Lexie barely left the warmth of the bed during the days that followed, trying to recover from giving birth. Getting a decent night's sleep wasn't an option when you had a baby to feed though. Sally helped her as much as she could and she had been an absolute savior in every sense. Of course, she'd been hesitant to trust the woman at first. She didn't know anything about her. She didn't know if she was a friend of David but instinct told her she'd not been brought here through choice. Lexie had known her for a few days, but she could safely say that Sally had found a way into her frozen heart.
" Did he kidnap you?" Sally asked quietly. She held the four-day-old baby out to her awaiting mother. Lexie cradled the infant securely in her arms, concentrating on getting Nathan to feed. She wouldn't latch on but with a bit of expert advice from the observing midwife, Nathan Sloan was soon feeding perfectly.
Lexie's stare warily jolted at the door, David wasn't far away, he never was.
"You're Dr. Lexie Sloan."
She loves how that sounded. She's Lexie Sloan and she never got tired of hearing her name with that surname. It was thrilling, for someone to know that yes, she was very much alive.
She stared into the older woman's wise, green eyes.
"Everyone thinks you're dead. They thought you were having an affair, that your husband found out and lost it."
"Mark would never hurt me and I'm not having an affair, not a consenting one anyway" Lexie muttered drearily.
Nathan stopped sucking. Sally gently squeezed the baby's tiny foot. The small action brought him back to life, his eyes remained tightly shut, but he began feeding once more.
"My little girl, Elise turned five since I've been gone." Lexie ran her forefinger over the baby's forehead and cheek. She teared up. "I heard somewhere that kids, they remember their mother's voice. Do you think that's true? Do you think she'll always remember?"
"Of course she will, she does. She'll remember you." Sally wiped the tears from Lexie's cheeks using her fingers.
Lexie nodded. "This one is all his daddy. Elise is just like me, but this one, he's just like his daddy."
Sally was confused, she'd assumed David was the father of this child.
Lexie instantly recognized her mistake, her gaze snapped to the woman. "I-I had to make him believe, he would've- if I hadn't he- he'd have-"
"Lexie," Sally shook her head and squeezed her arm reassuringly. "Shh, it's alright,'' Her eyes warily darted to the door. "It's okay. I understand. I'm on your side. I'm going to help you get out of here, I promise you."
"Don't promise me that," Lexie whispered. "You have no idea what he's like," She exhaled. "Do have any idea where are we?"
Sally shook her head. "I'm not sure. I'd just come off a late night shift at the hospital and then he took me, blindfolded me."
"Where?"
"Twin Falls."
"Idaho?" Lexie's face crumpled, she suddenly felt further away from home.
"Idaho," Sally confirmed. "We were driving that long, maybe two hours."
"They'll never be going to find us," Sally pulled her into a sideways hug.
"Don't think like that. Besides, he had to let me go. If I don't show up at work people will soon start to wonder where am I and when I'm back home, I'll make sure to come back to get you." She smiled positively.
David didn't care for Sally and that was what worried Lexie the most. She had no idea what his plan for Sally. A psychopath like David is very unpredictable.
"Are you married? Do you have any children, Sally?"
"Widowed. John passed away last year."
''I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He'd been suffering from cancer for a long time, he's at peace now. I still have my son, Robert. He's twenty-seven and just got married a year ago, my granddaughter arrived shortly after."
Lexie smiled.
"Her name is Alice and she just started to walk. I have a picture here," She fiddled beneath her blue shirt for her locket. She opens the silver pendant and holds it out to an interested Lexie. She really misses things like this, the simple everyday conversations, meeting new people, exchanging stories. Living her life. She envied Sally. She had a chance to watch her child grow and now she had a grandchild. Lexie wanted that more than anything and for the first time, she was feeling hopeful that she could have it. This woman had brought her hope. This woman is her only way out.
Mark sat in his cell, the springs of the thin mattress, sticking into him. He ran a hand over his head.
Today was meant to be Elise's first visit.
It had been canceled.
His behavior wasn't satisfactory and consequently, as punishment, his visitations had all been terminated until further notice.
To say he'd gotten into a few fights was a bit of an understatement.
He couldn't stand it, being here. Locked up with so many people that deserved to be here. Men that killed their wives. It made him sick.
His most recent scruff had left him with two stitches above his left eye and a swollen cheek. The other guy looked much worse though and it scared him that he held no remorse.
Tony Williams, jailed for domestic abuse. He'd left his wife on life support and with two kids under the age of five.
The convict was arrogant and held no shame for his crime and took great pride in tormenting anyone who crossed his path.
Mark Sloan happened to cross his path.
Tony Williams happened to find Mark's important possessions, photos of his family.
He proceeded to make a few inappropriate remarks about Lexie.
Needless to say, Mark had flipped.
The only positive outcome of his behavior was that the rest of the inmates seemed to now withhold some respect towards him. He was no longer the outsider, he was one of them now. They'd not made it easy for him, he'd not retaliated till now. He'd let them fight him, but he wouldn't fight back. Things were different now, though. Men were shaking his hands, telling him Williams deserved it.
Derek had been angrier than ever when he'd been allowed his call. He ranted at him for his full five-minute allowance.
He didn't need his yelling, he knew it was stupid, he knew it wouldn't help him get him out, but he didn't regret it. In fact, breaking that bastard's nose had been more than satisfying.
He hated himself for screwing up though, for ruining his chance to see his daughter. Apparently, Elise wasn't coping well. She's wetting the bed every night.
