route.
There’s a window, I just need to reach it.
I looked around frantically.
There was a stool with a few toiletries on it. I dumped them sideways and placed
the stool directly below the window. I carefully climbed on it, reaching up. The
window was jammed of course! I jumped onto the floor, clasped a shampoo bottle,
climbed up again and applied half the quantity on the window lid. It started softening
a little.
Just then approaching
footsteps became audible. I hastily jumped back and almost had reached the door
when it opened, revealing my monster abductor.
Please don’t look past me….
Please don’t, I prayed silently. “Don’t you have a little bit of manners? Gentlemen
don’t dart into a lady’s bathroom without knocking.” He raised one eyebrow, but
said nothing. He started coming inside. “Stop! You… you can’t come in.”
“Are you giving me orders Angel ? Well, I don’t see a point to it. By the way, you took way too long.”
“Don’t call me that.” I
snapped.
“What Angel? ”
“ Angel … Don’t call
me Angel .”
He measured me from top
to bottom with his eyes, and I suddenly became hyperaware of the fact that I was
still in the same turquoise dress which had been torn here and there at the hem
and now did not cover me properly. Discomfort swept through me, and I felt a sudden
urge to cover myself in an oversized toga.
He retreated back and I
let out a sigh of relief. He rummaged through a cupboard and came back with brown
trousers and a black shirt. He tossed them to me offhandedly and I took a look at
my new outfit. They must be about 37 percent larger than my size. “Hey, these are
not my size. These are not even girl’s clothing. I’m not wearing this.”
He barely spared me a glance
and filed out of the room. I had no other choice than to wear the oversize clothes.
I certainly couldn’t go around in my disheveled dress. I closed the bathroom and
started the shower. Escape plan number two could wait until I cleaned, up properly.
After half an hour I was
freshly showered, dried, and drowning in my new black and brown uniform. I glanced
at the window apologetically. I could try to escape now, but my stomach was protesting
otherwise. I had nothing, no money to buy food or a ride, just my pendant which
I was in no way going to sell. Besides, I didn’t know where I was. What if he had
stationed guards outside? I could not take the risk of being caught escaping again.
I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be good for my health. So, promising the window
I’d come back, I stepped out of the room.
There was no one in the
little dining area, but the mild fragrance of coffee was emanating from the kitchen.
Now, if I hadn’t mentioned it before, I can’t resist caffeine even if it is brewed
in a terrorist’s kitchen. Forgetting all my tensions, I walked into the kitchen
quickly and lifted a coffee mug, totally ignoring the surprised monster beside it.
I barely touched my lips to the coffee before a hand snatched it away. Coffee spilled
out of the mug due to the lack of centrifugal force when it was changed from its
state of inertia.
I groaned, “Look, Mr. Monster,
if you want me alive for your assignment, you will give that half-filled coffee
mug to me right now.” He must have sensed something in my voice, because he warily
handed the mug back. I took a sip and instantly felt a rush of energy inside me.
I gulped down the whole
cup in record time. Only when I had set the mug down on the counter, did I notice
my surroundings. The kitchen was small but resourceful, groceries were stuffed in
boxes and grilled sandwiches were on the other side of the counter.
Grilled sandwiches!!!! Whoa!
How come Mr. Monster managed to prepare the very food and beverage I loved? I was
about to grab one, when I noticed Mr. Monster staring at me with uncertainty, like
I was some wild kitten on the loose.
“What?? It’s been almost
a day since I’ve eaten something. You can’t possibly expect