Chapter 7 - The Night Ruth Tried to Escape
Ruth heard Natalie on the phone outside the basement door.
“The transport arrives at eight.”
A man answered through the speaker.
“Have the papers ready.”
“She still won’t sign.”
“Then increase the dose.”
Ruth recognized Dr. Harlan’s voice.
After Natalie went upstairs, Ruth searched the basement.
Her legs were weak from days of medication.
Her wrists hurt from the night Natalie had tied them to the bed frame after she tried to reach the stairs.
Near the utility shelf, Ruth found an old screwdriver.
She used it to loosen the latch plate on the basement door.
It took nearly an hour.
When the door finally opened, Ruth climbed three steps before Heather appeared above her.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Ruth tried to push past.
Heather grabbed her arm.
Ruth screamed.
Natalie rushed from the kitchen.
Together, they dragged Ruth back downstairs.
Ruth struck her shin against the steps.
That caused the bruises Ethan would later see.
“You could have killed yourself,” Natalie said.
“You are killing me.”
Natalie slapped a hand over Ruth’s mouth.
“Stop screaming.”
Heather looked frightened.
“This is getting out of control.”
Natalie turned on her.
“Everything is already arranged. We only need one more night.”
They secured the basement door with a new lock.
Then Natalie brought Ruth two pills.
Ruth refused.
Heather held her shoulders while Natalie forced water between her lips.
Much of it spilled down Ruth’s dress.
When the women left, Ruth crawled toward the wall and tried to stay awake.
She did not know about the hidden camera.
She did not know Ethan had seen enough to come home.
She only knew Natalie intended to remove her from the house in the morning.
Before dawn, Ruth heard a faint sound near the basement window.
Someone was moving outside.
The small window opened.
A gloved hand reached through and released the latch.
Ethan lowered himself into the basement.
For one second, Ruth believed the drugs had created another dream.
Then her son knelt beside her.
She touched his face.
“They’re taking everything.”
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Above them, Natalie’s footsteps crossed the kitchen.
👉 Ethan had reached Ruth before the transport arrived, but Natalie was already descending with the final dose meant to make Ruth unable to resist.
