“Sorry,” he said in a low voice. “Not going to happen.” Without another word, he lifted my body out of the trunk and set me down on a soft carpet of grass.
The cloth covering my eyes left me dizzy and disoriented. Ignoring the spinning sensation, I tried to move, anything to get away from him. Before I could take a single step, I felt his fingers wrap around my arm.
“Not so fast,” he barked.
“Let go of me!” I shouted as I tried to shrug his hand off.
Ignoring my request, he squeezed harder and pulled me forward. “You can either walk or I can carry you. Your choice.”
My voice trembled as I blinked back unshed tears, “I’ll walk.”
“Good. This way,” he said, tugging my body forward.
I stumbled as he led me through wet grass that slapped at my ankles. I need to get away. Should I run? Taking a deep breath, I decided it was useless to run while blindfolded.
“Just a little bit further.”
Remaining silent, I tried to listen for signs of the city. Instead, all I could hear were crickets chirping and the occasional frog croak. Where has he taken me? How far away are we from home?
“Step up,” he commanded.
Obeying, I stepped up and felt my foot make contact with a solid surface.
Buzz. Buzz.
Is that his phone?
Answering my question, he mumbled, “Yeah. Uh huh.”
“HELP ME!” I screamed.
“No. It’s nothing. Gotta go. Bye.”
His rough fingertips grabbed me on either side of my mouth. Tears fell as he applied pressure and my teeth cut into the sides of my cheeks. “Don’t pull anything like that again. Do you understand me?”
I nodded as tears soaked the fabric covering my eyes and trickled down my cheeks.
Releasing my face, he let out a snarl that sent shivers down my spine. “Now be a good little girl and don’t pull anymore of this bullshit.”
Chapter Three
Abriana
The aroma of vegetable soup cooking on the stove filled the room. My mouth watered, but I didn’t dare ask for anything. How am I going to get out of here and away from him?
I tried to loosen the rope tied around my hands. Rubbing my wrists together and trying to pull them apart sent hot flashes of pain across my skin.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
I bit my lip and remained silent.
“I’m heating up soup. Are you hungry?” he asked.
Shaking my head, I tried to ignore the empty feeling in my stomach, which growled in protest.
“Fine, suit yourself.”
I listened as he opened up a cabinet door. A moment later, a bowl and spoon clattered on the counter. He hummed to himself as he poured the soup into the bowl. The familiar sound of a beer bottle opening and the cap being tossed aside made my blood boil. He’s kicking back, having dinner and a beer while I sit here tied up and blindfolded?
My stomach growled again, this time louder.
“Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?”
I shifted my body and looked in the direction his voice had come from. Trying to quell the sickening feeling seeping through my body, I spat, “Why do you even care?”
He blew air loudly out of his nostrils. “I love you, Abriana. I don’t want you to go hungry just because you’re being stubborn.”
“Well, if you weren’t hell bent on kidnapping me, we would be at a nice restaurant having dinner right now,” I fumed. “Remember that? This was supposed to be our first date. Dinner and a movie.”
The sofa dipped slightly as he sat down next to me. “Things change,” he said. I heard him bring the spoon to his mouth and slurp the soup down. “Now we’re here. Our dinner and movie date will have to wait.”
I turned away from Easton as my mind wandered back to the moments before I left to meet him.
“I can’t believe you are meeting some guy for dinner who you met online!” said my roommate, Addison.
“I’ve known him for like three months,” I countered. “That’s more than the guy you brought home last night!”
Her cheeks turned bright red. “Well, at least I didn’t meet him online. I mean, what if he’s some weirdo! Haven’t you seen that show Catfish?”
“It will be fine, Addison. He’s totally legit. Plus, we’re going to dinner and a movie. I’m not going anywhere by myself with him. It will be safe. I promise.”
Addison scrunched her nose. “You better text me updates throughout the date!”
“Okay, okay,” I agreed.
