May 24, 2024
The living room felt colder than usual, though it was early summer and the sun streamed through the curtains. Carter sat curled up on the couch, remote in hand, with an old hockey game playing on the screen. She'd watched it three times already, rewinding parts just to see certain plays again, trying to remember the rush of each goal, the electric energy that used to come so easily with every match.
The sound of skates slicing across the ice, the thud of bodies against the boards, the low rumble of the crowd—it was all so familiar, yet so painfully distant now. Her eyes focused on the players as they glided across the rink, their movements sharp and sure. She tried to imagine herself there, on the sidelines with everyone else, her laughter mixing with theirs. But it was hard to picture now, hard to feel anything but the dull ache of isolation that had settled deep within her.
Gradually, her mind drifted, her vision blurring as her thoughts slid backward, into the cold, damp memories of the basement. The memory slipped in slowly, like a shadow creeping over her shoulder, blending into the edges of her thoughts until it sharpened, vivid and inescapable.
The first day in the basement was a haze, almost like a fever dream. Carter awoke with a sharp pain in her side, her head pounding as her eyes strained to make out shapes in the dim, cold light. The faint scent of damp concrete filled her nose, and as she pushed herself up, she felt the roughness of the basement floor scrape against her palms.
She tried to remember how she had gotten here, but her mind was blank—a void where her memory should have been. She remembered going out, her friends' laughter, and then... nothing. She shivered as she forced herself upright, her hands clutching her elbows as she tried to steady her breathing. That's when she heard the sound: slow, hesitant footsteps descending the stairs. Her heart raced, the sound of each step sending a jolt of fear through her.
A figure emerged at the top of the stairs. She could only make out his silhouette—a tall, thin frame that seemed oddly hesitant, almost nervous. He held a tray, balancing it awkwardly as he descended, his head angled down, avoiding her gaze. She watched him warily, her mind frantically trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Wh-why am I here?" she managed to stammer, her voice barely a whisper.
The man didn't answer right away. He set the tray down on an old wooden table along the wall and took a step back, his hands fidgeting at his sides. She caught a glimpse of his face as he looked up briefly, his eyes darting away almost instantly, as if he couldn't bear to make eye contact.
"Eat," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. There was something strange in the way he spoke—hesitant, almost... shy.
Carter stared at him, her brow furrowing. "What is this? Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice trembling but defiant. "Please, just let me go."
His hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles white as he seemed to debate something internally. She saw his jaw tighten, and for a moment, he opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, then closed it again. He looked away, fixing his gaze on the floor.
"I... I can't," he mumbled, his voice barely audible. "I just... can't."
She felt a chill run through her as he shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable but refusing to leave. His presence was suffocating, his silence unnerving. She could feel her heartbeat in her throat, her pulse pounding in her ears as she watched him, trying to gauge his intentions. Something about him felt strange, out of place—almost like he didn't know what he was doing.
"Please," she tried again, her voice softening, hoping to reach him somehow. "If you're in trouble, I can help you. Just... please, let me go. I won't tell anyone. I swear."
For a moment, his face softened, his shoulders slumping as he exhaled shakily. But just as quickly, a hardness returned to his expression, and he shook his head, his voice tense as he replied, "I... I told you, I can't."
Carter's chest tightened, a desperate, sinking feeling washing over her as she realized he wasn't going to release her. She watched him carefully, trying to make sense of his behavior, her mind racing with questions. Who was he? What did he want from her?
As she held his gaze, she noticed the subtle tremor in his hands, the way his eyes shifted, avoiding hers, and the unease in his posture. He seemed as trapped as she felt, standing there in silence, as if he didn't know what to do next.
"Why are you doing this?" she pressed, her voice cracking with desperation. "You don't have to do this. Just let me go, and I won't say anything. I promise."
He didn't respond, his face tightening as he took a step back, avoiding her pleading gaze. His discomfort was evident, his body language tense and uncertain, as if he didn't belong in this situation any more than she did. And yet, he turned without another word, his footsteps echoing as he climbed the stairs, his figure disappearing into the shadows.
As the door creaked shut, Carter felt her chest constrict, her pulse racing as a suffocating darkness settled over her. She was alone again, surrounded by silence and shadows. Her mind reeled, replaying their brief conversation over and over, trying to find some hint of reason, some clue to who he was and what he wanted.
With no answers, only the cold, quiet space around her, she hugged her knees to her chest, squeezing her eyes shut, willing herself to wake up from this nightmare. But no matter how tightly she closed her eyes, she was still there—trapped, helpless, with no idea of how or when this would end.
The crack of a hockey stick against the ice jolted her back to the present. She blinked, pulling herself out of the memory, her chest tightening as she took a slow, deep breath. The game on the screen felt so distant compared to what she'd endured, like it belonged to a different life.
