The lamp was flipped on, giving off a warm and dim glow that chased away any shadows that threatened the two women, sitting cross legged and facing each other on Maura's bed. Jane looked over at Maura, gnawing on her lip. "Okay, so how do I start?" Maura was holding one of Jane's hands in her own, "just close your eyes I guess. Start to picture the dream in your mind, replay it in your mind."
Jane squeezed Maura's hand and slowly closed her eyes, her heart already beginning to race. Instantly Hoyt's face, his lips twisted in a menacing smile, invaded Jane's thoughts. She flinched, but continued. "Just go through the dream, Jane. And when you start to feel powerless, when you feel like you're losing control- change the outcome of the dream. Take over. It's all in your mind, you have power over how it ends," Maura's voice was soft and gentle, guiding Jane through her dreams as she gently rubbed circles into the back of Jane's scarred hand with her thumb.
Jane's eyes shot open, but she couldn't scream. She couldn't move. She was bound by those unforgiving plastic ties, her arms up above her head, tape over her mouth. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and her vision was filled with Hoyt's face. His lips curled back, grinning in excitement. "Well hello, Jane." His voice was high and crackled. His face began to move back and suddenly his upper body was also in view. Jane strained against her ties, her eyes wide as she registered the scalpel in his hand.
"Oh, are you fussing about this?" Hoyt mocked surprise as he examined the knife in his hand. He tilted it, causing a glimmer of light to reflect off of it. Jane was transfixed on it, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She could recall the searing pain of it being driven through her hands. The feel of its sharp, feather light blade, slicing at her skin. Jane whimpered, unable to silence herself.
Hoyt began to laugh, no, more like cackle, as he once again closed in on Jane. He brought the knife up to her lips, trailing it over the silver duct tape tauntingly. In a sudden movement he reached up and ripped the unforgiving tape off Jane's mouth. She cried out and gulped in air, trying to rid her mouth of the taste of glue.
"There's so many things I am going to do to you, Jane," Hoyt said with his sick smile. Jane spat in his face, outraged. "You can't hurt me," she shot back, her hands still struggling against the ties. Hoyt laughed, "is that so? I can smell the fear on you, Jane. I can taste it." Jane felt her heart hammering away at her chest. The sick feel of fear rooted deep in the pit of her stomach. She was shaking, teetering on the verge of vomiting. Jane recalled Maura's words, taking comfort in the image of Maura's face in her mind. Her words, telling her she was in control, that no one could hurt her.
"Why don't you untie me then?" Jane rasped, holding Hoyt's gaze in her own. Hoyt laughed, holding the knife up to her throat. "Now why would I do that?"
God. It was so real. The feel of the blade so prominent against her neck. The smell of his breath filling Jane's nostrils. It was hard to believe this was just a memory of a dream, that she was in control of this. Because at the moment Jane felt anything but in control. She swallowed hard, jutting her chin out in defiance, "because I said to. Untie me, Hoyt." Jane put as much conviction as she could behind her words, her eyes shining with her pent up rage.
Slowly the scalpel retracted from her neck and went up to her wrists. Snap. The plastic ties were cut loose and Jane brought her hands to her chest, rubbing the raw marks in an effort to soothe the pain. "Give me the scalpel," Jane commanded, holding her hand out. Hoyt glared at her, though his lips were still twisted to expose his rotten teeth. Slowly Hoyt handed the scalpel over, snickering softly. "You can't escape me, Jane. I will always be waiting for you. Always have power of you."
Jane snatched the scalpel from his hand, her own trembling. "Burn in hell, Hoyt," she spat before pulling the scalpel back over her head and thrusting it into his neck with all the force she could muster.
Jane's eyes flew open and she scrambled backwards, gasping loudly for air. She felt strong hands steady her and pull her forward, and without seeing, Jane threw herself into Maura's arms. She could still feel the warm spatter of blood on her face, hear the air hissing through Hoyt's throat as she extracted the knife. Jane's heart was racing wildly, but she wasn't afraid. She felt empowered. She felt free.
"Are you okay?" Maura whispered over Jane's shoulder, still holding her tightly. Jane nodded slowly and forced herself to pull away. She looked up into Maura's worried eyes and felt her heart skip a few beats. She did it. They did it. "I think it worked Maur," she whispered, her lips twitching in the ghost of a smile.