Day #17 – by Amber Averay (continued from Day #16):
‘And don’t you know it’s rude to sneak up on people?’ I snapped, my heart thundering in my chest while my ears continued to ring with the deafening clatter of the weapon falling to the floor. My eyes darted around the room, skating from corner to corner, before finally settling on the hook – so close, and yet so far.
‘Worse than drugging and kidnapping?’ the amused voice returned.
I faltered, bravado failing; yet I somehow set my features in a fierce glare and ground out, ‘They’re on the same level. Obviously.’ Then I gave a strangled little choked cough. ‘Wait – you admit to drugging and kidnapping me?’
‘Of course.’
‘Why?’
‘Why not? There’s nobody else here. Just you…and me.’
My gaze swept the room again, ignoring the tantalising pull of the hook. ‘W-where are you?’ How I wished my voice was stronger! I didn’t want to show fear, but it roiled through me like a raging tempest.
When there was no answer, I stared longingly at the hook with desperate eyes, then spun on my heel and charged for the shattered doorway through which I’d entered this room.
‘Tsk, tsk,’ came the voice. ‘You really do not want to do that.’
The laughter filling his words stalls my momentum, and I hesitantly glance back over my shoulder – still not seeing anyone. ‘W-why do I not want to do…that?’ I gestured awkwardly toward the other room.
‘Inhale. Go on. Take a deep whiff. Tell me what you smell.’
‘Where are you?’ I demand, my voice pitching higher than I’d like.
He chuckled darkly. ‘Take that deep inhalation, and tell me what you smell.’
Defeat slumped my shoulders, and I did as he ordered. No. No, no, no, no, no. How did I not notice that before? I turned back into the weapons room, anger warring with desperation. ‘You doused the room in petrol? Why?’ And how did he do that without me noticing?
‘Why not?’ he repeated. Then, abruptly, ‘Look up. In each corner of the room.’
My head snapped up, and the colour drained from my face as my eyes settled on the little red lights gleaming in the upper corners of the room. Frustrated tears filled my eyes, exhaustion swamping me. ‘You’re watching me.’
‘Yes.’
‘Too scared to show yourself in person?’
‘Hardly.’
‘Coward.’
He chuckled again. ‘Is that a challenge? Because I warn you, I always win.’
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