My apologies...again for such a long time between chapters. Hopefully the longer than normal chapter will make up for it. Thank you all so much for the reviews!
Pillows were really underrated. She should have bought a new one months ago. It was so easy to take for granted how a fluffy pillow made everything better. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she saw the faint outline of lights coming through the window and smiled. She still had time to sleep.
She snuggled down in the covers and closed her eyes, sighing at the pure comfort of the soft sheets and the very nice new pillow.
"Guess what!?"
"Oof…" A toddler landed on her stomach and dissolved any ideas of sleeping in.
"It's Saturday. We get pancakes."
Olivia's eyes popped open as she coughed to get some air back into her lungs. "It's still dark outside," she protested.
The toddler stared back at her with rounded eyes. "I can turn the light on. Then it won't be dark anymore."
Olivia bit back a laugh. "Turning on the light inside won't make the darkness outside go away."
"But it's pancake day. And I can't sleep."
Olivia shook her head. "Pancakes will still be there in a couple hours."
The toddler frowned and shook its head no. "Can't sleep. There's noises."
"Noises?" It was Olivia's turn to frown. "What noises?"
"I don't know." The kid shrugged. "Sounds like someone is in the kitchen."
Olivia instantly sat up, shoving the toddler gently to the middle of the bed. "Be quiet."
"Why? I don't like to – "
"Hush!" Olivia quietly ordered. It was then she heard it. A faint slamming. Maybe a cabinet? Fear began to grow and she reached for her gun. Her fingers reached for the cool metal but only found air. Olivia's head snapped to the side. Her night stand was missing. Where was her phone? Where was her gun?
Another noise from the kitchen made her mouth go dry. Not now. Not again.
"Momma? What's –"
"I need you to be quiet." Olivia leaned down and stared into her daughter's eyes. "You need to stay here and hide under the covers. No matter what, you don't come out until I say it's okay. Do you understand me?"
The child nodded. "Can we get pancakes then?"
Olivia put a finger over her daughter's lips and covered her with the blanket. Olivia snuck out of bed and frantically looked for a weapon. There had to be a pole or a lamp. Something - anything she could use, but there was nothing. She tiptoed out of her bedroom and peaked around the corner. A shadow moved across the floor, and her heart pounded. There was someone in her kitchen. Where the hell was her gun?
Olivia hugged the wall and slowly moved into the kitchen, a paralyzing fear making it difficult to move. Her eyes scanned every newly exposed inch, waiting to see a foot or a hand. The edge of the kitchen moved into view, and she thought her heart may well burst out of her chest.
She peered around the corner and saw a fading shadow. Olivia swallowed and took a step further. Her kitchen came into view, but there was no one there. It was completely empty. Olivia gasped and turned around. What happened to the shadow? She had heard noises. Someone was in here! Where did they go? Maybe she should check the cabinets. Olivia rolled her eyes. She knew that wasn't realistic. Her cabinets were full, and it would have taken far too much time and effort to fit inside one.
"MOMMA!"
Olivia's head snapped to the bedroom as fear consumed her. She took off at a dead run but something wasn't right. Her hardwood floor had turned to mud. She was running…it felt like she was running, but she wasn't moving.
"Mommy! Help!"
"I'm coming! Just hang on, sweetie!" Panic began to swell as the mud started to rise. "What is this?" she cried. This can't be happening."
"It's all right, Olivia. I have her."
Olivia froze and looked up. No. No, this wasn't possible.
Lewis shifted their daughter to his hip and sent an innocent smile her way. "Tell mommy not to worry. We'll be right back."
"No! Momma!" The little girl started kicking Lewis.
Olivia reached her arms out, but Lewis was too far away. She couldn't let him have her little girl. He would destroy her. "Lewis, I'll do whatever you want. Please, whatever you have against me, she has nothing to do with it!"
Lewis winced as a small foot caught him in the ribs. He grabbed the girl's leg and shook his head. "This is what I want. Say goodbye to Mommy, honey."
