark for a second. Most likely warning him to not screw up and let me escape. What they didn’t know was I didn’t have any plans to escape. Being with them was better then some of the people I’ve stayed with in the past and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back to a place where someone I trusted had me kidnapped for whatever reason. Staying with them for now was what I wanted.

Mike had locked the warehouse and talked to Bashful before he got into the drivers seat and took off down the back roads.

I thought they were going to blind fold me like last time but they didn’t. I wanted to ask why. If it didn’t mater because the job was over. But I thought back to Mike and how he’d packed my stuff and he wouldn’t have done that if the job was over, would he? No I decided. There’d be no point in taking my stuff where ever we were going if I was going to die soon.

I flinched.

Mike saw and glanced at me with… curiosity? Yeah that was it. He was curious as to why I’d flinched when nothing had harmed me or been said to offend me. I wanted to tell him just so he could tell me I wasn’t going to die yet but I couldn’t because if I was wrong I couldn’t see the lie in his eyes.

Tearing my eyes from him I curled up into a ball and stared out the window, watching all the trees pass. As the minutes went by I could feel tears stinging my eyes. I couldn’t cry, not now. I closed my eyes fighting against the tears threatening to fall. He drove for hours. I fell asleep long before we reached our destination.

I could feel someone lifting me from the car but I wasn’t awake enough to do anything about it. I woke up when I felt the handcuffs removed from my wrists. Blinking awake I tried to see who was in front of me. When I heard a door close behind me I sat up almost hitting Mike in the process.

“You alright? Did we wake you?”

” I’m fine.” I looked behind me to see that I was in a small room with no windows. There were a few lights hanging from the ceiling and a door in one of the conners. I could feel a draft and I looked above me. There was a vent sure enough. Suddenly Spark was right next to Mike when I looked back. I jumped a little and my hand flew to my chest. I glared at Spark but he just laughed.

“He handed me a pillow and a heavy blanket.”Thanks.” I mumbled.

“Sure thing.” He gave me a nudge and when I looked up he had a huge grin on his face. I smiled slightly. Mike just rolled his eyes at the attempt. What I couldn’t figure out was what was he trying to do. Cheer me up? or Distract me?

Spark got up and left us alone again. I wanted to ask him, but I knew that I couldn’t live with the answer for however longer I had. What was that saying? Ignorance is bliss.

“Can I shower?” He looked up surprised by my voice. It was softer than normal, even I could hear that.

“No. We don’t have hot water yet. It’ll be running tomorrow night.” I nodded as a digested this information.

“Can I at least wash my face?” He seemed surprised again. I don’t know why. It was obvious I wanted to escape with my thoughts for a few minutes.

“Sure.” He stood and I followed his lead. I laid the blanket and pillow on the floor where I’d been sitting. When I looked back he was holding open the door for me. It seemed like a polite gesture but I wasn’t fooled. He wanted me in front just in case. I’d bet my life that he’d grip my arm too if he thought I was going to try anything. It didn’t hit me until he stopped for a second to get my bag with the pink ribbon. My life wasn’t anything to bet on. It didn’t have any value.

I was so shook by my revelation that I didn’t notice when Mike had started walking again. I was frozen in place. He looked over me to make sure I was physically fine before calling out. “Are you coming?”

It took me a minute to respond but I looked up and met his eyes. They had the same curiosity from before when I’d flinched but there was something else. He thought I was going run. He didn’t understand my actions. I didn’t understand them either. Swallowing the lump that’d formed in my throat. “Yeah.” I took a step toward him and he started walking towards the bathroom again.