A low rumble.An engine?
My blood went cold.I froze with the rope pressed against the bent metal and listened.
The rumble grew louder.Closer.
I held my breath anyway, heart pounding so hard it made my concussion flare.
Maybe it was just someone on a nearby road.Maybe it was them coming back.
I didn’t know.
Not knowing turned everything into a threat.
I forced myself to stop.If they came back, I needed to look like I hadn’t been trying to escape.I needed to look weak.Helpless.Defeated.
I crawled back toward the bed with the scissors, tucked them under the mattress, and sat with my wrists tucked into my lap like I’d given up.It sounded like the engine stopped right outside the camper, and I lay down.Voices sounded.The same ones from before.
Footsteps crunched on gravel close by.
My blood turned to ice.
The world tilted, and nausea surged.
I tucked my wrists into my lap, hiding the frayed rope as best as I could.
The footsteps came closer.
A shadow crossed the thin strips of light at the window, then the door rattled.
My heart slammed so hard I thought it might crack my ribs.
The door didn’t open.
It stayed shut.
Whoever was outside paused.
I held my breath.
Then the footsteps moved away again.
I stayed frozen, barely breathing, until the sound disappeared completely and only birds remained.
My lungs burned.
I sucked in a shaky breath and pressed my head against the wall behind me, fighting the dizziness and the urge to cry.
Okay.
Okay.
They were here.Or someone was here.
Maybe checking on me.Maybe just walking around.Maybe making sure I hadn’t escaped.
I needed to move faster.
I wiped at my face with my shoulder, realizing belatedly that tears had slipped out.I hated that.Hated the weakness of it.