Page 38 of Night So Silent
Maybe because I spend hours staring out my back window at home, spacing out while decompressing after I come home from work.Ugh, work.I’ve never dreaded going to work until now, not until this power trip drama with Derek. Trying to push it from my mind, I focus on the bird—thechickadeehopping back and forth on the branch.
But that’s not all that’s there.
Suddenly, I notice a shadow behind the branch that isn’t a tree. I gasp, my heart jump-starting so hard that it pops in my ears. It’s a dark figure with long limbs and dark, mottled skin, its upper half obscured by the conifer branches. I blink, trying to focus, but the adrenaline is overwhelming and it’s too far away to see any detail. But it’s just standing there.
Watching.
In full-on panic mode, I try to sit up, only to fall back down. I can’t get up. I try to lower my arms, but I hit resistance. I jerk my head up and my mouth falls open as soon as I see my wrists. They’re bound with black straps, too tight to escape, but not tight enough to cause discomfort. The other ends are hopelessly secured to the headboard. Oh, and I’m still completely naked.
“Sergei!” I holler, tugging at the straps.
But there’s only silence. Why isn’t he answering? Where is he?
I begin to think the worst. What if something happened? What if someone else is here? But there is someone—something else—here. And it’s right outside.What if there’s more than one?My mind immediately races to dark places. Whether man or beast, this is not good.
“Sergei!” I cry with more urgency.
I struggle against the restraints until there’s a click and the door slowly swings open. I freeze, the silence deafening.
This is it. Whoever or whatever that is came back. They killed Sergei and now they’re going to kill me too. Or worse…
I’m preparing to have a heart attack when Sergei’s daunting figure appears from behind the door. A mug in one hand, he strolls across the carpet, dressed in a pair of boxer briefs, his hair left hanging loose over his shoulders. He comes to a halt at the foot of the bed and then cocks his head, looking down at me with something vaguely similar to admiration.
“What—what’s going on?” I ask frantically. “What are you doing?”
“Taking care of you.”
“What?” My eyes bug out as I give a sharp tug at the straps binding me to the headboard.
“You were feeling badly about the idea of leaving when the roads clear, so I’ve made it so you can’t.” He takes a sip from the mug. “Alleviated you of the responsibility.”
For a split-second, I forget about whatever the hell is lingering outside in the trees.
I swallow hard and level my voice. “You’re going to keep me tied to your bed so I can never leave? That’s hardly sustainable. I’ll need food,” I glance to the opposite side of the room, “and abathroom!”
“Your breakfast is on the table,” he takes another sip, “if you want it.”
Seriously? Yes, I want another couture breakfast straight out of a ski lodge in the Alps instead of remaining tied to this bed.
“Where am I supposed to go?” I jerk my head toward the window. “It doesn’t look like an ounce of snow has melted!”
“No, many of the roads are still blocked.”
“So even if the airport is up and running, I can’t get there?”
Surprisingly, this fact doesn’t make me as anxious as it did a couple of days ago.
“No.”
“Then it doesn’t matter whether I’m tied to your bed if I can’t even go anywhere. Besides, I’ll need to let my family know that I’m still here.”
“No, you don’t.”
I pause with a long blink. “What do you mean,no I don’t?” I spit incredulously, giving my wrists another tug.
Now that crosses the fucking line. Who is he to say whether I need to contact my family? This is out of control. It’s a crime—a felony! Not to mention, it’s almost Christmas, for Christ’s sake! I would be reveling in this witty pun if I weren’t so shocked right now.
Sergei sets his mug down on the dresser. “I already spoke to your mother. She knows you’re safe.”