"No!" Olivia cried as the mud got even higher. She didn't understand where it was coming from. Her apartment was clean, how did all this mud get in here? And why could Lewis could walk freely? It was as if the mud wasn't affecting him. "Leave her alone! Lewis?" Olivia's scream echoed off her apartment walls. She didn't know what she expected to accomplish. She was stuck, and Lewis was not. He didn't even give her a glance as he carried their daughter out the door.
"LEWIS!"
Olivia jerked again, and her senses jolted awake. Her eyes frantically scanned the room trying to make sense of what had happened. She took a few breaths, trying to lower her heartrate. Nausea churned in her stomach, and her head throbbed. Olivia reached for her head and frowned as her hands didn't move. She was cuffed again.
A sound reached her ears, and she froze. Was it about it to happen again? She couldn't watch it all over again. Olivia forced oxygen into her lungs and willed herself to calm down. Was that a buzz saw? Wait, no. Snoring. It was snoring. A musty smell stung her nose as she shifted. Lumps, there were lumps underneath her. Olivia took another few breaths, willing her body to calm down. It was just another dream. The snoring was Lewis. She was still in the cabin. She didn't have a child. It wasn't real.
Her stomach twitched, and she froze. Did she do that? Olivia waited a few moments and felt it again. Was this something new? It felt almost like an eye twitching….was it a muscle? She frowned as it happened again. She did the math in her head and squinted. Could it be the baby?
Olivia closed her eyes and instantly snapped them back open. Messy brown hair. Twinkling brown eyes. Chubby cheeks and short fingers. Happiness changing to terror. High pitched screams. Arms stretched out, as if Olivia could save her little girl from Lewis.
She rolled to her side just in time. Her dinner came up so violently that she struggled to breathe. No. Olivia gasped air back into her lungs. No, no, no. This couldn't be it. She couldn't have a baby. She couldn't give birth to a child fathered by Lewis. He would destroy it.
Tears leaked from her eyes as flashes of her little girl hounded her. She had been assuming this thing inside her would be a boy. A monster in training that would become just like Lewis. But this? This was worse. An innocent little girl who had no part in this fight. Olivia curled into a ball as her shoulders started to shake. This couldn't happen. Lewis would destroy the child, no matter what it was. She could not let this happen. Screw the plan. She wanted out now.
Olivia threw her legs over the side of the bed and pushed against the mattress with her cuffed hands. A small panicked voice whispered this was a horrible idea that would never work. She had tried and failed many times to escape this place – this life. It had never worked. But this was unlike anything she had ever felt. Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe it was her pathetic mother's instinct kicking in a few months too late. But she was getting out of this, no matter what.
She gave another hard push and stumbled to her feet, not even feeling the pain. Olivia moved to where she knew the door was, not caring if Lewis heard her. Who cared if he killed her. She wasn't doing this anymore.
Lewis jolted awake as a thud and a curse came across the room. He reached for Olivia and found only a blanket. Another crash came across the room, and he was up in an instant. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he roared.
Olivia spun around as arms circled her waist. "No! No, let me go!" She twisted and pulled, trying to wiggle out of his grasp.
"Olivia! Cut it out!" Lewis struggled to get her back to the bed, but she was having none of it. His confusion mounted as her cries turned hysterical.
Olivia's eyes found the sliver of light and set her jaw. The door. She stopped fighting Lewis and closed her eyes. She didn't have to wait long. Lewis sensed her relaxed muscles and loosened his grip. He thought she had given up. That maybe she didn't think the fight was worth the punishment that followed. Her dream flashed in front of her again, and she focused on the little girl's terrified eyes.
She threw her knee up into his groin and slammed her head into his. Lewis dropped like a sack of potatoes, and terror sprang up inside her. There wasn't much light, and she couldn't see him. Olivia lifted her chin and shoved away the terror. She didn't have time for it. She pushed the door open with her shoulder, barely feeling the sting of her healing burn.
Light opened up the room as she stepped into the kitchen, the moonlight streaming in from the window. Olivia did a double take. A window. She needed a window. There was no telling where the key to the door was. Lewis groaned behind her, and she spun around. He had rolled onto his hands and knees. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't fight him. Her hands were still cuffed behind her back. She couldn't run, there was nowhere to go. A third idea came to her, and the kitchen table drew her attention. Could it work?
