The Courier: Chapter 13

Vol. 1; Issue 13
by Sarahndipitea

The darkness always came abruptly after the third portion of stale bread and flavorless broth, and Mae was starting to appreciate the nothingness. After her encounter with the video camera and the two sadistic men, Mae’s emotional strength was sapped. She was no longer sure that she’d survive this ordeal, and so the stillness of the ink-black basement was welcome. The only way that Mae had learned to sleep at this point was to prop herself up in a corner, holding herself and thinking of the memories she shared with her sister and best friend, Lillian. At least now she could wrap herself into a blanket and mentally recreate the warmer memories of summertime Girl Scout camps, weekends spent at the beach house and, her favorite, their annual trip to the county fair. Her heart was momentarily soothed thinking of Lillian and she would drift into a fitful sleep.

When she heard the thud of the bolt on the steel door, she was jarred awake. Her daily bread & water delivery man had brought a pathetic form of breakfast to her, though as he stepped into the room, something felt different to Mae. Instead of setting the bread and broth right near the door, the man walked toward her with it. Mae jumped up from the floor, thankful for the blanket wrapped around her otherwise nude figure; she was ready to fight back if he came at her today, a less fitful sleep renewed her down-troddened spirit.

“It’s alright, I’m not going to touch you,” the man said, meeting Mae’s eyes. He could tell she didn’t believe him and so he stopped his advance and sat down on the floor. “Sit,” he told her.

Mae sat. Even with a strengthened spirit, she knew not to cross the men involved in her hostage situation. Was this even a hostage situation? Was anyone coming for her? Did anyone even know she was hidden away? She folded her toned yet pale legs under her and kept the blanket pulled tight to her skin. “Did they send you here?” she asked the man quietly.

“No. They don’t know. I’m here early today,” the man said, pushing the bread and bowl of soup nearer to Mae. “Eat, the broth gets cold quickly.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Mae snapped. She blushed and turned her face upward at the man. “I’m sorry, this is just fucked up. I’m thrown in a cold basement, given bread and water, raped on camera and the next day you want to sit and talk with me?” Having human contact after 11 days gave Mae little hope, and her cynicism toward the man was clear.

The man looked into Mae’s eyes and with honesty, offered her his words. “I’m sorry that you’re here. I didn’t know this was the plan. I was brought on to drive the car and use the two-way radio, then suddenly I’m bringing stale bread and watery broth to a naked woman in a basement. I wouldn’t have gotten involved had I known this was the plan. I’m sorry.”

Mae heard his words but pretended that she was absorbed by her paltry meal. “Hrmph,” was the only response she gave.

“I brought you these,” the man said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of fabric. He set them near Mae’s bowl and she scrutinized the object. “I hope they fit. I guessed on the size and I’ve never been married so I really don’t know how to do it. I can get more if they work for you”

Upon further investigation, Mae then realized that the man had brought her a pair of panties to wear; they weren’t fancy but they were near enough to her size to provide some modesty. She stuttered a thank you and pulled them nearer to her, trying very hard not to cry.

The man sat awkwardly for a few minutes more while Mae ate; Mae was suddenly thankful to have the company, even if the man was involved in this torture. Once finished, she pulled the tags from the simple black underwear, put them in the bowl and pushed it back toward the man. He took his cue and the bowl and stood to leave.

When he got to the door, he turned, pausing and looking with calm eyes at Mae. Before she could properly thank him, he spoke a simple sentence; “Be strong, Lillian is on her way.”