Dislocating my thumb with the aid of the edge of the chair arm, I was able to rotate my hand enough to slip my wrist under the tight bindings of the ropes. Once my fingers were beneath the rope, I was able to slide effortlessly out. Grabbing my other thumb with my hand this time, I repeated the process.
Though I still had my lock pins hidden on my person, they would be ineffective against rope. A good captor would remove any weapons from my person. I could never rely on having my knives on me or accessible to me at all times.
Once free of my leg bindings, I removed the gag from my mouth. I walked over to the hole in the floor we used as our toilet and promptly threw up. Wiping my mouth, I grabbed for the hose we used as our shower to rinse out the bile from my mouth.
After that, I wandered over to the card table where my birthday cupcake sat waiting for me. The candle had very little wax left, but the flame was still burning.
I smiled triumphantly.Happy Birthday to me…
Age 24
Christopher.
John.
Roman.
Hannah.
Rachel.
Emmet.
Andy.
Amber.
Jesse.
Kaylee.
Sam.
Jerald.
Jerome.
Alicia.
Wyatt.
I wondered what any of them would think if they knew I had taken part in some of the major milestones in their lives. I attended many of their weddings as waitstaff, groundskeeper, and even as a photographer once. I was in scrubs and present for many of their children’s births, though not in the actual birthing rooms. I sat in the back pews as they attended church services,friends’ weddings, and family funerals. I even did maintenance work on their homes when they called for a plumber, electrician, or handyman—or, in my case, handywoman.
Many of them saw me, but none of themknewme. They had changed my life on a fundamental level and they didn’t even recognize my face as an adult.
Jason made me learn everything about their lives. Beyond their addresses and contact information, I knew secrets about them they kept from even their spouses. I knew who was having an affair, who was cheating on their taxes, who was lying on their resumes… I knew how they took their coffee. I saw their medical records and knew what they were allergic to, if anything.
I also knew their fears.
Christopher had a terrible case of agoraphobia.
Johnhateddogs.
Roman was extremely homophobic.
Hannah had coulrophobia.
Rachel became diabetic after her second pregnancy.
