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A click from just outside my door had me pausing, staring at the door in a mixture of hope and terror. I hadn’t seen anyone since they’d thrown me in here, and right now, even Caleb’s evil face would be welcome.
But no one came. The door stayed closed, and a fresh round of sobs overtook me. My brain was playing tricks on me now, making me believe help was coming when there was no one in the world who even knew I was here except for Caleb and his monster friends.
“Hello?”
I whirled around at the quiet, feminine voice. It hadn’t come from inside the room, or from outside the door, but it was clear enough that I’d heard her. I glanced around wildly, but there was no light. I screamed as loud as I could against the fabric shoved into my mouth and tied around my head, praying it would be enough to let the woman know I was here.
“Is someone in there?”
I edged close to the wall where her voice sounded loudest. There had to be a grate up near the ceiling. Perhaps an air-conditioning vent? Or a duct of some sort? My hands were bound together, but I banged them against the plasterboard wall weakly, not able to get much momentum going to make a noise but terrified she couldn’t hear my muffled screams.
“Oh my God. I…do you need help? I don’t think they’ve come down here yet…” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
I was terrified she was going to go silent. I banged on the wall and made as many noises as I could again.
“Make a noise for yes. Stay silent for no. Okay?”
I made a noise.
“Are you hurt?”
I stayed silent. I wasn’t hurt right now, but I probably would be if I didn’t get out of here.
“Does Caleb know you’re down here?”
I tapped on the wall.
“That son of a bitch! Listen, I don’t want you to worry. I mean, fuck, I’m not exactly in the best situation here either, but I’ve got guys outside who can help…Shit. They had to hand in their phones when we came in, but when they realize I’m missing, they’ll get them back. I can call one of them and they’ll come down here.”
My hope died on its ass.
I had my phone too. But there was a reason they hadn’t bothered taking it off me when they’d shoved me in here. There was no reception.
The woman’s soft swear seemed to indicate she’d just realized that as well. “Okay, never mind. Plan B. We’ll just hang out here for a little bit until Caleb goes back outside to his party guests and then I’ll sneak back out and get help.”
Panic clawed up my throat at the idea of her leaving, and I banged frantically on the wall again, even though she hadn’t asked me a yes or no question.
“It’s okay. I won’t leave without you. I promise.”
A tear fell down my face. I so desperately wanted that to be true.
“I wish you could talk back so you could tell me your name. Or how long you’ve been here for. Do you have people who would be worried about you?”
I stayed quiet. My family didn’t care. My mother might love me, but she’d never been strong enough to stand up to my father. None of them even knew I’d come storming over here, thinking I was so smart, and ready to show my father what I was made of.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
I was too.
“I can’t hear anything from inside the house. I think they’ve gone back outside. I’m going to go get some help, okay? Just sit tight. I promise. I’ll be back.”
My heart hammered, and I scrambled to the door, pressing my ear against it, desperate for the woman to be real. For me to not be imagining things, due to a lack of water and food.
Her door clicked open.
Soft footsteps passed my room, and she gave a tiny knock on the door that I echoed back.
In my mind, I could see her in the large basement room on the other side. She must have been in a room like mine, one off the main space. But clearly, she hadn’t been locked in like I was. She’d be approaching the stairs, and then she’d just have to make it up them and through the house to get outside to where her friends were…