Chapter 20: Chapter Nineteen

Athena

Perhaps I was growing accustomed to the blindfold, or the fabric wasn't as thick as I'd initially thought. Maybe my mind was simply playing tricks on me. But as I tilted my head upward, I could vaguely make out the dim, flickering bulb above me, its erratic sputtering giving the impression that it couldn’t decide whether to stay on or give up entirely.

I was slumped against a wooden chair, my wrists bound tightly behind me with rough, unyielding rope that bit into my skin, evidence of countless futile attempts to break free.

My throat was dry, my body stiff and aching from days of immobility. Every muscle protested as I shifted in place, attempting to alleviate the discomfort. The sound of heavy boots clunking down creaky stairs reached my ears, each step amplifying my anxiety. 

My body tensed involuntarily, and I forced myself to sit upright, every nerve on edge as I waited. The footsteps drew closer, each one a sign of the unknown. When the door creaked open and the figure stepped inside, I held my breath, bracing myself, listening intently to the slow, deliberate footsteps drawing closer.

Suddenly, his hands were behind me, loosening the blindfold. I inhaled sharply, startled by the unexpected gesture. Was he finally letting me go? The idea seemed so implausible that I didn't dare to hope. I squinted, cautiously opening one eye and then the other. My vision blurred for a moment, struggling to adjust to the dim light.

When clarity returned, I almost laughed aloud in spite of myself—I’d been right. The bulb above me was indeed flickering, casting erratic shadows that danced over the cold, gray walls of what appeared to be a basement.

I turned my head, and the sight of him made me freeze. My breath caught in my throat, though I couldn’t immediately pinpoint what it was about him that struck me. He was tall, dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, his face hidden behind a ski mask. 

There was something about the way he stood, the calm yet menacing air of indifference, that chilled me. He carried a plastic bag in one hand, and I doubted its contents were anything that would benefit me.

"Please," I croaked, my voice barely audible, my throat raw and burning. "I need to use the bathroom. You can’t leave me like this. I’m begging you."

A low, mocking chuckle escaped him as he shut the door with a deliberate click. He leaned against the wall with an unnerving casualness, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, I see what this is," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "You think I don’t know what you’re trying to pull?" His words were sharp, his gaze cold enough to slice through me. 

"You’re not the first to try the old 'I need the bathroom' excuse. Let me guess—you think if I untie you, you’ll get your shot at freedom?"

“No!” I protested, shaking my head weakly. “I swear, I wouldn’t. I—I just can’t hold it anymore. Please… I need to use the bathroom. Just let me—”

The man’s sharp laugh cut me off, followed by a condescending tut. He shook his head, his mock pity palpable. “You’re a terrible liar, Athena. But nice try. I’m not falling for that.” he drawled.

“It’s not a trick,” I pleaded, my voice trembling as desperation clawed its way out. “I swear. I can barely move as it is. Just… please.”

He pushed himself off the wall with deliberate ease, moving forward until he crouched a few feet in front of me. His head tilted, his eyes narrowed as if I were some puzzle he intended to solve. “You think I’m stupid? I’ve seen all the movies, sweetheart. You’re not slipping past me.”

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back, refusing to let him see me crumble. “I won’t run,” I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear. “I’ll do anything you say. Just… have a little mercy.”

“Mercy?” he echoed, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. His voice was thick with disdain. “You’re asking the wrong person for that.”

My head fell forward as silent tears slid down my cheeks. I clenched my fist, feeling the ropes bite into my skin. “How can you do this to me?” My voice trembled, but anger flickered within. “You don’t have to—I’m not a threat to you. Just let me go. Please.”

He straightened to his full height, his expression hardening like stone. “This is the last time you’ll see me,” he said coldly. “So I’ll spare you the trouble of begging any longer. Not that it would’ve done you any good.”

I raised my head, meeting his gaze with bloodshot eyes that silently begged for a trace of humanity. “What do you mean? Are you… are you going to leave me here to die?”

He shrugged, his indifference cutting deeper than any words. “Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on how this plays out. But one thing’s for sure—you’re not my problem anymore after tonight.”

Hopelessness crashed over me like a tidal wave, but I pressed my lips together, refusing to give him the satisfaction of my despair. “Why are you doing this?” I demanded, my voice raw with frustration. “What do you want from me?”

The question wasn’t new—it had circled us like a vulture before—but no matter how many times I asked, the answer never made sense. I knew James was alive, rotting in jail, but that knowledge only deepened the absurdity of my situation. He would do anything to get out, to finish what he started years ago.

The man didn’t respond immediately. He stood, pacing the small room with his hands tucked into his pockets, his silence as unnerving as his words. Finally, he stopped and turned to face me, his eyes dark and unreadable. “This is the last time you’ll see me,” he repeated, his tone disturbingly matter-of-fact. “So maybe I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. "What secret?" I asked, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. I shouldn’t have expected anything from this man—he’d proven time and time again that he was incapable of decency. And yet, I couldn’t help but hope. Hope that he'll see reason. Hope that he'll let me go.

He smirked, his expression dripping with malice. “I expected a bit more noise,” he said casually, as though we were discussing the weather. “I thought your family would be raising hell by now. Turns out, they’re not even looking for you.”

His words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air out of my lungs. My lips quivered as I fought back the hot sting of tears threatening to spill. “My family… they’ll find me,” I murmured, clinging to the fragile thread of faith I had left. The words were fragile, as if saying them aloud would make them true. “They’ll come for me.”

His laughter echoed through the room, chilling and cruel. “Your family?” he mocked, his voice laced with disdain. “You mean the same family that hasn’t bothered to lift a finger? Do you even know how quiet the streets are right now? How little anyone cares that you’re gone? Face it, Athena—they’ve already written you off.”

The venom in his words cut deeper than any knife, and I felt my resolve begin to waver. “That’s not true,” I whispered, the words barely audible. The words weren’t meant for him—they were meant for me, a desperate attempt to convince myself. “They care. They… they love me. They’re looking for me.”

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “Do they? Are they really looking for you?" he asked, his tone sharp and biting. “Because it’s been days, Athena. Days. I haven’t seen a single cop banging on doors. No frantic news reports. No posters of your face plastered all over town. Nothing. Your disappearance? It’s a blip—already forgotten.”

My chest tightened, his words slicing through the small shred of hope I clung to. I knew he wasn’t lying, and yet I couldn’t let go of my belief. “They’re looking,” I insisted, my voice trembling. “They have to be.” 

I told myself they couldn’t afford the scandal if anyone started asking questions. But deep down, I wondered—who would even care enough to ask?

He shrugged, a mocking smile curling his lips. “If you say so.” He turned toward the stairs, his indifference piercing.

“Wait!” I called after him, desperation cracking my voice. “Please… I need water. Just a sip. I’m begging you.”

He paused, glancing over his shoulder with a cruel glint in his eyes. “Water defeats the purpose of starving you, doesn’t it?” He chuckled darkly, his words like shards of glass. “Besides, didn’t you say you couldn’t hold it anymore?”

I flinched at the icy cruelty of his tone, my throat burning with thirst. “You can’t do this,” I rasped, my voice barely more than a whisper. “You can’t just leave me like this.”

He didn’t bother to turn back as he opened the door. “Goodbye, Athena,” he said coldly before stepping out and slamming it shut.

The click of the lock echoed in the suffocating silence that followed, and I let out a shuddering sob, my body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Tears streamed down my face as my thoughts spiraled, dragging me back to a night I wished I could erase.