by J. S. Scott
“Ellie!” he bellowed loudly, even though the place was so small he probably didn’t need to shout.
He strode through the small cabin with a living area to one side and a small kitchen in the other direction. He inspected the tiny bathroom before he came to an abrupt halt at the door of the only bedroom in the cabin. His body tensed as he saw the nearly unrecognizable figure shackled in the corner, huddled in a fetal position, completely naked.
“Fuck!” The curse exploded from his mouth as he entered the room and crouched down next to the woman, not knowing if she was dead or alive.
He pushed the filthy hair from her face. “Ellie?” he said hesitantly, feeling her neck for a pulse, his blood starting to boil as he saw all of the poorly healing bruises and cuts to her body, face, and limbs.
There was a portable potty next to her, but she’d obviously eventually lacked the strength to use it. Every limb was shackled with heavy metal, giving her very limited mobility. There was an empty water jug in the corner, and a plastic bag with nothing inside.
Zane got no response, but his heart started to accelerate as he found a weak pulse.
He ran out to the kitchen and found a glass and filled it with water, damn grateful that the place had indoor plumbing.
He paid no attention to how badly the woman smelled as he cradled her in his arms, forcing her to sit up. “Ellie? Open your eyes for me. You need water. You’re dehydrated.”
She was more than just dehydrated. She was starved. But he had to solve one problem at a time. Ellie used to be a curvy woman. Now she had no flesh on her bones.
He put the cup to her lips, tipping it up slowly. Her eyes flickered, but didn’t open, and he hoped to hell she still had a swallow reflex. The last thing he wanted was for her to aspirate.
“Swallow for me, Ellie. Come on!” He watched her as he dribbled the water slowly into her mouth, relieved when he saw the muscles in her neck move weakly to down the liquid.
She needed food, but he continued to try to hydrate her first before finally going into the kitchen to try to find something—anything—that she might be able to get down her throat. Before he started rummaging through the cupboards, he remembered that he had protein drinks and some beverages in his SUV that would help her replace electrolytes she was missing.
“Fluids are better,” he said absently to himself as he came back into the cabin with the supplies and tools he needed, then started his mission to get some more hydration and nutrition into Ellie.
He had to go slow, which irritated the hell out of him. He wanted to give her everything she hadn’t had, and he wanted her nearly lifeless form to spring back to life.
He wanted Ellie back, and no matter what it took, he’d see her smiling and whole again if it killed him.
I won’t quit. I never quit.
It took him a while to get her free from her bonds of steel with the tools he had in his car, and he continued to curse violently as he freed her.
If James wasn’t already dead, Zane would have murdered the bastard without an ounce of remorse.
After he’d given Ellie everything he dared give her at one time, he scooped her up from the cold floor. Christ! She was so light that it scared the hell out of him. Ducking around the corner, he went into the bathroom, hoping the hot water worked. He turned the knobs on the shower, relieved when warm water eventually emerged.
Setting her gently on the floor, he quickly stripped off his own clothing and hefted her back up and into the shower with him. The cabin had some heat, but it was still damn cold. Ellie had no meat on her bones to protect her from lying on a cold floor. He needed to start off easy and gentle, increasing the warmth to her body carefully.
He used a bottle of liquid soap he’d found in the shower, scrubbing her body and hair until she was clean again. A small, weak moan escaped her lips, and it gave him even more hope that she’d come around eventually. She shivered in his arms, another good sign. His slow warming of her body was starting to bring up her core temperature.
Frustrated, Zane knew there was no way he was getting her to a medical facility because of the blizzard roaring outside the cabin walls. If something happened on the way back out of the remote wilderness, she’d never survive. He was a doctor. Granted, he was in research, but it wasn’t like he hadn’t gone to med school. Since he was academically gifted, he’d sped right through his degrees and then focused on biotechnology. But he knew what he had to do, what she needed right now. Unfortunately, he had very few resources or equipment to help her as much as she needed.
He turned off the water and dried them both the best he could with the threadbare towels in the bathroom, and then carried Ellie to the only bed in the house, the one that had been denied to her because of her confinement. Pulling back the bedspread, he was relieved that the bedcovers looked fairly clean, and he tucked her beneath the blanket and the sheets. Sitting beside her, he attempted to comb her long hair with his fingers. Ellie had beautiful, light-blonde hair, and he was starting to see the fair locks again now that it was clean. Pushing the hair away from her face, he was practically ready to go ballistic over the healing bruises and cuts on her skin.
He’d looked her over while he was washing her, and he hadn’t seen anything life-threatening as far as injuries, but it fucking pissed him off that James had even touched Ellie.
Zane rose and went to work cleaning up the mess in the corner, washing down the floor and disposing of the metal bindings and the portable potty. When he was done, he wrapped a blanket around his nude body, put on his boots, and sprinted back out to his SUV, grabbing the overnight bag that he always had in the cargo space.
He dressed in the spare clothing he had, wishing he had something more he could put on Ellie except one of his flannel shirts that was tucked away inside the bag.
