Page 9 of Captive

“Does it matter? He’s dead now. Deader than dead, and your buddies here sawed him apart.” I’m suddenly so very tired, it’s as if the weight of it all is finally coming down upon my shoulders, a weight I’m not used to. “Look, I know I saw something I shouldn’t have, and now I know things I shouldn’t know, so let’s just cut to the chase already and get it over with. If you’re going to kill me, just do it. All I ask is that you make it fast.”

The third man looks to the others, and a few seconds pass before he says to me, “We’re not going to kill you, Abby.”

I perk up like a dog that just heard it’s going for a walk. “You’re not? Are you… going to let me go, then?” It’s too much to hope for, I know it the moment those words leave me.

“We can’t do that, either.”

My shoulders slump. “What other option is there?”

“Unfortunately, you’re right in that you know things you shouldn’t know. We are a team here, and we can’t let any details of this operation slip out into the public. That said, we don’t kill women.”

Well, getting confirmation of the last part makes me feel better, although not much. The way he said it makes it sound like I’m not going to appreciate what he’s going to say next.

“Since you can’t be set free and we won’t kill you, that leaves only one option for you.” The third man pauses for a few seconds as it dawns on me, what he’s going to say. “You must stay here with us.”

“What?” I don’t know why I sound so shocked. If they aren’t going to kill me and they can’t trust me to keep my mouth shut in the real world, what other option is there other than to keep me where they can keep an eye on me, so to speak. “You’re going to keep me prisoner here?”

“Prisoner is such an ugly word,” the blond-haired, blue-eyed one says, breaking his silence for the first time.

“Okay,” I say, “then captive. Is that better? Does that offend your delicate sensibilities less?” Hmm. Maybe it’s not the greatest idea to antagonize any of these guys. I need to tone it down a bit, dial it back. Be grateful that they’re not killing me and dumping my body somewhere. I need to focus on the little victories.

The guy with charcoal gray hair chuckles, but he stops the moment the man with glasses shoots him a look.

“I will be working to lock the house down,” the one with glasses tells me. “Installing locks on every outer door, along with the windows, and with a few other things. Until then, one of these two will be watching you at all times.”

“And what happens when it’s time for D.D.K. to kill again?” I ask.

The one with glasses mutters, “Then I suppose it’ll be just you and me. Royal and Ezra are the ones who go out for the business. I’m more of the logistics type.” The way he talks about it makes it sound like being a serial killing team is their job.

But that’s just silly, isn’t it? If it’s a job, that means someone is giving them a paycheck, and last I heard being a serial killer is more of a hobby than anything else.

“And you are…” I trail off.

“I’m Hawthorne,” he says. “And you already met Ezra and Royal.” As he says their names again, he points to them. Ezra is the blond, while Royal is the gray-haired guy with the scar on his face.

I look around the room we’re in. “So, Hawthorne, Ezra, and Royal… is this my room? Or are you going to keep me in a closet somewhere? I like to be prepared.”

“You can have the room,” Hawthorne says.

“Okay, and what about the things I’ll need?” The guys are silent, and it quickly becomes clear they have no idea what I’m talking about, so I say, “Like clothes, toiletries… that sort of thing? Believe it or not, I don’t dress in all black every day.”

“Oh.” He looks to the others. “I suppose either Royal or Ezra could run out to fetch a few things tomorrow—or later today, I suppose. Make them a list.”

I nod. “Will do. Now, besides my head hurting from what I assume was chloroform—” I get off the bed and stand. “—how ‘bout a tour? I’d love to see D.D.K.’s secret lair.” Am I being too normal about all of this? Probably. I should be freaking out more than I am, but I just can’t.

This whole thing took a turn I wasn’t expecting. I don’t know how it’s going to end, but I am curious how the ride will go. Sooner or later, though, all rides end. I know this better than anyone. Might as well enjoy what I can while I can, right?

Chapter Four – Royal

After the tour, Hawthorne retreats to his office, while Ezra goes to shower and sleep for a few hours, which means I’m on duty when it comes to Abby.

Abby. I still don’t know what to make of her. She’s acting so cavalier about this entire thing. Any normal person would be freaking out if they were told they couldn’t leave, let alone freak out when they watched Ezra and I take care of business with Brock.

But, other than some rambling, Abby seems… normal. Like it’s just another day to her. It’s so fucking strange to me, I really don’t know what to think of her.

After the tour, we end up on the couch in the living room. She sits two cushions away from me, her eyes roaming the large room, and she makes no moves to put the TV on across from us. She hugs a pillow to her lap, sitting with one leg tucked beneath her ass.

Her ass is very bubbly and round, in case you were wondering. I caught a few glimpses of it during the tour. Couldn’t help it. She’s cute.