Chapter 1
I felt groggy. I didn't feel like myself. I willed my limbs to move or do something, but they felt heavy. I tried to remember what happened, or at least where I was. All I could remember was the man in the woods. I shot up and instantly regretted it. My head swam with a pounding headache. I placed my hand on my head to try and stop the spinning; it only made me feel sick. I groaned and shut my eyes back quickly as I tried to remember what happened. All I kept seeing was the man in the woods. I tried blinking my eyes open again. I was more successful this time. I squinted against the bright sunlight filtering in through an open window.
Where was I?
I looked around to see that I was in a bedroom. The color theme was cream and light grey. Everything in the room mirrored the theme. I looked down to see that I was in a plush queen-sized bed. The covers were off-white with the rest of the room. There were lights on the ceiling, a single grand window, a set of double doors, a single door, a bedside table with a lamp, and a desk with a small bookshelf build it. This room looked like a master bedroom. I instantly panicked and checked myself.
Clothes still on?
Check.
My virginity in tact?
Check.
Phone and wallet.
Nope.
I knew I left my wallet at home, so I wasn't worried about that, but I did have my phone on me, and now I didn’t. Whoever took me must not have wanted me to contact anyone.
And with good reason! He kidnapped you! My inner voice chimed in.
I jumped as the door opened. The man from the woods walked in and my first instinct was to cover myself more with the blanket on my lap. I pressed my back against the headboard and pulled the covers up even further.
"W-Where am I? What are y-you going to do to m-me?" I asked, mentally cursing my nervous stutter. He held his hands up to his, now clothed, chest in a motion of surrender.
"I don't mean you any harm, I swear," he explained quickly. I hated that I actually trusted what he said. He could be lying and I believed it almost instantly.
"You kidnapped me. W-Why did you kidnap me?" I asked, my voice raising an octave from how scared I felt.
Nolan.
"Oh God, Nolan. Nolan is going to be devastated. He doesn't know where I am, and he'll blame himself for losing me and he's going to tell our dad and... My dad! It'll be like my mom all over again. He'll think I'm dead. He'll think I'm dead and Nolan is going to blame himself," I thought out loud as tears poured down my face. The man rushed closer to me, making me cower away even more. I hated this.
"Hey, no, no, no, please don't cry, please," he begged. I squeezed my eyes shut and fisted the sheets hard in my hand.
"Please... just take me home. I won't say anything about you, I promise. I won't tell anyone," I cried anyway. He hesitated.
"I can't," he breathed.
"Who are you?! I don't even know your name!" I yelled, angrily at my captor.
"I'll tell you mine when you tell me yours," he bargained, raising an eyebrow at me. I crossed my arms and looked away from him.
"Take me home please," I practically whispered. He sighed before he headed towards the door.
"I can't," he said simply before he left. I flinched when the door locked. I was really trapped here. I couldn't control my sobs as I curled up on my side. I cried louder and harder than I had since my mom died. Just the thought of my brother and my dad thinking I was dead was enough to break my heart. I didn't want them going through that... not again. My sobs and crying eased, and eventually I was just staring at the light filtering in through the giant window.
An idea occurred to me. I wiped my tears away as I walked towards the window and prayed for a miracle. I unlatched the window and pushed gently. It slid open easily. I looked down to measure the distance. I looked down, and up. I was on a third floor out of four floors in a house.
Who has four floors in their house?
There was only a slab on concrete on the ground under the window. I also noticed a footing all the way down. If I was careful, I could climb down. If not... let's just say it was a long way down. If I could reach the forest and keep straight, I could find a town eventually, maybe use someone's phone to call my dad. I risked a glance behind me before I climbed out of the window and onto the ledge.
I could do this.
I took and deep breathe and prepared myself for the next step down.
"What are you doing?!" A frantic voice asked. I spooked and looked through window, losing my footing. I screamed as I fell backwards to what I knew would be a sure death. My stomach dropped as I saw the man who kidnapped me jump out the window not even a split second after me. My eyes connected with his as my body collided with the concrete. It knocked the wind out of me to the point where I couldn't even scream. I felt the man's hands hold my head. It was the only part of my body that wasn't screaming. Breathing was difficult and came in gasps. Black dots swam in my vision. I couldn't move. The man appeared in my line of vision and he looked scared and worried. My eyes slipped close watching him worry over me. I just didn't want to be in pain anymore.
"No, no, no, stay awake," the man yelled, but he already sounded so far away.