Redesigning Fate (Revive #1) - A. M. Wilson Page 0,99

I can’t see anything but blackness. A stiff arm inches up to my face, feeling around, and I feel something soft on my eyelids. I must have a mask of some sort on. But why? What happened?

Racking my brain, I try to figure out where I am and how I got here. The images in my head are difficult to see, out of focus, and distorted. I remember the dark…running…and a pair of piercing green eyes.

Travis!

Oh no. No no no no!

It all comes back to me. The parking garage, running, footsteps getting louder, chasing me, the cloth…chloroform?

Travis. Looking down on me with a sick and twisted grin.

Nausea rolls through my stomach, rising into my throat. It takes a lot of effort, but I swallow it back down, not wanting to aspirate on my own vomit. I feel a bump, and I realize I’m moving. Oh my god, I’m in the trunk of a car. My bound hands search the area around me, looking for anything useful or familiar. I have to get out of here. Remembering something I heard once, I try to kick out the tail light, but it’s useless. My bound feet aren’t able to hit it hard enough and I don’t even know if it’s the right spot. Rolling over, I search the area behind my body again, coming up to something soft, leathery feeling. I feel a zipper and a strap. My purse!

Slipping the zipper, I feel around inside, finding my cell phone in the inside pocket where I usually store it. The clock on the home screen tells me I’ve been gone for over 4 hours. It’s almost five. The notifications bar flashes with several texts from Elias. The car is still moving, as I can feel the floor shaking beneath me, so I know I’m safe to call for help. My heart breaks as I ignore the texts and dial 911. Please let my phone work out here.

An operator answers promptly.

“911 what is your emergency,” the woman’s voice is clear, professional. I cling to it like a lifeline.

“I-I’ve been kidnapped.” I stutter out. My body shudders from saying the words aloud. It makes the reality of the situation much more tangible. I’m twenty-two, and I’ve been freaking kidnapped.

“Do you know who took you?” she asks, her voice still a chilling calm.

“Yes,” I whisper, afraid he can somehow hear me over the sound of the road. “His name is Travis Dawson. He’s my ex-boyfriend. He took me from the parking garage at my apartment this morning. Just after noon.” Goosebumps shoot up both of my arms.

“What is your address?”

“1016 W. Creek Parkway Apt 319, but we aren’t there.”

“How old are you ma’am?” I try to hone in on the slight southern twang of her accent. I picture she has long brown wavy hair. She probably likes to ride horses.

“Twenty-two.”

“And what is your name?”

“My name’s Marlena Aldrich.”

“Do you know where you are right now?” I can hear the keys clicking on her keyboard. I focus on the sound.

“I’m in the trunk of a car. I don’t know where he’s taking me.”

Click-click-click

“What kind of car does he drive?”

“He used to drive a white Taurus, but recently I’ve seen him in a blue Impala. I don’t know which I’m in right now.”

Click-click-click-click

“Have you been in the car this entire time, ma’am?”

Tears spill from my eyes, over the bridge of my nose and into the hair by my left temple. This is hopeless. He’s probably so far away by now; we could be across the border of any of the neighboring states. We could be nearing Canada for all I know. I shove my fist in my mouth to stifle the sobs wracking my body.

“Ma’am, try to remain calm, we are going to do everything we can.”

“I don’t know. I was unconscious until just a little bit ago,” I manage to squeak out between hiccups.

Beep.

The familiar sound sends a slice of pain through my body. My battery is dying. After everything that happened last night, I never plugged it in. Oh my God.

“My battery is dying on my phone.”

“Ma’am, police have been notified and units are being dispatched.”

“What do I do?” The words come out frantic. Taking a deep breath, I try to calm myself. I will get nowhere freaking out.

Beep.

“Try to do as he says. Don’t antagonize him. We are looking for you. The police will find you.”

“I’m so afraid,” I admit, and when I close my eyes and listen to her voice, I can almost feel safe