PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  I let the cool liquid slid down the back of my throat as I tried to process what just happened. Goose bumps crept up my neck as the thought of his lips traveling down my neck settled in.

  “Now there’s a good girl,” he said in a melodic voice. He eased the glass out of my hands and set it on the floor with a clunk.

  “Give me your hands,” he said.

  Too terrified not to obey, I held out my hands and held my breath.

  “We’re leaving in five minutes. You should be asleep by then.”

  “What?” I gasped. How could I have been so stupid? Of course he put something in my drink!

  “You weren’t a very good passenger yesterday. I had to come up with a better solution,” he said, running his thumb over my top lip.

  Dizziness soon set in and my thoughts began to melt together.

  “There, there,” were the last words I remembered before falling into a world of oblivion.

  Three Days Later . . .

  Chapter Five

  Alexa

  “Where is she?” I asked between sobs. “Why can’t they find her?”

  My mother wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly. She ran a shaky hand through my hair as she murmured, “We’ll find her, sweetheart. Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”

  A nearby police officer lowered his gaze and shifted his weight uncomfortably.

  Pulling away, I wiped a wet strand of hair off my face. “What can we do? There must be something we can do to help?”

  A short stocky man dressed in a dark gray suit knelt down on one knee and pulled a small notebook out of his pocket. “I’m Detective Sam Lock. We have sent detectives over to your sister’s apartment. Her roommate mentioned that she was going out on a date with someone she met online. Did she tell you anything about this?”

  “No,” I said, shaking my head. “We got in a fight Thursday night and I haven’t talked to her since then . . . ” More sobs erupted, causing my entire body to shake.

  “What about her laptop? Addison said she had one with a bright pink cover, but we can’t find it anywhere. Any idea where your sister may have kept it?”

  I sniffled and held back a fresh round of tears. “She usually kept it on her nightstand or under her bed.”

  The detective peered at her over his glasses. “Do you think she would have any reason to hide it?”

  Dabbing the skin under my eyes with a tissue, I shook my head. “She used it all of the time for school. It should be in her apartment.”

  The detective reached over and put his hand on top of mine. Giving it a light squeeze, he said, “We’re doing all we can to find your sister.”

  I nodded before dropping my face into my hands.

  Detective Lock stood up and placed the notebook back in his pocket. “Thank you for your help, Alexa. If you can think of anything at all that might help us, please let me know.”

  Without another word, he stood up and walked over to a group of men standing near the front door. They spoke quietly with solemn expressions on their faces.

  “Mom, I’m scared.”

  Pulling me in for a tight embrace, she whispered, “I’m scared too, Lex.”

  ***

  The police officers and detectives continued to mill throughout the house for the next several hours. They spoke in whispers and kept looking toward my grief-stricken mother.

  “I don’t feel well. I think I’m going to take a shower and lay down,” I told my mom.

  She planted a kiss on my forehead and hugged me before I headed upstairs.

  Locking the door behind me, I turned on the taps and pulled a towel off the hook on the back of the door. I placed the towel carefully on the floor and pulled a dime out of my pocket. Lowering my body, I used the dime to open up an access vent on the side of the bathtub.

  Plunging my hand into the darkness, I felt around the floorboards. There you are . . . Giving a slight tug, I pulled a canvas bag out of the hiding space and into the light.

  Licking my lips, I pulled out Abriana’s pink laptop and my burner phone.

  Looking over my shoulder, I double-checked that I had locked the bathroom door. Satisfied it was safe, I turned on the cheap flip phone and waited for it to come to life.

  Once the screen lit up, my fingers flew across the keys and clicked on the green phone key.

  A smile broke out on my face as his sexy voice answered the phone.

  “Easton, here. How can I be of service?”

  Chapter Six

  Abriana

  “Yeah, everything is fine.”

  Who is he speaking to?

  “Okay. Don’t worry,” he paused. “I love you too.”

