Page 74 of Mountain Shadow

Sarah’s entire body shook. She wondered if it was possible to die of fear. She’d read of it happening to mice in labs—their tiny hearts beating faster and faster, until it became too much and the organs simply exploded inside their bodies.

Could that happen to a person?

“Or maybe you’d like me to go after your friend,” he said, his eyes gleaming with impatience. “Bring her back here with us.”

Sarah shook her head quickly. Kat hadn’t been in great shape—there was a chance he could still catch up with her. Her mind conjured up a horrifying image of Elliot dragging Kat back to the house.

It gave her the courage she needed.

“I’ll do it. Can I—can I have some privacy?”

He laughed a large, thick-bellied laugh then.

“Of course,” he mocked. “Soon, we’ll know each other well enough.”

He walked out of the room, whistling softly.

Kat’s limbs felt heavy as she began taking off her clothes. Off came each layer until, finally, she was naked. There wasn’t even a blanket to cover herself with. Her nipples pebbled grotesquely in the cold air.

She thought of covering herself with her jacket, but didn’t want to anger the man unnecessarily. Even without the knife, she wouldn’t stand a chance going one-on-one with him. With the knife, it was simple suicide. Her best chance was to do as he said and try to stay alive until help came.

And if help doesn’t come—

She stopped the thought before it could go any further. Help would come. Jens would find her. All she had to do was survive in the meantime.

She clipped one end of the handcuff around against the brass headboard, then looped her wrist around the other end. Click. The sound brought with it a feeling of doom. She tugged on her wrist, suddenly panicked.

This was a mistake.

“Good girl,” Elliot said from the doorway. For such a large man, he could be very quiet.

His scarred, beefy hands rubbed together in excitement. Just thinking about those hands on her made her want to throw up.

“Shouldn’t—shouldn’t we get out of here?” she asked, trying to distract him.

He smiled a wolfish smile.

“Even if your friend doesn’t pass out, it’ll take her at least three hours to get to the closest phone. I have set an alarm in two. We’ll be long gone by the time they get here.”

Two hours.

A lot can happen in two hours.

He didn’t move any closer, and for a moment her hopes soared. Maybe he would leave her alone. Maybe it was enough that she was—

“Now touch yourself. Make yourself come.”

She let out a hysterical giggle.

Come?

I’m about to piss myself with fear, and he thinks I can make myself come?

His look darkened.

“You think this is funny? You think I’m funny?” he asked quietly. “I loved you and you shut me down.”

His words finally permeated her fear.