She rushed to Peaches who whimpered as she began to untie her hands. Aby moved her mouth close to her ear.
“If I get your hands free can you manage your feet?”
“Yes,” Peaches whispered. “What are you going to do?”
“The second I’ve got your hands free I’m going to look for a way out of here...one that won’t get us killed,” Aby whispered. She knew it was going to be nearly impossible. Going upstairs was out of the question. Tex had a gun, after all. He could shoot them if they tried to run - or hobble - away. They might have escaped one trap, but they were still in Tex’s grasp. They needed to tread carefully from there onward.
Aby finally managed to free Peaches with her fumbling fingers and Peaches sighed with relief, sniffling to herself as she got to work on her ankles. Aby stood up straight and glanced around the room. In the darkness, it was impossible to see any immediate escape. Aby forced herself to move toward the wall, feeling out for some kind of escape hatch. Rats scurried around her feet, but Aby told herself she had survived much worse. She couldn’t afford to let a few rodents stop her from finding a way out.
As her hands fumbled along the walls, her hands were met with cold glass. When she stared hard in the darkness, she saw that she was looking at a very dirty window. No wonder it had blended in. She found the latch and forced the window open, unable to contain a gasp as cold air hit her face. She never thought she’d feel it again. Tears stung her eyes. This was it. Their way out.
If they could somehow climb out, that was.
She heard a stumble behind her and turned to see Peaches barely able to hold herself up. Aby felt the hopelessness of the situation yet again. She was too injured to walk or fight. So was Aby, really. How were they going to get out of the window quietly and safely? First off they needed something to climb on to get up there. Then Aby would probably have to pull Peaches out with her. An impossible task.
But she was going to make it happen.
In the dark, she went searching again for something to use as a step. It wasn’t long before she found an old tumble dryer, but Aby didn’t think she could move it alone. Besides, it would make too much noise.
She carried on looking. Soon, she found an old rickety chair. She tested standing on it. It was wobbly, but it would be strong enough to support them as they got out of the window. She grabbed it with her good hand, tucking it under her arm a little and carrying it back to the window. She ushered Peaches over.
“Come on. We need to go.”
“I can’t,” Peaches groaned. “I’m in so much pain.”
Aby finally found it in her to have some sympathy and her features softened. “I know. But if you don’t come now, you’re going to die. We both are. We need one another. Come on, Peaches...please...one last push and we’re out of here.”
Peaches’ eyes were filled with terror in the dark. She looked ready to give up. But Aby’s words must have gotten through to her because she began to stumble toward the window. Aby gave her a reassuring smile and opened the window as wide as it would go. The damp grass just outside it smelt like freedom. She turned back to Peaches.
“I’ll go through first. Then I’ll pull you through.”
“Don’t leave me!” Peaches cried. She was being too loud again. Aby put a finger to her lips.
“It’ll only be for a second. We have to do this.”
Aby knew she couldn’t afford to wait another second for Peaches to protest. Groaning with the effort, her good hand grappled for the ground outside as she tried to pull herself out of the window. She felt Peaches giving her a push from behind and she silently thanked her as she wriggled out onto the grass. Her cheek brushed the ground for a second and even though she was lying in the cold, she felt a rush of happiness so intense that she felt she might cry.
She didn’t waste any time reaching her good hand through the window to help Peaches out. Peaches hand slid into hers and she began to wriggle through the window too. Aby kept fearing that Tex was going to appear and grab Peaches, tugging her back into the basement from hell, but a few moments later, Peaches made it out. Aby helped her to her feet and then gave her a quick hug. She was so relieved that they’d both made it this far, but she knew they weren’t safe yet. Peaches pulled away first.
“What now?” she whispered, her eyes fearful. Aby chewed her lip. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. But then it struck her. The one thing they needed was waiting for them on the driveway.
“The car,” she whispered. “We need to try and take the car. We won’t make it far on foot, especially if we want to get back to your house in one piece. Plus, if he doesn’t have the car, he can’t follow us.”
“Okay,” Peaches said, nodding fervently. Aby knew she was just happy to go along with whatever Aby thought, but it was good that she had confidence in her plan. It made Aby feel much better. She grabbed Peaches’ hand.
“Let’s go.”
They rushed as fast as they could to the car, even though their bodies were in agony. Aby’s heart was racing as they moved. The possibility of getting away seemed closer with every passing second. If only they could find the keys to the car, they’d be out of there. Sure, she had