  LOVE YOU? My blood pressure skyrocketed and anger seeped through my pores. Clearly, I’m not his only victim! What an ass!

  Biting my lip, I exhaled slowly and tried to picture my family. Thinking of them was the only thing that helped me survive the past few days. Like a reel playing over and over again in a movie theater, I pictured my mother’s long brown hair falling into my face as she leaned over to kiss me on the cheek in the morning. Also on repeat, my father’s smile when he watched my sister play lacrosse. Lastly, Alexa’s eyes, filling with tears when I told her I was moving out of the house and living in the dorms my first year of college. “You can’t leave me here by myself,” she cried. “I’ll miss you too much!”

  Easton’s gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. “Open up.”

  I complied and he pulled a rolled up sock out of my mouth.

  “You’re disgusting,” I spat.

  “Think before you speak,” he growled.

  “I just have one question,” I asked. “Why did you kidnap me? You obviously are in a relationship or whatever that was on the phone, with someone else. Either you’re a serial liar or just a pervert!”

  A quick blow to the cheek dampened my rebellious spirit.

  I listened as Easton’s footsteps left the room. Adjusting my body, I tried to flex my wrists. They were tied up behind my back and rope burns made most movement painful.

  “You better not try to get that blindfold off again,” he shouted from another room.

  I almost had it off earlier . . . I thought I was alone, but when Easton’s callused hands met my throat, I knew that I had made a costly mistake. His hot breath spilled across my face, causing me to cringe. As he squeezed, the air in my lungs depleted to a dangerously low level. I shuttered as I remember his tongue sliding across the side of my face. “Leave this on, or the next time, I won’t let go,” he had growled through clenched teeth. He retied the blindfold and left me gasping for air on the sofa.

  My stomach growled, reminding me of the fact that I hadn’t eaten in what felt like days. Every time Easton offered me something, I had refused. I didn’t want to give him more power of me. I controlled if I ate or not, not him. I knew that it couldn’t go on forever, but I wanted to keep it up as long as possible.

  As I laid my head on a squishy sofa cushion, tears formed in my eyes. I want to go home . . .

  ***

  I woke to Easton shaking my shoulder.

  “Get up,” he commanded. “We’ve got company.”

  Company? My heart began to race and I struggled to take a deep breath. Who’s here? What are they going to do to me?

  “I said, GET UP!” he barked.

  Flinching, I forced my body into an upright position.

  “Come on,” said Easton as he grabbed my arm and tugged me to my feet.

  My body trembled as he led me through the dwelling. Should I try to run? What if he brought someone here to kill me or to help him kill me? Stricken with pure terror, I dropped to my knees and began to sob.

  “What are you doing?” he growled. “Get up!”

  Through chattering teeth, I managed to whisper, “Are you going to kill me?”

  Easton made a sound I couldn’t place. Was that a sigh? Does he feel sorry for me? Is he having second thoughts?

  Deciding to go for it, I spoke up, “You
don’t have to do this. You know that, right? If you take me home now, I promise I won’t tell anyone! You can get away with everything. It isn’t too late!”

  Silence.

  “Look, I-” before Easton could finish his sentence, a loud thud cut him off.

  Without another word, he grabbed my roughly by the arm and dragged me to my feet. “Behave,” he whispered into my ear.

  Chapter Seven

  Alexa

  “What’s taking so long?” I muttered under my breath.

  As I raised my hand to knock again, the door swung open.

  “Hey,” said Easton with a smile breaking out across his face.

  Nodding, I plastered on a fake smile and pushed past him. That’s when my eyes landed on her. Poor perfect Abriana. She stood slightly behind Easton with tears running down her blindfolded face. Good, at least he didn’t let her get a look at him! I’m sure he’d crack when her big brown eyes met his.

  “So, ah, um. What do you want to do?” asked Easton.

  I pointed to the living room and began walking.

  Easton followed behind, tugging Abriana behind him.

  Reaching into my purse, I pulled out a small notebook.

