Comments: 17
I woke up the next morning feeling stiff and sore. It didn’t take me long to work out why.
I was laid on my back, my arms pushed forward. My wrists were strapped firmly together with what looked to be duct tape.
My mouth felt mangled and stiff, too. I couldn’t move my lips, and realised they were probably hidden under duct tape as well.
I blinked, taking in my surroundings.
I was in a fairly medium-sized room, in a single bed which was pushed up against the wall. To my right, was a white dressing table with a mirror on top and a padded stool underneath. In the far right corner of the room was a white wardrobe. On the dressing table was a brown mug of what I guessed was coffee, judging by the strong, harsh smell.
My heart pounded heavily. It felt as though it was in my throat. I tried swallowing, but with limited movement due to the tape it was difficult.
My head was blurred with thoughts buzzing around inside of it, but I wondered how this could have happened. From my limited, drunken memory, I’d met one of Mum and Dad’s assumed friends – hadn’t I? How had I ended up from being with him to being here?
I was also terrified, wondering what would happen to me. Would I die? Why was I here? What was wanted from me?
I don’t know how long I lay there helplessly for, just wondering. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Time went in a blur.
I listened to creaks, squeaks, doors opening and shutting. Each noise made my heart beat even faster than it already was – if that was even physically possible. My mouth dried up every time I thought the noise was coming closer towards me.
I wanted to pinch myself to see if it was just a dream. I willed myself to wake up from this awful nightmare. This was too horrific to be real life.
I felt nauseous, and wondered what would happen if I was sick. I’d have to swallow it. I whimpered a little, but soon stopped as I heard a door shut below me again – and footsteps start.
They grew louder and louder, clearly getting closer and closer. I froze, my eyes watering with fear and anticipation. The feelings combined were extreme.
The footsteps seemed to be outside the room. I heard a click and a snap, then suddenly light poured into the room as the door opened.
My eyes stung at the sudden light. I was fearful to look at my kidnapper, but too scared to shut my eyes too.
I glimpsed up. There stood the man who’d acted like he was helping me home last night. He had his hands in his pockets. He smiled at me, his eyes shining evilly.
‘Good morning,’ he said, leaning forward so that his breath tickled my face. ‘Only it’s not so good for you, is it?’ He glanced down at my wrists and chuckled a little to himself. He looked around the room, then settled his focus on me. ‘Hangover?’
I daren’t make a noise in case it tipped him over the edge. Who knew how much damage this man could do?
I still wondered where I’d seen him before, but suddenly that wasn’t important. All that mattered was what he’d say. Maybe he’d explain why I was here, when I’d be able to go, what he wanted from me…
As if reading my mind, he said, ‘I expect you’re wondering what you’re doing here.’ He grinned, showing off gleaming white teeth, like little pearls in his mouth. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not some kind of sick pervert. You’re just a tool in my plan.’
He tilted his head at me curiously. ‘No need to look so scared, Veronica. I’m not going to hurt you!’ His face darkened suddenly as he added, ‘If you behave.’
I murmured and squealed, and he laughed out loud heartily.
‘I’ll put you out of your misery – well, part of it – by explaining a few things to you.’ He pulled out the stool from under the dressing table. ‘You might remember me from somewhere, do you?’
I didn’t make a murmur.
‘Well, I’m Radley Cooper. Ringing any bells? I worked with your dad for six years. Six thankless years. I slaved away, hoping one day I’d amount to something more than your dad’s personal slave. And what did he do?’ I coiled away from him as his saliva sprayed on my face ‘He fired me. Gave me the boot. The sack!’
He was breathing deeply. He turned to look at me, his eyebrows knitted together in anger.
I remembered him now. He’d sometimes come over for tea, and chat to my dad over the meal; then the pair of them would sneak off to Dad’s office. He’d seemed friendly enough. He certainly hadn’t seemed like the type who could kidnap someone.
‘Now, Veronica, because your daddy’s upset me – and my financial state – I thought I’d teach him a little lesson. You’ll be staying here a while. Just long enough for your dad to meet my monetary needs. Of course, we’ll need to work up quite a sweat first…’
I closed my eyes, but a few tears still squeezed out. I felt them roll down my cheeks.
‘Come on now, don’t cry,’ Radley snapped, unsympathetically. ‘I know you’ve done nothing wrong. It’s your dad who’s to blame. You’ll see, it won’t be that bad living here. It’s just for a few months, until I get the money I need…’
He rubbed his hands together gleefully, his eyes shining with delight and adventure as he gazed into space. Suddenly, he snapped out of this daze and stared at me.
‘Of course, if I let you go and you tell daddy dearest where you’ve been, there’ll be trouble.’
He brought his cool fingers to the corner of the duct tape on my lips, stroking it teasingly, as if he was going to tear it off. Then he chuckled to himself and dragged his hand away.
