Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty Three

Athena

I couldn't even react as a large rat scurried past my legs. My body felt hollow, my mouth so dry that even my own saliva had vanished. I was barely holding on, and if I didn’t get water soon, I knew my body would give up. Time had become meaningless, lost in the relentless grip of hunger that gnawed at my insides and thirst that made my throat feel like sandpaper.

Two agonizing weeks had passed without food or water, and the crushing loneliness had nearly driven me mad. My captor had vanished, leaving me to rot in this suffocating darkness. His parting words echoed in my mind—he'd said I’d never see him again. If no one came to save me, his plan would succeed.

The air reeked of decay, thick and heavy, pressing in from all sides. The only sounds in the stifling silence were the distant drip of water and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures. Except for the rat—I had seen that one, darting past my feet as if it belonged here more than I did.

Then, suddenly—voices. I heard voices outside the door.

I froze. Was it real? Or just another cruel trick of my mind, desperate for salvation? But the voices grew louder, cutting through the silence. My breath hitched. If they were real, who were they? Rescuers? Or him, returning to finish what he started?

I prayed it wasn’t him. I had spent so long convinced that death would be a release from this miserable existence. But now, faced with the real possibility, I realized—I wanted to live. I wanted to finish school, fall in love with a man who wouldn’t judge my past, have children, build a future worth fighting for. And the only way to get that future was to survive.

Though my gag was gone, my voice was barely stronger than a whisper. "Help… Please, someone…"

The voices outside stopped. A tense silence followed. Then, a hushed murmur.

"Did you hear that?" a man asked.

"Yeah," another voice replied, deeper and more authoritative. "It came from inside."

“H—hello?” My voice barely rose above a whisper, cracking from exhaustion. I swallowed against the dryness in my throat and tried again. “Please… help me!”

There was a pause, then the sound of hurried footsteps. A hand jiggled the doorknob.

My pulse spiked. I had screamed myself hoarse the week before, my desperate cries swallowed by the vast, hollow space—like a cave or tunnel, amplifying my terror. Now, with what little strength I had left, I tried again. “I’m here! Please! I'm here! Help!”

“It’s locked,” a man muttered.

“Step back,” another ordered.

A beat later, a loud crash echoed through the space as the door shook violently.

I flinched.

“We need something stronger,” the first man said. “Hold on, let me—”

“There’s no time,” the second snapped. A forceful kick made the door groan on its hinges. “One more.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as another blow reverberated through the space. The door burst open, and a flood of light from a flashlight sliced through the darkness, momentarily blinding me.

A shadowed figure stepped inside cautiously, gun drawn. “Oh my God,” he breathed. “We found her.”

I blinked, struggling to make out his face. “Who…?”

“Miss Sanderson, we’re here to help,” the second man assured, moving closer. A badge gleamed on his belt. “I’m Detective Calloway. You’re safe now.”

Tears burned in my eyes as he quickly untied the ropes binding me, but they refused to fall. I had cried too much already. I tried to move, but my body refused to obey.

A tall figure knelt beside me, his touch gentle as he brushed tangled hair from my face.

“Hey, stay with me,” he urged. “Can you tell me your name?”

I parted my lips, but all that came out was a hoarse croak. “Water…”

“Get her some water!” Calloway barked over his shoulder.

Another officer rushed forward, uncapping a bottle and pressing it to my lips. The cool liquid soothed my parched throat as I drank greedily.

“Easy,” he murmured. “Small sips.”

I pulled back, licking the moisture from my cracked lips. “Thank you.”

Calloway crouched in front of me, relief and concern warring in his expression. “Can you tell us who did this to you? Can you tell me your name?”

My body went rigid as memories surged through me—the cold, menacing voice, the maniacal laughter, the suffocating darkness swallowing me whole. I gasped, my chest tightening. “I… I don’t know. I never saw his face.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m Athena. Athena Sanderson.”

Calloway’s partner exhaled sharply. “We’ve been looking for you.”

Calloway exchanged a glance with him before turning back to me. “It’s okay. Let’s get you out of here first. Can you stand?”

I tried, but the moment I put weight on my legs, they gave out. Strong hands caught me before I hit the ground. My limbs felt boneless, my body weightless.

“Got you,” the officer murmured, steadying me.

A sob tore from my throat. For the first time in weeks, something other than fear gripped me—hope.

With their support, I was lifted to my feet. The world tilted, but the urgency in their movements kept me going. They guided me through a twisting maze of tunnels, their steps quick and sure. Each movement was agony, my legs trembling under me. But then, the air changed. It grew warmer, less damp. A soft gust of wind brushed against my skin.

Then—light.

The sudden brightness pierced my eyes, so stark against the darkness that had been my world for too long. I winced, lifting a shaky hand to shield myself. “Where… where are we going?” My voice was hoarse. “It’s too bright…”

“Somewhere safe." Calloway reassured me. “Just a little further.”

My vision blurred. The ground swayed beneath me like a rocking ship. A wave of dizziness crashed over me, and before I could grasp the relief that was so close, my body surrendered to the inevitable.