Chapter 9. Sticks and Stones

I didn’t know how long I was locked underneath the pool cover, stuck in the limb-freezing cold water–on the lowest temperature setting purely intended for my suffering.

It had to be hours.

I screamed until my lungs burned and tried to push the cover off, but to no avail. And no one came to my rescue.

Not that I think anyone could, considering I heard the door to the room shut and the lock turned. It wouldn’t surprise me if the three men took turns guarding the door for extra measure.

The sun was setting, and I was shaking so badly that my teeth chattered noisily. My skin had turned blue, and the horrifying conclusion settled over me; what if they left me here overnight?

Or until…

Panic swelled for the hundredth time inside my chest, and I tried to lift my arms to slam against the glass, but my limbs were too stiff and sore to move. When I tried to scream, my voice was a mere cracking sound followed by a gush of breathlessness.

If they were w