Chapter 69

The early hours were easiest. But there were no windows in this room, and only a single door that didn’t allow any light or sound to pass through. Not even a single bar on the floor. When Marcus left him—though he never left for long—he turned off the lights, and then Jesse was caught in a horrible limbo, his arms extended above his head, his feet shackled to the floor. The chains around his wrists and ankles were heavy, and there was more blood and sweat under the cuffs. His shoulders had long since lost feeling, as had his fingers and toes.

Jesse thought it was around twenty-four hours when he stopped counting. After that, it mattered less. He had a vivid image of Gideon in his mind’s eye, and he clung to it. Because Gideon wouldfind him. Gideon had to find him. Gideon wouldn’t be too late. Gideon wouldn’t lose track of time, and let the hours race away from him until there weren’t any hours left.