Unravelling Alice by N.A. Cooper

Author:N.A. Cooper [Cooper, N.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

26

NOW

Charlie’s face is impassive, his expression giving nothing away. My eyes search for a clue – anything that might provide some indication as to what the hell is going on. When that fails, I try to speak, my voice fracturing under the stress.

“What are you talking about? Who’s awake?”

He doesn’t look at me. He’s facing forward, his gaze on the dark green of the door in front of him but his mind somewhere else entirely. “Maybe we should leave him to calm down a bit first, he didn’t come as easily as you.”

“Who didn’t… who… what are you talking about? What have you done?” I can’t think straight, questions colliding in my mind and competing against each other to be heard.

“What I had to do.”

“What did you have to do, Charlie?” I try to keep my tone as calm as possible but the sense of urgency pours out, unable to be controlled.

“I think that’s enough questions for now.”

“But you haven’t answered me!”

“I don’t think you’re in any position to demand answers,” he says, his eyes drifting to the restraints around my wrists. His hands reach to the knot in his tie and he slowly and carefully undoes it, sliding it out from underneath his collar and placing it in the little compartment in his door; the same place as the knife. He unbuttons the top of his shirt and rubs at his neck, rolling his chin round on his chest. Every move he makes is methodical and deliberate, unhurried and precise.

The banging starts again from the back but it’s louder this time, dull thuds resounding through the car. Then I hear something else – a voice. Although I can’t make out the muffled words that are being shouted, it tells me one thing: I’m not alone with this man.

“Right. I’ll go and get him.”

“Go and get who? Who are you getting?”

He opens his door and climbs out, looking out towards the road for a moment with his hands on his hips. Then he turns towards me, bending slightly into the car and smiling.

I think he’s going to say something, to at least offer some clue, but instead he slowly puts his hand into the little compartment in the door and pulls it back out a moment later, the knife gripped within it. His expression doesn’t change and there’s a casualness to his movements that defies the situation.

As he turns away from me I arch my back and crane my neck to see him walk to the metal gates. I watch him drop the knife into his pocket while he slowly and methodically closes each one in turn then wraps the chain back around them. Does this mean he isn’t expecting anyone else?

When he’s satisfied that the gates are adequately secure he walks back towards the car, taking the knife back out of his pocket as he does. He pauses before he lifts the boot, a thin smile pushing at the edges of his mouth. Through the stillness of the desolate landscape I hear a muffled cry, strained as though trying to break free.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.