Shaking my head, I thought about Addison’s warnings and my failed promises. Why didn’t I listen to her?
“It’s a shame we didn’t get to eat at Graze,” he said with a mouthful of soup. “I hear their Bibimbap is amazing.”
I shifted my body further away from him as he took a loud swig of beer.
“Abriana,” he said, touching my knee and causing me to flinch. “We’re going to be together for a long time. You’re going to have to get over the way things went tonight.”
He can’t be serious? I stood up and took a blind step forward. “Get over the way things went tonight?” I said in a shaky voice. “You kidnapped me! I’m not going to just get over that!”
A second later, his beer bottle hit the floor and rolled from left to right. I flinched, waiting for him to put his hands around my throat like he had earlier.
“I told you to behave,” he growled.
He pulled on my hair, which I had expertly twisted into a long fishtail braid before our date, forcing my head to snap back. Fear spread through my body like a wildfire.
“I’ve had enough of your lip,” he snarled. He wrapped his arms around my waist and hoisted me into the air. He carried me for several seconds before opening up a creaking door.
He took a few more steps before throwing my body on to a bed. “Go to sleep.”
I tried to sit up, but his hand met my shoulder and forcefully pushed me back down. “Go to sleep, or I’ll make you.”
Giving up, I stopped fighting and held back a sob.
“There’s a good girl,” he said before running a finger down the side of my cheek.
Flinching, I turned my head and whispered, “I can’t sleep with my hands behind my back.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of that,” he responded.
A moment later, he grabbed my right ankle and wrapped something around it.
My throat caught in my chest. What is he doing to me?
He chuckled. “I can’t have you running away. I need to make sure you are tied up safe and sound.”
A sick feeling settled in my stomach. I wanted to fight against him, but the threat of his hands wrapping around my throat sent a chill through my core. I’ll do anything to avoid his hands on my neck again . . . Deciding not to fight him, I allowed him to slip a rope around my left ankle. He pulled it tight and wrapped it around something at the foot of the bed.
“You promise to behave?” he asked again. “If you don’t, I’ll just leave your hands the way they are.”
“I promise,” I said quietly, defeated. How am I ever going to get away from this monster?
He helped me to a sitting position and tugged on the rope binding my hands. Once they were free, I gently flexed one then the other. The rope had left indentations and sore red burns across both wrists. Reaching up, I inspected the cut on my head. The raised ridge remained tender to the touch.
“Lay down,” he instructed.
Resisting, my mind raced. What is he going to do to me once I’m tied up?
“I said, LAY DOWN,” he snarled. “Or I’ll help you!”
Please don’t let him hurt me, I thought as I followed his directions and eased my body back down. I felt the blood drain from my face as he took my hand and ran his callused fingertips over the back of my hands.
After he tied both of my hands and secured them to the headboard, he leaned over and brushed his lips against my ear. �
�I’ll see you in the morning, my love.”
Chapter Four
Abriana
An alarm beeped somewhere off in the distance and brought with it a crashing wave of consciousness.
Wincing, I tried to move my bound arms and legs. They barely budged. As I continued to struggle, thoughts raced through my mind. Will Addison call the police? I thought of the terrible call she would have to make to my parents. My parents . . . I pictured their faces as they received news that I had been kidnapped. Even worse, I pictured my little sister’s face. I say little, but she’s only eighteen months younger than me. Alexa had long brown hair and chocolate colored eyes. Her eyes were set a little wider than mine, but other than that, we looked so similar, people often confused us for twins. She would cry when the police told her. My mother would drape an arm around her trembling frame. Stop! I had to force her tear-streaked face out of my mind.
Footsteps caused the floorboards in the hallway to creak loudly. My body involuntarily tensed as I waited for the bedroom door to open.
“Time to get up.”
Not responding, I shifted my body slightly, trying to put as much space between us as possible.
“That’s fine. You don’t need to speak to me right now. Maybe you’re just not a morning person?”
