As soon as she hears the helicopters, Ellie knows she fucked up.
They fly over her head, the sound of their blades piercing the night sky. Their lights shine down over the woods, searching for any sign of the escapee.
But they’ll never find him, just like they’ll never find her.
Her legs burn from running frantically in the dark. The tiny light that usually illuminates the cabin is suddenly missing, most likely from the tricks he pulled.
But the search lights aid her in finding refuge. The dark outline of her temporary residence shines in the dark and she follows it, narrowly avoiding tripping over her own feet. Her shoes clack against the wooden steps of the porch and sweat drips down her neck as she tries not once, but twice, to shove the key into the lock.
On the second try, she drops them.
Fighting back tears, the key finally fits into the lock and she bursts through the door, maniacally flipping on every light switch in the front room.
None of them work, and she screams in frustration. Of course, he cut the power.
Slowly, the sounds of the helicopters fade away, and their searchlights dim.
Rescue isn’t coming.
She can barely see through her tears, her body shaking as she fumbles around in the darkness, feeling her way towards the small kitchen. She pulls a drawer open and finds a knife, gripping the handle like a lifeline. Pushing the end of the dining table, she drags it across the wooden floor, barricading the front door. She pushes every chair against it for good measure.
He’s still coming in either way, but she doesn’t have to make it easy for him.
Closing the curtains, blocking out any remaining source of light, she races down to the basement, flinging the door open. She shuts it behind her, breathing heavily into the darkness. Now that the adrenaline is wearing off, every part of her aches.
Including her heart.
Her heart hurts the most and she grits her teeth, refusing to let out the anguish that gathers in her throat.
She replays every stupid mistake she made in her mind, reliving every moment she had the chance to leave.
She had ample opportunity to escape him.
But instead, she played right into his hands.
She can’t see an inch in front of her. The darkness suffocates her, draining her of all her strength. She presses herself against the basement wall, sliding down to the floor, her head in her hands.
Her phone is dead; he made sure of it.
Just like he killed her car battery.
They should have known he wouldn’t stay confined in that prison for long.
He was only there because he wanted to be there.
And now, he has a reason to leave.
She shivers in the dark, knife in hand, waiting for the inevitable.
