Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Where was he? Had something happened to their captor? Or had he simply decided to cut his losses, abandoning them both for good?

Pressing her face to the concrete, Naomi tried to peer under the tiny gap at the bottom of the cell doors, but she could see nothing through the dull glow of sunlight, nor when she strained to hear, could she detect any movement above. There was just silence – a heavy, crushing silence.

None of this made any sense. So far her abductor had been punctual, turning up in the morning to give them their breakfast and empty their bucket, repeating the same routine every evening. He seemed totally in control – unhurried and calm or gleeful and malevolent, as the mood took him. There seemed no imminent danger, no tension in the air, no sense of any outside forces closing in on him. He was serene, powerful, the all-conquering god of their dark universe.

So where was he this morning? Naomi was able to mark the passing of time now, waking the moment the first glimpse of sunlight crept underneath the door and remaining awake long after dark. She knew now that an hour or two after she woke, their captor would appear, to chill their souls, but also offer some relief from the gnawing hunger that gripped them both from morning until night. Today, however, there was no sign of him.

Initially, she'd reasoned that he must simply have got delayed – traffic or some other minor inconvenience. But as the minutes, then hours passed, Naomi changed the narrative, imagining some more intractable issue – police attention, a problem at work, suspicions from a family member – that he would nevertheless circumvent with time and effort. Naomi was still clinging to this explanation, but as the strength of the sunlight increased, as dawn became morning, she was steadily assailed by doubts. What could have happened to him today of all days? Why, when they needed him most, had he suddenly vanished?

Straightening up, Naomi turned to peer through the gentle gloom, picking out Mia's prone form. She was worse than ever this morning. The night had brought her no respite, her agonized cough wracking her emaciated frame, even as her head pounded fit to burst, her friend gripped by a raging fever. Naomi had spent half the night blowing on her new friend's face, trying to stem the streaks of sweat that crept down her grimy features, to quell her agony, but the air down here was so close that her efforts were doomed. Still she refused to leave her side, however, Mia seeming to take some comfort from clutching Naomi's hand, squeezing it hard to alleviate her own suffering by visiting it on her nursemaid. Naomi's bruised fingers throbbed this morning, but it had been worth it, if only to let her ailing friend know that she was not alone.

Eventually, just before dawn, sleep had finally claimed Mia, Naomi watching on as her eyes drooped. At first, Naomi had continued to hold her hand, fearful of waking her if she moved, but eventually she'd untangled her fingers and moved away, exhausted beyond measure. Sleep had claimed her briefly then, but Naomi awoke soon after, disoriented and confused, as light penetrated their sanctum, unwelcome and unwanted. Since then, she'd been creeping back and forth to the margins of their cage, hoping to welcome his presence, his curt greeting, their cloying breakfast, but even these ‘delights' were denied her today.

Suddenly, a noise behind made her turn. A familiar, distressing sound, as Mia wheezed back into consciousness, her body starting violently, before she broke into a bitter, relentless coughing fit. Each desperate hack, each agonized gasp, cut right through Naomi, rattling her nerves and aggravating her fear. Nevertheless, she was quick to slide across the floor to her fallen friend, gripping her outstretched hand, whilst stroking her fevered forehead. All the while, however, her anxiety continued to mount. What would happen if he didn't return? How could she help Mia? She wanted to give her some water, to pour some cooling balm on her face, but their supplies had long since run out, leaving them helpless and desperate. Naomi clutched Mia's hand tightly, fighting back tears, but she couldn't stem the rising panic slowly taking hold of her.

Where the hell was he?