Not a morning person, I thought in disgust. You kidnapped me you asshole!
“There’s a bathroom here. Do you need to use it?”
I nodded.
His footsteps got closer and I could sense him leaning over me. I held my breath as he loosened my arms and legs.
“I’m going to trust you to follow my rules,” he said. “I’ll let you go to the bathroom with untied limbs as long as you don’t try anything stupid. I’ll give you twenty minutes. Then I’m coming in whether you are ready or not. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“Also, there aren’t any windows, loose floorboards, or any other way to escape. So, don’t waste your time.”
Swallowing, I forced myself to nod again.
His strong fingers wrapped around my arms and pulled me to my feet. I wobbled as he led me into the hallway.
“Last thing,” he said, “do not take off your blindfold until you are inside the bathroom.”
“Okay,” I responded.
“Well look at that, she talks,” he exclaimed in a sarcastic tone.
He tightened his grasp around my biceps. “I’m serious though; do not take off that blindfold until you are in the bathroom. If you don’t listen, I’ll duct tape your eyes shut.”
I nodded and bit my lower lip as it trembled.
“And when you’re done, put it back on. Understand?”
“Yes.”
I heard the door open and felt him lead my body forward. I stood silently with my feet on the cold tile floor until I heard the door shut behind me.
Tentatively, I reached up to take off my blindfold. When I didn’t hear any signs of protest, I tugged on the knot and slipped it off my face. Blinding light from large eighties style light bulbs shined in my eyes, causing me to squint. When I finally managed to open my eyes, I blinked several times as I searched the wall for a mirror. Seriously? What kind of bathroom doesn’t have a mirror?
I sighed as I sat down to pee. Next, I peeled off my clothes and turned on the tap in the small shower lined in teal tiles. It smelled like mildew. Gross. Once the water warmed up, I stepped in and let it cascade over my body.
I thought back to the blindfold threat. I already know what you look like, Easton. Well, I think I do . . . I thought back to the previous night. I had stood waiting outside of Graze in a green summery dress. I wore flat gold sandals and had my favorite Coach clutch under my arm. My phone had buzzed twice. Easton, or whoever he was, sent me a text message saying he was lost. He described the parking lot he had parked in and I offered to meet him there so we could walk back to the restaurant together. I shook my head. I’m such an idiot!
I remember stubbing my toe on the sidewalk. I had leaned against the side of the brick building as I inspected my manicured toes. I pulled out my cell phone and debated texting Easton directions instead of walking to meet him. Then, before I could send him the message, my phone lit up.
“Easton?”
“Yeah, I figured out where I am.”
“Oh, good,” I said with a slight frown as I looked at the chipped pink polish.
“I’m cutting through the alley. See you in a minute?”
“Okay, I’m standing in front of the alley.”
My heart fluttered as I spotted him down the alley. I couldn’t make out his features, but he appeared tall with a muscular build and blond hair. As he got closer, he looked down at his shoes. A moment later, he clutched his chest and fell to the ground.
“Oh, my God! Easton!” I had screamed as I ran toward him.
He didn’t budge as I crouched down to check for vitals. “Easton? Easton! Can you hear me?” Before I had a chance to find his pulse, he reached up and grabbed me by the neck. In an instant, he had slammed my face into the pavement and swung his body on top of mine.
Pure terror coursed through my blood as blood dripped down my forehead into my eyes.
“Don’t make this harder,” growled my attacker.
“Please! Let me go!” I cried.
He let out a sinister laugh. “Not a chance.”
I struggled under his strong legs. “Please! I promise not to tell anyone!”
He shifted his weight, trapping my body further under his.
“Why are you doing this to me?” I pleaded.
Refusing to answer, he kept one hand on the middle of my back and reached for something I couldn’t see with the other.
Sensing it might be my only chance, I quickly rolled to the left and sprang to my feet. Before he could react, I kicked him in the side and sprinted down the dark alley.
