Page 104 of The House Swap

She had found a bucket, using that to go to the toilet, but he didn’t change it often and the smell was ghastly.

Dragging herself to her feet, she paced the small space for what must have been the thousandth time. Eight steps one way, hand outstretched, her fingers touching rough concrete. Turn, careful not to knock over the bucket. Ten more steps and she could feel the wood of the door.

Realising it was her only way out, it had been the main source of her focus. The cool metal knob that twisted uselessly in her hand. There was no way of unlocking it without a key and she had kicked the door enough, throwing her full weight against it as well, to know it was too heavy for her to break down.

The only time it ever opened was when he came to dump a bag of food and water in the room, and each time she heard his approaching footsteps and then the click of the lock, she was on her feet, ready and waiting to try to fight her way past, desperate to reach the sliver of space beyond the door.

Unfortunately, he was much stronger, and the longer she was down here, the weaker she was becoming. She had lost track of how many times he had manhandled her – firm hands gripping her arms and dragging her back across the floor with an ease that had her stomach dropping, or giving her a hard shove, her back hitting the wall and knocking the breath from her lungs. One time she had managed to lash out, her nails catching his skin, her knee driving forward blindly. He had hit her then, and the impact had been so hard, her teeth had snapped together.

She had sworn at him, threatened him, had even tried to plead and bargain with him. But he never spoke. He never even seemed angry with her. Always so calm and controlled.

That was the worst part of it for Keira. She had absolutely no idea what it was he wanted from her, or why she was even here.

A sound above her head made her freeze.

Footsteps.

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she realised he was coming. Adrenaline surged and she moved as quickly as she could, fighting against the heaviness in her limbs. As she positioned herself against the door, pressing her body flat against the wall beside it, every muscle tensed.

This time she was going to beat the bastard.

The lock clicked, the door opening, and she narrowed her eyes, already prepared for the sharp, sudden burst of light. As he stepped forward, she shoved hard into him. Her shoulder catching the edge of the door as she tried to force it wider.

Then his hand was closing around her arm.

‘Get the fuck off me!’ she snarled.

Pain shot up her shoulder as he yanked her back, her body twisting as she fought him, kicking and screaming. Refusing to give in.

He shoved her hard and she landed back on the mattress, her head clipping the wall. White light burst behind her eyes.

Still, she struggled to get to her feet. But it was too late, he was already moving back towards the door. The bag he had brought now sat on the floor.

‘No! Don’t you dare go. I’m not staying down here!’

Her voice broke, but she didn’t stop. She charged for the door as it closed, clawing at the wood, her pleas turning desperate.

Throughout it all, he didn’t react. Didn’t say a word.

It was as if she was nothing.

The lock clicked and the silence returned.

Next time, she promised herself. Next time, she would be faster.

34

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER

Poppy barely slept for worrying. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind circled back to the same question, over and over, her head thumping with tension.

Where the hell was Keira?

Her best friend’s messages had been vague, and the fact she had flat-out lied about where she was only made it worse.

Greg might still be clinging to the idea that Keira was playing some kind of game, but Poppy knew her better than that. Keira didn’t just randomly disappear. And she didn’t ignore people. She was one of the fiercest women Poppy knew; unapologetically honest and loyal down to her bones.

This was completely out of character for her.