How scared she must me, how scared I had been all those years ago. How scared I was now. I had no way of knowing the cause or recipient of that gunshot. Focus, Breathe. I struggled to my feet, my legs buckling under me like jelly. My heart was pounding so hard, so fast I thought it might explode. Sweat trickled down my cheek. I almost laughed. Sweat! I was freezing for fuck’s sake! I wiped away the sweat and pulled my arms to my chest.
Twenty-three. I had just passed cabin twenty-three.
The park was nearly empty. I moved forward, clutching from tree to tree. My vision warped, making all the trees look like they were swaying. I struggled to catch hold of each one, and when I did, I held onto it like I was going to be swept away.
In the distance I saw a flash of light. It was there and then gone. Maybe I'd imagined it? My feet pushed forward, as though they were in control, not my brain. Right now I wasn't sure my brain was capable of anything.
I heard the sound before I felt the pain. The sound of something hard hitting the back of my head. I reached up. Warm. Blood, I guessed.
Everything went black.
“Please. Help me.”
It was her. Even though I couldn't see her, I knew it was her. I could hear the fear in her voice. The same fear I'd felt, and experienced.
My head felt like it had exploded. Dried blood matted my hair. My heart pounded. It was dark, but I could make out the girl tied to the bed in the corner of the room. I could make out Gary sprawled out on the floor near the door, a pool of blood trickling around his chest. He wasn't moving. I couldn't tell if he was alive.
Then, I saw him. Sitting in a chair, staring at me.
Smiling. Anger surged through me. How dare he smile at me.
“Wow. I can't believe what a beautiful woman you have grown into.” He smiled broadly. He sounded like a proud long lost relative, not a deranged rapist. “It's so good to see you again. How have you been? This is such a surprise!” There are so many ways I wanted to answer him. Most involved some kind of utensil and an orifice he could jam it in. But I knew my best chance of getting out of this alive was to keep him calm. And talking.
“Good.” I croaked. I coughed. “I have been okay.” My voice was clearer, but still reeked of nerves. He smiled. I could tell he liked I was scared. That's what he got off on.
Suddenly he was on his feet.
“Oh god I'm so rude!” He exclaimed, jumping to his feet. He walked over to the girl.
“Have you met Mandy?
” He untied her and pushed her toward me. She winced at the grip of his hand around her arm. She fell in front of me. Her eyes were dead. Dark rings circled them.
“You two should get along great. You have so much in common.” He laughed. I felt sick. I didn't want to know what he'd done to her, but deep down I knew. I could see it in her face. Her expression. It was the same one I’d worn ten years earlier.
“Why not just come for me?” I asked him. He seemed surprised by the question. Then humour filled his dark eyes.
“What makes you think I even wanted you again?” He chuckled, amused by my question. Then his turned serious. “This isn’t about you, Emma, though I thought about you every day. What I did to you, I thought if I could get out, I could make things right. But I can’t.”
“Oh don't look so scared Missy. Us three, we are going to have a great time.” I heard Mandy next to me whimper softly. Derek rolled his eyes. “Don't mind her.” He said, reaching over and kicking her in the back so hard she gasped.
I flinched, as though the kick had wounded me. “She has done nothing but complain since we started! At least you were quiet. So well behaved.” His voice faltered as he smiled.
He was thinking of me. Us. The thought made me want to vomit. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“So let her go?” I suggested lightly. “We can have fun without her.” I kept my voice as light as I could. Inside I was screaming. All I needed was for him to let her go.
“I need to go back, Emma. I can’t handle it out here. I need to make sure I won’t get out again. And she,” He motioned toward Mandy, “Will make sure of that. Or more to the point, what I do to her will make sure of it.” He smiled at me, and winked.
Feeling sick, I tried again to swallow the lump in my throat. This time, I was less successful. I lunged forward, most of the day’s food ending up all over my top. Derek jumped back in disgust. I almost laughed at the irony.
He was disgusted with me?
“Aww seriously Emma?” He tipped his gun toward to my top. “Take it off.” My eyes widened. No. I couldn't. I wouldn't.
“It's making me feel sick and I want it off. Now!” He ordered, his voice raised. This time he aimed the gun at me. I slipped the top over my head and threw it into the corner. The feel of his eyes on me made my stomach churn again. I crossed my arms over my chest, covering what I could of my pink lacy bra.
“Pretty.” He licked his lips. He sneered at me, exposing his cracked rotten teeth. “Pink suits you.” He offered, as if he was trying to flirt with me. I looked away, repulsed. This man had controlled my life, my nightmares, for so long. He grinned. He was enjoying my response to his attention. He loved that I despised him.