Escape, a New Life (23 page)

Abby spent the next several hours lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how she was going to find a way out of this one
.

A FEW
HOURS LATER they were up and getting ready.  Abby was in her underclothes, strapping her knife to her thigh.  She had not worn it since they got off the island, but in anticipation of what was going to transpire over the following few hours, she felt she should have it at her side. 

She had been provided a rack of clothing options to wear to the finale.  She settled on a mostly white, flowery sundress
, mainly because it was long enough to conceal her weapon but offered fast access if she needed it. 
When
she needed it, she reminded herself. 

Abby slipped it on over her head as she heard a knock on the door.  The knock came again almost right away.  As she walked over
, she lifted the edge of her dress, releasing the safety latch on her knife and grasping the handle.  Opening the door just a crack she saw that it was Robert.  She let the dress slide back down to cover the knife as she opened the door to greet him.

“Are you excited, or nervous?  I suppo
se it can be both.  I’m excited!”  It was clear when he entered the room that he had more than his share of morning coffee.  “We took care of the paperwork yesterday; the financials are all set.  You can check your account right now and see that the money is in there.”

“I trust you.”

“Good!  And you remember the account numbers?”

Abby tapped her temple
. “They’re locked in.”

“Good then.”  He studied her face
and tilted his head sideways.

She suddenly felt self-conscious
. “What?”  

“What
’s wrong?” he asked.

Abby
raised an eyebrow.  “What?”

“You forget
, Abby, we know each other much better than you think.  We spent nearly three months together before we were island bound.  I can tell something is wrong.  What is it?”

She considered telling him about her
visitor last night, but decided against it.  She trusted Robert, but she did not know whom else she could trust.  The man who threatened her was part of Robert’s security team, likely one of the extra guys brought in to protect her.  Ironic.  He said that her husband had people everywhere.  For all she knew, there were a dozen guys on this island ready to act.  Who knew what would happen if Robert blew the whistle and the wrong one heard it?

“Nothing
. I’m just nervous, that’s all.”

“Do not be.  You have been on camera in front of tens of millions of people already, and you were great.  They love you.”

“That’s not what I’m nervous about.  After the show, immediately after, I’m planning to leave.  Is that alright with you?”

“Well, obviously I would prefer that you stick around for awhile, and do the talk show circuit
, either via teleconference here, or you could fly back to the States.  Given the situation, though, I figured you would not be doing that.  I was thinking about it, and I think it will add to your mystique.  It suits you.”  He put his hand on her shoulder. “I will miss you, but you know you can always call on me.”

Before Robert left
, he reminded her that a show runner would soon bring her to have her hair and makeup finished.  When Eric came out of the bathroom, he found Abby sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Who were you talking to out here?”

“Robert.”  

Eric thought her voice sounded stiff and sad, and didn’t come with the usual joy with which she said Robert’s name.
“What’s wrong?”

Abby shook her head
. “Just nervous, that’s all.”

“Don’t worry about it. 
You’re a natural.  Nothing to worry about.  Just give them that beautiful smile and the audience will be yours.”

Abby wrapped her arms around his waist and looked into his eyes, “You are serious about coming with me and starting over?”

He assured her that he was.

“We are going to have to go quickly once the show is over.” 

“Why is that?”

She debated on t
elling him about last night, but if she told him, he might insist they leave now.  She decided not to.  “I’m worried that he will show up,” she said.  “I just want to get out of here as quick as we can. When the interview is done, we walk off stage, bolt to the boats and take off.”  It was not a great plan, but it was simple.  The best kind.

“I like it.  If anyone sees us, they’ll think it
is just part of the show, the two of us riding off into the sunset together.”

She
smirked.  At this time of day it would be a sunrise, which would be even more fitting. 

********************

Abby never imagined that so many people would be at the finale.  The audience seemed to be made up of mostly local people and crew from the production team.  It was nearly five in the morning local time, and the sky in the background was still dark, but that would not last too long.  The stage was simply set with several chairs for Robert, Abby and Eric.  It was flanked on either side by giant screens where the people in attendance would watch the final broadcast. 