Just then, she heard a familiar knock, followed by the sound of the front door opening. She didn't need to look; she already knew who it was.
"Car?" Trevor's voice called out, and a moment later, he was standing in the doorway, giving her one of his trademark grins. "I brought reinforcements."
She gave him a small smile as he lifted a bag of snacks triumphantly. "You really do know the way to my heart, don't you?"
He laughed, dropping his bag on the floor and coming over to the couch. "Oh, absolutely. Figured you'd be holed up here with these games on repeat. Thought I'd give you some company—and chips."
Carter snorted, scooting over to make room. "You and Jamie seriously have a key to my house?"
"Of course. You know, in case of snack emergencies," he teased, popping open a bag and handing it to her. "Plus, Jamie and I weren't going to let you stay here all alone. He'll be here later today, too."
Carter nodded, accepting a handful of chips. "You guys always look out for me."
"Always," he replied, his expression softening. He looked over at the screen, where the game was still playing. "Catching up on all the matches?"
"Trying to," she replied with a small shrug. "Missed a lot."
Trevor looked at her, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "I get it. But you don't have to do it alone, you know. Jamie and I—we're here. Whatever you need."
She gave a small nod, but her gaze drifted back to the screen, her fingers absently picking at a loose thread on the blanket. Trevor watched her in silence for a moment, sensing her hesitance.
"You know," he said, breaking the silence, "there's a rumor going around that you still owe me a one-on-one rematch. I'm not saying I'd win, but..."
"Oh, I'd wipe the ice with you, Zegras," she shot back, her smile widening.
He laughed, reaching over to nudge her shoulder. "That's the Carter I know. Ready to crush me in a hockey game any day of the week."
Their laughter faded, leaving a comfortable silence, and Carter felt a strange warmth settle in her chest. It was moments like this that reminded her of who she was, of the life she was fighting to rebuild.
"So...," he said after a beat, shifting slightly as if he were about to bring up something serious, "have you thought about coming back to the lake house this summer?"
She hesitated, the thought lingering in her mind. "I don't know, Trev. It's just...a lot."
"I get it," he said softly, his expression understanding. "But we want you there. And, hey, Jamie and I are around to fend off any trouble."
Carter looked away, her gaze dropping to her hands as she tried to push away the memories. She remembered the basement, the damp walls, the terror that had consumed her every time she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
"I just... I don't feel ready," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Trevor's hand reached over, gently resting on her shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. No one's rushing you. But just remember that it's your choice. You're in control now."
Those words hit her harder than she expected, and she blinked, feeling the sting of tears at the edges of her vision. "I just hate that I let him take that away from me...my freedom, my choices."
Trevor's face softened, his tone gentle. "Carter, you didn't 'let' him do anything. He took it from you. But you've got it back now. And every day you decide what you want to do—that's you taking it back."
She looked at him, her eyes searching his for any sign of pity, but all she saw was understanding, patience, and a fierce loyalty that made her feel safe. He was right; every little step she took was a reclaiming of her freedom. She took a deep breath, letting it settle in her heart.
"Thanks, Trev," she said softly, a small, genuine smile breaking through her somber expression. "You always know what to say."
"Hey, that's what best friends are for," he replied with a grin. "Now, enough with the serious talk. Let's make fun of Jamie for not being here yet."
She laughed, the sound light and unguarded. "I'm sure he'll love that."
"Of course he will. He's probably stuck in Philly traffic, cursing his life choices," Trevor joked. "But he's coming straight here once he's free. And then... lake house time."
Carter bit her lip, trying to hide her excitement and nerves. "I'll think about it," she replied, knowing that she wanted to go but feeling the weight of her memories holding her back.
Trevor gave her a reassuring look, nodding. "That's all I ask. No pressure."
They sat in silence for a moment, watching the hockey game on the screen. Trevor's presence grounded her, bringing her back to the present, away from the darkness that threatened to pull her under. She found herself laughing more, talking about old memories from past summers at the lake house, the games they'd played, the pranks they'd pulled on each other.
At one point, Trevor leaned back, chuckling. "Remember that time Luke dared you to jump off the dock with your clothes on, and you actually did it?"
She rolled her eyes, laughing. "Yeah, and then he panicked because he thought I was drowning."
Trevor shook his head, grinning. "Classic Luke. Always the instigator, but never ready for the consequences."
Carter felt a pang of longing for those carefree moments, the memories of summers that had once been her escape. She missed that feeling of freedom, the laughter and lightness she'd taken for granted.There was no way she could go back though not after everything that happened.
Authors note
Finally I finished the first three chapters 😭
Hope you guys enjoyed 🫶🏻🫶🏻