There were a few clothes that were dirty and stained.
The pair of scissors was exactly what I needed.I didn’t think they were super sharp, but with a little work, they might be what I needed to cut the rope on my wrists and ankles.
I flexed my hands slowly, testing circulation.My fingers tingled, but they weren’t numb.That was good.
I lifted my bound wrists and studied the knot.
It was a basic knot.Not fancy.Not something a professional would tie.
The kind of knot someone used when they wanted something secure but didn’t care if it was pretty.
That also told me something.
These guys weren’t clean.They weren’t trained.They weren’t military or cops or anything organized.
They were just… guys.
Angry, stupid guys with masks and violence.
Which meant they could make mistakes.And mistakes were my way out.
I tugged at the rope again, careful not to shred my skin.It didn’t loosen.
I slid off the bed slowly and crawled toward the overturned table where the scissors were.My head swam again, and I paused, breathing through it.
Stay awake.Stay calm.
I managed to grab the scissors but knew this wasn’t going to be easy.I held the scissors between my knees and had to move my wrists up and down on the very dull blade.“Is it too much to ask for them to leave a sharp pair of scissors lying around?”I grumbled.
Nothing at first.
But then, a tiny fray.
Just a few fibers fraying.
My heart kicked.
I kept going.
Rub.Rub.Rub.
The friction burned, and the rope bit deeper into my wrists, but I didn’t stop.I focused on the repetitive motion and the way the fibers slowly began to rip.
It would take time.
Time I didn’t know if I had.
But it was something.
A plan.Plans kept you sane.
I paused when my arms started shaking, breathing hard, and listened again.
Still nothing but birds.The peace outside felt like a slap.
I went back to rubbing the rope.
I zoned out and thought about the club.About my mom and dad.My cousins who weren’t really my cousins but felt like it.They all felt like family.Except for Ender.