________________________________________________

Claire doesn't know how many days passed since she was taken, for when she woke up the first time, she was feeling disoriented. The place where she was in doesn't have a window nor any gap that may indicate what time it was or what day it is, her phone and watch isn't with her. All she knows is that it's been two days since she woke up.

Her captor, Old Tom, only shows his face if he will give her food or if he is having an 'attack', as what she calls it. He has an alternating episodes of full awareness and hallucination. The first time she witnessed the hallucination, she got scared for Old Tom was already sitting beside her bed, staring - only staring. He stared at her for two hours, eyes glazing, without saying anything which made her squirm and be on edge.

His episode of full awareness can be easily noticed, for this is when he will send her food and will tell her to drink her medicine for her pregnancy, which thankfully is with her. His face also shows he is alert and he doesn't go inside her prison bar - yes, she is kept inside a room with bars, which only contain a bed, a small table and a chair. The bathroom/toilet is at one corner which thankfully has a door with lock.

She tried to ask him several questions ever since she awaken, like why he is doing this to her and what are his motives, but all she got was silence. She tried this several more times but got the same response, she thought he will never answer and she will never know until yesterday when he started spilling some things. It started when he saw her rubbing her stomach, pulling some strength from the baby living inside her.

"She's also doing that at that time she was here." Old Tom started which made her confused.

"Who?" She asked.

"Lizbeth." He answered while staring at her. Based on his expression, this is the 'conscious' one.

"She is always doing that while she was pregnant. Right now, you look exactly like her." After saying that, he left her alone and heard him locked the door.

She started pondering who Lizbeth was, there was something that wanted to sprout on her mind, she felt she know her somewhere, but in order not to stress herself out due to her condition and situation, she let it be. Right now, she is waiting for her food to be brought, she just hopes that the 'conscious' one will deliver it not the other one for he gives her the creeps. Her prayer was answered when it was 'him' who came. He opened the door and put her food at the table then promptly let himself out. She sat at the table and ate. She saw him sat at the chair outside her cage and started a conversation.

"Take your medicine after your meal." His reminder brought a smile on her face and she thanked him.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked after debating with herself whether it is okay to do so. She thought he will not answer when he just stared blankly. So she got startled when he spoke.

"What do you want to ask?"

"Who is Lizbeth?"

"She is Ben's obsession. But don't tell him I told you." He answered which made her confused, so she asked.

"Who is Ben?"

His answer made her perplexed. "Ben, is the one who took you."

"No, you took me." She cannot helped but argue, for that is the truth. She thought he is making a joke or something when he explained.

"No, Claire, I am not the one who took you, I am not Ben. My name is Derrick, I am only here to feed and guard you while they were away." He said with slight laugh. His answer and explanation made her spooked. She was about to say something when she noticed that he became serious.

"I need to go, he is coming. Don't tell him anything, especially about our discussion, it's for your own safety. I will see you tomorrow." He said and hurriedly left, making sure to lock her again on her dungeon.

She let the day pass by reading a book that 'Derrick' lent her. She doesn't want to think too much of what he said but she cannot help it. She can feel that he is telling the truth, and if he does then she is really in trouble. She started to think of some ways on how she can escape, but how?

She thought of 'Derrick', maybe he can help her, she has a strong feeling that he can. She just needs to build up some trust with him, maybe he can let her out of this cage. She started formulating a plan on her head and she just hope and pray that it will come into fruition. She slept that night more fitful than the previous nights, because of nerves among other things.

***

She started her day next with her usual routine, she cleaned herself and dress. She doesn't know who, maybe it was Derrick, but every basic necessities she needs are provided, like clothes, soap, even shampoo and conditioner. Her soiled clothes are being taken and washed as well, by whom, she doesn't know, for the man do not speak, though he still looks like Old Tom and Derrick. It is safe for her to say that the person has some personality disorder, she heard and read it somewhere before but she never expected to meet and interact with one. Her musings were disrupted by the opening of the door and in came Derrick, she knows it's him since he is smiling at her which she returned as well. He opened the bar doors, lay her food on the table, went out and sat on the same chair as yesterday. She started eating while pondering how to start her questioning. She didn't notice that he is staring at her and got startled when he spoke.

"Spill it out. I won't bite if you want to ask or say something. I am not Ben, you know."

His statement gave her an idea of how to start. "Why? I mean, why and how can you say that? Will Ben hurt me if I will ask or say something?"

She saw him debate with himself whether to answer her but he did nonetheless. "It depends on what you will say or ask? If it will irk him then, he will. That is why I am telling you to be mindful of what to say if ever you will face him."

"If ever, I will face him? Why? Is it possible that he will not come down here to check on me?" She cannot control the delight in her voice at the thought that she will not come face to face with this Ben.

"Do not let your hopes high, Claire, for we, especially me, doesn't know what his real plan is. I was just instructed to feed and guard you as what I already said yesterday." Derrick said squashing that slight ray of hope that she felt. Though feeling down, she caught something at what he said.