There would not be a live feed from the stage to show Abby and Eric until after the first part of the broadcast, when the viewing public would assume that they were dead.  The episode picked up the night when Abby had found Emily’s camp and was surprised by Eric.  It seemed like a lifetime ago, but in fact
, only a few days had passed.

Seeing Emily living and breathing on the giant screen was difficult for both of them.  Abby tried to fight back the tear
s, but a few ran down her cheek as she watched Emily untie her.  This woman was completely unaware that she would lose her life in a few days.  She was just as unaware that Abby was about to try to end it in a few short moments.  Thankfully Eric had intervened, and Abby did not have to live with that mistake. 

Still, she could not shake the feeling that Emily should have been sitting here on the stage with them.  It was such a tragedy.  Were it not for Abby and Eric, Emily would have lived out the next few weeks on the island and won when she hit the one-year mark.  Instead
, she was in a casket being transported home to her grieving family.

She tried to blot the tears from her eyes with her fingers, but all she managed to do was smudge her make
-up.  A stagehand, or more likely a makeup artist, came out and dabbed her cheeks with a sponge.  After quickly but gently touching up her makeup, he grasped her hand and said, “Be strong.” It was the nervous look in his eyes that caught her attention.

When he had walked away, Abby looked down into her hand to find a small
folded piece of paper in her palm.  She discretely opened and read it.  After reading the few words twice, she looked up to see Eric looking at her.  He just about had a question mark painted across his face.  She gave him a nervous glance as the commercial ended and the show came back to life on the giant screens.

The rest of the prerecorded broadcast went as planned, though Abby was not paying
any attention to it.  Her mind was elsewhere, trying to figure out their escape.  She should have at least told Eric and Robert that her husband was here with a small army to snatch her.  It was too late now though. 

Robert asked, “Are you both ready?”

This snapped Abby out of her trance, though the look on her face told Robert that she was in full-fledged panic mode.

“This is nothing,” he smiled.  “Just like in rehearsal.  Follow my cues, and you will be absolutely fantastic.  Nothing to worry about.”

When they came back from commercial, Robert did a short introduction, explaining what they just saw on the screen and the tragedy that might have been.  When the camera opened up to show Abby and Eric sitting with him, the couple of hundred people in the audience went crazy.  No doubt the millions sitting in their living rooms across the country did as well.  The producers had really played up the danger and the impossibility of the two of them escaping the cavern.  The last shot they had seen prior to the commercial was of Emily’s body floating hundreds of yards out to sea.

Abby saw the two of them up on the giant screen.  They certainly looked the part of celebrity, thanks to the hair and makeup
teams.  They were a far cry from the filthy, sweaty, unwashed people that had been running around on the screen for the past hour. 

It was all so surreal
, made more so by the note that she held in her sweaty palm: 

At the end of the show, when the lights go out, kiss Eric and tell him that you need to use the ladies room.  Quickly walk off of the right side of the stage.  I will be there to escort you.

When she first read it, she hoped it was a last-minute instruction from the producers.  She knew that was not that case, though.  This was from the security man that she has spoken with in the middle of the night. 

After Robert asked a few questions to Eric that she did not hear, the screen came to life again to tell the story of how they escaped on the raft. 
When the show came back after another commercial, Robert started with the questions again.

“So you two have become quite the thing,” Robert announced, “Any plans to stay together now that you are off the show?”  Abby had kept her marriage hidden and never discussed it in any of the pre-show interviews that had aired leading up to her arrival on the island.  None of the producers saw any reason to make it public now, especially given the love story that had developed.

Abby realized that while her mind was elsewhere, the show had continued on and Robert had moved to the interview portion.  She cleared her throat and smiled, “We barely know each other, Robert.”

He laughed
. “But you have been through so much together!  And he is a pretty good looking guy, wouldn’t you say?”

The women in the audience
whooped and hollered loudly.

Robert played it up
. “Eric, if this one does not keep you around, I do not think you will have any trouble finding a date.”

