After a few minutes, I fall a few inches as the bed collapses. The metal headboard separates from the base. Yes! I’m able to move my arms down to the floor, and then I lift the wrought-iron headboard up, freeing the cuffs and my arms.
I’m thankful he had a cheap bed frame. Unfortunately, I have no way to get the cuffs off.
Instead, I focus on the window. I grab one of the metal rods from the frame I just tossed aside and jab at the window. After several hits, it cracks. I keep hitting the window until finally, the glass breaks. I continue to smash as much glass out as I can with it.
The window is at my shoulders. There really isn’t much I can grab to hoist myself up. And there is still broken glass on the windowsill.
I scan the room. There is an old kitchen chair in the corner. I grab it and put it on the mattress.
When I stand on it, it cracks. I’m not sure it will hold my weight for long. But it gets me up far enough that I can lean out the window and grab onto the grass and pull myself up.
The chair cracks again, and I fall as it breaks apart.
Dammit!
I try the door, but it doesn’t even jiggle. Whatever lockhe used, it’s secure. I stare at the broken chair and mattress. There has to be a way to use it to boost me.
I pull the yellowing sheet that was on the mattress and ball it up. I use it to sweep away the broken glass from the windowsill. The mattress is really firm. I prop it on its side against the wall. I wonder if it will hold me.
I grab the lower window frame and try to place my foot up on the mattress edge. Dammit. I’m not flexible enough.
Okay, that didn’t work, but something will. I stare at the mattress leaned up against the wall. Wait a minute.
I pull the bottom out a bit. This makes it not so tall. I grab the open window frame and kick my leg up, and it lands on the top edge of the mattress.
Yes!
I hoist myself up, using my leg for the boost. Once my upper body is partly through the window, I grab some clumps of grass and pull myself up and out.
I’m free!
I roll onto my back, breathing hard. My arm hurts. I glance down to see blood. I cut myself on the glass. I wrap the bottom of my shirt around it. The last thing I need now is some kind of blood trail leading Marco to where I am.
Speaking of that, where the hell am I? I glance around. The property is surrounded by trees on this side. I go around the side to the front of the house. There’s a dirt driveway. I run down it and am so happy when I stumble upon a road. A real road. My gut tells me to turn left, so I do. Now I need to find someone who can help me before Marco returns.
CHAPTER 25
Savvy
After walking what feels like an hour, I come to aTin the road. I have no gut feeling about which way to go now. Glancing up at the sun, I’m pretty sure this road goes east and west. But since I have no idea where I am, I have no idea which way to choose. I decide to go right this time and find myself in an older neighborhood after a few blocks. No one is outside that I can ask. As I walk through the neighborhood, I notice they have mailboxes at the end of their driveways. All I need is a quick peek to see where I’m at.
I open one mailbox, and it’s empty. I open the next one and pull out a letter. New York. All right. I’m upstate a bit. I shove the letter back and find the sun again. I need to walk south.
It’s likely Marco will come looking for me once he discovers I’m gone, so I need to stay off the main highwayand roads. There are a lot of trees and bushes, so hopefully I can keep myself hidden if a car comes by.
I need to find a way to contact Hunter. I kick myself for leaving my phone in the car when I met Marco. Although he probably would have taken it from me, even if I had it.
I swear the road I’m on is one big circle. Finally, I come out to another road that looks more like a highway. No one is going to help me if they see these handcuffs.
As best I can, I pull my shirt over my head and off. Fortunately, I’m wearing a tank top underneath. I put the shirt over the cuffs to hide them.
I turn right and walk about a mile before I come upon a town. Yes, thank you! I need to find someone who can look up the number for where Hunter works. I know they’ll get the message to him.
It’s starting to get dark as I make my way through this small town. The lights are off in all the businesses. Why are there no restaurants? A restaurant would have to be open.
That’s when I see it in the distance. A church. Please be open. As I get closer, I can see it’s a large church, and there are several cars in the parking lot.
Many couples are walking inside. I wonder if there is a service. Maybe I can get in and get someone to call Hunter for me. And if not, then I will have a place inside to hide overnight. The last thing I want is to be stuck outside.
