•The Kidnap•

Tammy:

The strong stench of dried blood hit my nose the moment I opened my eyes. My environment was pitch black. I couldn't even make out parts of my body. Coupled with that, was the head-splitting headache that was threatening to rip my head apart. Thus, I was reminded of my predicament.

My eyes felt heavy. I tried raising my hands to rub them, that was when I realized they were tied. I shook my legs but they were also bound.

I took a deep breath, one I immediately regretted as the strong smell of dried blood flooded my nostrils, hitting me with a wave of nausea. Bile rose in my throat.

I couldn't have lost that much blood. I wasn't feeling any pains that could have resulted from an injury of any such, so I was convinced the blood wasn't mine. But then, whose was it?

The loud rumbling of my stomach disrupted my thoughts, reminding me of time. I didn't know how long I was out cold so I couldn't tell how long it had been. Worse than that was the fact that I didn't know where I was or what would befall me. All I knew was that I was sitting on a hard concrete floor because I felt the hardness of the ground and the cold from it sipping into my bottom. 

My thoughts drifted to my dad and Miriam. I wondered if they had found out I was missing. 

What if they are not yet aware and no one comes to my rescue?

These thoughts flooded my mind. Gradually, the plight of my situation began settling in. I could only hope they find me soon.

I sat in silence with wandering thoughts as my eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. I stayed for what felt like hours but could only have been minutes. Tired of being in the dark, I decided to get the attention of my captor.

A part of me felt it might be a dream and if I scream, I'd wake up. Those thoughts died the moment I remembered the mysterious man that had captured me strangely prevented sounds from coming from my mouth. 

Frustrated, I drew my knees up to my chest and rested my head on them, willing for sleep to take me away. 

That probably wasn't the best thing to do but I was frightened and all alone. And again, I might not have been in a safe environment. I feared screaming might worsen my case.

The sleep I wanted so bad eluded me. Raising my head, I stared into the darkness, feeling utterly useless and hopeless to myself.

After what felt like another hour, I heard the sounds of approaching footsteps. Being in darkness must have sharpened my senses. I listened, trying to make out the direction they were coming from. At first, they sounded distant but they became louder. I continued listening until they stopped. They sounded like whoever it was wasn't so far from me anymore. My heartbeat sped up at the possibility of someone coming for me. It thudded loudly in my ears that I feared I might get a heart seizure. Silently, I hoped it would be my helper.

The rate of my heartbeat increased than it was already when a door opened with a loud bang.

I'd been in a room all along?

Tiny streaks of Light streamed into the darkness, enough for me to make out the figure standing by the doorpost. He looked really tall and huge. It reminded me of my kidnapper but I couldn't make out his face from the little amount of light.

Taking a step into the room, he flicked a switch and bright white light flooded the room, the intensity of it sending me into a state of temporary blindness. I had to close my eyes for a minute to get rid of the color-blindness caused by the intrusion of the bright light. At that interval, I heard him approaching me with steady footsteps. Not wanting to be unaware of his intentions, I opened my eyes, finally getting used to the light.

It was the same strange man that had abducted me. He was dressed in the same clothes I'd seen him in at my house. That meant it was still the same day. Hope bloomed in my chest. 

But, what if he has no other clothes or all his clothes are this way?

I dismissed the thoughts as soon as they'd come, holding onto the little faith I'd found.

I stared into his eyes. This time around, they were dark and not fiery red. 

Made him a little less scary. 

Not the least bit.

His gaze left my eyes and traveled down my body. I was still in my boy shorts and a tank top. His look crept me out so I averted my gaze from him. He chuckled darkly, squatting to my level. The sound of his laughter sent shivers to my spine in an unpleasant way. Placing a hand firmly on my chin, he lifted it roughly so I was staring into his dark soulless eyes.

"Welcome back". He said in a gruff voice, a smirk tugging at his lips. My first instinct was to spit on his face but that would only land me in more trouble than I already was and again, my throat was dry as desert sand.

Releasing my chin, he began loosening the rope from my tied hands. While he untied me, my eyes dropped to the ground. An audible gasp fled my lips at the sight before me.

The concrete floor was stained red. If it wasn't for the pungent odor of dried blood, it could easily pass for red paint. The bile in my throat rose higher, threatening to come out. I couldn't look away from it. The room wasn't cold but I visibly shivered as fear crept into me.

"Yours will be the topping if you don't behave like the little good girl I think you are". His croaky voice filled my ears, adding to my anxiety.

My eyes traveled to his face, and I gulped. He was smiling but his eyes looked menacing. I knew he meant every word of his threat. The rope bounding my legs fell off when he unknotted it. I was about to stretch my aching legs but the blood on the floor stopped me. Without seeking consent from him, I stood up on my feet with trembling legs. 

The inability of my weak legs to hold my weight sent me crashing back to the floor, making me land on my bottom. I winced as the pain shot through me. 

"I was going to be nice to you but it seems you can do well by yourself". That said, he pulled me up and began dragging me out of the room. I thought my legs would give up on me but I was wrong. That moment, they didn't feel like they were under my control.

He dragged me out of the room into a hallway, illuminated by bright light. My eyes popped out of their sockets at the scene before me as my legs stiffened, halting my movement. The hallway looked like a scene from a horror movie. The sight of the blood didn't prepare me for what my poor eyes met.