- Not! I shouted, hitting the man in the chest with my fists. - Let go!

He effortlessly contained my resistance, chuckling softly at my helplessness. And then, all of a sudden, he opened his arms and disappeared somewhere.

I was horrified to imagine that he would now find the overturned tools in the dark and start torturing me, but second after second nothing happened in the room. There weren't even any sounds. He seemed to lurk like a wild animal, waiting for my next move. Hot blood flooded my jacket sleeve, soaking through the lining. I was afraid to move, to breathe once again, just not to attract the...