My head smacks against something hard and unforgiving, waking me from a deep sleep. My eyes open to darkness, and a headache pounds at the base of my skull. My head sways, rolling back and forth across the coarse carpet.
I try to move my hands next, but something binds my wrists together. The material is rough, and as it rubs against my skin there’s a slight burn. I think it’s rope. Next, I try my feet, but my ankles are tied too.
Don’t panic. Don’t panic. Oh my God, I’ve been kidnapped. Okay, be smart. Everything will be okay.
I have to continue to tell myself that. If I don’t, I’ll get lost in fear, and I can’t do that. I have to survive this.
The gag in my mouth tastes horrible. It’s wet from my spit. I try to push the gag out with my tongue, but it’s tied too tight. Tears spring to my eyes, and that fear begins to sink in, wrapping around reality.
What if I’m going to be sold?
The thought has my mind racing with horrible possibilities. What if I’m not even in Greece anymore? What if I’m on my way to a human meat market, or I’m getting sold to the highest bidder? What if I’m forced into prostitution and become addicted to drugs?
I had read the statistics of kidnapping and what could happen while I was redesigning the website for the police department. That horrifying information seared itself into my brain, and every so often I think about it.
Now all I can think about is where I’m going and if there will be horrors waiting for me. Will I be sleeping on a dirty floor? Will I be abused?
This is not how I pictured losing my virginity. I waited all this time for nothing. I should have gotten it over with. I’ll probably be sold for top dollar. Men like virgins, right?
My entire body begins to shake from adrenaline and shock. I feel like I’m going to wake up from a bad dream. It has to be a dream. This doesn’t happen to people like me. I stay to myself. I’m introverted. I barely have friends. I only have Lilly. I don’t talk to anyone at work, and I don’t have any family.
Shit.
That makes me the perfect target because no one would miss me. I mean, Lilly would, but she’s only one person. I’m no one important to the community. I don’t come from a family of money or status. I’m just Mable, who works at a design company in my own little cubical where I don’t bother anybody.
The car comes to a stop; at least, I’m assuming it’s a car by the sound of the brakes and the small dark space I’m in—a trunk. I should call it what it is.
I wiggle back as far as I can, and the trunk opens, allowing cool air into the heated, humid space.
“Mable, are you okay?” he asks, bending down and sliding his arms under me.
I scream behind the gag, flopping my legs like a mermaid to escape him. I have to fight even if it means I’m left on the side of the road, bound and gagged.
He tosses me over his shoulder, and I lift my arms, then hit my fists against his back as hard as I can.
“Ow, stop. Stop! That hurts. Why are you doing that? You’re okay. I am not going to hurt you. I know it’s a little extreme, but I promise you’re going to be happy.”
Oh my God, he’s a psychopath.
I continue to fight him, slamming my elbow against the soft spot of his shoulder blade and spine.
“Fuck!” he roars. “Will you please give it a rest? That fucking hurt. I’m sorry it’s come to this, but I didn’t know another way to bring you here. No matter what I did, you would have fought me like you are now. But please, if you can, leave the part out where I drugged you when you talk to my brother, that would be great. He would be pissed if anything happened to you.”
I mumble behind my gag, making sure to try to yell certain words in hopes he will understand, then hit him in the back again.
“Listen, I know this isn’t conventional. You have every right to be upset with me, but name-calling is not necessary.”
Grumbling again, I run out of steam, the drug in my system is causing me to lose energy fast. My head sways, and I let my cheek rest against this stranger’s back.
“I hope one day you can forgive me—”
I snort loud enough for him to hear.
“—I’m not a bad guy.”
I can’t help it. I snort again, then try to speak, but it comes out in weak syllables.
“I know I kidnapped you!” he argues with me, somehow able to understand what I’m saying behind this damn gag.
I grumble again.
“And stop throwing it in my face that I drugged you. I had to. You would have screamed.”
“Mmhm!” I yell as loud as I can behind the gag.
“I didn’t want you to scream. It would have alerted people.”
No shit.
That’s the point.
“And you don’t understand. I had to do this. My brother is in a tough spot. He is in charge of the family business now, and he is being forced to marry someone he doesn’t want to, but I can’t have that happen. I can’t say anymore but know he is going to be so happy to see you. You guys know each other from…a few years back.”
For a kidnapper, I suppose this guy could be worse. He’s a little quirky and definitely a little unhinged, but not so scary now that he isn’t drugging me in the hotel room, gagging me, or throwing me in the trunk.
We have to look at the positive side of things, right?
No! What? No. I can’t fall for his insanity. He fucking kidnapped me. He isn’t nice. He is a psychopath who probably does this shit all the time. I bet he picks up the girls, and his brother is the one who kills them.
I look down at the stone walkway, then look left and right, noticing a well-kept lawn. There’s an iron fence surrounding the property, and I think I see a bench in front of a fountain, but it’s more of a shadow right now, and I can’t tell.
“I’m sorry, okay? For causing you fear, drugging you, and throwing you in the trunk. I didn’t know what else to do, and I felt like I had no options, but I promise, you’re safe here.”
The terror causing my body to tremble says otherwise.
The sound of keys jingle, then a lock slides, and he must take a step because I’m higher off the ground for a second. He swings me from his shoulder and into his arms in a bridal-style hold, and I’m looking up at him for the first time. I’m able to truly see his face now that we’re in the light.
He’s the man I spoke to at the Parthenon.
He was the one watching me.
I can’t speak still from being gagged, and I try to mutter something for him to understand.
“I’m sorry, what?” he asks, carrying me down the hall.
I roll my eyes. “Ne-er-mi-d,” I manage to say, something somewhat understandable.
“So this is the estate. It’s a giant waste of space with a hundred rooms and hallways you’ll get lost in.”
I look around, and I’m impressed with the tall ceilings and huge oak beams. The walls are painted gray, and I hear music as he goes up the steps.
“That’s the party I was telling you about. Adrian hates them, so he won’t be in the best mood.” He stops at the door leading to the party’s floor. “You know, I think I’ll wait to take you to him. Want any food or something to drink? I’ll put you in my room but promise me you won’t try anything.”
I give him a look, reminding him with narrow eyes that I can’t go anywhere.
“Right. I’m sorry about that. I don’t trust you not to try something, though.”
Good, because I don’t care what it takes, I’ll try everything I can to get out of here. I might not have anyone who loves me, but I love myself enough to not go down without a fight.
