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to begin with I can hardly keep my eyes open after the adrenalin rush leaves my body drained and exhausted. Being nearly choked to death didn’t help much either. I can’t be sure how long I sat bloody, bruised and exhausted in that tub but it had to be several hours when my head was nodding and my legs had long since gone numb crouched under me. I finally had to sit back on my ass, not the most defensive stance but better to have blood circulation when I needed to move.
    The bathroom was dark, earlier the light from the bedroom was visible under the crack of the door. Another way I know I’ve been here a long time, the sun has set. The house is eerily quiet, the sound of my protesting stomach occasionally reminding me that it was way past dinnertime. Will he ever come looking for me?  Is he still here? Why is he doing this to me?
    I turn my head and rest my cheek on top of my knees that are drawn up and loosen my hold on the shard of mirror. Pain floods my hand and I realize I must have been gripping it so tight that it cut me, even through the towel. I remember Evan saying once that pain was not unfamiliar to him and I’m discovering it’s not for me either. It anchors me, forcing body, spirit and mind to stay connected and to work as a team. 
    I welcome it and squeeze the crude homemade weapon again, this time tighter, feeling the glass digging into my flesh I feel more alert, focused. I hear footsteps and movement in the house somewhere and my already screaming muscles stiffen. Heels? Yes, not a man’s steps but a woman in heels is approaching the bedroom.  Then the soft click of a lock, oh God she has a key! 
    Whatever adrenaline that’s left in my fatigued body surges through my blood stream as I hear more steps bringing this woman closer to the only barrier separating me from him, them, whoever! Another soft click and the door is gently and slowly opened, the lights are switched on and when she takes a step in wow does she get an eye full. Crazed Mia crouching in the bathtub ready to kill.
    The woman gasps and covers her mouth with one hand, steps back and presses her back to the wall and gestures with the other to stay back, yea no worries lady I’m not moving until you do!

Chapter 6
     

“The Heart Wants What it Wants”
Imagine Dragons

Everything begins happening in slow motion as I move to exit the bathtub.  Shards of glass bite at my feet but I ignore the pain. My goal is clear in my mind but I feel like syrup slowly pouring from a bottle and the sound of this woman's voice is warped, it’s difficult to grasp the meaning of her words. I squint as if my eyesight is somehow going to help me hear her better and of course it doesn’t. Something about her is familiar, like I know her but this is the wrong environment to be seeing her in. I don’t know anyone other than Evan here in Italy so I must be losing it now, finally, about time I cracked.
    Maybe now I can go to a nice quiet padded cell in a psych ward where I’m safe from kidnappers, kidnapping ex-boyfriends and knife wielding intruders. No scratch that, psych ward equals psych patients and I’d rather take my chances out here thank you very much.  I take a painful step toward the door where the woman is frozen up against the wall just inside. I need to get past her and out of this house, if I can escape I can run like hell until I find someone that will help me call my parents and get the fuck out of this country!
    I’ll stab her if I need to, I don’t give two shits. I’ve been sitting for hours locked like an animal in this bathroom. I’m. Getting. Out! The warped voice of the familiar looking woman calls my name and it sounds stretched out like rubber glue. “Miiiaaa?” I shake my head trying to rid myself of this sludge that’s slowing my perception. “Miiaa, it’s meee…Gabrriellllaaa.” Gabri…what the? Did I really hear her right?
    I take another step toward her, and she pushes herself off the wall and takes some sort of