After he got her into the garment, he gave her a little more fluid, and then went and rummaged through the small dwelling, trying to find anything useful. He came across Ellie’s purse in one of the cupboards, but he didn’t see any sign of her clothing. Zane put his dirty garments in the sink and washed them by hand, and then hung them in the bathroom to dry. He didn’t think he’d need them because he planned on getting Ellie down the mountain soon. It was more his restless energy that wouldn’t let him keep still.
He found some basic supplies, mostly canned goods, but at least there was something.
Since the antiquated heating system was producing very little warmth, he loaded the old stove with wood that was stacked against the wall and started a fire that was soon blazing. He shut the metal door, glad that the old piece of crap actually worked. The cabin was so small that it should help keep the limited space warmer.
Having rummaged through every cupboard, Zane paced back and forth from the bedroom to the small window beside the door, wishing it would fucking stop snowing.
Ellie needs so much more than I can do for her right now. She needs IV fluids and feedings, x-rays, and testing.
Hell, he knew she was bad, but he had no idea if her body had more wrong than what he could see just from looking at her and doing a superficial exam.
Unfortunately, the blizzard was still raging, and he was frustrated that there was little he could do except keep giving Ellie everything he could in intervals that wouldn’t overfill her shrunken stomach.
He helped her swallow some nourishment.
Then he paced.
He did it again.
Then he paced.
He kept trying his cell phone, but he was in a dead zone, and he didn’t want to leave Ellie to try to attempt to find an area that could pick up a signal. More than likely, nothing would be close. He was pretty sure this whole desolate mountain area was off the grid.
As it started getting dark, he fired up an ancient generator that would give them some light, and then fed the hungry stove more wood, noticing that the tiny dwelling was alread
y getting warmer.
As he sat back down on the bed to heft Ellie up to drink some more, he was elated to see that she was swallowing more readily.
“Come on, Ellie. Just a little more,” he crooned, trying to cajole her into a few more swallows.
She complied, and he set the cup on a small, rustic bedside table.
“Zane?” The weak voice was barely a whisper.
But he heard it.
His head jerked toward Ellie, his heart racing as he saw her eyelids flicker before she opened them completely.
A look of horror crossed her face for just a moment until she focused in on him. “Zane?” she asked again uncertainly, her whisper panicked and scared.
“Yeah. It’s me, Ellie. It’s Zane.” He stroked a gentle hand over her hair. “You’re safe. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus! He hated seeing that terrified look on her face.
“James,” she rasped.
He put his fingers over her lips. “Don’t try to talk. James is dead. He can never hurt you again. You have to rest, Ellie. I’ve been trying to rehydrate you. You’re pretty weak, and I need to get you to the hospital. The weather is shit. Just rest until I can get you out of here, okay?”
She nodded feebly, as though she understood him, and her eyes fluttered closed.
Zane went to rise from the bed, but Ellie said softly, “Don’t go, Zane. Please. I think I’m hallucinating, but I want it to last.”
Kicking off his boots, he pivoted and stretched his body out next to hers. “You’re not dreaming, and me being here is no illusion. James is dead and he’s never coming back. I can’t take you down the mountain right now. We’re in a blizzard. But I’ll get you to safety as fast as I can.”
He gently wrapped his arms around her and placed her head on his chest, smoothing his hand rhythmically over her now-dry hair.
“I think I’m already safe,” she said hesitantly, snuggling into his body.
“Damn right you are. I won’t let anything happen to you, Ellie. I promise.”
She sighed lightly, and then her breathing became even and deep. Zane knew that she was sleeping, no longer in an unconscious state.
Relief flowed over him as his body relaxed. He put both arms protectively around Ellie, rocking her body gently in an effort to comfort her, but maybe just a little bit for himself, too, because he was so damn grateful that she was alive.
Finally, with Ellie cuddled safe and warm against him, Zane slept.
Ellie opened her eyes, confused.
Where am I? What happened?
James!
Panic seized her as she looked around, terrified that it was James’s return to the cabin that had woken her. Fear and dread seized her by the throat, but she noticed her mouth was no longer as dry as the desert.
Pulse racing, her breathing erratic, Ellie’s reaction was pure terror. Frantically, she started to look around the cabin, hoping there was nobody here.
Except…she wasn’t in the cabin anymore. Her rational mind started to function and she slowly tried to take in her surroundings.
It didn’t take her long to realize she was in the hospital, medical personnel scurrying around and passing the open door to the hallway at a pace that made her dizzy.
The white sheets and blankets that were covering her helped verify her location, as did the IV in her arm and all of the wires attached to her body.
She started to feel terror welling up inside her, not understanding why she was here or how she got to a hospital, when she heard his voice.
“Thank fuck! You’re awake.”
Her head jerked up to see an exhausted-looking Zane Colter at her bedside, his clothing rumbled and his hair mussed, as though he’d been running his hand through it over and over again.
Her suspicion was confirmed when he raked his hand through his hair again, either in relief or frustration. Sometimes with Zane, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. But stoic or not, she was glad he was here, and she felt her body relax for the first time in a very long time.
