Finding Grace

Chapter 8

The main living area of the cabin was like an average living living room. A couch with throw blankets, side tables littered with magazines and kin knacks. The T.v. Was always on, either it was the cartoon channel for Grace or the sports channel for the Old Man. He never tells me his name, the only names i have to call him are Sir. The kitchen is off to the side if that’s what you’d call a sink and a hot burner a kitchen. The mini fridge is the size of Grace, only big enough to hold beer, juice and some veggies. Graces room is the biggest of them all. Her White fluffy bed taken up most of the room, Stuffed fluffy animals lay around the whole room.

She has one toy that she never lets go of a worn down beaten stuffed bear. The ear half off an missing a button or 2 from the constant playing, She said Mommy number 1 gave this to her when she came. “Mommy left one night and never came back, daddy was sad he didn’t get out of his chair for a week.” Remembering what she said just the other night. Around the house lay pictures of Grace when she was just 2 years old. A tiny little baby in oversized pjs, a woman and a man hugging her tight.

“Grace, come on dinner is ready.” I yell out.

“Coming!” She yells

“So, have you been working on your reading.” I say as i take a sip of the soup i made for dinner.

“ Yes, momma. I even read a whole 2 chapters. Do you think daddy will be happy when he comes back form his trip?” She questions

The old man never stay as for long when he comes. He told Grace that he had a business trip to attend and that he’ll be back before she knew it. Going back to that night puts shivers down my back. The way he grabbed Grace and shook her telling her to be a strong girl and to be on her best behavior and to not let me out of her sight.

Pulling me off to the side his breath making me hold my own, reverberates that if

“ If you try a single thing to get out, If you so help yourself to try to leave. I’ll kill her and you.” Promising that he stares me down and makes me agree to not try anything for the protection of Grace. But little does he know I’m plotting mine and Graces escape. She needs actual school and god knows when she actually had any shots. Let alone if she was truly his child or not she deserves to be a child and explore. Grace isn’t allowed outside either, there’s only one sundown in the house and that’s in the living room. The panel has a pad lock and can only be opened with a key. The same keys that hold us and the outside world apart.

“Grace, Do you know if that’s the only set of keys he has? I question as I’m putting the bowls of our dinner in the sink.

“ Ooo, I think so momma. He never lets me get close to them to play with the jingles.” She jumps down the chair and helps me clear the bowls.

“ jingles?” I question.

“ ya the jingles, the keys make a sounds when you shake it.” She smiles up at me.

“ oh that, yes they do make a sound, but sweetie don’t you want to get out of here and go to the park like a real kid. And jump in rain puddles and play in mud and get all dirty?” Joy coming to my face as I’m explaining the fist part of my plan.

“ daddy says i cant get dirty or go outside though.” She looks up at me with her bright blue eyes.

“Well this could be out little secret,” i state. “We could make it a game, next time he comes you take those keys and you hide it really really well, And when he leave we can both go and have fun at the park.” I say softly to her. “ We can make daddy a surprise and bring back something for him.” Trying to convince her.

“A surprise!” She screams

“ Yes a surprise but you have to be quiet about this, You cant tell him bc we want him to be surprised when it happens.” I smile knowing the first part of my plan is working.

“ But momma how will i get the keys from him.” She looks up at me perplexed.

“The next time he comes, after he drinks his beers he’ll be passed out. That’s when you’ll go up to him and take them away.” I repeat back to her.

“ Oh, okay. I cant wait i love surprises.” As she skips down to her room.

The next a days that follow remain the same i cook, clean, feed and tidy up the little cabin for Grace making sure she’s reading and stimulating her mind in this bleak, isolated cabin. The old man hasn’t return in 5 days, he should be coming any day now to refill our food supply and to make sure Graces needs are being met. Sure enough 2 days later he comes back with a bag full of can veggies and fruit.

“This should last you a while.” He nods as i take the bag. “ Make sure she eats them.”he adds.

Nodding my head i ask, “ Will you be staying or low leaving deciding if i should initiate the plan early?”

“No, I’m joining a search party to find a young Gal, You know her. Her name is Kat.” His crooked evil smile coming through.

Gasping my breath. “You’re what?”

“ Ya someone went missing didn’t you hear? He chuckles

“ Swallowing the bile that is rising in my throat, You’re helping to look for me? What kind of monster are you?!” I scream.

“The one that wants is family to be safe and sound and ill lead them in the opposite directions of this cabin if i have to keep you safe!” He hollers back.

Shocked terror and resentment all the emotions coming to the surface as i leap at him and start hitting him, For the past month that I’ve been stuck here I’ve held it all together forming a plan and making sure Grace is safe. But from what he’s told me on how he’s helping Cruz and so many others form and join a missing search party it all comes out.

Scratching, hitting, kicking I use all my force, but I wasn’t a match for him. With one swift of his arm I’m knocked on the floor and he’s looming over me.

“Don’t think for a second you wont be punished for that little act of yours.” He adds, “ When i get back you’ll know how much i want for you to stay. But for right now i have to leave.” Walking towards Graces room he calls for her. “ Grace!”

“Coming daddy!” She yells back. She comes out and see me on the floor.

“ mommy what are you doing on the floor?” She tilts her head in confusion.

“She fell.” Not looking at me he tells grace that he’ll be gone until tomorrow night and that he’ll bring her a new toy if she eats all her veggies.

Finally giving me a stare he shakes his head grabs his jacket and walks out the door, slamming it behind. Grace coming over to help me get up i know that tonight i have to find a way out or ill be dead. Tonight i need to escape with grace.