He pulled a quilt from a small chest in the room and placed it over my naked body. One final glance my way and he was out the door closing it behind him.
Voices filled the cabin for several minutes, and then I heard an engine start up and it sounded like the van was driving away. I listened; barely breathing waiting for what I was sure was coming. The dull thud of boots on the floor came back to the door and stopped. As the door swung open, the giant reappeared in the entrance moving to sit heavily on the bed.
Using a rusty blade he cut the filthy gag at my cheek and pulled it away from me. He came to stand behind me. He reached under the blanket and toyed with my bound wrists for several minutes. His breathing was coarse and etched up several notches while he was behind me. With a metallic chink the handcuffs were separated into two pieces and he grunted appreciatively. The bindings at my feet received the same attention.
Pulling the blanket tight around me I stared at the giant wondering when the real horror would start.
Swiftly he reached down and picked me up carrying me outside the cabin. I wasn’t expecting that. We walked a good 25 yards away before he sat me down in front of an ancient outhouse. Keeping a hand on my arm, he reached inside and dusted spider webs out of the door way, then roughly pushed me inside.
Having no want to spend anymore time in that bug infested hole than I had to I quickly relieved myself and walked back out. The rough treatment from my captors the night before left me sore and uncomfortable; using the area brought back those memories to the forefront. I found myself hobbling slightly, still wrapped in a blanket from the bed.
Outside the outhouse was no one. The giant was gone and I was alone. The cold was intense here. My feet felt frozen on the ground and the wind whipped uncomfortably under my sparse cover. Feeling little choice I slowly made my way back up toward the cabin.
The area outside the cabin was deserted, so I looked around. There was a dirt road leading away, but it was overgrown and ill cared for. After about a hundred yards it appeared to just stop. The van I had been brought in was gone; the only evidence it had ever been there were a few tire tracks in the grassy overgrown patch in front of the cabin. Otherwise we were in the middle of a forest, the cabin sat on a small rise, and all I could see for miles was wooded.
No telephone poles or cables stretched into the small cabin. I couldn’t recall seeing anything in the cabin that looked electric. A rusty water pump sat several yards away with some water dripping from its main spout. I realized then how very thirsty I was.
I stumbled on my blanket a little and made my way to the spout. Remembering history class I pumped the handle several times and was rewarded with a clear gush of fluid. Cupping my hands quickly and dipping my face into the stream I managed to catch a little and I felt better. The cold water splashed down my front. It made me realize how much I was shivering so I limped slowly toward the cabin door.
Inside the cabin a roaring fire was going in the main room. There was also a pail of clean water on the table. Sitting on a dirty chipped plate beside the water were several long strips of what looked to be dried meat. Dipping a small cup into the water I greedily drank my fill. My grumbling stomach encouraged me to take a piece of the meat and try it. The smoky tang was delicious and I quickly finished the piece I had taken and then all the rest on the plate.
Fear of the giant was a distant memory as I huddled close to the roaring fire in the main room. A stack of pelts lay on the floor in front of the fireplace and I sat on them absorbing the warmth from the fire. Curling into my blanket I ended up lying down on the floor and was soon fast asleep.
Noises woke me many hours later. The afternoon sun was streaming in the windows and the fire had reduced it self to a slow steady burn. Bumping and scrapping got my attention and I turned back in the direction of the small table.
The giant was busily chopping large pieces of vegetable into a pot. He had noticed I was awake and came toward me. I tried to move but he was fast. He grabbed my hand and pulled me up to the table, my blanket lying forgotten on the floor.
“Linda, help me,” he said in grating tones as he handed me a large hunting knife.
I took the knife and contemplated using it to over power him. Re evaluating his size and speed, I thought better of that and started chopping carrots into the large pot. Already inside were chunks of meat and other vegetables.
“For Linda,” he stated as he pointed to a large cup on the table now holding an assortment of small purple flowers.
“I’m not Linda, I’m Elizabeth,” I said back to him continuing to cut the vegetables with shaking hands.
“No, Linda, my Linda, you came back to me. Friends found Linda, brought her back,” he said matter of factly.
Done with his stew preparations he hoisted the large cast iron pot to hang over the fire. Glancing back at me he seemed to take in my whole figure, he sniffed the air and then his face clouded. I tried to back away but was too slow. He scooped me up over his shoulder and marched outside with me in tow.
Off to the side of the cabin was a strange contraption I couldn’t place. The small wooden enclosure was open at the top and the wood only went down to about my knees. Over the enclosure were a series of 50 gallon drums. The giant stood me up in the enclosure then turned a handle and water poured down over my head. It was freezing cold
The giant handed me a slippery bar I recognized as homemade soap then commanded, “Wash, clean away the other scent.”
“What other scent?” I blurted out shivering.
“The other wolves, the ones that brought you, they leave their scent. My Linda.”
“Who are you?” I asked him starting to wash as he had asked me to do if only to make the chilly experience quicker.