* * *
"Why do I need to learn how to get out of cuffs? It's like you expect me to go to prison."
Otis gave me the usual 'shut up and learn' look, but answered, "You never know when you're going to be in a sticky situation and have to get out of these."
He hung the cuffs on his index finger and began to spin them around. "What if you're kinky in bed and your date leaves you?"
I blushed and shook my head.
"I-I'm not into that stuff! I'm sixteen."
"So?" He shrugged. "They taught that in sex ed."
"No, they didn't! What sex ed did you take? The naughty edition?" I argued.
He frowned but thought about it. "Hmm. Maybe it was Adonis then."
"Do you guys share thoughts because you're twins?"
"Yeah." He shrugged. "It's good in many ways. Bad when I confuse his sex ed lessons with mine."
"Now that leaves me to wonder where he's getting his sex ed from."
I was blessed with a tiny smirk that had my heart skip a few beats. Then it was gone.
"Back to the lesson," he ordered. "I'll put these on from behind and teach you a few ways you can get out."
"What if I don't have the key or a hairpin like the movies?" I immediately asked.
"Why do you think we're having the lesson, Cassandra?"
"Oh. Right...whatever. Hey, don't use my full name like that. It's weird."
"I heard from Eric that you only like when people use your full name in bed."
"What?! Why would he tell you that?! Don't tell me he's spreading stuff around school because we broke up!"
"I threatened him." Otis shrugged. "Plus, I wanted to know if he was shit in bed."
"He's not going to tell you that!" I emphasized before I groaned. "Never mind. You made Adonis tell you."
"Yup," he answered, with a bit of amusement in his voice. "I'm sorry your first experience sucked."
"I'm going to use those handcuffs to chain you to the weight rack, you sneaky butt!"
I tried to point at him, but my hands were behind my back. A metallic rattling was followed by resistance as I tried to pull my wrists apart.
With a gasp, I looked over my shoulder to see I was officially handcuffed. Slowly staring back at the culprit, I watched Otis sip a bit of his fresh orange juice while he spun the two keys for the cuffs in his other hand.
"Sneaky? Nah. I just like to know how to get out of any situation, so I can avoid death. I'd rather seek it than fall into it."
"That makes no sense!" I shouted. "And where did you get orange juice?"
"From upstairs. Everett is making a fresh batch."
He continued to drink it before he sighed. "That hit the spot. Guess you better pay attention if you want to get some before the others finish it."
"I'll kill you in your sleep."
"Please do. Death and I have a date." He winked.
"Ass!"
"Everett said you can't swear until you're eighteen like the rest of us."
"Shut up!"
"Luckily that's not considered a swear word anymore." I rolled my eyes but kept my mouth shut. If I carried on, he'd keep taunting me. "Ready to learn?"
I growled and narrowed my eyes at him. "Fine!"
* * *
"This is such a pain," I mumbled, but rolled onto my back. My head was near the end of the bed while my legs were parallel to the headboard.
Staring at the ceiling, I took a few deep breaths and let them out, concentrating on making my body as relaxed as possible so my flexibility would be on point.
Tucking my legs tightly against me, I began to countdown as I rocked myself back and forth like I was a tumbleweed that was literally about to take a tumble off this bed.
3...2...1…
With a quick movement, I somersaulted off the bed, swinging my arms so that they were still handcuffed but in front of me.
"Thank goodness I kept up with my gymnastics or man, that would have broken something," I muttered and looked at the nightstand. "All right. Purse. Brick. This is going to be interesting."
To get that brick into my purse took some work, but the hardest part was managing to figure out a way to get the strap securely along my body so I didn't lose it. They were going to be my key to getting out of here and reaching the guys for help.
Once I was ready to go, I noticed the mirror on the wall on my right. I stared at my reflection, noting how horrible I looked.
My hair was a mess, the frizz showing the lighter strands that were usually hidden by the dark brown ones. My foundation had rubbed off on the sheet I'd been sleeping on and the bags under my eyes were now obvious. My eyelids were puffy, and mascara lined the tear tracks down my cheeks.
I knew I should have worn waterproof mascara and eyeliner.
I'd been staying up all through the night lately, thanks to my little obsession with this new Netflix series about supernatural spy students and their journey through the crazy years. Because of it, I'd been wearing a lot of concealer to hide my dark circles, but they showed through clearly now.
My makeup was a wreck.
All the same, maybe losing sleep to watch a spy show would be beneficial now that I was about to break out of a hotel room and try and reclaim my freedom before it was snatched from me forever.
My reflection triggered a thought of the guys. How they always would stop me before going out the door to make sure I looked as flawless as ever.
None of them were here to do just that, and I could already feel the difference. How empty I felt without their presence. A part of me felt a little pathetic for relying on them so much all these years, and yet the other side wished they were right here and now.
It wasn't the situation that I wanted them to be in. It wasn't the challenges that came with being kidnapped, trapped, and having your life at risk that made me yearn for them. The loneliness in my heart as I tackled this all on my own was what made things super hard.
They wouldn't always be in my life, I knew that, but deep down, I thought I'd have a bit more time before I was truly on my own.
Focus, Cass. It's time to stop being the damsel in distress and save yourself!
With a nod to my reflection, I stared at the door with perseverance and readied my stance. It had been a while since I'd damaged public property, but I was sure if I explained I'd been kidnapped to sell to the black market or to some lab people, who were the clear perpetrators of this kidnapping business, the authorities would let it slide this one time.
"Time to break out," I whispered and moved to the door. As much as I wanted to make a scene and kick the door right open, I decided the calmer route would keep me alive longer.
Using my hand to slowly unlock the door, I opened it at a gradual pace. When the quietness in the hallway continued, I peeked my head through the crack to see if anyone was there.
No one... It's now or never.
With a mental nod and silent prayer to not die, I rushed out and ran straight down the hall. If I was going to get out of here, I'd have go with the less obvious route.
Stairs.
Finding the EXIT sign to the stairs, I ran down the remainder of the hall and with caution, pushed against the stairwell door. It opened with ease, and I immediately scouted for any guards.