Turning Point

Her mortified gaze flew up to mine, our eyes locked, and I knew that now I was in trouble. Hearing her soft gasp as her beautiful blue eyes widened in shocked disbelief, I realized that we both were indeed in deep, deep trouble. Neither one of us could look away; it was as if a lifetime of sharing passed between us in those few seconds as we stared into each other's eyes, mesmerized. Although I couldn't place it, I knew I would never forget it, nor would I forget the feel of her in my arms. It was as if she belonged there.

My spirits soared at the animated change, I didn't know if it meant anything, but it was a definite improvement. Within ten minutes, he'd left the road behind and we were moving swiftly through thick forest. Even though I knew the area would be unlikely to dump his vehicle and go it on foot, he didn't care about roads, his only concern was finding the straightest route. I followed unquestioningly. Daylight found us miles from familiar territory and I had to force him to stop so I could give us all a water break.

Slowly lowering the phone from my ear, I stared at it unseeingly, mind racing as I tried desperately to come up with another way to help. Nothing, I was a complete blank. A quick glance was enough to ascertain that the man to which she was referring was in the throes of what appeared to be a heart attack. He had toppled out of his chair, there was no movement from the man on the ground by the time I knelt beside him.

I sat and closed my eyes in a concerted effort to concentrate, finally managing to work out a simply coded message for him. Repeating the message over and over in my head, I dialed his confidential phone number, the one known only to a few. He hated my messages, but I usually enjoyed them. Picturing his irritated face was enough to send me into gales of laughter.

Once again, I struggled to surface from the deep drug-induced sleep, which marked another surgery. another attempt to make me presentable. I wondered in despair how many more needed until the end. Moaning, I desperately tried to open my eyes.

One day, hopefully very soon, he will be there, in hell, and that alone is enough to make me think twice about wishing that on anyone. If I'd been in a better mood, my psychoanalysis would have amused me, but if anything, it put me in an even darker place. I hadn't thought it possible. At least I understood what I was feeling, not much consolation there. Of course, it was too much to hope that he would leave me alone.

I was already dressed and ready to go, albeit in the most unattractive clothes I owned and I had no intention of downing any more pills. There were already enough drugs in my system to last a lifetime and the thought of taking anymore, I shuddered in revulsion. I'd asked so many questions about the medicines I'd been prescribed that I knew the doctor as well as his nursing staff would certainly be glad to see the back of me. That said, I was in no doubt that the rather large blue pill was something new.

Add guilt to my list of unreasonable emotions. The back door opened, and I came back to the present with a start, the sound practically scaring me out of my wits. I should have, at the very least, opened and shut the door for him, and possibly even offered to help bring in the firewood, even though I instinctively knew he would refuse seeing. Instead of even attempting to assist, I'd decided it was a good time for self-analysis.

I was batting a thousand, and as I watched his expressionless face, I could tell I'd hit a nerve, perhaps multiple nerves. He had expected me to simply roll over and obey his command as usual, but what he hadn't planned on was that without leverage, he had no bargaining chip to use in order to control me. That he would win in the end, I had no doubt, but I refused to make it easy for him. I'd done enough of that the last time I'd been his prisoner.

Although I was curious as to why he would have something like that just lying around, I wasn't about to ask him. I hadn't known him long, but I'd already figured out that he wasn't exactly the kind of man you asked questions like that. If he wanted me to know, he'd tell me. I wanted to run, but I had nowhere to go. Instead, I stood facing the fireplace, hands stretched towards the small amount of warmth from the dying fire, trying to control the sudden shivering that I was fairly certain wasn't from the cold.

Although it was difficult, I resisted the urge to turn around and gawk at the two at the back of the room. I had to admit, they were rather amusing. Most of the other students had arrived after I had, and I had no idea how many people were behind me, but it sounded as if we had a packed house. Feeling that it would be rude to turn and stare at every one who put in an appearance, I studiously kept my eyes forward after he positioned me.

I practically roared with laughter. I laughed so hard tears filled my eyes. Once I finally calmed down enough to find some coherency, I took one look at her set face and knew I was in trouble. And I couldn't remember ever being happier about it. She was definitely detrimental to my work ethic.

Instinctively, I turned towards the stairs and practically fell down them in my haste to get to her, but carefully kept a firm grip on my shotgun. I couldn't have cared less which of the two men survived the confrontation, but I wasn't about to let her get hurt I'd almost made it to her when the sound of a soft thud reached my ears. Although I hadn't ever encountered one in real life, I'd watched enough action-adventure movies to recognize a silencer when I heard one. Definitely not welcome news.