"Why is it that good times aren't permitted to last?"
I guessed people were right when they said that being way too happy could mean that downfall was on its way.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself all tied up to a chair in a dark room. There was nothing around me except for the pitch blackness that surrounded me and the only thing I could see was the dimly lit lamp placed right above me. The room was cold — no — I was stripped till I was left in the thin dress that I wore underneath the thick coat when I left home today and that was why I felt cold.
Trying to move was a futile attempt when my ankles were tied together with cable ties and my bare feet were planted against the moist, cold and uneven ground. I struggled against the restraint but stopped when the sharp edges scraped painfully against my sole.
Where am I?
My heart raced and the panic caused a lurch in my throat. All the muscles in my body tensed uncomfortably and when I tried to scream, the sound was muffled by the gag that was tied to my mouth. I thought hard about what had happened and ache in my head was a scary memory that flashed across my mind.
-
I got ready early today and walked out of my apartment building. Standing in the walkway, I waited for Leon but he left a text earlier to let me know about the heavy traffic and a possible delay. I replied saying it's okay and waited patiently. From within, I was really excited to be going out today because it was Valentine's Day and also, my birthday.
The wait felt a little bit uneasy and it wasn't because the weather was colder than usual, but the chill came from the feeling of being watched. Yet, when I looked around, there wasn't anyone within my vicinity. Shrugging the unease off, I felt that I was overthinking and went back to my phone to continue to chat with Clara. She was telling me that Max had planned for a short trip out of the city and I felt excited for her since she had been wanting a getaway for a long while.
Just when I wasn't paying attention, someone attacked from behind. Frantic, I thrashed and struggled, remembering the sweet scent on the cloth that was covering my mouth and nose before everything went black in an instant.
-
The realisation finally struck me that I was most probably kidnapped. My pulse hastened and I struggled in the chair as tears of desperation prickled the back of my eyes. At this point, my mind had gone blank and any logical thought had been erased by the horrifying fear that pumped through my veins. All I could think of is run. But the harder I tried to break myself free, the deeper the cable ties scratched and cut into my skin.
Creak.
The sound of a turned doorknob snapped me back into attention. The door was suddenly pushed ajar but I couldn't make out the shape of my kidnapper because there wasn't enough light that seeped into the room from outside. By the looks of it, I assumed that it was already night time as my eyes stayed fixated on the place where I heard shuffling footsteps slowly making their way towards me. A mixture of trepidation and nausea forced its way up from my stomach and I almost threw up at the sight of the figure that stepped into view.
The man standing ahead of me had a sickening grin on his face. I wouldn't forget this person, never. Amused, he said, "I see that you still remember me."
His hand shot out to grab my jaw and I winced when his fingers dug painfully into my cheek. The horror and surprise I previously felt were replaced with anger that boiled in me. Glaring at him, I was cursing at him through the gag but nothing comprehensible could be heard. A frown appeared in his expression and his palm contacted with my face with a blow that nearly tipped over the chair I was in. Yet, before I could fall, he placed his arms on both sides of the chair, swinging me back as his face hovered close to mine. In a mocking tone, he said, "I just want to see how long can you stay this conceited and feisty."
His hand reached to the back of my head and removed the gag. I was about to spew out curses when his hand grabbed my face tightly and looking at me eye to eye, amusement and taunt flashed across when he mentioned, "You can scream all you want, but there's no one here that will save you."
Infuriated, I hauled up spat on his face exhaling a dry laugh at the loser ahead of me. The man stumbled back to wipe the spit off his face and with all the anger that powered into strength, he swung a slap across my face again — harder and way more forceful this time. My skin burned from the sting and the chair tipped over, causing me to crash into the rough ground which the sharp edges scratched and pierced into my skin. I winced at the pain but felt no remorse for all that I had done.
Spewing a slew at me, he swung his leg and kicked me in the abdomen. He kicked and stepped repeatedly, each blow was forceful without restraint as though I was nothing but a body pillow that he vent his anger on. I clenched hard on my lower lip to stifle my screams, biting so hard that I could taste my own blood. Enduring through the excruciating pain, the man only stopped when he was finally satisfied.
His hand grabbed the chair and pulled it up while I was left with no more strength to resist so I unwillingly swung up together with the chair. That single haul had me realised that the imbecile ahead of me must've broken my ribs because my whole body ached and I heaved out a mouthful of blood when I coughed, staining my white dress in crimson. The man yanked my hair back and I let off a grimance of pain. Covering my mouth and facing me, our nose almost touched when he leaned close and his dark eyes burned with anger.
"I already said that your fiestiness is getting on my nerves," he hissed, before tossing my head to the side as though it was trash.
I laughed, mocking the man in front of me for being such a coward. Leaning forward, I spat a mouthful of blood on his shining shoes and challenged, "If you're waiting for me to beg for your mercy, let me tell you this, I'd never."
"We'll see," he sneered, amused by my display of angst.
The man snapped his finger and two men came into the room, carrying with them a table. He leaned against it lazily and reached into his pocket to take out a phone. When the volume switch was flicked on, the phone rang noisily and he held the phone right in front of me while I looked at the lit screen with Leon's name appearing against the incoming call interface. My body shot forward reflexively but my movements were limited by the chair that I was tied to.
The man's voice oozed with sarcasm when he mentioned, "That caring boyfriend of yours had been calling non-stop since morning."
No way.
My heart nearly dropped from the ringing sound of my phone as I kept thinking of how Leon and I promised to meet today — of how I didn't appear as promised. I was sure he had to be panicking and he must be worried to be calling since morning.
"I hope you enjoy what you see," he laughed sardonically, placing the phone out of my reach but within my sight. That was all he did before leaving the room with his men. The sound of the door clicking shut made me realise that I was going to look at this the entire time and I lost it. Tears fell from the corner of my eyes and I sobbed silently while looking at Leon's name appearing against the lit screen. Each missed call notification made me fell deeper into desperation.
It was already two past midnight, and that was when my phone went dead silent.
That night, I cried in silence, hoping that I could hold onto my sanity long enough till help arrived.
-
✿