"That's what I would have done," Star said. "Me too?' Misty agreed.
Cat had her head down, her arms embracing herself. She looked like she was trembling. That's what I was like in that room, I thought.
"I thought about it, but to be honest, I was afraid of what he might do to me if I broke his window."
"You were worrying about his window?" Star asked, incredulous.
"Not his window. She was worried about what he'd do to her," Misty piped up. "Obviously, the man was deranged to have locked her in. You don't just challenge such people."
"What are you, an expert?" Star fired back at her. Misty shrugged.
"She's right," I said, "and besides, I was hoping that Craig would be back any moment like Mr. Bennet had said and would come up and rescue me," I added before they could continue their argument.
"Sure. A crazy man locks you in a room and you decide to wait around. That makes a lot of sense," Star muttered and shook her head.
"While I waited, I explored the room," I continued. "I opened the dresser drawers. They were all empty. I looked in the closet and saw only half a dozen naked hangers. In the corner on the floor was some sort of rodent nest."
"Oh my God," Misty moaned. "You mean, rats?"
"Ugh," Star said.
"Anyway," I said, "I closed the door and went to the computer. There were some notes scribbled on a pad beside it. They looked like E-mail addresses. Mine was included.
"I tried the door again, pulling on it, pounding and then I sat on the bed, trying to think what I should do next. Where was Craig? Was he even coming home? I wondered. Moments later, I heard footsteps on the stairway. They sounded like someone running up and I assumed it was Craig, angry about what his father had done. I heard him stop just outside the door. I waited and listened, but all I heard was the music from below. Then I saw the doorknob turning, but the door didn't open.
"'Craig?' I called. 'Is that you?'
"'Yes,' I heard after a long moment of silence. His voice was higher pitched than I had imagined it would be. 'I'm sorry about this. He's not well. The son has become the father in this house.'
"'Can you open the door?' I asked calmly. This was something he had never mentioned in his letters to me, you see.
"'I thought he left the key in the lock,' he said. 'I have to go back down and get it from him I'll be right back,' he said.
"I heard his footsteps on the stairs descending quickly. What a mess I put myself in, I thought and tried to remain calm and keep my heart from thumping like a bongo drum. For a minute or two, all I heard was the music. Then, I heard loud voices, clearly voices in argument. I thought I even heard something smash against the wall, then more arguing and then silence. Even the music stopped. I waited by the door, listening hard for footsteps on the stairs.
"They came, but very slowly, heavy. At one point they paused and I called out. They started again and finally they reached the third-story landing I stepped back from the door and waited.
"I heard the key in the lock. My heart wasn't thumping anymore. It was more like an oil drill pounding deeper and deeper until it vibrated down my spine. The back of my neck was perspiring so much, strands of my hair were soaked.
"The door opened slowly and Mr. Bennet was standing there. My heart sunk. What had he done to Craig? What would he do to me?
"'I'm sorry,' he said in that high-pitched voice. 'My father is not the same since she left. There's no telling what he'll do sometimes. I didn't write about it in my E-mail because I never thought you'd come here like this, but I'm glad you did,' he added.
"I just stared, my eyes probably close to popping."
"How weird," Misty said in a loud whisper. She had her hands pressed to the base of her throat. Cat was biting down on her lower lip and even Star looked absolutely terrified. Dr. Marlowe sat watching them, her eyes moving slowly from one to the other and then back to me.
"'You're not Craig,' I managed to say.
"He laughed.
"'Oh, that was an old picture I sent. It's me, in the flesh, your old computer sidekick, Loneboy.'
"I shook my head, tried to swallow and then took a deep breath so I could speak.
"'I made a mistake,' I said. I tried to smile, tried not to show my absolute terror. 'I have to go.'
"'Oh, but you just arrived as I understand it. Don't go just yet. We have a lot to talk about. You want something to eat, drink?'