Shadows In Durango

Chapter 106

*****Sofia's POV*****

Groaning loudly, I flop back down on to the crummy sofa in the centre of the cold hard basement.

There was absolutely nothing in here from what I could see that could help me get out. Nothing decent to even defend myself with.

It was as though Ashton had already thought this whole plan through to the end - proving himself to be a master criminal at the mere age of eighteen. What a fucking asshole!

I was so upset, so angry at myself for landing myself in this mess. The second he had pulled up in his car I should have ran for the hills...

All I could think of was that I should have told Vincent all about seeing Ashton at school when I had the chance. He was smart, he would have looked in to him right away if anything like this happened to me, but he didn't even know about him being here...

I hoped that Emma would think to tell him all about me running in to Ashton at school, maybe from there he would somehow be able to find and save me?

But I doubt it, I'm being extremely hopeful and extremely unrealistic. For all I knew, Vincent had let me run off in my childish meltdown, not bothering to chase after me like he had done before in the past.

I straighten up immediately, hearing the door unlock from the top of the steps, it creaking open and shining a brighter light down in to the darkened space.

My best chance here is to play along for now...

Make him believe that I'm really trying to work on 'us' and maybe he will trust me enough to take me outside?

Once I can get outside, somewhere public, I'll be able to find help...

"Here we go! Toast and beans!" He announces, as though it were a gourmet meal he had just whipped up, as I crank open a tight smile - with it failing to reach my eyes.

He was dangerous...

But I had to play nice...

watching him reach the bottom step

tightens up as he closes in on me, placing the

and revealing a full stock

he's already thought of that

me, causing for me to gulp in sudden realisation. How long was he planning to hold me down here? If he had stocked up on so many bottles for me? Shivering, my eyes follow him as

stool as he sits much closer than what I

my other to lift one

by my actions as I

how I'm going to get through

long..." He announces, leaning his elbows on his thighs, reaching closer to me as I shift

never leave me as I take another bite, the food almost tasteless in my mouth. It's hard to focus on anything but the looming sense of insanity that fills the space between us. The more I try to keep my composure, the more it feels like I'm

piercing. It makes my skin crawl, but I keep my eyes down, focusing on the toast, trying to force my hands to stop

breath warm against the already heavy air of the basement. "So, Sofia... What's it been like for you? In town, I mean." His voice is low, casual, but I can hear the

the adventure continues. Join us for the

he's waiting for a slip-up of some

despite the water bottle he had handed me. "It's been fine," I lie, forcing a smile that feels like a

me, his eyes narrowing slightly as though he's dissecting every little word, every little movement. The silence

if I've just told him something amusing. "That's funny, because I remember you being so upset on that sidewalk, so desperate to get away from me and from everything here." His hand reaches out, almost casually, brushing against the back of my hand, and I

the satisfaction of seeing me react.

my voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts.

back, satisfied for now. "Space, huh?" He seems to mull over my words, a dark smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll give you all the space

sickening realisation sinking in. I was like a mouse that had just been

just want me here to fix our past relationship - he wants to fully control and trap me, feeling victorious

how far

the bottle of water, trying to keep my focus, trying to hold it together long

on the run Ashton..." I say carefully, glancing at him

immediately, just watches me with those unnerving eyes of his. Then, slowly, his

"But I wonder how he would feel now after knowing that I had managed to catch his daughter when he couldn't?" He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair back from my face, his fingers lingering on my skin in

that I'm here..." my voice suddenly croaks, breaking finally as I sniffle