Tori:

As soon as the lights were turned off, the sensation of extreme helplessness came gushing back, and the air felt like it was thinning out again.

One hour. I have one hour before he comes back. Can I free myself in one hour?

…I don't think I can.

How long have I even been here? Jade must be worried sick. Likewise for my family and friends. They'll come looking for me. My dad will have the whole department searching the streets.

But how long would they take to find me?

Focus, Tori. What did dad used to say about being in a hostage situation? Comply with demands. Don't try to escape unless I'm absolutely certain it's safe. Stay alive.

I need to stay alive until someone finds me.

Swallowing hard, I made a decision. I'll sign his letter when he comes back. This is what he wants, right?

Imagining Jade's soothing voice whispering to me in my ears helped me to calm down a little. Every time after waking from a nightmare, she'll tell me to take deep breaths. That she is here for me, and that she's not going anywhere. That she'll protect me and keep me safe.

Please come soon, Jade. I need you.

The lights were finally turned on again after what seemed like eternal darkness. Ryder walked in to sit on the chair in front of me again, looking decidedly smug. "So Tori, have you decided?"

I nodded. His smile grew wider as he leaned in slightly from the chair. "So, would you sign the letter or would you like me to send the text instead? Nod once if you want to sign, and twice if you want the text to be sent.

I nodded once. Ryder got up from his chair, pulled out a pocket knife, and flicked out the blade. "Don't even try to move, or I'll cut you."

He cut off the tapes binding my arms to the back of the chair, before pushing the chair to one side of the small stool in the corner. A pen was thrust into the hands still taped together behind me after he put the letter on the stool. "Sign here," he pointed to a line above the date.

With some struggles, I managed to scrawl my signature onto the paper. Ryder sniggered and picked up the letter, carefully putting it into a large brown envelope. "Thank you for your cooperation, Tori. To show my appreciation, I'll help you out a little, by making you play for the right team again."

I watched in horror as he took out my phone from his pocket, turned it on and sent the message in front of my eyes. "No one is coming for you, Tori. Not even your little goth dyke girlfriend."

"Let's have a little fun. Consider it a reward for being such an obedient, cooperative girl," he said, freeing the adhesives from the chair off my leg with the knife.

Instinct took over as soon as he freed my good leg. I kicked him as hard as I could on his face, causing him to fall onto his bottom, and I'm pretty sure I heard a loud thump. Ryder hauled himself up, face flushed with rage. There was a stream of blood running down from his nose. "You bitch!"

I felt a burning pain on my face that sent the chair I was still partially tied to tumbling to its side as my head got nearer and nearer to the stool, before everything went black again.