Episode 11

The door was opened once more and the stranger entered with a tray of food for me.

"You must eat," he urged.

"I'm not hungry," I replied.

"You need to eat; starving isn't an option."

"How do I know you haven't drugged it or it won't put me to sleep again?"

"You'll have to trust me or starve."

"Tell me why I'm here."

"All in due time. Planning to escape so soon? You've only just arrived."

"You know well I can't. Please, let me out of here."

"Can you swim?" He asked, and I fell silent—"Just as I thought, eat and sleep."

"Tell me why I'm here."

"I've already told you. You have something that belongs to me, and I want you to hand it over; then you can leave."

"I don't know what I might have that you could possibly want."

"If you stay calm and stop crying by tomorrow, I'll tell you."

He closed the door and left me locked in again. I don't know what I could possess of any value.

The worst part is that I can't swim or pilot a boat, and even if I could, there's nothing in sight. We're in the middle of nowhere; I just hope I don't die drowning.

I searched the room meticulously and found a perfume just like mine, the same body cream I use, a set of underwear, and my pajamas.

Just as I thought, I hadn't lost anything, but realizing he must have been in my apartment, possibly multiple times, is unsettling. That he has such intimate garments turns my stomach; no man has seen my clothes before.

I barely sample the food, waiting to find something wrong with it or feel strange, but there seem to be no drugs or anything to induce sleep. The glass of water has no strange taste or color. By the time I decide to eat, everything is more than cold, and my appetite is minimal.

My thoughts scatter in a thousand different directions but converge on the same point—I need to escape from here, no matter what.

I fall asleep fully clothed, not daring to change for fear he might come and see me in my undergarments, and the lack of a lock on the bathroom door hardly makes it a safe haven.

I wake over ten times in the night, startled. Movie scenes flash through my mind—he could appear any moment and attack me with a knife or any tool, though simply throwing me into the sea would be a certain death.

The madman reappears, as calm and cheerful as if I would pay him for it, if only I had anything. I'm not violent, but my emotions are at their limit now, and I'm going insane.

"Good morning," he says too cheerfully.

"What's good about it?"

"Didn't get any sleep?"

"No one could, sir."

"This bed is more comfortable than yours and this room is much cozier. What else do you need for rest?"

"To be in my apartment, without you. Please, let me go."

"It seems you still don't understand, and I dislike repeating myself, but I'll make an exception this time. You have something that belongs to me, and I want it back. That's why you're here."

"Sir, I am not who you're looking for. I've never stolen so much as a candy, and I'm sure I don't know you."

"I never make mistakes. You're Elizabeth Marie Davis, aren't you?"

"Yes, but... I don't have anything of yours, mister. You can check my apartment."

"What's mine isn't in your apartment, it's right here. Have breakfast, and we'll talk later after you've showered."

Stunned, I realized he even knew my middle name. There's no mistake—I am the person he needs, for whatever reason.

I think about what I could have brought from my apartment, concluding my clothes are worthless, so he must want my cell phone. Perhaps he believes I have some stored information on it, and once he sees that I don't, he will let me go. I'll give it to him when he returns. I'll go shower so we can hasten this conversation.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***