Page 55 of In the Light of Day

Chapter 43- Nova

Tattoo - Loreen?

The piercing squeal of grinding machinery jolts me awake, my eyes shooting open to light twinkling through tiny holes scattered over the car interior.

We’re still moving.

The car bounces over whatever road we’re on and I can hear the faint sound of music but otherwise, the white noise of our movement consumes everything. Taking quick stock of myself, I have all my clothes on,thank the gods, and I can't feel any major cuts. Although, I can't breathe through my nose so I think it's broken. Moving my hands over my body, everything seems in order when I feel a hard stick shaped object in the breast pocket of Ace’s shirt, something I didn't notice earlier when I threw it on. Retrieving it, my heart sinks when I see it's a simple blue capped pen. The same type you can collect from any stationary shop. If only this was one of his gadgets then I would at least have a weapon I could use against them.

Yanking the cap, it's stuck on so tightly that I barely notice the sting of the blade cutting into the pad of my finger when the cap finally comes off. Fresh blood trickles down the side of my hand and I'm so overwhelmed I could weep because the man I love and his stupid obsession with gadgets has paid off.

He's left a pen knife in his pocket.

I've never bothered to pay them much attention and I swear this looks like it's come straight out of a multipack pen box. Placing the cap back on it so I don't cut myself again, I know I need to get ready. Prepare myself. I will not go down without a fight and as the shock of everything that happened earlier settles, I start to make a plan.

The car jolts suddenly before it swerves, causing the tyres to screech, as they struggle to keep their traction. Stones flick up at the belly of the car and I know we’ve moved to a gravel road, making the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.

They’ve taken me back.

Every cell in my body knows that they are taking me back to that bunker. Things bang against the side of the car and it feels like I'm being thrown around as we pass over pothole after pothole. I try to keep my legs facing the boot door. Knowing they are stronger than my arms. If I can get a kick or two in when they try to move me then I might be able to slow down what they’re intending to do.

In the back of my mind, I'm still trying to rack my brain over why Thad and this man are doing this. I guess if I really tried, I can understand that Thad might want vengeance if he thinks I took his father from him. In some fucked up version of this reality I can accept that hate, but the strange man? I have no clue other than he looks a little familiar. I could have passed him on the street and not given him a second look so I don't know how he thinks he knows me or that I'm aprizehe deserves.

The car bounces one more time before I'm thrown into the side of the small space and we come to a complete stop. Scampering, I reposition myself, my legs ready as I hear a car door open. I have the pen knife in my hand, the blade facing down so I can stab it with as much downward force as possible.

Silence.

No footsteps. No talking.

BANG.

The sudden loud sound of someone hitting the thin piece of metal that separates me from the outside world causes me to jump and it takes everything in me not to make a sound. I need them to think I'm still passed out. Ace has taught me bits and bobs over the years and the element of surprise is a big one. My enemy thinks I'm helpless so they will have their guard down, not anticipating me to attack.

Straining my ears, I'm positive I can hear someone cackle as fingertips tap along the door from the outside, taunting me with what's yet to come.

But this time they’ve underestimated me.

I’m not that weak girl anymore. Taking a calming breath I try to foresee what will happen. If I can prepare myself then I won't freeze, or at least that's my logic. My mind works a million miles an hour coming up with every scenario possible and as the locking mechanism clicks open, I bring my leg back ready to strike.

I am snow.

Kick. Stab. Run.

“Rise and shine sleeping beauty, it's time to di—”

The force of my leg catching Thad in the gut forces his breath to rush out and he crumbles over, gasping and clutching his stomach.

Scrambling, I take the opportunity to leap out of the boot, my hurried movements causing Ace's oversized shirt to snag on the old worn metal of the car. I move to shove Thad over, trying to buy more time, but he's just out of reach when the caught fabric stops me from touching him.

In his crumpled state, he sneers at me and I hastily shake loose the shirt. Briefly, I register this is possibly the last time something of Ace will touch me and I mourn the loss.

Taking in my surroundings, I’m set to run but the large pine trees loom over me, laughing just like they did all those years ago. It's daytime and still they laugh, the panic rising so rapidly, my chest feels like it's going to explode.

I'm frozen.

I will my feet to move and I manage to stumble forward a few meters, dropping the pen knife in the undergrowth, the rough terrain digging into my soles. A strangled cry escapes me as all of my emotions flood my system. This isn't like before, I won't let it be.

Run.

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