Chapter Ten.
Chloe – Hope Realized.
A week more passed before I saw my opportunity. It had become a pattern each evening for the guard to slip my food under the door to my cell without me seeing their face, until yesterday when I had spoken to 'It". I had simply asked if I could get another glass of water, but it had been enough to start a conversation between the guard and I. He was probably as lonely as I was. At first the conversation was stilted; he was obviously scared of being caught talking to the prisoner. But soon I had convinced him that there was no way I could escape and he opened the door each day to give me my food. He was a large man, although he seemed gentle and not a thug like the other two whom had "interrogated" me. He was stuck here on this island to watch me and keep me alive I gathered. His shift would be over in little under a month. Before long he sat with me while I ate and we talked of our respective homes and families. I actually began to like him. Eventually he told me his name was Bill. Being me, it wasn't long before a plan began to form in my mind. I knew that Bill had a cell phone; I had seen it several times. All I needed to do was get hold of it for two minutes to send a text message to Oliver. I had to make him look for me. To tell him I wasn't dead. I couldn't and wouldn't let Tess win this battle. Oliver was mine and there was no way I was going to let him miss seeing his child. So, I chose my moment with care, we were chatting as usual when I casually asked for more water to wash the meal down with. Bill got up, not suspecting a thing and walked out the door headed for the kitchen. He didn't realize I had lifted his phone out of his pocket while we sat side by side.
Eagerly I typed;~ Olli please save me - find me. I'm not dead. Watchtower.~
I sent the text message to the number I had memorized. I stared at the small screen desperately hoping the text would be sent and delivered before Bill returned. Finally the message was sent and a delivery notice showed up seconds later. I sighed with relief. I deleted the message and delivery report in no time at all. I then dropped the phone back onto the floor behind where I sat, hoping Bill would think it dropped out of his pocket when he got up. I forced my breathing back to normal and started eating again. That second Bill walked through the door with my glass of water in his hand, I smiled at him
"Thank you so much." I said grabbing the glass and downing most of it in one gulp.
He smiled at me and just at that moment his phone started to ring. I acted surprised when it rang from behind me, jumping visibly. Bill frowned at me and picked up the phone, walking out of the room to answer it. My heart was bounding and I collapsed against the wall in relief. Oliver would get me message this time. I prayed he would find me soon, before I started to show my pregnancy.
When Bill returned it seemed that his phones mysterious appearance behind me had slipped his mind. He was preoccupied and quiet. I worried that the news from Tess hadn't been good – maybe my usefulness had finally worn out. I was terrified of that happening. But he said nothing and soon I was locked up in my cell again for the night. The blackness was a bad time for me, all I could see was Oliver's face and I tortured myself with images of him and Tess together. I vowed that when I got off this island Tess would pay for what she had done to me – to us. Revenge became my salvation. It kept me from giving up as much as the promise of seeing Oliver again did. I fancied that I felt my baby move inside me, although I was sure it was too soon. But it comforted me to think it had. I lay in the darkness, the ever pounding surf in my ears, imagining the child we would have. I smiled to myself.