"Go ahead. Try it."
Olivia's eyes flew back to Lewis.
"It's not like you have many options, anyway. You may have knocked me down, but that doesn't help you much, does it?" Lewis took a few breaths as he pushed himself to his feet. "You already know a physical fight won't end in your favor."
Olivia swallowed as her eyes shifted between his shadowy form and the table. She would have to hurry.
Lewis didn't attempt to move. He had no idea what had gotten into her, but spooking a hysterical pregnant woman didn't sound like a good idea. He kept his eyes on her, determined only to move if she stepped towards the sink. He had used a knife the night before to make the sandwiches and had left it in the sink. He should have washed it and put it away, but he had been eager to have his fun with Olivia.
"Look at me," Lewis coaxed. Now wasn't the time to instill fear. She clearly didn't need any more than she was already feeling. At least, not until she was properly restrained.
Olivia's eyes darted away from the kitchen table, her eyes narrowing when she looked in his general direction. There were so many things spinning in her head. She wanted to yell all of them, but she was afraid of how incoherent those words would come out.
"What happened?" His voice was deceitfully gentle, as if he could express compassion.
Olivia swallowed and offered no response. A part of her knew she wasn't making sense, but she was not going to share that with him. He had taken enough already.
There was enough light around her that Lewis could see everything. The subtle shiver of her naked body, the cold air raising goosebumps. Her rounding stomach that seemed to have popped a little. He might have been imagining it, but she did seem bigger. His gaze travelled up to her eyes, and he was somewhat surprised at the terror in her eyes. Even when he used the blowtorch, she didn't act this scared.
"Do you have to use the bathroom?" Lewis ventured. He knew that wasn't it, but he had to get her to calm down. They were headed for another tumble on the floor, and he didn't want to risk the baby getting hurt. "We can go right now. I'll help you."
"You never help me!" Olivia scoffed as her feet backed up.
Lewis set his jaw as her movement brought her closer to the sink. He was pretty sure he could get to her before she grabbed the knife. She probably didn't even know it was there, and it wouldn't help her much with her still restrained. It would, however, make it more difficult to get her back in the bedroom.
"You're still alive," Lewis pointed out as he shifted, pain still radiating from her kick. "That has to count for something."
Olivia shook her head. It meant nothing. She was an incubator for his twisted game. That was all, and it was over. She was close enough to the table now, she could shove it towards the door. The table should close it and block the way out. Lewis would be trapped.
Lewis watched her foot slide towards the table leg and took a step forward. "Olivia, think about this."
Her heart started pounding harder. She couldn't really see him. Had he moved? His voice sounded closer. But she could still make it. She just had to push hard. She could use her stomach. Maybe it would make the abortion easier if the baby was already – wait, what was she thinking?
Lewis licked his lips as her movements froze. "You know I'm stronger than you. If you push that table against the door, I can push it away from the door. It will maybe only buy you a few minutes – if it works."
Her eyes dropped. That was true. But a few minutes was more than she had ever had.
"Olivia," his voice urged. "You know how this ends. You keep fighting, and it ticks me off. You pay for it, and I come out on top. I always do."
He did have a point. But she had never felt like this. The other times, she had been fighting for her life. This time, she was fighting for another life. A life it had become her responsibility to protect. She had been so lost in self-pity that she couldn't see any light. Survivors had to see the light. They had to survive. And even if she didn't physically survive, she would die before she let him destroy a child.
"Maybe you're right," Olivia's gravelly voice whispered. "Maybe I'll lose. But if you think you beat me into submission and terrorized me into compliance, you never really knew me."
Lewis shook his head and lunged forward with a scowl. They hit the door at the same time. Lewis shoved with all his might to prevent it from closing, but Olivia wasn't going down without a fight. She planted her feet on the kitchen tile and used her side to push the table against the door. She just needed a few more inches.
