Page 87 of Her Hidden Smile

“Chew them. Then get your ass to the kitchen. I need breakfast. Plus, I need to shower. I need to look good for Lisa. She’ll be here in two hours.”

I continued to sit on the floor after I had chewed and swallowed the two pills.

“I said get up!”

I pushed up, using the sofa as leverage. “Can you get me my cane? It’s in the hall closet.”

He didn’t say anything, he just stalked over to the closet and pulled out my cane and handed it to me. Using the cane, I was able to make my way to the kitchen.

“I got out your waffle iron when I was looking around. I want a waffle.”

I nodded, trying to push the hair out of my face so I could see what I was doing. I turned on the waffle iron, then pulled out the mix, eggs, and milk and then beat it all together. I soon had a waffle waiting for him.

“There, now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I shook my head, letting my hair fall over my face so he couldn’t see my hatred.

“Bring me syrup.”

I turned and brought out some syrup to the dining room table.

“Now go sit against the wall. I’m going to tie you up while I enjoy my breakfast. Then I’m going to freshen up for when Lisa arrives.”

This time he tied the bindings even tighter and tied my hands behind my back. I watched him finish his waffle, then head down the hallway. He was whistling “A.B.C”. by the Jackson Five of all things. I watched him even dance a little. He was probably going to get urine on the toilet seat in my master bathroom too.

Asshole.

I looked around the room. I could see everything from where I was sitting. My computer, my front door, the stools that butt up against my kitchen island, and the hallway where No-Name had danced. But I didn’t see a phone or anything that would help me untie myself.

Think!

I looked at the cabinet under the island. That was my storage for my lavender sachet making supplies. I wasn’t to that point yet, but I’d gathered everything I needed, including a sharp knife to cut off the stems.

I heard the shower in my bathroom turn on. I didn’t have much time. I heaved over onto my side and rolled over and over until I was in front of the stool that blocked the cabinet. I couldn’t just knock it over because I planned to hide the knife. I pushed the stool out of the way, then used my fingernails to pry open the edge of the cabinet. It took at least four tries.

Fuck!

The knife was on the top shelf. Granted the shelves were low, but the top shelf was further than I could reach while I was on my side. I had to get up on my knees. I heard him whistling again. It was a different song. I didn’t hear the shower running anymore. He still had to brush his teeth and shave, didn’t he?

Please God, be on my side.

I backed up against the island wall and shoved up with my knees. I was now crouching. I inched over to the cabinet and felt along the shelf until I pricked myself with the knife. I was never so happy to get a cut in my life. I felt along it until I found the hilt, then grabbed it. I inched backward and closed the cabinet, then I turned around so that I could move the stool back in place.

He was still whistling. That was a good sign. Now if I could just figure out a way to roll back into place without stabbing myself to death, I would be home free. I duck waddled so that I was facing the island. Using my good shoulder, I nudged the stool back in place. I sighed in relief when it was done.

“Whatcha doing, Millie?” No-Name asked in a sing-song voice.

“Ahhh!”

I fell to the side, therefore I did not fall on the knife.

No-Name yanked me up by my hair so that my nose was almost touching his, my toes barely touching the carpet.

“You’ve been a very naughty girl.”

We heard the distinctive sound of a large motor engine coming up in front of my house.

“Lisa’s here!” His face went from monstrous rage to a bright toothpaste smile. He dragged me by my hair back to the wall where I had been. “You stay right there, and don’t you move or say a thing. Otherwise, I will hurt you in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.”