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...

any water?" I ask, watching

in on

to the fridge, opening it and revealing a full stock of bottled

thought

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

as he sits much closer than what I had liked for him to

hand to reach down for the tray, using my

I eat he just watches me, almost mesmerised by my actions as I fight

know how I'm going to get through

elbows on his thighs, reaching closer to me as I shift in the chair ever

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

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

even closer, his 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

us for the complete

a slip-up of some kind, like he already knows

fine," I lie, forcing a smile that

word, every little movement. The silence stretches out, thick and burning, as he studies me like I'm

asks, voice teasing, as 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,

to pull away, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me react. If I show him

manage, my voice trembling slightly despite my best efforts. "I just...

to mull over my words, a dark smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I'll give you all the space you want down here, Sofia. But you

I was like a mouse that had just been caught by the

to fix our past relationship - he wants to fully control and trap me,

how far

bottle of water, trying to keep my focus, trying to hold it together long enough to figure out what

run Ashton..." I say carefully, glancing

unnerving eyes of his. Then, slowly, his lips curl up into something

I realised he was crazy..." he trails off, before carrying on in his self amusement, "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 a way that makes

suddenly croaks, breaking