" so, you're not? that's, uh... " it didn't quite inspire relief, but he stopped mentally preparing his last words. somewhere between half-consciousness and full terror, river's heart had stopped hammering against his ribs with threatening ferocity. muscles were still weakened from the drug he'd been slipped, his bound limbs as useful as boiled noodles attached to his body. an ache was forming at the nape of his neck, a blooming pain drumming into the back of his skull, making thoughts go murky, fuzzed over in a haze. it was the most vulnerable he'd ever been, and as he forced himself to meet his captor's eyes, river found himself letting go of the fear. he'd be dead already, if that was the goal - and, glancing around his prison, it didn't look like a serial killer's abode. it looked...
" beautiful house you got. " there was an embarrassing quiver in his voice, throating hitching on the lingering horror clouding his ability to think, and river tried again. he hoped flattery would work on her. " you didn't have to tie me up to get me here as a guest, though. "