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His jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. I could see the internal battle raging within him. He was scared and conflicted, but there was a part of him that wanted to break free from his father’s control.
Halverson returned, pocketing his phone. "Time’s up," he said, glaring at Tyler. "We need to move. Get her ready."
Tyler nodded stiffly, walking over to untie me. His hands shook slightly as he worked, and I met his eyes, trying to convey my trust and hope.
"You’re making a mistake," I said softly. "But it’s not too late to fix it."
He didn’t reply, but I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. He pulled me to my feet, keeping a firm grip on my arm as we walked towards the door.
Outside, the night was eerily quiet. I tried to come up with a plan. I needed to leave more clues, to find a way to stall for time. I stumbled deliberately, kicking up dirt and leaving marks on the ground.
"Keep moving," Tyler ordered, but his voice was shaky.
Halverson was already at the car, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Hurry up. We don’t have all night."
Tyler pushed me towards the car, but as we got closer, I saw headlights in the distance. My heart leaped with hope. Danny. He was coming.
I needed to stall, to give him more time. I turned to Tyler, pleading with my eyes. "Please, don’t do this."
"Get in the car," he snapped, but his grip on my arm loosened.
"Tyler, listen to me," I said urgently. "You’re better than this. Don’t let him control you."
Halverson noticed the hesitation and stormed over, his face twisted with anger. "What’s taking so long? Get her in the damn car!"
Tyler flinched, but his grip tightened again. He pushed me towards the car, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. He was on the edge, teetering between loyalty to his father and the desire to do the right thing.
As we reached the car, the headlights grew closer, and I heard the sound of engines. Halverson’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed my arm, yanking me towards the car.
"Move it, now!" he barked, shoving me into the backseat.
Tyler got into the driver's seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Halverson climbed in beside him, turning to glare at me.
"Try anything, and you’re dead," he snarled.
The car sped off, and I glanced out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the approaching vehicles. Danny had to be close. I just needed to buy a little more time.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Somewhere you won’t be found," Halverson replied, his eyes cold and calculating.
Tyler remained silent, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. I needed to reach him, to break through his defenses.
"Please," I whispered. "You don’t have to do this. It’s not too late."
Halverson growled, turning to Tyler. "Shut her up."
Tyler hesitated, his grip on the steering wheel tightening as he glanced at me through the rearview mirror. His eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn’t quite read—conflict, maybe guilt. He didn’t move to silence me, instead focusing on driving.
Soon, we reached an old warehouse. Tom Halverson got out first, slamming the car door behind him with a force that made the whole vehicle shudder. Tyler followed, both of them moving towards the station's faded, peeling entrance. They left the keys in the ignition, the engine idling softly, a low hum that filled the tense silence.
My heart hammered in my chest as I looked around. Alone in the back seat, I realized this might be my only chance. The ropes binding my wrists were tight, biting into my skin, but in my desperate state, the pain seemed distant, almost inconsequential. I wriggled my wrists, feeling the coarse fibers of the rope graze against my skin with each movement. Slowly, painfully, I worked one hand free, gasping softly at the relief and the stinging pain that came with it.
Freeing my other hand was quicker now that I could use my fingers to tug at the knots. My hands free, I looked up to survey my surroundings, trying to formulate a plan. The doors were locked from the outside, a simple measure but effective in keeping me trapped. I fumbled with the keys in the ignition, but as I struggled with the locks, I heard Tyler and Halverson’s voices growing louder, approaching the car.
Panic surged through me. Before I could make any further moves, the car door yanked open, and Tyler's furious face loomed over me.
"Nice try," he spat, grabbing my arm and yanking me roughly back into my seat. He retied my wrists, tighter this time, the rope biting into my skin. "You’re not going anywhere."
