Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CARTER

This time, when I come to, I'm not as groggy as before. He must have given me a lower dose than before.

Now, instead of being in the trunk, I'm tied to a chair in what I think is a run-down barn. The ropes are just as tight and well-constructed as the ones from before, but now, each ankle is tied to a chair leg. My hands are bound on the other side of the chair back, but also secured down to the chair itself as well. I can't help but pull against them, even though I know there is no getting loose. Matais knows his way around a rope.

Fucking great.

I try to keep the panic at bay, channeling my inner Brendon again, and begin to take in the space around me. There are a few gas lantern lights hung up around the place, a small table a few feet away from me, and a raggedy old couch near it. The place is pretty dimly lit but there is just enough for me to see around clearly.

The air is filled with a musty odor, and when I look up, there are holes in the roof, letting me see the night sky in bits and pieces.

What time is it? When I was in the trunk, it felt like I must have been there all night, but clearly, there's still some night left. I must not have been sedated as long as I thought I had, but just how long have I been gone?

"Ah, you're finally awake," Matais says as he walks into the barn, his shoes scuffing against the dirt floor.

"Why did you take me?" I ask him, needing to try and get some answers and figure out how best to play this.

"Because you were in my way," he replies nonchalantly. "I'm still trying to figure out what exactly to do with you, though."

"You could just let me go," I suggest. "I won't tell anyone you took me."

"Would you stay away from Brendon?" he asks with a tilt of his head.

A small glimmer of hope bubbles up inside of me, and I bobble my head, praying he'll believe the lie I'm about to spew. "If that's what you want, I promise I will."

Matais throws his head back as he laughs, stealing away any idea I'd had that he might be stupidly obsessed, emphasis on stupid. The type of obsessed that loses all rational thinking. Too bad, that would have made him a lot easier to manipulate.

"Do you really think I'm that stupid to believe a lie like that?"

Slowly, he steps towards me, and the glint of something in his hand pulls my attention. Fuck. He's holding a giant hunting knife. What the hell is he going to do with that?

"I know I'm going to have to get rid of you. I just haven't figured out how quite yet. But once you are out of the picture, I'll have Brendon all to myself."

I try to keep my breathing even, knowing I can't let the panic take over again. Not if I want to get out of this. I need to probe further; see which way to take this.

"You took me in a public place, Matais. Do you really think no one saw?" I check. "The cops are going to figure out you were the one behind all of this, and you're going to get arrested. Brendon will never love you, especially if you hurt me, but if you let me go now, I'll make a statement on your behalf. You can get help, and you won't have to spend the rest of your life in prison."

"Shut up!" he yells in my face, his spittle hitting my nose and making me shudder. "You don't know anything."

Shit. I shouldn't have poked the bear. The knife shakes in his grip, and I lean back as much as I can, pressing my lips together and praying that he doesn't cut me. My anxiety is threatening to take over my body, as it normally does when I'm frightened, but I can't let it have control. I need to stay as calm as possible if I'm going to get out of this situation alive.

"There was no one around when I grabbed you, and Deep Dish Delight's cameras have been down for months. I know this because someone stole my bike a couple of weeks ago, and they couldn't help me," he informs me, making my stomach curdle. "Brendon will never find out I was the one that made you disappear, and once he's done grieving, I'll be the one he falls for. I'll make sure of it."

I need to come up with a fucking plan to keep this fucked up psycho from killing me right now.

Suddenly, an idea hits me, and I spit out words that feel beyond wrong to say. "What if he already loves you and just doesn't realize it?" I ask, making Matais take a step back.

"What do you mean?" he questions with a tilt of his head, studying me intently.

"Well, you only signed the note from M, not Matais, so he doesn't know it's you that loves him. What if you told him the truth? He already can tell how well you know him and how much you care, maybe all he needs is to know it's you.

Brendon and I are mostly just exploring things, and if he's actually crazy about you, I'd gladly walk away. You know that we're best friends. All I want is for him to be happy. Everything can go back to normal. You just have to tell him the truth."

He paces as he thinks about what I said.

I know that there is no way Brendon would ever love him, but if I can convince Matais otherwise, and he makes the call, maybe that will help me get rescued. That's really my only way forward right about now. It's the only hope I have to cling to, and if I let go of it, my anxiety will take over, and I'm as good as dead.

"Don't you think it's worth the shot?" I prod him, needing him to believe this web of lies I'm spinning. "You don't even have to tell him I'm here. Just tell him you love him."

The knife shakes by his side as he walks back and forth across the dirt floor. He moves his free hand up to run it through his hair, and I know he's considering doing what I'm telling him to.

I'm not sure how long he shuffles along, but eventually, he marches over to one end of the barn and starts to rifle through a bag.

"If I'm going to do this, I have to make sure you don't make a fucking sound," he says as he stalks over to me, a roll of duct tape in his hand.

I'd argue with him, but I know it would be a moot point, so I allow him to seal my lips closed.

All I can do is pray that Brendon knows that I'm missing and realizes Matais is the one who took me when he gets the call.