  Tell her to sit down.

  A frown spread across his face. “What?”

  I rolled my eyes. What an idiot.

  Just do it.

  Twisting his lips, he appeared to be debating my instructions.

  Now!

  Flinching, he grabbed Abriana by the wrist and led her to the sofa. “Sit,” he snapped.

  That’s better, I thought to myself.

  Digging in my purse, I pulled out a small pocketknife encased in a hard red plastic interior.

  Easton’s eyes went wide.

  I sighed and turned the page in the small notebook.

  You need to read what I write down. Do you understand?

  Easton nodded.

  Tell her she is going to be punished.

  Easton’s beautiful gray eyes blinked slowly as he read what I had written. Sensing his hesitation, I leaned over Abriana’s lap and tugged on his collar. Pulling his body toward mine, I ran my tongue over his lower lip, then across his teeth.

  He let out a quiet moan.

  There . . . that should do it, I thought as I pulled back, letting my hand linger on his inner thigh.

  Pointing to the message, I looked into his naive eyes and batted my dark eyelashes.

  “Ah . . . Um, you’re going to be punished,” he quavered in a shaky voice.

  I gave him an encouraging nod.

  Tell her she’s selfish.

  “You’re selfish,” he stated with a little bit more confidence.

  Hold her down.

  “Hold-”

  I grabbed Easton by the shoulder. DO it! Don’t tell her!

  With trembling hands, Eason reached behind Abriana and wrapped his fingers around Abriana’s tied wrists. He squeezed them until his knuckles turned white.

  Hold down her legs.

  Shifting his body, he slid his leg over his trapped victim.

  A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. That’s better.

  Abriana began to struggle under Easton’s weight.

  Furrowing my brow, I opened the knife and ran the blade along Abriana’s exposed thigh. A scream escaped her parted lips as a thin line of blood formed under the pressure of the blade.

  Lifting my hand, I scribbled a quick note.

  Tell her to SHUT UP!

  Fear crossed his eyes before he mumbled. “Shut up.”

  Well this isn’t going to work! Who would have thought he would be such a pussy!

  I grabbed the pen and wrote another note.

  Enough fun for tonight . . . Put her back in her room. I want you all to myself!

  Like a puppy waiting for a treat, Easton followed my command and immediately escorted Abriana back to a tiny bedroom off the kitchen.

  A few seconds later, he stood in the door with his elbow resting against frame. I bit my lower lip, as my eyes drifted from his face to his toned abs.

  His eyes were heavy with lust as I pulled off my shirt, exposing my hot pink bra.

  “How long are you going to make me wait?” I asked in a sultry voice.

  Unable to control himself any longer, he dove across the room and threw his body on top of mine. Our mouths crashed into one another as my hands snaked up his rock hard chest.

  As Easton’s lips met my neck, I glanced over his shoulder and toward the darkened hallway. Who’s the perfect one now?

  Chapter Eight

  Abriana

  Too terrified to scream, I shook uncontrollably on top of the thin mattress and bit my lower lip. Who’s here? What are they going to do to me? Is Easton a serial killer?

  Wincing, the bleeding cut on my thigh stuck to the lumpy comforter covering the bed. Why did he cut me? Are they going to do it again?

  I replayed the events of the night in my mind until I felt like throwing up. I’ve got to find a way to get out of here and I need to do it soon . . . Otherwise, I’m going to die.

  ***

  The smell of bacon floated through the air. For a brief moment, I expected to open my eyes and see the familiar sights of my bedroom. Instead, dark fabric prevented me from seeing anything, not even a shadow.

  Easton let me take the blindfold off to shower once a day. That was it. My sight and freedom had been reduced to thirty minutes in a bathroom with cracked black and white tiles and a leaky faucet.

  Suddenly, my heart began to race and my teeth started to chatter violently as I remembered being cut with a razor sharp knife. What about the other person? Are they still here? Are they going to attack me again?

