Page 53 of Vanish From Sight
Keep at it,she told herself, digging the tool in and stabbing weathered wood to pieces until she could see more of the light from the stars.
Just as she was making real progress, and figured she’d be able to squeeze out of the hole, she heard voices from the ground below. Her heart raced with fear, she paused and listened, trying to make out what was being said.
As she strained to hear, the voices grew louder, and she realized they belonged to the owners of the farm. They’d heard her and were making their way over to the building.
Lena’s hands shook as she pulled herself up onto the roof just as the main doors opened. She was at least twenty feet off the ground, so jumping down was out of the question. She figured she would find some other way down but under pressure that luxury was now gone.
“Patrick. Go around the outside. They’re on the roof.”
Frantically, Lena gazed down, searching for a way off. Pitching sideways on the sloping roof, she knew that one wrong step could mean death. She took a deep breath and made a split-second decision to head across the roof to the other side, hoping there might be a vehicle, hay, anything stacked against the side before…
It happened too fast.
A section of plywood gave way beneath her, and before she could react, she fell through the roof.
She screamed, plummeting down through the air, feeling her body collide with a cage before bouncing off onto the hard concrete floor. Pain exploded through her body and for a moment or two, she lay there, gasping for breath.
Even if she wanted to move, she couldn’t.
Lena wasn’t sure if she had broken her back, a rib or both. All she knew was pain wracked her body. As her vision blurred, she could just make out the faces of the farm owners as they loomed over her.
Over the next few minutes, she heard muffled voices as they talked about what to do with her. “Take her inside the house,” a woman said. “We’ll figure out what to do next. And if she has a phone, destroy it.”
Lena felt a surge of fear and pain wash over her as someone lifted her and carried her over their shoulder towards the farmhouse. She felt the bitter wind on her skin. She couldn’t have struggled even if she wanted to, the pain was too much.
Inside the home, Lena took in her new surroundings.
The farmhouse was dark and cluttered with piles of junk and debris littering the floors. As they passed a room on her right, she noticed it was dimly lit with worn furniture and peeling wallpaper that was stained with damage. If anyone lived here, they were disgusting individuals. A large dog bed sat in the corner, and she could see several older dogs of different breeds sharing it.
In a daze, her eyes roamed, soaking in every detail of the space.
A staircase led up to the second floor. To her left was a doorway that fed into an old country-style kitchen. She caught a glimpse of a sink piled high with dirty dishes and a worn-out refrigerator covered in fridge magnets.
She was set down on a sofa. The hearth of a fireplace on the opposite wall was filled with ashes and debris. A collection ofold magazines and newspapers were stacked haphazardly on a coffee table beside a plate of food and an overfilled ashtray. Framed photographs of farm owners hung on the wall alongside a deer’s head.
Despite the state of the farmhouse, there was a sense that someone called it home. Any warmth that might have come from that was overshadowed by the grim reality of her situation. She was trapped, and at the mercy of those who had no qualms about breaking the law.
“Little bitch.”
“You know her?” the male asked.
“That’s the same woman who wanted to see the dogs earlier today.”
A door opened. “Teresa. I found this in the barn,” a younger voice said.
All of the activity happening around her was just a blur. The world kept fading in and out, nothing more than a haze.
“I knew it,” the burly woman said, looking at the camera then passing it to the older guy. “Seems we’ve got an animal activist. Is that what you are?” she asked, grabbing Lena by the shirt.
“Please. I need to see a doctor.”
“See a doctor?” The woman laughed.
“No, she’s right, Teresa. Maybe we should drop her off at the hospital. She doesn’t look too good.”
“And you’re not too bright,” she retorted, slapping him around the back of the head. “What do you think she’s going to say to the cops?”
“I won’t say anything,” Lena muttered.