The women cheered louder and some started whistling.

Abby spoke up when they calmed down a bit. “Hey, let’s not start making other plans just yet.  We
have
been through quite a lot, Robert, you’re right.  I’m sure we’ll keep in touch.”

Eric feigned a hurt look and clutched his heart, hamming it up for the camera.  The three of them laughed
, just like in the rehearsal, then Abby grabbed the back of Eric’s head and brought him close for a steamy kiss.  The audience went crazy, whistling and hollering. 

Robert
finally spoke up. “Alright you two, I think there are kids at home watching. That’s enough.”

As they pulled apart, Abby found herself smiling.  Genuinely smiling.  The thought hit her like a truck: She loved this man.  Unable to decide if that made her
terrified or happy, she settled on a little bit of both. 

They looked out into the audience to smile and wave as Robert announced that they were taking a quick commercial break and would be right back.  Abby kissed
Eric again for the cameras as they were cutting the live feed.  As she pulled away, that is when she spotted him.  Sitting in the audience on the far right corner of the stage was the man she had spoken with last night.  Seated directly behind him was the blond-haired man from her nightmares.  Her husband.

HE WAS WEARING thick-framed glasses, and it appeared he had been growing out a beard for a couple of weeks, but it was definitely him.  It was not that clever a disguise.  She wondered how Robert’s security team could not have spotted him.  Then she recalled that his usual security team was just a few guys.  He did not have much to worry about on this remote island.  The small army that he had brought in the past day was likely made up of her husband’s people.  Her husband.  She did not even know his name.

She took a deep breath as the red light on the camera indicated they were about to go live again. 
Once again, Robert started with Eric.  He was such a big hit with the ladies, it did not really matter much what he said, as long as he smiled that bright, charismatic Texas grin when he was done.

Abby reached down with her right hand and placed it on her thigh where her knife was.  She was comforted to know it was there.  Her mind was overwhelmed trying to think through the situation.  The man had been clear
: they would not hurt her, but they would hurt Eric if she did not go quietly. 

Looking around the edges of the crowd, she counted at least a dozen men in dark suits with earpieces in, just like the man she had spoken with last night.  She had to assume they were all working for her husband.  Who
knew how many more might be out of her sight? 

Abby decided she could not go through with
trying to escape.  She was in love with Eric, and she would be damned if he was going to be hurt or killed on her account if she could help it.  She had to go alone, and go willingly.  She was sure that once they were away from the island, and Eric was out of danger, she could figure out an escape plan.  If she could not, at least she could take comfort knowing he was safe.

They stood as Robert announced them as the winners of
Trial Island
, and the first to ever escape.  The audience went crazy as streamers and confetti rained down on them.  They kissed as the lights and music pulsed around them.  Abby never wanted the kiss to end.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.  She was savoring their kiss, and soaking in the moment.  It very well may be the last time she felt his lips. 

As they pulled away, the lights went dark.  The live feed was over, but it seemed more like the power had gone out
.  All of the lights were off, even back at the house. Only the dim glow of the tiki torches all around penetrated the darkness.  There was confusion on either side of the stage as well as from the cameramen in front as the crew frantically inspected their equipment. 

Without saying a word, Abby took the opportunity to scoot down and off the right side of the stage while Robert and Eric
tried to find out what happened.  She felt the security man take her by the elbow as soon as her feet hit the ground.  He led her further to the right and behind a long row of tall hedges.  They were made to separate the garden where they had just been filming from the beach area below.  Once on the other side, they took a left toward the small boatyard.  Thirty seconds after she had broken off their kiss, she was completely out of sight.  She had a feeling she knew where they were going.

The moment they were out of view, she was grabbed from behind and lifted off the ground.  She found her small frame being
carried like a football, under the arm of an impressively large man.  He kept a massive hand clamped over her mouth.  She was a small woman, but it was still remarkable how fast he could run carrying her extra weight.  There were two other men running behind them.

Over the din of the confused crowd, she could he
ar one voice perfectly clear.  It was Eric yelling out for her. 

