The First Day
Struggling to stay on her feet, Kate ran through the trees, occasionally stumbling or slipping on the wet debris on the jungle floor. Rain continued to fall heavily, making her surroundings appear misty and unfamiliar. She just had to make it back to the caves before he caught her.
She glanced back over her shoulder expecting to see him still hot on her heels but she could no longer see him behind her. She slowed down and then chanced a stop. She looked around quickly, trying to calm herself down enough to think clearly about which direction she should be heading for.
Suddenly she was struck over the back of the head from behind and fell sprawling forward into the mud. The last thing Kate saw were his shoes as he stepped up beside her into view. Her sight blurred and then everything went black.
The moment Kate regained consciousness panic set in. She had no idea how long she had been out. The ground she was lying face down on was cold and hard, she was blindfolded and her wrists were bound together behind her back.
He was leaning against the far wall with his eyes locked on her. He could tell when she had come around because she shifted and her breathing became rapid. He continued to watch her in silence as she started to sob, she didn't even realise he was in the room with her.
Kate sobbed with each shaky breathe she took. The moment she lifted if off the floor she became aware of a thumping pain at the back of her head where she had been struck. Kate groaned. A sickening feeling settled into her stomach and then a wave of dizziness came over her. Kate again passed out.
He moved across the room and stood over her, looking her over slowly. He knelt beside her and lifted her head enough to remove the blindfold. He took the blindfold and left the room, closing her in.
The next time Kate woke again, her wrists were still tied behind her back but she found the blindfold was gone. Confused and scared, Kate lifted her head and looked around. She was alone and shut in a room that looked similar to the rooms in the hatch, but this one was empty.
Kate rolled onto her back and was eventually able to bring her bound arms over her legs so that they were now tied in front of her. She struggled to loosen the cords that lashed her wrists together but was unable to get free. She looked over the room for anything that could help her cut herself free or escape but there was nothing and since she couldn't reach the vent in the ceiling, the door was the only way out of the room.
She shuffled backwards and propped herself up against the wall opposite the door. She felt weak and tired and she shivered in her damp clothes. Kate kept her eyes on the door and tried to stay calm and focused, but the fear and panic were stronger than she was right now and started creeping over her again.
Breathe Kate. She reminded herself. Just count.
"One... two..." She began to whisper, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. "Three…" Her voice came out small and shaky. "Four…"
Kate's breath caught in her throat and her eyes snapped open as she heard a sudden noise behind the door. Her heart started pounding like mad. She glanced around the room again quickly, there was still nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape. Kate's eyes shot back to the door again as it was pushed open from the other side.