“What happened?” Her voice was as weak as her body. “How did I get here?”
“You don’t remember anything?” Zane asked with a frown.
Ellie probed her brain, vaguely remembering hearing Zane’s voice telling her everything would be okay. “I thought you were a dream.”
“I hardly think I’m anybody’s dream,” Zane said drily.
Ellie suddenly remembered how she had gotten in her current condition in the first place, horrifying memories flowing back into her brain as she struggled to sit up in bed. “Oh, God. I have to talk to Chloe. James—”
He pushed her back down gently. She didn’t have the strength to really move, much less sit up.
“Is dead,” Zane finished. “He killed himself, Ellie. Before that, he was in the hospital because he was stupid enough to hurt our sister. That’s why you didn’t get food and water. You were in bad shape when I finally found you in that cabin.”
“Chloe—”
“My little sister is on her honeymoon. She married Gabe Walker, a man who will take good care of her.”
Ellie’s head was spinning by the time he caught her up on what had happened to Chloe, and how she’d been blackmailed. She’d missed so much, and so many things had happened while she’d been held captive by James.
“Thank God,” Ellie whispered and let her head fall back onto the pillow. “After I saw those videos, I was so afraid for her.”
“He knew that you knew about them?”
Ellie nodded. “He caught me with his laptop. I was on my way to Chloe when he kidnapped me at the office and tossed me in the trunk of his vehicle.”
“Christ!” Zane cursed vehemently.
“I was unconscious for a while, so I didn’t know how far he’d driven. I didn’t even know exactly where he had me hidden. All I knew was that I was in some sort of cabin, and I assumed it was remote. I never did figure out why he didn’t just kill me.”
“Insurance,” Zane grumbled. “I have no doubt that after the wedding, he would have stopped caring whether you were alive or dead.”
“Everybody thought I was dead?” she asked quietly.
“Pretty much,” he agreed. “But Chloe and I never stopped looking. Since your car was missing, most people assumed you had either left or were already dead.”
Ellie shuddered. Her poor Blue Turtle had been in the office parking lot. Obviously, James had gotten rid of it. “I think I was almost dead. Toward the end, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted James to come back, or just let me die.” His visits hadn’t been frequent, but they’d always been painful.
“Don’t say that,” Zane rasped. “I know he beat the crap out of you. Did he rape you, Ellie?”
“No,” she told him, embarrassed. “I was too fat for him in the beginning, and I think he got more joy out of torturing me. Once I got thinner, he told me I was a dirty, disgusting pig.”
Zane stroked her hair absently. “I’m so damn sorry I didn’t find you earlier.”
She smiled up at him weakly. “I’m grateful you found me at all.” She hesitated before saying, “I wonder what he did with my car. He could have taken my keys, but I wonder where he hid my old Blue Turtle.”
“Your what?” Zane answered, confused.
Ellie sighed. “I called my car my Blue Turtle. I had it for so long, but it just kept on going. It just got a little slower over time.”
“It was never found,” Zane confirmed.
“I assume that once you found me, you brought me here. Where are we?”
“Denver. It was closer, and has medical facilities better equipped for the condition you were in. I did what I could the first night of the blizzard, but when you still weren’t coherent the next day, I headed down from the mountain. The snow had let up some, and I had to take the chance of getting you somewhere for treat
ment.”
“I lost track of time. How long did James keep me there?” Ellie had lost her senses a little at a time, and the days and nights had all run together.
“About seven months,” Zane answered reluctantly.
Ellie’s mouth dropped open in shock. For a while, she’d counted the days and weeks that passed, but eventually she’d slept most of the time when James wasn’t there. After she’d tried everything she could think of to get herself free, her hopes of being rescued had faded. Little by little, her energy had gotten depleted, and she’d started rationing her food and water, never knowing when she’d get some again…or if she ever would.
“My mom. She’s probably been heartsick.” If she’d been missing for months, her poor mother was probably worried.
“I called her. Saying she was happy would be an understatement. She’s on her way here from Montana.” He waited a moment before he asked, “Do you want me to tell Chloe?”
“No,” she answered immediately. “She deserves her time away after what happened with James. It sounds like she’s healing. I can see her when she gets back. I hope I’m healthier when I finally see her.”
Ellie didn’t need a mirror to know she looked hideous, and the last thing she wanted was for Chloe to blame herself. Now that she knew the whole story, Ellie knew Chloe had been through enough. Although Ellie desperately wanted her best friend, she didn’t want her to see her this way. Knowing Chloe, she’d blame herself.
“We haven’t told them anything. She doesn’t even know James is dead. I have a feeling Blake probably told Gabe.” Zane sounded slightly uncomfortable. “But I think she might be pissed that I didn’t tell her that I found you.”
“It’s probably better that way, even if she’s a little angry. I’ll tell her it was my idea. Once she feels more together, she’ll be able to handle everything better. She might not fuss as much if I’m stronger.”