He couldn't believe they were doing this again. He would figure out how to make her pay later, but he needed to get on the other side of that door. Somehow, Olivia was winning, and the door was closing. Lewis set his jaw and managed to slip one of his hands through the closing crack, reaching for any part of her that he could grab to stop this madness. "Give up while you still can, sweetheart."
Olivia wanted to cry when she saw his hand reaching for her, but she didn't have time. Instinct kicked in and instead of shying away from it, she lunged towards him and sunk her teeth into his hand.
Lewis cursed and tried to shake her mouth off. What had gotten into her?
Olivia held on tight until she tasted copper. Her jaw slackened, and Lewis jerked free of her mouth.
He pulled his hand inside to check the damage. "That was stupid, Olivia!"
She didn't care. Not anymore. The table slammed the door shut with a pleasant sounding thud, and she took a deep breath. Muffled yelling came from the other side. For once, she was glad not to hear his words. Olivia focused on the door, looking for the locks she had heard too many times. She cursed as her eyes found them. There was no way she could lock the door with her hands behind her back…Oh no. The handcuff key. Her eyes closed. Lewis probably had it. Why did she never think about that before doing something dumb?
The door jumped, startling Olivia into action. Lewis was right. She only had two to three minutes before he came after her. Probably not even that long. She took off towards the living room. Surely there was something to break the window. Lewis had tools, lots of tools. He said something about putting them up. Where would he have put them?
"Think," she muttered to herself. He wouldn't want her to see them, or have access to them. Olivia's mouth parted as she looked past the bathroom. Lewis never took her to the other rooms. She took off without a second thought, not stopping until she reached a closed door. Maybe it was a spare room? Or a back door? Olivia turned around and shifted until her hands found the doorknob. The door opened as the noises got louder from the kitchen. Her eyes scanned the dark room as her lips started to stretch. She could hardly call it a smile. Olivia didn't do that anymore.
Tarps and spare plywood lined the floor, and supplies were stacked in the corner. The corner on the opposite side of the window. It wasn't boarded up. Maybe Lewis didn't glue this one shut?
Scraping sounds came from the kitchen, and Olivia ran towards the supplies. It was a 50/50 shot the window would open, but it was a guarantee Lewis would be here shortly. She needed a weapon. Her eyes squinted at the pile of black objects. She wished there was more light. It was so hard to tell what things were. More scraping came from the kitchen, but this time, she could hear Lewis. He sounded furious.
Olivia closed her eyes and willed herself to concentrate. She couldn't see the tools, but she could use her fingers. Olivia turned around and leaned back, trying to pick through the pile as quietly as possible. Her fingers ran over something long and cold…a pole? No wait, there was something on the end of it. Maybe a hammer? That could work! No…no, it wouldn't. Lewis would probably have the gun when he came after her. He would see the hammer. She couldn't use that. Her fingers kept moving. Surely there was something.
"Ow," she hissed as something sharp stabbed her hand. Olivia's head snapped up as she heard footsteps. He was coming. Whatever it was, it would have to work. Lewis would see light coming from the window and know she was in here. After all, doors don't open themselves. Her fingers closed around the object as she pushed herself to a standing position. It took more effort than she would like to admit, but she made it. Her gravity was starting to shift. While she tried her best to ignore the baby, the stupid thing had kept growing. Guess that's what babies do.
"That's the best you can do?"
Lewis' voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and the normal fear began to swell inside her. This really had been stupid.
He set the lantern down on the floor, shedding light across the room. Lewis tilted his head and frowned. "I was just going to slap you. Knock whatever this is out of your head."
Olivia's eyes fell to the gun held loosely in his right hand. "And now?" she whispered.
Lewis snorted and took a step towards her. "Now that you shut me in a room, bit my hand, and tried to run?"
Her body began to shake as he took another step.
"Now? I have no idea." Lewis rubbed his forehead. "Maybe I'll go get a few girls and make you pull the trigger after I'm finished with them."
Her mouth went dry as she shook her head. She would never pull the trigger, no matter what he did to her.
