Romantic Love

lamp, I don't know if it's been twenty seconds or two hours. My head feels clear at last,

w I've had to do before to survive. My eyes dart around the room, taking in as much information as they can. I seem to be in a cabin. I am lying in a warm bed nestled between the silkiest sheets I've ever touched. A window to my

up into myself with a familiar terror. They are chasing m

ept in a motel room just down the road from the airport, and I remember the helicopter we took the next morning. But I can't remember anything a

protect me at all costs makes me feel just a little bit calmer. I seize that thought like a drowning girl. I just need to convince myself that I'm safe, that Johnston is on

nd takes a step back. He's wearing a plaid, long-sleeved shirt and a black ski mask over his face. This is almost cartoonish. I survived so long, knowing the faces of the men w

o respond, the terror constricting my throat won't allow any sound to pass through. He must notice

e don't wear ski masks when they come to talk to you. But his

y and convince myself it's true. Everything is fine. This is normal. He

ds of security, I timidly

uses.

am I? Who is this man? Where is Johnston? Why would he

gh without a masked man making vaguely threatening statements. The fac

ake control of me now. I have to stay here, present. I have to get

ooking for me?" I ask, my voi

while you we

irio

sick. I didn't thi

d I get

death. You had a gash on your temple. I th

iding in the helicopter. How did I come to be in

r how you got t

han a real tray. On the tray is a glass of water and a bowl. I notice he is holding the tray oddly, only with his left hand. His right is tucked up against his midsection, the hand encased in a glove. The knuckles on his left hand gripping the tray are turning white. With his facial expressi

ungry? I h

own slightly. He has a noticeable limp. His right leg seems much weaker than his left. He set

elp? With the

for the bowl. I freeze when I see the sleeve of the shirt I'm

ren't my

ror. He gives no indica

nge my clothes?" I