seem, to get away. “Sorry, can’t let you do that.”
“Are you freaking kidding me?” Was this another attempt at humor? If Dad hadn’t had a heart attack by now, he almost certainly would if he didn’t hear from me before the end of six days. The fear for my family instinctually overcame the fear for my personal safety and gave me a temporary dosage of bravery. “He thinks I’m dead. You can’t do this to him. It’s cruel!” I reached for the computer, but anticipating my move, he prevented me from even coming close.
“He doesn’t think you’re dead.” He laughed as I tried to grab for it, jumping for it while he held it above his head. I dived for it when he hid it behind his back. It didn’t help that his arms were so much longer and stronger than mine, but I still shoved and kicked against him. I knew he was a killer now, they all were. It didn’t matter, I wouldn’t and couldn’t let Dad suffer like that.
“He knows you ain’t dead, okay? Just relax for a second.” He was trying to keep his voice serious, but I could hear the laughter in his words.
I stopped reaching for the laptop, but only because I wanted to hear what he had to say, not because I was actually following his instructions.
“What do you mean?”
“He gave a press release a couple of hours after that one came out. Called the cops a bunch of idiots, said there wasn’t no way you were dead and the F.B.I was incompetent if they thought that.” He laughed again. “It was great.”
In spite of myself I did feel some relief. What he was describing sounded like typical Dad behavior. I was glad he knew I was still alive somehow. And I even felt a touch of pride at his fatherly denial. But I couldn’t excuse the horror he was probably going through. He may have sensed I was alive, but he didn’t know I was well. I instantly hated the helplessness that resided there. He didn’t even have Robbie to keep him in good spirits.
“They’ll be tracing any account linked to you, so you can’t be contacting nobody.” He pulled out the small Wi-Fi card from the side of the computer and placed it in his pocket. “Sorry, but that’s how it is. Something else and I’ll try to help, if I can. Can’t do nothing ‘bout that one, though.”
“Please,” my voice was small, scrunched up from my insides. “Just—just go away.”
I didn’t know what to think when his eyes narrowed again and his shoulders tensed. I backed away as slowly as I could and slid down to the floor. The fresh air had somewhat helped my aching head, but the pain still throbbed there, my pulse beating against the base of my skull.
Charlie moved swiftly to the crate and forcefully yanked one of its drawers open. The sudden movement made the pulse ring louder in my ears and I felt myself wince at the sound. It was followed by a sort of rattling as Charlie produced a white bottle of tablets.
“Here,” he said, tossing them in my direction
I recognized the label as a popular brand of aspirin, one that we might have even had at home, but I was still reluctant to pick them up. Maybe he was trying to poison me after all.
“No, thank you,” I snapped
He opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind. Instead, he just smiled and shook his head. I couldn’t help but notice the few strands of hair that fell in front of his eyes. I had a very real urge to put them back into place or maybe run my hands through his hair once more.
I turned away, ashamed of the compulsion and yet I could feel his eyes on me, boring holes through my flesh I wanted to scream, I wanted to run. Yet I knew there was nowhere to go.
“Please,” I tried again, “leave me alone.”
After he left I waited a respectable amount of time before I let the situation sink in. I had to survive on this ship another six days. That could be easy enough, but these people had given me their word once before and that hadn’t exactly turned out well. Six days was less than a single week, about 144 hours. I could handle that, right?
I felt the self-hatred expand on my insides again. Normally I was so put together, so thought out. What in the