"But maybe that threat didn't work because I've killed too many people in front of you. Maybe you don't care about people anymore. The cop inside you died."
"No," Olivia protested.
Lewis raised an eyebrow as he stepped closer. "Maybe I'll lock you in your room for days without human contact."
Olivia eyed him as he stepped within arm's reach. She didn't like this. He was too calm.
"You may think that's a win for you," Lewis offered. "But after a few days of no one to talk to, no one to touch you, nothing to occupy your time, you'd be surprised."
Lewis reached for her arm, ignoring her sound of protest. "Don't get me wrong, I would throw you some food. But sensory deprivation – it is effective. Maybe it's time to try something new? Hm?"
Olivia winced as his hold tightened around her arm. She'd take anything over his constant presence. There was always pain when Lewis was there. Not that she planned on sticking around to find out.
"Come on." He pulled Olivia forward with a scowl. The urge to kill her had never been so strong. He might be better off at this point to just end this before the constant fight killed them both. Not that she had the stamina to hurt him. The anger alone could give him a heart attack, though.
Olivia swallowed her groan as the pain came back. Any adrenaline she had was long gone, and the pain had greedily taken its place once more.
When they reached the hallway, he threw her against the wall with a force that stole her breath. Her eyes widened as he leaned into her. She held her breath, waiting for him to shove his knee between her legs or to force his lips on hers. But there was nothing. Just silence. Olivia could barely see his eyes. Anger? Tiredness? A hint of confusion? How did you read a psychopath in the dark?
"Stay," Lewis hissed with a snarl.
She managed a jerky nod, and he loosened his grip. She had made him angry enough. No need to make it worse. Olivia stared into the bathroom in front of her, vaguely aware of Lewis gathering the lantern and securing the room. She loosened her grip on the mysterious object she was holding. What was it? Something thin and sharp. Maybe a few inches long?
"Let's go," Lewis muttered with lantern in hand. "And don't get any ideas. I still have the gun."
"Wait," Olivia twisted from his grasp. "I have to use the bathroom."
Lewis stared at her, his gaze hardening. "You have to go now? Didn't have time for that on your field trip?"
She shifted uncomfortably. "You don't want me to pee on the only mattress we have."
He may actually kill her this time. Lewis narrowed his eyes, contemplating what to do with her. The burning sensation grew in his back, becoming harder to ignore. "Do you understand what it is like to have back pain? How it radiates down your legs? Makes it impossible to focus. And you know what makes it worse? Carrying things. Carrying people," Lewis emphasized slowly. "My back hurt before all this. You woke me up in the middle of the night for something stupid, and I haven't even looked at my hand that you bit," he hissed.
Oh. She forgot about that. Olivia glanced down at his hand and pride swelled within her. She had made him bleed. "Whatever punishment you're going to do, delaying it two minutes because your spawn is sitting on my bladder won't kill you."
His face twitched, and his fist connected with her face before she had time to brace for it.
"Gah!" Olivia's head hit the wall behind her. Pain radiated from her cheek, and her eyes started to water.
Lewis yanked her hair back to keep her in place, grinning at the cry of pain. "Don't you ever talk to me like that, Olivia. I may want this baby, but you can find yourself in a grave tomorrow. Or tonight if you keep this up. One bullet," he threatened softly. "One bullet is all it would take to end your life. I have eight."
Olivia snorted her response. "Then go ahead and shoot me, you coward. If you don't think you can handle me for five more months, then pull the trigger. Kill your pregnant hostage."
Lewis tightened his hold on her. She didn't know when to quit. "I tell you what, sweetheart. You go to the bathroom, and you better enjoy it. You just earned yourself a week of solitary confinement." He sneered and pulled her away from the wall. "So go."
"What about my hands?" She half turned to Lewis, gesturing to the cuffs behind her.
"Really?" Lewis touched his tongue to his lips. "You managed to barricade me in a room, open a door, and hide in a corner with no help from me. And now you need your hands free?"
He had a point. "I'm getting bigger. I need the balance to get up from the toilet. It's lower than the bed. Plus, I need to clean myself. If you do it, I could kick you again."
