Dark Visions by Jonas Saul

she'd been in, and stopped in
front of the window.
    Her hand tightened on the handle of the
screwdriver and held it to her chest. She had to get her breathing
under control.
    Where could she hide it?
    The cabin door banged open.
    She lunged forward and then stopped. The
screwdriver was still in her hand.
    He yelled for her.
    She spun into a corner of the room and
jammed the tool into her right front pocket of her jeans. Before
her hand came out, the screwdriver nicked the inside of her
palm.
    She knelt down, leaning against the
wall.
    He jumped into the room, his gun drawn.
    Sarah ducked her head down.
    "What're you doing? Trying the windows, are
you?"
    She looked over at him as he crossed the
room and checked the integrity of the window. He turned to her and
placed his gun against the skin of her temple.
    "Get up."
    She remained on her knees, whimpering. She
didn't want to stand in front of him for fear he'd see the
impression the screwdriver was making on her jeans.
    "I said, get up."
    She shook her head.
    He rushed her.
    She thought he must have lost his balance
because he fell into her. She was lifted by her shirt and shoved
towards the door.
    Then his foot came out and knocked hers away
from the floor. She fell hard, landing on her stomach before she
could get her hands out in front to absorb most of the fall. A
grunt escaped her lips as the tool in her pocket jabbed hard just
below her hips.
    "I can see you will need to be taught a few
lessons. When I say something, you do it or you get hurt.
Understood?"
    She nodded her head.
    "Get up."
    With a struggle, she got to her knees and
then to her feet.
    "Good. It appears you can learn a thing or
two. Now walk. Go to the car and stand in front of the trunk."
    A minute later they were outside. He popped
the trunk and motioned for Sarah to crawl in. She tried angling
herself to avoid the tool in her pocket doing any further
damage.
    Then his hands were on her back. He shoved
her hard and fast.
    She had time to duck her head, but banged
her right shoulder against the top of the trunk which caused a high
pitched cry to escape her lips.
    The trunk lid came down fast, but not before
she saw him smiling. Evidently her pain pleased him , she
thought to herself.
    In the chaos of leaving the cabin he forgot
to tie her up. Her wrists and ankles were free of restraint.
    She maneuvered in a way to pull the
screwdriver out and started working on her escape.
     

Chapter 21
     
    Caleb started for the door. If he was going
to get his daughter back, he was going to do it his way. The police
didn't help when Vivian was kidnapped and murdered years ago and he
was convinced they wouldn't this time either.
    He stopped at the door. Did he really want
to do this without Amelia? Would she understand? Could he tell her
about the phone calls? It was always a fight with Amelia. She had
to do it her way. If he told her what the caller said about Sarah
this morning, she would be hysterical.
    But maybe she should be let in on this?
    He turned around and headed for the living
room. His wife lay sprawled at a crooked angle on the couch, her
neck twisted on the arm rest.
    "Amelia, wake up. It's nine-thirty in the
morning. Sarah's still not home."
    She grunted a reply and turned to ease the
pressure on her neck. She began massaging below her jaw as she
winced.
    "What time is it?"
    "Nine-thirty in the morning."
    Amelia moved her head back and forth. He
wasn't sure if she was saying 'no' or trying to get the muscles
moving again.
    "I've got a splitting headache. Can you get
me some tablets?"
    Caleb was back a minute later with pills and
water. "Here, take these. Have a shower and we'll talk about what
to do. I've called the plant and told them I wouldn't be in for a
few days."
    "Give me a minute. Do you have coffee
on?"
    He looked at his watch. Every minute was
important. He was losing time. He made his decision.
    "I made some coffee. It's in the kitchen.
Look, why don't you wake up, have a shower and get