An odd scraping has me waking in the middle of the night, when even the faint light from the high-up window has disappeared.
The sounds are irregular, not at all patterned, which I've come to learn means that there's either a person or animal behind it.
I hope it isn't a rat.
Sitting up, I strain my ears, past the thudding of my heart against my ribs. More odd sounds echo around me. A soft scuffle comes from outside the wall where Marisol usually appears with my meager meals. My breath catches in my throat.
That mysterious note comes to mind.
Could it be? After all this time, has someone finally come for me?
Hope surges through my veins, making me dizzy. I press a hand to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. Slow, deep breaths that expand my ribs and reduce my pulse rate to a level that doesn't have me woozy with the rush of blood.
