Page 133 of Ozzie

How generous of him.

After a few minutes of silence, I think of a possible way to escape. “I need to use the bathroom.”

Tom looks at me suspiciously.

“I had a cup of coffee with breakfast. John fed me.”

He glances at the cart that’s now over by the window. “Shit. He should have known better than to give you coffee.” He bends down to untie my legs. “If you try anything, Patsy will tase you.”

I glance up as she pulls a taser out of her purse.

Tom unties both my feet, and I can move them freely. He unties one of my hands.

“Carry the chair.”

With my left hand still tied to the chair, I pick it up and carry it with my right. Once in the bathroom, I do my business. I really did have to go. There are no personal items of any kind that they store in here. All I have is toilet paper and soap. Not enough to work with.

I wash up and open the door. If I have a chance, it’s now. Patsy is staring out the window with her back to us. The taser is on the dresser next to the television. I pick up the chair, and as I pass Tom, I swing it as hard as I can, knocking him down. Then I set the chair down, grab the taser with my right hand, and aim it at Patsy.

“Stay back.” I move the taser to my left hand and pick up the chair with my right as I back up.

I’m not sure if I could get the taser to my right hand if Tom were to charge at me. Fortunately, he doesn’t. He’s down on the floor, rubbing his head where the chair connected.

I manage to open the heavy door and get myself and thechair into the hall. My hopes are dashed when I see not one cleaning cart or person in the hallway. I don’t have much time, so I run as best I can with everything I’m carrying to the elevator.

It opens before I even call it, and I’m shocked to find John standing there. He scowls, grabs my right wrist, and twists it, causing me to drop the chair.

“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” I yell, hoping someone hears me. “Help! He’s kidnapping me! Help!”

But not one door opens as he carries me and the chair back toward the dreaded room. If he gets me back in there, I’m done. I bend until I can access his neck, and I bite down hard. The taste of blood seeps into my mouth as John yells out.

He throws me down on the floor. The chair hits my legs hard. I scramble to stand, but as I do, he punches me, and I go down again.

“What the hell is going on?” Tom asks.

Of course his parents are in the hallway searching for me. Why is no one peeking out their door?

I’m wondering if they bought up more of the rooms than just the one we are in. I haven’t heard a sound come from the rooms on either side of us. Yelling might not be enough. Instead, I scream the loudest, fiercest, high-pitched scream I ever have. John tries to cover my mouth with his hand, but I dodge it and keep screaming.

“Everyone, in the room,” John demands as he tries to get us through the door.

I brace my foot on the outside of the door and push us back as hard as I can. But he doesn’t even falter. He yanksmy leg away from the door frame and shoves me inside, chair and all. I continue to scream as loud as I can as John attempts to retie my legs to the chair.

I’m so focused on him that I don’t notice Patsy holding a piece of duct tape. She slaps it across my mouth, greatly muffling my screams.

“Thank you,” Tom says, then turns to me. “There’s no one here to hear you.”

I want to believe he’s lying, but I was very loud, and I never heard a door open or anyone ask what was going on. Are we not in New York anymore? How can there be no one else at this hotel? It doesn’t make any sense.

John stands up. “How the hell did she get untied?”

“She said she had to go to the bathroom, so your father untied her feet and one hand.”

“You idiot! Why would you do that?”

Tom steps up toe to toe with John. “Because some asshole gave her coffee to drink, so she had to go!”

Tom steps over to me. He raises his hand and smacks me hard. My eyes water from the pain. But now the duct tape is coming up on one side of my mouth.

---