A scream full of rage filled the growing space between us.
“Come back here!” he bellowed.
I pulled out my cell phone and tried to unlock the screen, but my trembling hands lost control. It dropped to the ground and clattered loudly. Darting around the corner, my breathing hitched in my chest, and tears mixed with the blood dripping down my forehead.
A door slammed, sending my heart racing. I remember reaching down and picking up a broken metal pipe. Clutching the makeshift weapon to my chest, I made a run for the street at the end of the alleyway.
I shook my head and tried to erase the terrifying memory as I lathered a bar of soap in my hands. I only needed to make it a few more steps . . .
Flinching as the soap made contact with the cut on my forehead, I inspected it with my fingers. Without a mirror, I couldn’t tell if I needed stitches. All I knew was it stung badly.
A loud knock on the door startled me.
“You’ve got five more minutes,” Easton shouted.
I closed my eyes and let the water wash his voice away.
What seemed like a second later, I heard him bang on the door and shout, “Turn the water off. Let’s go!”
Obeying his command, I turned off the taps and wrapped my body in a ratty pink towel. I squeezed the excess water out of my hair and ran a hand towel through it.
Without a brush, I managed to comb my fingers through the tangles, put in a simple braid, and secure the end with the elastic band I had around my wrist.
“Put the blindfold back on.”
I slipped on my clothes and retied the blindfold. I didn’t have to worry about looking my attacker in the face, but the darkness terrified me.
The doorknob squeaked as he turned it from the other side of the door. Warm humid air from the shower rushed past me and into the hallway.
“Step forward,” he commanded.
I stepped forward, bumping my toes on a raised floorboard plank. “Ouch.”
Easton let out a frustrated sigh. “Here,” he said, picking up my body and taking several steps in the opposite direction.
My muscles tensed as his hands
touched my bare skin. I bit my lip and waited for him to set me down.
“You need to eat,” he grunted.
I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip. Ignore him, my mind screamed, but my growling stomach thought otherwise.
“Here,” he said, shoving a chilled glass into my hand.
I cautiously raised it to my mouth and inhaled a sweet scent.
“It’s grape juice,” he assured me. “And here’s a granola bar. I’d feed you more. But we have a long way to go today and I don’t have time to stop to let you go to the bathroom every five minutes.”
My mouth watered and hunger overcame my senses as I took a large bite of the granola bar. I chewed quickly, swallowed, and took another bite.
“I knew you were hungry,” he said, placing his hand on my knee.
I pulled my leg away and took a large gulp of the juice.
Before I could take another sip, he snatched the cup out of my hands and knocked the remainder of the granola bar on to the floor. “I’m taking care of you now,” he whispered into my ear. “If I want to touch your knee, I’m going to touch your knee. Do you understand?”
My hands shook and my lower lip trembled.
“Apparently, I need to show you how I plan to take care of you . . . ”
Grabbing me by the back of my hair, he pulled my face toward his. His lips brushed against mine, causing my stomach to clench. I pushed him away with both hands, only to have him pin them down by my sides.
“If you struggle,” he whispered into my ear. “I will kill you . . . ”
Tears fell from my eyes as he gently bit my lower lip and ran his tongue across my teeth. His hands remained on top of mine as he moved his legs on either side of mine.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured.
A sob escaped from my lips. “Please, stop.”
He ignored my request and tilted back my head. Trailing kisses from my mouth to my neck, he paused and ran his hands over my knees and up to my thighs.
My body began to shake and my blood turned ice cold. “Please,” I pleaded. “Please, don’t do this!”
“It’s what we both want,” he said in a husky voice. “You just don’t know it yet.”
Buzz. Buzz.
He let out a dejected sigh. “We’ll have to finish this later.” Shoving the glass of juice back in my hands, he let out a small laugh. “Finish this. Then I’m tying your hands back up.”
PANDORA Page 30
