Gone (Gone #1) Read Free Page A

thinking that at least she might be rested when the time came to escape.
    The truck went over a large bump, waking her. How long had she been asleep this time? She could smell the cold hamburger. It permeated the entire truck bed. Her stomach rumbled again, but it twisted at the same time. As hungry as she was, the burger was the last thing she wanted to eat.
    Pulling the perfumed blanket up close to her chin, she wanted to go back to sleep. No, what she wanted was to go back in time and never talk to "Jared" in the first place. Why had she been so stupid? Why hadn't she changed her passwords more often? She'd always heard how important that was.
    Before long, boredom struck. It felt strange to be bored when she could be killed any moment, but the waiting was the worst part. Waiting wasn't her strong suit—but really, was it anyone's?
    Of course, she knew that once the truck stopped she would probably give anything to be bored again.
    How was she going to fight him? She should know something about self-defense given how many hours she'd been forced to watch her brother's karate tournaments and practices. There was something to do with pressure points, but she couldn't remember what. She had never paid any attention, usually playing a game, texting, or reading.
    Why hadn't she agreed to take the lessons with him? The sound of her dad's voice telling her that it would be good for her bounced around her head. Why hadn't she listened? There were so many things Macy would have done differently, if only she'd known. So many things.
    The truck hit another bump, and as Macy went into the air she realized she had to go to the bathroom. Bad. What was she supposed to do? Peeing in his truck would have made her happy, but she didn't want to have to smell it, or worse, land in it at some point.
    They went over another bump, and she knew that she had to do something before she lost control of her bladder. The last thing she wanted was to soak her clothes. Macy squeezed her pelvic muscles and looked around in desperation. She noticed something behind one of the tires. Was that some kind of container? Why hadn't she noticed that before? Her stomach sank as she realized it was there for her to pee in.
    Holding her breath to keep control of her bladder, she crawled over to it. It was an empty juice jug. That was going to have to do the job. They hit another bump, and she dropped the container as she leaked a few drops of urine. "Crap!" She scrambled for the jug and, feeling like an idiot, dropped her pants.
    When she was done, a feeling of relief washing over her entire body, Macy grabbed the lid and twisted as tight as she could get it. If she knew she was getting out soon, she would relieve herself in a corner to spite him.
    She pulled her pants back up and returned to the blanket. It was so cold, and she was starting to shiver. Lowering her pants hadn't helped. Even with the blanket, she hadn't been warm enough. As she settled down with the blanket, the pee jug caught her eye.
    Oh, that was gross. How could she even think that?
    But it was warm, she couldn't deny that.
    No. She would wait. She wasn't going to warm up with a pitcher of her pee. Macy looked at the ceiling, but before long, she was shivering.
    Shoving the blanket aside, she crawled over to the container and brought it back to the blanket. Sticking it in her lap, she pulled the blanket over her again. The warmth from the pee felt good, as disgusting as that was. Macy imagined it was one of those heat packets she put in her pockets when they went skiing.
    Macy must have fallen asleep again, because the jerk of the truck stopping woke her up. She blinked her eyes, trying to get her bearings. She felt groggy, and that had to mean she had been asleep for a while. Were they out of state? When she had been in the cab of the truck, they were heading east, more than likely leaving Washington. But where?
    The canopy opened again. Her abductor looked around, and then smiled when he saw