Chapter 7
No.1
Annie's POV
The sharp, stinging scent of an unfamiliar environment pulled me from unconsciousness. My head throbbed, a lingering effect of whatever Philip had used to silence me. Tears welled up as the weight of his final betrayal crashed over me.
No.2
Why is it always me? What did I do wrong?
The betrayal by Philip, the coldness of Brian, the loss of my child—it all felt like a mountain of grief. I forced myself to stop crying. You will NOT fall apart here, I told myself.
No.3
I forced my eyes open. I was in what looked like an abandoned studio, filled with old equipment and dust. A man stood across the room, methodically adjusting an old camera. I recognized him from a photo I had seen—he was Robert, Sarah's ex-husband.
"Brian?" My voice was a whisper. "Where's Brian?"
No.4
"He's safe. Sarah picked him up," Robert said, his focus remains on his equipment. He looked disheveled but focused. "You're quick-witted. You can figure out why you're here."
I realized then that this was all a calculated play. Sarah knew I had found the messages on her phone. I needed to act.
No.5
I saw my belongings on a small table nearby. My phone, my keys, and Howard Thompson's business card. While Robert was distracted with his camera lens, I shifted my weight, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Through the haze of the sedative, my movements felt sluggish. I waited for him to turn his back. As he reached for a flash unit, my fingers closed around my phone. I managed to slide it behind me just as he looked up.
No.6
"What else do you know?" he asked, his voice empty.
With trembling fingers behind my back, I navigated to the contact list. I found the number from the card Howard had given me. I didn't dare look at the screen. I just pressed 'dial', hoping the man who offered me a job could now offer me a lifeline.