It's time to move on

Chapter 11

I wake up feeling very drowsy.

My head hurts.

I can’t move my arms or legs.

I lift my head as much as I can and see that I’ve been restrained on a stretcher. Oh no! Not again.

I struggle with the tape, it doesn’t seem to budge.

Frustration doesn’t begin to describe how I feel. I have so many emotions running through me and it’s draining all the fight I had left.

I’m in and out of conciseness. When I am awake I’m beaten with his belt. My body is numb by now. I hardly feel his blows anymore. When he starts I go to my happy place as hard as it is.

I have no idea how long I’ve been in the cage now.

I’ve been and still am drugged. I’m hungry and thirsty.

I call out when ice cold water hits me and I can’t move to shield my face.

When it finally stops I struggle to catch my breath.

“You really upset me. I really thought after I showed you what I did for us, you’d appreciate me.”

“They will find me.” I say more to myself.

“No one is looking for you. They forgot all about you.”

I don’t want to believe him. I don’t but I’m starting to lose hope. The hunger is getting worse at least the thirst subsides a little with the water being thrown over me.

I’m mad at myself for letting Charles get to me.

I find myself picturing Jason, his smile, his eyes, the way he made me feel when he touched or kissed me. I want to see where things go with him. I’ve made friends. People I can rely on. This cannot be my end. I go back to my happy place. Our pool game. The epic first kiss. Shirley and me boxing in the gym. The time I swept the big guy and he fell on his butt, I felt so bad afterward but he just chuckled and told me I did a good job.

While thinking about everything I’ll miss if this goes wrong I realise that with the water drenched on me the tape strapping me to the stretcher has become soggy and I’ll be able to tear it.

Charles leaves when I fail to respond to him, as soon as he’s away from the cage and out the warehouse door then I get to work. With a little struggle I manage to break free.

 I get off of the stretcher and move my arms and legs.

I hear noises outside and call out as loudly as I can. “Help! Help!”

The warehouse door opens and let’s in some light.

I can’t make out who is there. I just hope that it’s not Charles.

“Rebecca? Can you hear me?”

I recognise the voice.

It’s Jamie!

I see her. I’m so grateful and relieved but I can’t speak.

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.” I stammer. My throat is hoarse.

“Okay hold on. We’ll get you out of here.” Jamie says.

“Jason.” I whisper.

“He’s just fine, a pain in the ass to every single nurse in the hospital, they have to sedate him most of the time because he wants to leave and find you.” She smiles as she shakes her head. “He is quite a stubborn man.”

I’m truly relieved. They didn’t forget about me.

One of the officers brings a bolt cutter but I stop him.

“If you want to catch him leaving me in here is the best way. He’ll just run when he sees I’m gone then I’ll always be looking over my shoulder.”

“You don’t have to. You’ve been through enough and I doubt you know of all the things he has done.”

“I need to. He’s taken enough of my life and I told him I wouldn’t break.”

“It’s too dangerous. He is too dangerous.” She pleads.

I don’t understand why she is so freaked out, “There are ten police officers here, Jamie, and I’m safe now. If he wanted to do anything worse he would have already done it.”

“All right I can see I’m not going to be able to change your mind so just say Jason’s name and we’ll come running.”

“Got it.” I reply. My will to fight has come back stronger. They quickly set up some microphones and disappear to where I don’t know but I’m sure they will be close.

Charles comes back a long while later but I’m still pumped up, so very ready for this to be over.

He looks a little surprised to see me out of my restraints.

“How did you get loose?”

“I’ve missed you.” I say changing his focus.

“You did?” Charles frowns.

“I’ve realised that I was wrong.”

“I see you’re coming around.” Charles grins.

“I am.” I lie.

Charles grins broadly as he walks up to the cage.

“That’s my girl.”

“Charlie, I’m sorry I should have never left you. You are the only man for me.”

“Prove it.”

“Come here and I will or maybe we can go to our house and I can clean up first.” I say as sweetly as I possibly can, moving to the end of the cage. It disgusts me that I have to say these things to him but I have to get him inside the cage so he can’t get away again.

“You can shower later, I've been waiting too long for this.” Charles says and gets in the cage and locks the door behind him. He starts walking up to me while taking his shirt off. I stay where I am preparing myself. He tosses his shirt on the floor and starts grinning while he undoes his jeans button.

Once he is inside in the centre of the cage, I smile, “Jason is still alive.”

“You don’t know that.” He says uncertain and stops.

“Yes I do.” I grin.

The warehouse door flies open and the officers run in guns in hand.

“It’s over! Put your hands in the air!” Jamie commands aiming her gun at him.

“You played me you b***h!” Charles yells and leaps towards me.

I jump out the way, he recovers quickly. I sweep his leg and he staggers. He pulls the gun from his ankle holster. I kick his arm and the gun falls out of his hand.

I hear the lock break and the police rush inside. I run into Jamie’s arms and she hugs me tightly.

“I bet I smell awful.” I cry onto her shoulder.

“Come, let’s get you out of here.” Jamie says walking me outside. I breathe in the fresh air. It’s over. I’m put into the ambulance. I’m checked over; they seem pleased that I’m not too injured.

“Where to?” She asks.

“A shower please and then I really want to see him.”

Jamie takes me to her house.

I must have showered for at least an hour.

When I exit the shower I see clothes laid out on the bed.

I get dressed and meet Jamie in her kitchen. “Thank you for the clothes.”

“You are so welcome.”

“Is that coffee I smell?”

“Want some?” She chuckles.

“Yes please.”

Jamie hands me a cup and I sit down.

“I need to know how long he’s had me?”

“Two weeks.”

I nod. It didn’t feel that long or maybe it felt longer.

I had no way of telling the time and Charles didn’t tell me.

“I’m truly sorry for what happened. He’ll be under twenty four supervision until the trial.”

“So I’m assuming the clerk did not let him out on bail.” I ask as I take a sip of coffee. It’s the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

“He was being transported when he managed to overpower the guards. He killed the officers.”

“I didn’t realise he was capable of murder until he shot Jason.”

“There’s more but it can wait.” Jamie says pushing a plate with a sandwich my way.

“I saw the look on your face back at the warehouse. You looked scared.” I reply and then  take a bite of the sandwich. Ham and cheese. I have never tasted anything this good.

“I was, Rebecca, but I don’t need to tell you about it right now.”

“You can. I need to know.” I say taking another bite.

“It seems that Charles has been a suspect in six murders. All of them your age, height and had long dark hair.”

I stop chewing and swallow, “Are you telling me that he is some sort of serial killer?”

“I believe so, it seems that when he couldn’t have you he snapped.”

“This is my fault.” I say as I rub my temples. If I just stayed with him none of this would be happening.

“Don’t you dare think that.” Jamie says putting her hand on my shoulder. “He is a psychopath and I’m just glad he didn’t kill you too.”

“He built a freaking house in that warehouse.”

“I was told. He is going to be in prison for the rest of his miserable life.”

“Can I see Jason now?” I ask. I have an uncontrollable need to see him.

Jamie jumps up and grabs her keys.