The Swiss Escape

Strategies

Alex

I am not sure how much time has passed when I finally open my eyes. When I try to move, I realize that my arms are bound to a chair behind my back. I look around the room, it’s dark, but I can tell I am in the school’s café. There is a pounding pain on the back of my head.

Shaking my head, I hear a voice behind me. “I am so glad you’re awake, Alex. It was getting boring just to watch you be unconscious. How are you feeling?”

I know that voice. It’s Johnathon’s. Why did he bring me here? Am I still wearing the tracker or wire? I don’t feel anything. That means no one knows where to find me, but surely someone would think to look here. “What do you want, Johnathon?”

He bends down, so we are at eye level. Looking at him, I question what Kamryn saw in him, or any other woman for that matter. “I just want to know where my wife and daughter are. It’s clear you sent them away. My friends haven’t been able to find them. If you tell me where they are, I will kill you quickly. You won't even know it happened.”

“And if I don’t? Are you going to hit me like you did, Kamryn? It shows what a big man you are. You messed up; Kamryn is amazing. I almost feel sorry for you. Without a doubt, she’s out of your league. You will never be able to get anything close to her-“ A punch hit the side of my face.

“You need to understand that Kam and Kayla belong to me. I am Kam’s husband; she will come home with me. You are going to tell me where she is and where I can find her. I will tell my friends, they will go retrieve her, and if you don’t lie to me, your end will be quick.” He smiles as he talks. Like this is a game.

I just let out a laugh, “I don’t care what you do to me. All I care about is keeping Kamryn and Kayla safe. And they are safe away from you. So, do whatever you want to me. I have succeeded in keeping them safe.”

Johnathon lets out a sigh, “Why are you so difficult? Are you willing to die for another man’s woman? I will find Kamryn with or without your help. I am allowing you to make things easier on you.” He shakes his head. “I have another plan on flushing her out of hiding.” Johnathon turns around and takes a picture. The sudden flash forces me to close my eyes. “Kam will come running when she sees how helpless you look.” I watch as he uses the phone to send the picture to Kamryn. “I hope you don’t mind. I took her number from your phone. I didn’t want anyone to track it. It is such a hassle to move from one location to the next. If she hasn’t responded in the next hour, we will take other measures. But for now, you should rest. In just a few hours, I will have my family back together.” He looks at me with a smile. “Are you excited for me? I haven’t gotten to see my daughter in a year and a half. Now she’s four.”

“You will never get Kamryn or Kayla back. They are better off without you. Do you want to do something good for your daughter? Leave her alone. What do you think will happen when she sees you hit Kamryn? Kayla is going to think that is love. Either she will allow a man to hit her, or she will be abusive herself. Is that the kind of life you want for her?”

Johnathon watches me closely, a smile forms on his face. “I won’t hit Kam in front of Kayla, don’t worry. Kam is like a dog. Sometimes she will need a bit of negative reinforcement to extinguish behaviors. Kayla will not grow up, allowing anyone to mistreat her. Kam will make sure of that. She always wants what’s best for our daughter.” He emphasized the word our. I know the purpose was for me to understand Kayla isn’t biologically mine.

The smile on his face makes me feel uneasy. Without a doubt, he would hurt Kamryn. Part of me believes he would even hurt Kayla. Something in his mind makes him think he is untouchable. “Where are your friends anyway? Did they leave you too?”

Johnathon is quickly in my face. He grabs my collar, but I just stare at him. “I wouldn’t say those things if I were in your position.”

“Why? You have already said you plan to kill me. At this point, I have nothing to lose.”

Johnathon lets go of me and quickly steps back. “My friends have a way of making people talk.” His phone goes off. I am slightly worried it’s Kamryn and that she is going to try and help me. A smile spreads across his face as he confirms my fear. “My wife texted back. She is willing to negotiate your release. Isn’t that sweet? I told you she is predictable. If she thinks someone is in trouble, she will try to save them.”

Two more men walk into the room, and I notice both are tall and stocky. They must be the men Baldrick described. Johnathon quickly leaves the room with them. The moment they leave, I try to move. The rope digs into my wrists as I try to find the right place in the knot to pull. When I finally find it, the rope comes undone. I keep the rope lightly around me, so if anyone comes in, they will still think I am bound. Bending down, I loosen the ropes on my ankles but keep just enough around them that they still look tied.

I hear footsteps approaching and quickly adjust to the same position as before. Hopefully, they won’t check the ropes. One of the large men Johnathon is traveling with enters. He goes to the kitchen, and I hear him banging around. The man comes out with Jell-O and pretzels. Lounging back in one of the teachers’ chairs he stole from a room, the man begins eating. When he finishes, I watch as he drifts off to sleep. I realize now is my chance.

I didn’t wait long enough for the man to fall into a deep sleep. He wakes up and charges towards me. We begin fighting. I must admit that his hand to hand combat is better than mine. The other man definitely has the upper hand. Finding it difficult to get in a hit as I block his, we end up in the kitchen. The man backs me into the counter. When the other man grabs my neck, I fumble to find something to use as a weapon. Finding a knife, I drive the blade into the other man’s neck. He releases me and collapses onto the ground.

It takes me a few minutes to catch my breath. I hear the door to the cafeteria open and quickly hide. There is no way I can stand another fight yet. Still trying to catch my breath, I hear the footsteps approaching. It sounds as if it is one pair of feet. I debate what to do. I could try to fight them off, but I am not sure I have another fight in me at this point, especially if I fight both Johnathon and his other friend at the same time. The smarter move would be to find a phone and call for help. I just need to find a secluded place and hide until help arrives.

The footsteps came back by, and I stay hidden. When they stop near me, the panic starts to rise. I have hidden in one of the dry pantries. I am behind some cleaning supplies and paper goods. They shouldn’t see me if they open the door, but they will find me if something get’s moved.

Feeling uneasy, I listen for footsteps or anything that will indicate that it’s safe for me to move. Nothing, I hear nothing. Did they go, or are they waiting for me to come out of my hiding spot? I wait a few more minutes, just as I am about to move, I hear Johnathon’s voice. “My wife is on her way here. She said it will take a few hours to arrive. When she arrives, I will tell her the place and that she needs to be with Kayla.” 

His friend responds, “I still haven’t found the hostage. I cut the power to the building, so he can’t phone for help. The gate is locked, so there is no escape. When he comes out of wherever he is hiding, I will take care of him.”

When Johnathon begins talking, I can almost hear the smile in his voice. “Good. After you find him, text me. We can give my wife a nice little picture of him.”

I hear Johnathon walk away, but I don’t hear the other man’s footsteps. The door suddenly opens, and I hold my breath and push myself as close to the wall as possible. I know he can’t see me, but all he needs to do is move one of the cleaning solution jugs to find me. Listening closely, I hear him let out a curse. “Where do they keep all the food here?” He quickly slams the door shut and walks away. I let out my breath.

I need a well thought out plan if I am going to escape. I need to come up with something quickly. Johnathon can’t get to Kamryn before me. Being bait will all be for nothing if he takes her back to America.