He slid down the cold wall, his thumb running over the glossy photo. Elise was standing at Lexie's side in a floral dress. She's just two in the photo. It was a perfect day and the photo he was staring at was his favorite of his two girls. They weren't looking at the camera. Lexie was staring adoringly at their daughter. Elise's hair was short and pinned back cutely on one side. Her, cheeks were chubby and she had the innocence of a child, something she'd lost recently because of everything that happened. Elise wasn't exactly planned but they'd taken the news with open arms. His mouth went dry when he looked at their wedding photo. He picked up another picture, this one was more recent, perhaps taken only a couple of weeks before Lexie's disappearance. It was of all three of them. He couldn't get over how happy they looked. They had been so happy and it had all been cruelly snatched from beneath their feet. If he could just turn back the time, he'll do everything.
The cell door opened and his roommate waltzed in.
Mark didn't acknowledge him, he curled onto his side instead, facing the dark wall, eager to hide his tears from what he knew would be a non-understanding criminal.
He closed his eyes, he couldn't go back in time, but he could dream that he was with them instead.
Three weeks had passed. Sally is still not allowed to leave. David refused to take any chances, he couldn't risk her telling anyone.
Lexie was enjoying every moment of having a friend around. Her laugh was joyful, hopeful and real. Definitely, the first time her body had shaken with laughter for nine long months. It was infectious and Sally was laughing along with her.
"You didn't." Lexie breathed out between giggles.
"I did." She was telling Lexie about her teenage days and a little incident with her eyebrows and a razor. "I had to draw them on for a month and when we had swim class they washed off."
Lexie's laughter that had died out had a sudden burst of life and she snorted childishly.
"Oh come on, don't tell me you didn't have any cosmetic mishaps."
Lexie shook her head. Nathan gurgled in her arms and she made a funny face at the wide-eyed baby. She opened and closed her mouth animatedly and then blew a raspberry on Nathan's cheek.
Lexie's toothy smile faltered when she noticed David watching from the doorway.
"David," Her eyes widened. He looked different. His face was flushed and glazed with perspiration.
It was when he took a step forward that she noticed the gun. His unbridled stare was ferocious and had Lexie shaking and scared.
"What are you doing?"
He wasn't looking at her, his target was the woman next to her. In a horrible moment of comprehension, Lexie's head jerked in defiance.
"No," She whispered, pushing herself off of the couch, her hold on Nathan tightened.
Sally stood, pale and aware of what is going to happen. "Take the baby into the room, Lexie." Her voice was surprisingly steady.
"No. David, no. Put the gun down, please." Lexie pleads, her courageous tone with fierce and demanding.
He couldn't hear her. He was past the point of reasoning. He wouldn't be stopped or persuaded anymore. Sally Peters had served her purpose. She was no longer needed. He needs to dispose of her now.
Nathan whimpered as though she could determine the ending to this tragic story.
"Turn around," David demanded.
Nathan's whimpers broke into a distressed cry.
Sally didn't turn around.
Lexie hurriedly placed the baby in the cot, paying no concern to the baby's shrill screams.
"David," She slowly walks towards him, determination engraved on her features. "Put the gun down."
He ignored her, aiming the gun at Sally "I said, turn around."
Sally stood, frozen in terror.
"David," Lexie cried desperately. "Please, oh please. You don't want to do this, David. Put the gun down." She grappled at his shirt, tugging relentlessly at his arm, trying to get him to lower the weapon. But he stood, tall and uncompromising.
He hit her that caused her to stumble back, landing on the hardwood floor with a loud thump, her head hit the coffee table.
The bang that followed was ear-splitting and pierced down her spine, sending coldness flowing through her veins and had the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.
Her forehead was bleeding, but she was oblivious.
Adrenaline had her head jerking around and scrambling across the floor, her mouth open in dismay.
The blood was everywhere and Sally's body was lurching stiffly against the hard surface, her eyes were fighting futilely against the endless sleep that was drawing nearer. "No," Lexie brushed Sally's hair away from her pale face. "You're going to be okay," She said in denial. "Don't leave me, please." Lexie pleaded. She tried to put pressure on her wound.
Sally is gone. Her eyes were lifeless and staring at her. Her body still warm yet no longer breathing.
"Don't leave me." Lexie choked on her sobs, this woman had been her savior. She was sure she'd been going deranged, she'd not had any company, any contact with the outside world in so long. All communication had been with a psychopath and she was pretty certain she was becoming accustomed to this new life and that scared the hell out of her. Meeting Sally, having her here had been like she'd been thrown a life jacket, she truly was her savior.
Nathan was still screaming.
David's eyes were staring showing no remorse. Jealously instigated his next move. He strode towards the grieving, Lexie. His hand tangling in her wild hair. He forcefully yanked her up.
"Get off me." Lexie cried, her feet stumbling to keep up as he tugged her, painfully by her hair, toward the basement. She panicked. "No, Nathan."
The door slammed and the darkness trapped her. She hit her small, balled fists at the heavy door.
Nathan's perturbed shrieks were like an alarm bell echoing in her head. He's just three weeks old.
Lexie struggled to breathe, it felt like the air was being sucked from her lungs. She'd managed to protect this baby for nine and a half months, but now, as she listened to the unrelenting cries, she was laden with failure.
What if he cried so hard he made himself sick, it was likely, but what if he choked on his vomit. What if he got suffocated? What if he got dehydrated?
Lexie stopped her useless banging, pressing her forehead up against the cold metal door.
Less than thirty minutes ago she'd been smiling and laughing. She'd been happy and now all she could see was her friend's pained face, the blood, her baby and with that her hope of escape slipped through her shaking fingers once more.
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