Lewis narrowed his eyes. "Did you just threaten me, detective?"
Olivia shook her head adamantly. "I was explaining why it would benefit you to free my hands."
He shook his head. Everything hurt. He was tired. He was out of patience. "Fine. You try one thing, and I kill you tonight. I'm done with this."
Good. They were on the same page then.
Lewis spun her around and saw her clenched fists. At least that was something. She usually did that when she was scared. He reached around the gun tucked into his pants to get the handcuff key in his pocket.
The click sounded, and Olivia almost made a move right then. He would be expecting it, though. Lewis always expected her to run when he unlocked the cuffs.
"There. Now go," Lewis ordered.
Olivia took a step forward before squinting. "I can't see. Can you bring the lantern?"
"Olivia!" Lewis thundered towards her, his anger consuming him.
She spun around to meet him, only a slight hesitation with the foreign object in her hand. In the eye or in the throat? A half second later, Lewis closed his hand around her left arm as her right arm flew up in the air.
His anger turned to shock. Lewis stumbled back, his hands reaching for his neck.
Olivia froze at the image before her. It worked? It had really worked?
A stunned Lewis fingered for the screw sticking out of his jugular. "What did you do?" he croaked.
Olivia gave a slight shake of her head. She didn't know. At most, she thought he'd kill her for trying this. She didn't think she could actually hit the vein.
Lewis pulled the screw from his neck and looked down at his blood soaked hands. This wasn't a scratch. There was a lot of blood. This was fatal. He looked back at her, the color draining from his face. "I'll always be with you. My baby."
She didn't respond. She just watched the blood run down his front. As often as she had pictured his death, this wasn't as satisfying as Olivia had expected.
He slid to the ground, his eyes becoming cloudy. This wasn't the ending he wanted, but even if she found her way out of this house, a part of him would stay with her forever. He thought about reaching for the gun to finish her off, but he was losing fast. He didn't have the strength.
Olivia didn't know what to do. She felt…panicked? But why? The greatest threat she had every known was bleeding out in front of her. She should be thrilled. Weeping with joy. But instead, she was fighting herself to not run over and stop the bleeding. What was wrong with her?
Lewis' head tilted to the side, and she knew. It was over. His heart had pumped furiously until there was nothing left to pump. He was gone. She was alone. She was – free?
Olivia slid to the floor, her head in her hands. Tears streamed down her face, and her heart felt like something was squeezing it. This didn't feel like hope. This didn't feel like freedom. This felt like the end. She silently cried into her hands, letting out all of the emotions she couldn't name.
"Hello?"
Olivia jumped and looked around. What was that?
"Are you kidding me?" Brian yelled. "How are we just now hearing about this?"
"It happened less than 24 hours ago," Detective Stiles pointed out. "Your plan is the reason we found out this soon. A cop on patrol spoke with the cashier and already sent over the report."
Nick grabbed the red marker and moved towards the map. "Where was this one?"
Detective Stiles pointed to an area a few inches across from the last red circle. "There."
Amanda shook her head, taking in all the marks on the map. "What is he thinking? These stores are all over the place. There isn't even a radius we can look at. All these stores are eight or nine hours apart from each other."
Detective Stiles studied his notepad. "There's something different about this one. There were no hardware supplies, no canned goods. He picked up vitamins, bread, peanut butter…it's not like his other runs."
"Vitamins?" Nick did a double take. "Why would he want vitamins?"
"Let me see those." Amanda reached for the list. Her eyes scanned the list. Lewis didn't seem like the healthy type. "Calcium, iron –" her voice trailed off. "You don't think," she faltered.
Detective Stiles furrowed his brow in concentration. "The baby?"
Brian rolled his eyes. "Lewis doesn't care about anyone but himself."
Detective Stiles shook his head. "Even a psychopath has a weakness. They still feel some emotions; they just know how to turn it off. You can't keep treating Lewis like a monster who never thinks or never feels. He is still a person. He thinks, he plans, and he has motives. We need to figure out how he thinks. That's the only way we'll find them."