********************

“Where did she go?”  Eric looked at Robert, who appeared equally confused.

“I
don’t know. She was just here.”

Eric yelled
out again, “Abby!”

Robert
went to ask someone off stage if they saw where she went.  Eric was busy scanning the crowd, trying to find her.  He had a feeling in his gut that something was wrong.  Less than two minutes ago she was standing right next to him.  Did someone grab her with him standing right there?  “Damn it!”  He yelled, kicking a pile of confetti on the ground.

That is when he saw her chair.  There were a couple of bright
yellow and red pieces of confetti that had landed on the chair where Abby had been sitting.  Right in the middle was a small piece of white paper looking completely out of place.  He walked over and picked it up.  Turning it over in his hands, he unfolded it and read the message.  “Son of a bitch.”  He glared toward the right corner of the stage.  She was not there, but she could not have gotten far.

He jumped off the stage and asked some of the
crew if they saw where she went.  None of them had any idea, but all of them wanted a picture with him.  He shoved two men out of the way who would not take a polite, “Not right now,” for an answer. 

Climbing back up onto the stage
, he looked around some more.  The row of tall shrubbery on the right side of the stage ran for a hundred yards, maybe more, in a perfectly straight line across the property going toward the boatyard.  On the other side of the tall shrubbery he saw the head of an even taller man.  The man was at about the halfway mark, moving very quickly toward the boat docks.  “Gotcha.”

Eric jumped off the stage
again and ran to the break in the hedge where two security men stopped him.  He explained that Abby was in trouble.  They shook their heads no and said that everything was under control. 

“No, you don’t understand, just let me…”

The men looked at each other.  One turned to Eric and said, “Come with us, sir.”  One of the men took Eric by the arm, but he shook him off. 

“No thanks” he said. 

“Sir, come with us.”  Each man grabbed an arm to bring him to the other side of the hedge.

“What the hell do you think your doing?” Eric demanded, trying to shake them off.  He looked back, but he was too far from the crowd for anyone to have noticed.  He was about to call out to Robert, but he froze when felt something hard and metal press into his ribcage. 

“That’s what I thought,” one of the men said.  “Walk with us.”

Eric did as he was told.  Once o
n the other side and out of sight, Eric felt the high voltage of a Taser under his arm, and he dropped to the ground.

********************

The big man was strong, but his left arm was growing tired.  He stopped, but kept his hand over her mouth.  “Tape her mouth shut so I can carry her on my shoulder.”  He turned as one of the men took out a roll of silver tape.

As he turned, Abby saw two other security men a couple hundred feet away.  They were near the opening of the hedge that
they had gone through a few minutes ago.  They were carrying a third man between them.  The man they were carrying obviously could not walk on his own.  She quickly recognized Eric and became furious.  If they were going to hurt him anyway, she was not about to go down without a fight.

The giant man was still holding her under his arm.  Though he was tired, he was still much stronger than
she was.  She wriggled trying to get her arms out, but he just tightened his grip.  His big sweaty palm covering her face gave her all the inspiration she needed.  She worked her mouth open and bit down as hard as she could, sinking her teeth into the meat of his hand.  He screamed and dropped her. 

The other men were both shocked.  One rushed toward her from several feet away to pin her to the ground before she could stand up.  He realized his mistake too late as he saw a flash of steel a split second before her knife cleaved his right ear from the side of his head.  He clutched the side of his skull in agony and dropped to his knees.  Standing and spinning, she swiftly brought the butt of her knife down behind his left ear, knocking him to the ground
, unconscious. 

The giant had recovered from his initial shock and backhanded Abby.  His fist felt like a sledgehammer
, and she left her feet, flailing backwards onto the ground.  She landed on her back where she lay still, seemingly unconscious herself.  He quickly stepped over to take advantage of her position and disarm her.  When he got close enough, she opened her eyes and drove her blade into the soft tendons behind his left ankle.  Screaming in anguish, he dropped to the ground like a three hundred pound sack of potatoes.

