Chance

Alex stared at the door, trying to block out the music. At this rate, the song would get stuck in his head and never leave. It would play through his mind nonstop until he died, even if he lived past ninety.

Though he'd eaten the tiny pot pie, it hadn't done much for him. Not given as hungry as he had been. That was the only thing Crazy had fed him, and he was certain it had been two days since he'd been abducted. Everything was blurring together in his mind, so it was hard to know for sure.

Click.

His heart nearly jumped into his throat. Was she bringing more food? He really needed more energy if he was going to make an escape. It would involve fighting her—a nut job who had the advantage of eating and sleeping normally.

The other locks quickly clicked and the door shoved open. A tall man wearing all leathers walked in. Tattoos showed from his collar and wrists. Obviously, he thought he was tough.

He also had no food.

“How can you stand listening to that song?” He laughed cruelly.

Alex gritted his teeth. If he had more energy, he’d attempt to flee. But between being so hungry and being so sore, he would be lucky to make it to the door without being stopped.

“Are you hungry?”

“What do you think?” Alex snapped.

“Don’t bite the hand that could feed you.” The man stared Alex down.

Alex held his gaze, showing that he wouldn’t be intimidated easily.

The door pushed open a little farther. Crazy stepped inside and looked at Leathers. “We’ve got a problem. Come on.”

He spun around. “Which one?”

“Jerk-face.” 

“Again?” Leathers threw his head back. “He didn’t hurt Anthony again, did he?”

She glanced over at Alex, but spoke to Leathers. “Enough talking. Come on.”

“Okay, okay.”

Crazy left the room, and Leathers glared at Alex. “You’ll just have to wait.”

Alex shrugged. No way he was going to let him know he was disappointed about having to wait to eat.

Leathers stormed out and slammed the door.

Alex waited for the clicks.

And he waited.

Nothing.

Had Leathers really left it unlocked?

Heart thundering, Alex pushed himself up and limped over to the door.

Still no clicks.

He pressed his ear against the door and covered his other ear. It was still hard to hear over the music. But he didn’t hear anything outside the door.

Alex held his breath and twisted the knob.

It turned.

He froze. If the door opened, things could either turn really good or really bad.

It was a risk he had to take.

Alex pulled the door toward him. It moved with hardly a creak. 

He glanced into the hall. It was empty and dark. Yelling sounded down to the left. 

Alex stepped out of the room and looked both ways. Still nobody.

Could it be a trap? To see if he was worthy of another meal?

“Hello?” he whispered.

Nothing.

He raced down to the right as fast as his aching body would allow. The song rang in his ears.

Alex crept along, listening as best as he could. The long hallway had door after door. He shuddered, wondering how many of them held other prisoners. 

Clop, clop.

Footsteps.

Alex raced for the nearest door. He hoped for the best. The knob turned and the door pushed in with no resistance. 

Clop, clop, clop. 

Louder this time. Closer.

Alex stumbled inside. A bed with clinical tools had been pushed to one side. He closed the door behind him, careful not to let it latch. Even such a small noise could give away his location.

He pressed his ear against the door and listened. The footsteps grew louder, then faded until they disappeared entirely.

Alex leaned against the nearest wall and gasped for air. His right ankle throbbed and his side ached, but at least the perky tune was already fading.

He waited until his breathing returned to normal before cracking open the door to listen again. 

Silence.

Alex stepped closer, pressing his ear to the gap. The hall was empty. It was time.

His ankle throbbed harder in protest. If he injured it further, he’d at least live. He hoped.

Alex threw open the door and poked his head out. The hall was empty again. 

“How could you be so stupid, Lance?” Crazy’s shrill voice drifted his way.

Tight knots formed in his stomach. Had they already discovered he’d escaped? He should’ve closed his door.

Stupid.

“Find him!”

Alex froze. They did know he was gone. 

Should he run or try to hide? 

His ankle’s ache increased.

“I know what you think,” Alex muttered to his ankle. He glanced around the room again. It only offered two places to hide. Under the bed and behind a coat rack full of long white jackets.

Thump, thump, thump!

Footsteps thundered in the hall, growing louder. Closer.

Alex pushed the door closed. He stumbled over to the bed. His ankle rolled and he fell, the ground rapidly approaching.

No!

He reached for the bed. It was just barely too far. His hands grasped the blankets. He crashed to the ground. Tools fell all around him and on him.

Clink! Rattle! 

Clatter!

The little wheeled table holding more tools fell over in slow motion. It landed on top of him, scattering sharp tools around the room.

Crash! Clink, clink, clink!

Alex scurried to his feet. 

There was no way his captors had missed all that ruckus. 

He ran behind the coat rack and pulled jackets around himself. Then he peeked through a small opening between two of them.

The door flew open. Leathers and two other men stormed inside.

“He has to be in here!” 

Alex looked around for anything within reach that could be used as a weapon. Nothing.

“There he is! I see his legs!”

Alex broke off a peg from the coat rack. That would have to do.