Escaping Parker - F.T. Zele Page 0,74
taste fills my mouth. Once the stinging of my jaw starts to die down, and the shock settles, I know I have to switch into survival mode. I test the tightness of the tape, wiggling my hands. Too tight for me to break loose. Moving my hands back and forth I try to loosen them a bit, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The cool blade of the knife rests against my waist. If I could just get one hand free and get to it. Even if I die trying.
“Now the question is: what to do with you.” He walks slowly around the chair, circling his prey. “I certainly can’t bring you home. You have made me look weak to others, and if I don’t do something with you, I won’t be able to show my face.”
Fear has ruled my life for so many years, I can’t let it get me this time. I beg my innermost strength to show up and get me out of this mess.
My phone rings, the muffled sound coming from his pocket. Andrew calling to check in on me as promised.
“Who is calling you at this time?” Steven demands.
“I don’t know, just a friend probably,” I lie, sort of.
“You’re lying.” He yanks it out of his pocket and checks the caller ID. “Who is Andrew? Wait . . . I know who it is. You’re going to let him know everything is ok before he gets nervous. Can’t have that, can we?”
I shake my head, putting my foot down. I need Andrew to worry about me and send help.
He lowers a gun to my temple. “Make him think everything is ok. If you don’t, I’m going to kill you, right here, right now. Just like I promised I would.”
He hits the answer button on the phone and holds it to my ear, the cold gun still pressed to my head.
“Hello,” I say, trying to hold it together.
“Hey, Parker, how is everything over there? Are you having a nice start to your new year?” Andrew asks.
“Yes, everything is ok. Just about to head to bed.”
“Ok, well, I have a quick question for you: Have you heard from Rig? I haven’t been able to get in touch with him for a couple days now. Did he come back out there? I know he left not on the best terms, and it was eating away at him.” Steven has had something done to him. My heart drops to my feet, shattered in a million pieces.
“No, I haven’t seen or heard from him since he left.” The last words come out shaky, and I’m starting to cry.
“Is everything ok, Parker? You sound a little . . . off.”
“I’m ok, Andrew, just tired. Let me know if you hear from him.”
“Are you alone? If you aren’t, please just say ‘I’m fine, I’m going to bed now.’” I look up at Steven to gauge if he heard Andrew.
“I’m fine, I’m just going to go to bed now.”
“I’m sending help. Just do what he says and someone will be there shortly.”
“Thank you.”
He ends the call, and Steven takes the phone from my head.
“Good girl, I knew you weren’t stupid enough to say something. Now, do you have a fucking drink in this place?”
“In the kitchen, above the sink in the cabinet.” I tug my wrists against the tape again.
“Don’t go anywhere. Oh, that’s right you can’t. The party is just getting started.” He laughs with an evil tone and heads to the kitchen.
Wiggling my hands back and forth, I cut my hand on a screw. I work the tape over the screw, ripping it a little bit at a time.
One hand slips free as Steven walks back into the room, a smug look on his face. He clutches a glass of clear liquid.
“Really, Clarissa? You only had Vodka, and you know I prefer scotch.” He sets his glass down on the coffee table. “Look at that, it’s already a couple minutes past midnight. Was this the new year you were looking forward to? Let’s get a little kiss here to celebrate, most likely your last.” He tries to press his lips to mine. I turn my head away from him, making him miss so he gets the corner of my mouth.
He presses his fingers deep into my skin, holding my face in place, then smashes his lips to mine. I’m instantly repulsed,
He pulls his dry, cold lips from mine. “Don’t act like you don’t like that. I’m sure since your little