He left the door open. It was barely cracked, but it was open. Laney simply stared at that open door for what felt like hours. Her tired and broken mind could not seem to comprehend the mistake that he had made. He left the door open.
The door was open.
The door was open.
The door was open!! Oh my God, the door was open!
Jumbled thoughts began to come together, and her heart started to flutter like a bird in her chest. She gulped in a deep, shaky breath, and released it slowly. This might be her one and only chance get out. She had earned his trust during her captivity. The ball gag came out a long time ago, and the leg restraints were next. The last few weeks, he finally released the ever present bondage around her wrists. She learned early on of his demands for obedience and docility, and he would often remark that her meek and mild demeanor suited his needs perfectly. Still, there were times when Laney's smart mouth would get her in trouble, and he had no problems with spanking her like an insolent child, or striping her ass with the cane.
If she walked out that door, and he caught her...she shook her head at the thoughts. He would never kill her. His obsessive love would never allow for her death. Instead, she would beg for death.
Laney stood on quivering legs, and padded gently to the door. When he locked her in this room, it usually meant that he had to leave to meet a client. Now, really, was her only chance. Hazel eyes peeked through the open crack, down into the hallway. She knew that to her left was his bedroom. Their bedroom now. To her right was the loft, and then the stairs.
She stopped.
She would need to prepare herself to run. Having earned his confidence in her submission, he started taking her outside. If she behaved, and showed respect, he would take her on walks around the property in the early evenings. The sun would be setting, and the sky would be painted with the soft pinks and purples of dusk. His hand would hold hers possessively, with his thumb making slow swirls onto her skin. In his depraved mind, he thought it was a lover's touch. She knew better than to pull away from his caresses. He would pull her into his arms, her back against his chest. His body would surround her, and all she could do was stare meekly out at the woods that bordered the property. Woods that she would have to somehow navigate. She had no idea how far out those woodlands went, or even where they were exactly. She knew with absolute surety though, that she was willing to take the chance. He left the door open, and she was going to walk through it.
Quietly, she stepped to the bedroom that they now shared. She needed to pack a bag, and quickly. Nothing in this house was a reflection of her. How could it be? She was taken, and then locked up here. This was never a home for a loving couple. He tried to make it seem like they were though, as if they were husband and wife. There were small pieces around the bedroom that he felt she would like, and would help to make her feel more open and comfortable with him. He had discovered that she loved giraffes. Laney woke up one morning to a framed painting of a mother giraffe with her calf hanging on the wall. It was beautiful. Something that she would have hung in her own apartment. She instantly hated it. She was never good at hiding her emotions, and he knew at once of her real feelings. She wanted to love the painting, but how could she? It only served as a reminder of her imprisonment. She tried to thank him for the gift, she really did, but it wasn't enough. His discipline that night was unrelenting. Then he tenderly cared for her bruised and aching body for the days after. The disparities in his personality were terrifying. She had to get out of this nightmare.
From the closet, she grabbed one of his backpacks. All the clothes she wore were specifically picked out by him. Most items were nightwear, with a feminine and demure style that he liked to dress her in. Thankfully, she was allowed to wear real clothes sometimes. She pulled on a pair of skinny jeans that he got for her. She left on the lacy panties and camisole, deciding that layers would be a good idea. It was early October, but the nights were starting to get chilly. She put on one of his fleece sweaters. It was big on her, so she rolled the sleeves up. The smell of his cologne from the sweater drifted up to her nose, and she took in a sharp breath. Fear bloomed in her belly, and for a split second, she thought he was in the closet with her. Adrenaline surged through her body. Her heartbeat sounded like drums in her ears. The terror of getting caught was creeping up on her.
I need to get out, now!
She packed an extra pair of jeans and sweater in the backpack. Opening up the top drawer of the closet dresser, she spied the lacquered box that he kept in there. She saw him tuck money away in here before, and silently prayed that some would still be there. A breathless gasp left her lips when she saw the neatly stacked bills. She took it all, not bothering to count how much was there, and stuffed it into the front pocket of the backpack. Opening the next drawer down, she grabbed a few pairs of warm socks and extra panties, and into the backpack they went, setting a pair aside to put on her bare feet. Lastly, she slipped on her only pair of sneakers; a baby blue pair of women's converse. The shoes she was wearing the night he took her.
Shrugging the backpack onto her shoulders, she stood there pensively. A war was going on inside her. She took in the colors of the hanging clothes; his and hers. He could be so nurturing. There were times when he treated her like a precious treasure, a beloved gift. He would make love to her, all the while holding her face and staring into her eyes. The passion was thick, and she would drown in it. He would pump into her with deep and sensual strokes, his lips barely touching hers. They would stay connected that way, and she would feel his soft breaths against her mouth as he whispered of all the different ways that she belonged to him, and how endless his love was for her. She covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stifle the grating sobs that erupted from her throat.
I can't leave him! This would break his heart!
Closing her eyes, she took in deep, cleansing breaths, trying to get out of her head and into her senses.
You can do this.
You can do this.
Put one foot in front of the other, Laney.
Tentatively stepping downstairs, she headed towards the kitchen. She had no idea how deep the woods went, and mentally prepared a list of what she should take to help her survive. The plan was to head west. She knew that a city was out that way. She could just barely see the tops of the tallest buildings when they would take their evening walks. Opening the pantry doors, she took out an entire box of granola bars, setting them on the kitchen counter. She pulled some apples out of the fruit bowl, and then picked up two bottled waters from the refrigerator. She grabbed the candle lighter and pen light from the utility drawer. The knife block was perched on the counter right in front of her. Laney tilted her head and stared at it, then quickly snatched the paring knife. Everything went into the backpack.
"Ok. This is it."
Her voice was whispered and anxious. The last thing she grabbed was his thick parka jacket from the washroom. Putting it on, she picked up the full backpack, and made her way towards the front door. Laney stopped; in the tangled thoughts running through her mind since she first saw the door left open, she had completely forgotten about the front door, and its keyless entry. She needed either his thumbprint or the access code to be able to open the front door.
A heavy sigh left her lips, and she covered her eyes with her hands, slowly rubbing her fingertips over her closed eyelids.
I really am imprisoned here.