  Taking a deep breath, I tried to rally any remaining courage I had left deep within my soul. Okay, I’ve got to try and escape. If I don’t, they are going to kill me. It’s only a matter of time.

  Maneuvering my body, I managed to slide my tied hands under my bottom and around the front of my body. Inhaling, I lifted my hands to my face and tugged on the blindfold. The bright sunlight that flooded my room hurt my eyes. Squinting, I looked around the room and made note of all possibly escape routes. The door or the window . . . I decided to go for the window.

  Getting up, I crept across the floor, cringing with every creak.

  Pressing my wrists together, I turned my hands so my palms were facing upward. I slide my fingertips into the grooves and tried to push up. Noooo! A voice inside my head screamed in protest as I tried to push the window up again. He nailed it shut! How am I going to get out now?

  Taking a shaky breath, I looked around the room again. There must be something in here that I can throw through the window . . .

  Deciding on the drawer from the nightstand, I pulled it out by the handle and took a practice swing. Okay . . . It’s now or never . . .

  I swung the drawer back and chucked it forward with as much force as my weak body could muster. Shattering instantly, the glass fell in dangerous shards inside the room and outside the building.

  A loud clanging sound followed by a slew of cuss words came from outside of the bedroom door.

  I brushed the remaining glass out of the windowsill and swung one leg over and then the other. Throwing my body forward, I plunged out of the room and landed in an overgrown bush.

  Without looking back, I sprung to my feet and ran away from the house and the man who held me hostage.

  ***

  Propelling my body forward, I refused to stop. Tree branches snagged my hair and long grass slapped at my ankles.

  Easton’s voice boomed somewhere behind me, “Abriana! STOP! This won’t end well for you!”

  Keep running!

  My body felt weak and exhaustion set in after a few minutes. Keep running! Keep running! My limbs began to fumble and I tripped on an exposed tree root. Hitting the ground hard, I felt sharp rock dig into my knee. With tears in my eyes, I struggled to my feet. I pulled at the rope binding my hands as I darted toward a thick grove of e
vergreens.

  “Abriana! STOP running! We’re in the middle of nowhere!” shouted Easton.

  Minimal food and water over the past several days left my body running on fumes. My heart hammered in my chest and my energy dwindled to dangerously low levels. Scanning my surroundings, I looked for somewhere to hide.

  Settling on a fallen tree with thick branches covered in large oak leaves, I threw my body to the ground and held my breath.

  For a moment, all that I could hear were the birds chirping and the occasional gust of wind blowing through the leaves above.

  I looked down at my wrists and bit my lip. Even the smallest movements made noise. Holding my breath, I brought my hands to my mouth and pulled the rope with my teeth. Finally, the rope came lose and I managed to slide my hands out. I cringed as I examined my raw and bruised wrists.

  Suddenly, a nearby twig snapped. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to control the quake that threatened to shake my entire body. Count to ten, then reassess. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. When I didn’t hear anything else, I opened my eyes and searched the forest floor. Where is he? I couldn’t see or hear him. Maybe he left? Maybe he thinks I’m somewhere else.

  The trembling temporarily subsided and I took a deep breath. I counted to ten not once or twice, but three more times. Every time I got to ten, I looked around and listened for signs of my kidnapper. Finally, convinced that I was alone, I closed my eyes and wiped a tear of joy off my cheek. I did it! I lost him! Now, all I need to do is find someone, anyone else, and call 911!

  Easing my body off the forest floor, I looked down. I still had on the same dress from the night Easton captured me. My run through the forest had all but destroyed it. With an ounce of confidence, I thought to myself, the first thing I’m going to do when I get home is burn this dress!

  I glanced over my shoulder and tried to decide which way to go. Every direction looked the same. Tall pines reached toward the sky and smaller oak trees huddled together in small bunches.

  Going with my gut, I decided to head forward. Anything to get further away from Easton! With a slow and steady pace, I moved as quietly as possible throughout the forest.