Kelly just nodded, looking out the window at the hint of green. Her eyes had started to droop. Beth recognized the signs and quickly felt the drugs hit her as well. It dulled her edges but the sensation was not enough to dampen her excitement at leaving the cabin.

Kelly opened her mouth but quickly snapped it shut again when the man came back in. He glanced at his watch then walked over to Beth. He unlocked her ankle chains and then released Kelly as well. He motioned for both women to walk through the door first, like he always did, following behind. When they got to the door of the cabin, they stopped.

‘Go ahead, open the door,’ he prompted.

Kelly didn’t move. Beth glanced at her. After all these months in such close proximity, she could read Kelly like a book. She sensed Kelly was frozen by the fear that this was all a test, or some sick joke. Kelly had always been the less trusting of the two. Beth, however, could hardly contain herself, sure that their obedient behavior over the last month was indeed being rewarded. They hadn’t slipped up once, hadn’t been hit or asked to reclean the toilet or the sink. The joy of stepping outside, something so simple, something people took for granted every day, filled her up and she couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she reached out with a trembling hand and turned the knob. She felt a rush at how the cool brass felt in her hand and pulled the door open quickly, before he could change his mind. The sunlight hit her face and she was temporarily blinded, reaching up to shield her eyes with the palm of her hand. When she finally adjusted to the foreign brightness, she looked around. As they had suspected, they were in a forest.

The man’s green Camaro, the one they’d ridden in the trunk of when he’d brought them here all those months ago, was parked off to the right. To the left was a path that went further into the thicket of trees. Taking full advantage of their treat, Beth stepped forward and turned down the path, only able to shuffle short steps with the shackles still binding her ankles together. She inhaled deeply and the fresh scent of pine filled her nostrils. She wanted to absorb every bit of nature that she could. Beth turned and looked happily at Kelly who was gazing up into a tree. Beth followed her eyes to a large hawk peering down at them.