By the third day, something unexpected happened. Lucas, who had once seemed a sadistic captor, began to shift. His amusement had faded into a quiet restlessness. There was no longer the thrill of torment in his actions. Instead, a strange tension filled the space between them.
"You know," Lucas said jokingly, his voice distant as he twirled the knife idly in his hand, "Kidnappers don't keep people around forever. Gets dull."
Elise's heart raced, but instead of fear, she felt a strange sensation: relief. If Lucas was going to end her life, at least it would be a way out—an escape from the nightmare she had been living with Brian.
Lucas noticed her change in demeanor. "Wait a minute," he said, narrowing his eyes, his voice suddenly sharp. "You're not scared. You're… What is that? Relief? Ellie, I was kidding"
Her lips trembled, and she bit them to keep the tears at bay. "Because… because anything is better than going back to him. I cannot do it anymore."
The words spilled out before she could stop them. "Him?" Lucas repeated, his voice now quieter, as though trying to understand.
"My husband," Elise whispered, her voice cracking. "He's worse than this. He beats me. Treats me like dirt. I don't have a choice. I have to stay with him. He takes and takes. I have no more to give. This"—she gestured around the room—"this is a vacation compared to him."
"Does he rape you?"
Ellie froze, she looked at the floor. Why would Lucas ask her that? Does she lie? Tell the truth? What would happen if she answered incorrectly? What would Lucas do to her?
"Does he," this time Lucas screamed jumping up from his chair, "Answer me, now!"
"YES," Ellie began to sob, "is that what you want? To fuck me? Tell me how much you love beating me as you hold me down? Choke me? Tell me how I'm to weak to do anything about it?"
"No," Lucas walked up to her. Grabbing her chin to force her to look at him.
For the first time, something flickered across Lucas's face. It was something else entirely—compassion, perhaps. "No Ellie," he muttered, running a hand through his messy hair. "I am not a rapist. I don't know why I do the things I do. I am a bad person. I brought you here against your will. But, I will NEVER force myself upon another living soul. Ever."
Lucas didn't let her go, but he stopped threatening her. He stopped messing with her head. He finally started to open up to her. Allowing her to be released from the shakles. Alouth she couldnot leave. Ellie now had free range of his "home,"
They started to form a bond Instead, he began to listen. Each day, Elise found herself telling him stories she had never shared with anyone—not even her closest friends. The years of abuse, the fear, the helplessness. She talked about her childhood, her dreams, and the crushing weight of living in constant dread.
"You're messed up. Your life is messed up," Lucas said one afternoon, his voice softer than she expected. "But it's not your fault. You've been through hell."
Elise's laugh was bitter, a harsh sound that echoed in the small room. "You're my kidnapper, and you're the only person who's ever said that to me. Have you even kidnapped someone before? I don't think this is how it goes?"
Lucas scratched the back of his head, clearly unsure of how to respond. "Yeah, well, maybe I'm not so great at this whole kidnapping thing."
"You never kidnapped anyone else," Elise stared in shock. Maybe she could finally get his motive.
"No."
"You knew who I was. You knew my husband. Who are you? Why am I here?"
Lucas looked at the floor scratching his head. "Elise."
"Lucas."
"I love you," Lucas kept his gaze to the ground, "I loved you since I first met you."
"Met me…"