"Are you telling me how to do my job?" Brian set his jaw and moved towards the detective.
"Easy," Amanda stepped between them. "This is his jurisdiction."
"Yes," Detective Stiles replied, looking Brian in the eye. "I am telling you how to do your job and find your girlfriend. This is the only case I'm working on. I've missed my daughter's first piano recital and haven't had dinner with my family in almost two weeks." Detective Stiles reached for his coat. "So lash out at me all you want. I'm going to find this sick pervert, and we're bringing Olivia home. If you can't keep a good head on your shoulders, I don't want you here. And neither does Olivia." Detective Stiles shrugged his coat on and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Nick protested.
"Making a phone call," Detective Stiles retorted. "If that's all right with you."
Brian rolled his eyes. "How do you guys – "
"Shut up," Amanda hissed as Detective Stiles disappeared around the corner.
Brian's eyes got big. "Excuse me?"
"He was right. Detective Stiles is just as invested in this as we are, and he hasn't even met her," Amanda emphasized. "He's given up a lot to help us, and you need to back off."
Brian opened his mouth, and Amanda tightened her jaw.
"I mean it." She pointed at Brian. "Knock it off, or I'll call Tucker to get you recalled to the Bronx."
Brian wanted to protest. She wouldn't have the guts to do something like that. At least, he didn't think so.
"If you two are done, maybe we can work on finding the person you're arguing about?" Nick interjected.
"How are we supposed to do that?" Brian asked flatly.
Amanda glanced down at the list again. "He bought some fruit and a couple deli sandwiches. Those sandwiches wouldn't last four or five hours in the car. The cheese would go bad. Maybe this store is closer to where they'ree staying than the other stores. Probably within what, two hours?"
"That's your theory?" Brian raised an eyebrow. "He bought two sandwiches, so clearly one must have been for Olivia? Because he takes such good care of her."
She opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out.
"He has a point," Nick pointed out softly. "Lewis could have eaten both sandwiches on the way back. It's not enough to narrow down a search."
"We don't even have a search area!" Amanda retorted. "This is at least something. It narrows down the 1700 square mile to something more reasonable. So what if I'm wrong? It's at least some place to start." Amanda grabbed a black marker and moved towards the map. "These stores are really far apart, but if we draw a circle that includes all of them, Lewis has to be keeping her inside that circle." She uncapped the marker and made a few marks. "There. We narrow down the search to abandoned homes and foreclosures within this area. Unless you fellas have a better idea?"
Nick looked between her and Brian. It was at least an idea. "I'll take the Eastern half."
Amanda nodded. "I got the West. Guess that means you go grab breakfast," she handed Brian the keys. "Try not to wreck it."
Brian pursed his lips and closed his eyes. Maybe getting some are would do some good. "Fine. Don't complain about what I bring back."
Amanda waited until he was gone before letting out a sigh. "Maybe we can get some work done before her gets back."
Nick dropped to his seat and rubbed his head. This was going to be a long day.
"Come on, now. Wake up, sunshine."
Olivia groaned and turned away from the noise. She just wanted to sleep. She was so tired.
"None of that. Let's get up."
Her brow furrowed at the suggestion. Confusion set in a moment later. Lewis was dead. Who the hell was talking to her? Had she been rescued? The thought bolstered her, and Olivia's eyes shot open.
"There you go," Lewis encouraged as he pulled hair away from her face. "Gonna have to figure out a way to clean you up. You're all messy from last night."
Olivia's eyes rounded. This couldn't be it. She was having a nightmare. Lewis was dead. She watched him bleed out. She had killed him.
"Cat got your tongue?" Lewis teased. "I can help you with that."
Her protest died on her lips as his closed around her mouth. She tried to wiggle away from him, but the pain between her legs stole her breath. Lewis took advantage of the moment and slid his tongue inside her mouth with a moan.
This couldn't be right. This couldn't be happening. It was over, he was gone. Olivia didn't understand what was going on.
Lewis finally broke the kiss and released her face. "You were incredible last night. We were going for hours," he laughed. "You took some manipulating, but you got into it eventually."
