Staying awake was easier than Arkin would have thought, his room was freezing, his tank top wasn't keeping him warm and he couldn't reach the blankets underneath him without risking activating the trap.
If his ankles weren't shackled to the bed, he could easily roll off and avoid the blade, since he was unfortunately attached, he'd have to come up with another plan.
Fumbling fingers run across the cuffs chain, catching on the wire, if he could untie it, he could avoid certain death, but the collector would hear if the trap was activated, hell, odds are he had cameras watching Arkin's every move.
He wouldn't just sit there and be a model captive, Arkin was getting out of here, the question was how? If he could pick the lock on the cuffs he could escape without the trap even knowing.
But he didn't have anything sharp to pick it with, fists clenched in momentary defeat, finger brushing over the wire, bleeding immediately from the single touch.
Arkin hissed at the cut, damn that hurt, but it did give him an idea, question is, could he actually do it?
The collector had left him one option, on purpose or not Arkin could pick the handcuffs and escape ... All he had to do was rip off enough of his fingernail to fit in the lock.
Son of a bitch this fucking sucked! After a few seconds of deliberation, Arkin's choice was made, he'd endure much worse the longer he remained here.
Arkin re-positions his hand, moving his finger until catching the edge of his nail on the wire, other hand holding the wire steady as he begins.
The wire dug deep into his nail bed, blood trailing down his finger at the abuse, Arkin wanted nothing more than to stop, the pain was unimaginable.
He'd been through so much, pulling out a nail should be simple compared to all that, only it wasn't, it fucking hurt like a bitch.
Arkin had never been more glad for the gag, despite the pulls of his mouth and itchy fibers, there was no way he'd be able to keep quiet as he continued to dig, his nail slowly and painful ripping off.
The fingers braving the wire were bleeding at the tips as he pulled to keep balance, it was all he could do to keep from biting his tongue clean off.
Bracing himself, Arkin prepares to rip the bandaid off, it's all or nothing. Tears gush down the tape blindfold as he pushes his finger forwards, ripping the last bits connecting his nail.
Pained whimpers and gasps escape the gag, head turning away, attempting to relax into the cushy pillow.
After catching his breath, Arkin tentatively takes hold of what once had been his fingernail, inserting the sharpest end into the lock.
Arkin moved the nail around, fitting nicely into the tumbler, thank god he hadn't used police issued handcuffs. Usually he had a pick and long needle used to help guide it, he'd have to make do with what he had.
Twists and turns, but no click, he had to get out of here, but he couldn't push it too much, his nail could still break and then he'd have done all this for nothing.
Strategically Arkin continued, fighting to stay calm as there's still no click, this was taking far longer than it should have, it had to work, this was his only option!
More tugs and now aggravated sighs echo throughout the room, Arkin digging the entire nail inside the lock now, twists and turns till finally he feels the pressure begin to lessen.
Blue eyes widen underneath the tape, he was right on the mechanism he needed, a few more turns of the hand and ... Click
Arkin wastes no time moving his now freed arm to work on the last cuff, expertly releasing that one as well.
His hands were free, now he had to carefully lock the cuffs to the headboard, slowly Arkin raises the restraints, fingers still holding the wire in place as they're snapped in place.
Arkin wastes no time ripping the blindfold from his face, relishing in being able to see, now for the hard part.
Delicately, bloodied finger tips messed with the twine, slowly unknotting the one thing holding his lips shut.
Arkin wished he could just cut the damn stuff, instead he had to pull the rough, scratchy material through each jabbed needles hole.
Soon feeling began to return as his mouth is freed, jaw wincing as Arkin moves the appendage around.
"Sick, fuck!" Exclaimed Arkin, hands moving to unlock the manacles holding his legs, these locks proving much easier, doubled with the ability to once again see, he was free in no time.
Arkin's eyes take in the room, the door was out, but what's to stop him from unbarring the window? He'd done that to escape the first house, now he'd do it again.
Only problem? Last time he had Victoria's screams to help cover the sound, he'd still wished he'd been able to save her, all of them. Michael, Victoria and young Jill all died that night.
Lone survivor Hannah, the eleven-year old girl he'd successfully saved, hopefully she's with family or found a good home, maybe he'd track her down after all this, just to make sure she's safe and being treated right.
He'd have to count on the door keeping the collector busy, if he'd really screwed it shut, that would take time to unlock, but was that enough time for him to escape?
Maybe he'd get lucky and the collector wouldn't hear him? When had he ever been lucky? He was stuck here, once again he'd been locked in a fucking red box and imprisoned.
"Fuck this guy! I'm getting the hell out!" Hands pull on the boards, slowly ripping the nails out by force.