Springing up
, she heard the cock of a gun.  Raising her eyes, she came face to face with the man from her nightmares.  Her husband stood just a few feet away with a very large gun pointed directly at her chest.  She had a feeling that if he wanted to pull the trigger, he would not hesitate.  Looking into his eyes, a memory flashed back.  She was tied up, naked, and sobbing.  He was laughing and putting his pants back on.

His voice snapped her back to reality, “Recognize me
, do you?  I thought you weren’t supposed to remember me?  I must have left an impression.”

Smiling, he slowly walked toward her, never moving the gun.  The giant lay
writhing at her feet, the other man motionless where she had left him.  The third security man stood next to her husband, his gun out, pointing at her. 

Bryce stopped when his gun came firmly against her breast
, finger still against the trigger.  Abby did not flinch, even though he pressed so hard that it hurt.  Reaching down with his other hand, he grasped the handle of the knife.  She held on hard.  Bryce hissed through his teeth, “Let go, or Eric does not see the sunrise.”

He tossed the knife to the side with a chuckle.  Grabbing the back of her head, he kissed her hard and wet.  When she fought against him
, he dug the gun into her chest harder and made his hand behind her head into a fist, slowly tearing the hair from her scalp.  Finally, she stopped fighting.  Using the fistful of hair, he yanked her face away from his and spit on her. 

“You’re feistier than you were last time I saw you.  I like that.”  His face contorted into a disgusting sneer. 

She was sickened that this man was her husband.  How had she become a person who would wind up with a man like this?

“You and I are walking to the dock now, quickly.”  Just then, four other security men came running up to where they stood.  He instructed two of them to follow him, and the others
to clean up the mess before anyone came along.

He pushed Abby in front of him and commanded her to walk.  She reluctantly did
as she was told, trying to figure a way out.  There was no one else within eyesight in front of her.  She looked over her shoulder, not at Bryce, but past him, searching for Eric.

“Don’t worry about him,” he said.  “He won’t be joining us.”

“Where are we going?”

“Oh, I’m thinking about taking one of these boats and going for a little vacation on one of these beautiful islands.”

“That sounds nice,” she practically purred.  She looked in his eyes, trying to be coy.

“
I’m
thinking about a little vacation.  You, my dear, are going to go for a little swim once we’re a couple of miles out.”

Just a few f
eet from the docks, Abby pretended to trip over something and did a little hop step.  Spinning back toward Bryce, she swung her fist, catching nothing but air.  He ducked, popped up, and clubbed her in the temple with the butt of his gun.  Not hard enough to knock her out, but he was sure she was seeing stars.  One of his men caught her before she could fall to the ground. 

He grabbed her by the face, squeezing her cheeks together painfully hard.  He was so close to her that she could smell the hate on his breath, even if she could not focus her eyes
on him.  He was insane.  She had no idea what to expect from him, and could see why she had instructed herself to run at all costs.  He was a nightmare.  There was no doubt in her mind that he fully intended to murder her out on the water.

He whispered with a rage-fueled intensity, “Straighten up, turn around and walk.  Try anything like that again
, and I’ll shoot you.  I won’t kill you just yet, but you won’t have the option to fight back.  Eric will be dead, and we will be ten miles out before anyone is the wiser.”  He let go of her face, and then gave her a hard slap for good measure.

Abby turned and staggered onto the dock.  Overcome by defenselessness and anger, her head was spinning.  She was barely able to stand up on her own, much less walk.  She stopped in front of the first boat.  She was about to turn and ask if this was it, when Bryce violently shoved her from behind.  Leaving her feet
, she collapsed onto the deck of the boat.  When she landed her dress came up over her hips.  She pulled it down as she lay there trying not to cry.

Bryce laughed as he jumped down onto the deck of the boat, “That is more like it.  That’s the Abby I know and love.  Just a sad little slut
, aren’t you?”  He lifted up her dress and repeatedly smacked her hard on the ass while she tried to bat his hand away.  “I took you in.  I gave you a good life, and this is how you repay me?  You took off without a word, and I had no idea where you were until you showed up on national television.  Running around some island with another man to make it worse.”