Todd's gun. It's under my mattress.
My emotions surge.
Hoping to play off my eagerness, I leave Todd's room and go to mine.
"I told you. He's not here." The Monster grabs my arm.
I wrench away. "Todd!" I push open my door next and examine the room with the same interest as Todd's.
"He's in the trunk of my car, Claud," The Monster says from the living room, entertained.
I freeze momentarily and quickly calculate whether or not he had the time to tackle and tie up Todd before I arrived.
He did. It doesn't look like Todd even made it in the door. His book bag isn't around, and the blanket of the bed where he sits to take off his shoes isn't crinkled.
Todd didn't get my message. He walked into a trap.
I can see The Monster's legs from his position on the chair beside the couch. Bending quickly, I swipe the gun from beneath my mattress and tuck it in one of the deep pockets of my coat. I don't know anything about them, even if it's loaded, but if it gets me out of here and to The Monster's car …
Emerging from my bedroom, I stare at him. I hate the fact I'm shaking and almost too terrified to move. "What do you want, Jake?" I whisper.
"What's mine. And to know why you sold me out." He says the same words he did last time. The Monster stands, grabs a chair from the able and sits it in the center of the living area. He snatches my arm next and shoves me into it.
"Is Todd okay?" I ask.
"As long as you cooperate." He sits down in the armchair once more and stretches to reach into a pocket. He withdraws a switchblade and flicks it open. "So tell me, Claudia. How much of the government's case did you give them?"
I know this game. It crushes me before it even begins. "Nothing. I gave them nothing."
The Monster takes my arm, pushes back the sleeve and slides the blade of the knife down my forearm. I gasp at the flash of pain.
"I'll ask again. How much came from you?"
"Nothing."
Another cut, this one deeper, more painful.
"Are you testifying?" he asks.
"I want to see Todd," I respond.
Another cut. I yank away. The Monster slaps me and pulls my hand back. My frozen cheeks don't save me from the pain of his blow; if anything, the sudden return of sensation stings worse than I recall a slap feeling.
"Are. You. Testifying."
"Todd. Then I'll answer your -"
This time, it's a punch that knocks me off the chair. I hit the ground, my head spinning.