"Who is 'we' that you are saying?"

"Me and the others, we are five before, but now we are only four. Ben is our leader of sort, he is strong so it is a given. He gave us each a specific instructions. I am in charge of your food and act as your guard. 'Fred' is the one who washes and iron your clothes, he is mute, that is why he doesn't speak. You met Old Tom, he is the one who work for you before as Ben instructed him to." Derrick explained lengthly.

"What happened to the other one?" She asked while he is still willing to answer.

"He died." Was his only answer before he left her alone - again.

This continued for several more days. Them conversing about anything under the sun, she held herself not to ask things that still confuses her for he may once again refuse to answer and just leave her instead. So their topics were safe ones and she can tell he is glad that she is reining herself from asking. She can tell by his looks that the last question she asked prior upsets him. He is also afraid of this Ben with how the way his shoulder stiffen if he thinks that their topic will veer towards the unsafe one.

"Can you lend me another book? I already finish the last one."

"Sure. I will go out tomorrow for some errands anyway. I will just drop by the public library and take some more books for you. Any specific genres you like?" Derrick comply.

"Just make sure the stories are interesting. If I do not like it, I will give it back to you immediately. Anyway, I like every book you let me read, so I think, whatever you will choose is okay with me." She answered honestly.

"Where is the book that you finished?" Derrick asked and she gave him the book through the gaps between bars.

"I will leave you now for today. I will deliver you your food before I will go out tomorrow." He said and stood up, bid his goodbye again and left her alone.

She just hopes that her plan will go well, considering she is risking everything she had now. If 'Ben' will come to know what she had done, all hell will break loose.

Before she slept, she prayed and prayed for her ploy to work, otherwise, she will be in great peril.

***

Morning came and she did her routine. Derrick came and gave her food as he promised then left afterwards, their usual conversation did not happen for he said he should hurry. She was left again on her own. She refuses to look at the markings she made at her planner for she doesn't want to be depressed. Instead she took the latest book that Derrick gave her today together with her food and read until she felt her eyes became heavy. She didn't know how many hours she slept but she was awaken by footsteps pacing.

She opened her eyes and looked at her surroundings cautiously. She saw Derrick pacing outside her prison bars. She know it is Derrick for how he held himself but what really caught her attention is the worry on his face that made her think something bad happened.

"What is it Derrick?" She asked. Instead of answering her, he run his hands on his hair before turning to her. She saw him step towards her cage, eyes full of anxiety, regret and something she refuses to recognize, for if she will, she will feel it as well - great fear of something or maybe someone.

"Why did you do that Claire?" He asked in a whisper.

She thought for sometime what he meant but realization came that it shows on her face. Her plan went awry.

"Ben knows what you did and he is preparing himself to face you." His words frightened her and she felt her eyes starred to water.

"What do you mean, he will face me?" She asked in controlled fear.

"He is coming Claire and he is not happy. I warned you before, why didn't you heed my advice?" Derrick said helplessly and started pacing again.

"When will he come?" She cannot help but ask.

"Right now." The answer brought a chill on her for it is not Derrick's way of talking. The voice is somewhat eerie and terrifying. She watched as Derrick's countenance that she is already used to change into something menacing. She doesn't want to think morbid things but the way he looks at her definitely made her feel that way.

"Hello Lizbeth. We meet again." This is really the one who stared at her that day for two hours - the one who gave her the creeps.

"I am not Lizbeth, my name is Claire, and I don't know anyone with that name." She answered and tried hard not to show fear.

She saw him smirk before speaking. "Do you think that by changing how the way you are called will keep you away from me? Yes, you escaped last time but only because Simon helped you and he paid dearly for what he did. That will also be Derrick's fate if he will not repent for speaking so fondly to you." She thought he is already finished ranting but he continued.

"Do you think that I do not know you've been talking with each other for several days now? Do you think that both of you can hide it from me? I know what were your topics and that he said something about me as well to you. Nothing can get pass my notice ever since Simon betrayed me that day. I made sure to keep tabs with the others without them noticing it." He explained and eventually continues.

"I know that you are planning something that day you asked Derrick to lend you more books. So I kept myself hidden and wait for Derrick to sleep, that's the time I checked the book and I found this piece of paper between pages." Ben took something out of his jacket pocket and there it is, the folded paper where she wrote her distress note. Hoping that someone, another borrower or the librarian maybe, will find the note and ask for some help.

Her musings was cut by his alarming statement.

"I can definitely read your expressions and mannerisms Lizbeth, so you cannot hide from me. I've waited so long for you to be with me again. I've failed to take you years prior but not anymore. We will be together for eternity Lizbeth, I promise you that."

************************************

Poor Claire...what will happen to her at his hands? Will Lucas and the others can find her?

Comments and reactions are welcome. Kindly vote as well.

Thank you for reading!

-blue