"No," Olivia whispered in horror.
Lewis scoffed. "A little late to protest that, sweetheart. Now be a good girl and come into the kitchen. Between that drive yesterday and our...activities," he smirked. "My back is killing me. We'll lay low today if you can behave. Otherwise, well, I'm sure I can find something to keep you occupied."
She stared back at him, taking note of the malice in his eyes. Was she going insane? Was this what it felt like?
He tilted his head, confused at her lack of response. "What is wrong with you? Get up."
"But – I, you were –" Olivia stammered.
"I know, I know. I can be pretty decent in bed when you don't tick me off."
Olivia's eyes rounded. "What?" she choked out. "That's not what – "
"Enough," Lewis said firmly. "Get up, or I'll find something to shove up between your legs. See how comfortable that makes you."
Olivia's mouth rounded. She had no idea if this was a nightmare or her reality, not that those were mutually exclusive these days. If there was any chance this was real, she needed to cooperate. His eyes showed there would be no bargaining with him today. Olivia nodded her agreement and licked her lips. "Okay."
"Good girl," he praised. "Up we go."
She closed her eyes against the onslaught of pain, almost grateful that she had to put little effort into standing. She would never get off the bed if it were only up to her. The thought made her mouth drop. There really was no way she could get up on her own. Her hands were cuffed behind her back, and her growing belly made her unstable.
Lewis pulled Olivia to her feet and noticed the tear trickling down her cheek. "What's the matter, baby? Sore from last night?" He laughed. "Or maybe it's those feet of yours. Should have done that months ago. Finally figured out how to keep you in line."
Olivia offered no comment as he manhandled her into the kitchen. It had all been a dream. A dream within a dream, really. Her eyes fell to her belly as the little girl flashed before her once more. She hadn't fought Lewis for her baby's life. She hadn't killed Lewis in a final attempt to be done. She had just slept like the coward she was. This child was screwed. They had a rapist for a father and a useless lump of flesh as a mother.
He threw her into a kitchen chair and grinned at the small sob. "Keep making noises like that, and I won't be able to keep my hands off of you."
Olivia looked away, wishing her hands were free to hide her tears. It wasn't the physical pain. It was the realization of what a horrible human she was. All those times she wished her own mother had protected her instead of blaming her for every problem. All those years, she had thought about what she would do differently when it was her turn to be a mother. At least Olivia's mom had protected her from her father. Olivia couldn't even do that for her baby.
Lewis leaned down in front of her, a slow smile spreading across his features at the tear stained face in front of him. "I doubt you'll put up much of a fight today. But just in case you think about it, remember, I will chain you in your bedroom until you deliver our baby, and I will constantly bring in teenage girls and make you watch them break. Fall apart. Die. And you will know each of their lives are destroyed because you were selfish. And we don't want that, do we?"
A sadness beyond words settled in her heart. She shook her head no. "I'll be good."
His grin grew wider. "That's my girl."
Her stomach rolled as he kissed her cheek. He grabbed her burnt shoulder and pulled her forward to uncuff her hands.
Olivia cringed at the pain, both the physical and the mental anguish. She pulled her hands into her lap and rubbed her wrists. Her eyes fell to the sweatpants covering her legs. She was dressed. After a moment, memories of the night before came flooding back. Lewis slamming into her. Using his fingers on every part of her body. She had been so tired. So sore. So hot. She just wanted a drink of water. A cold shower. Something to cool her off. But Lewis had been on a roll. She didn't even know how many times he had raped her. But he had made sure she had "enjoyed" herself each time. Olivia swallowed a wave of nausea. Lewis had thrown her clothes at her when she insisted her bladder was about to explode. She had pulled her clothes on in the bathroom.
More tears gathered in her eyes. It really had been just a dream. She had gotten dressed before going to sleep. Lewis was still here. She was still here.
"If you're done feeling sorry for yourself, you should eat." Lewis pointed to the banana and peanut butter on the table. "I'll have your vitamins ready in a minute."
Olivia wordlessly reached past the banana for the bottle of water. This was going to be a long day.