He stood up and headed for the door, then paused, turning around to look at me. ‘I’ll bet that hangover’s giving you some grief. I’ll bring you some breakfast and some tablets.’
With that, he slammed the door. I heard a click again. His footsteps decreased, getting further away.
Maybe it was the fear, but for some reason I didn’t have a hangover.
A/N: I think this chapter's a bit boring and uneventful, even though it's supposed to be really tense. I think once I get into the story, I'll be able to write a lot better. I've got the whole plot worked out, so now it's just a case of writing the story out. Hopefully then it will be uploaded a lot quicker, andI won't have to bug you guys as often. ;D
I don't know if I've described the characters very well, so here's some pictures of them...
I love Charley Webb, and right from the beginningthis is how I picturedVeronica.
I didn't really know who I wanted Radley to look like. I didn't want this to be a romantic
kidnap story, where the kidnapper's really irresistable. Although I must admit, I do find Jeff Hordley pretty irresistable! Plus he's got the kind of evil look that I wanted Radley to
have.
So yeah...character pictures. :P Readers in the UK might be slightly disturbed...these two play father in daughter in the British soap opera, Emmerdale. It's just purely coincidence that they fit the description of Veronica & Radley. xD
Submitted: December 28, 2011
© Copyright 2023 JayTheBookworm. All rights reserved.
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Comments
OMG I love Emmerdale!
But yeah anyways, great chapter, can't wait to read more! :D
Author
Reply
Haha, me too! xD :D Thank you very much! :D
Wed, December 28th, 2011 12:38pm
What's Emmerdale?kmu?
~Caitlin
Author
Reply
It's a British soap opera. It's nothing to do with this story, but two of the actors off it are how I picture the characters :) And sure. xD
Wed, December 28th, 2011 12:39pm
Awesome!!! KMU, please! :D
Wed, December 28th, 2011 5:22pm
Author
Reply
Thank you very much! I will. :)
Wed, December 28th, 2011 12:43pm
Love it! :D
KMU!
Author
Reply
Thank you!! :D I will. :)
Wed, December 28th, 2011 12:57pm
It keeps getting better! Definetly KMU :)
Wed, December 28th, 2011 8:59pm
Author
Reply
Wow, thank you very much! :D Will do. :'D
Wed, December 28th, 2011 1:05pm
That was amazing I wad really tense reading it and now
I'm Dying to know what happens next;)xxx
Author
Reply
Thank you so much! :'D
Wed, December 28th, 2011 1:38pm
Wow, well he's a good kidnapper. HAHA. I like it. KMU? :)
Thu, December 29th, 2011 7:27am
Author
Reply
Hahaha. xD Thank you! :D I will. :3
Thu, December 29th, 2011 6:26am
Creepy...kmu please. :) I noticed stockholm syndrome is in the tags - does this mean she'll fall in love with him???? ;)
Thu, December 29th, 2011 5:18pm
Author
Reply
Sure. xD And um...no comment. ;) Haha, WELL... You'll just have to keep reading. :)
(In all honesty I haven't really made my mind up, haha.)
ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR CHARACTERS!!! THIS IS REALLY GOOD SO GOOD THAT I COULDN'T STOP READING!!!! MORE PLEASE :)
Sat, December 31st, 2011 8:42pm
Author
Reply
Wow, thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it :')
Sat, December 31st, 2011 2:43pm
WOW, this is really amazing!! \(^.^)/ Keep writing, this is a brilliant plot!
Mon, January 9th, 2012 8:54am
Author
Reply
Thank you very much! :D :D
Mon, January 9th, 2012 2:28pm
Interesting storry story so far.. I will continue ;-)
Fri, May 4th, 2012 7:41pm
Author
Reply
Thank you very much! :D
Fri, May 4th, 2012 2:07pm
This chapter was most definitely not boring and you described the characters really well! I was surprised to find that the pictures were just as I pictured them!
Sat, May 5th, 2012 8:11pm
Author
Reply
Wow, thank you very much indeedy :) :D
Sat, May 5th, 2012 2:32pm
This keeps getting better and better Wow!!!
Fri, May 11th, 2012 10:03pm
Author
Reply
Thank you :D :D
Sat, May 12th, 2012 1:17pm
I was surprised that the person who was trying to help her home had kidnapped her....I will definitely read on to see what happens!!!!
Sat, June 2nd, 2012 7:10am
Author
Reply
Thank you!!! :D
Sat, June 2nd, 2012 1:22am
Your descriptions were vivid enough for me to illustrate the claustrophobic environment she was trapped in. The heart on the throat feeling was the most uncomfortable.
I imagine if she were to puke... UGH! Nevermind (too gross)! :P
You described well the unpleasant aroma of coffee. And there was this consistent predatory atmosphere. In general Vero's constant questioning of her environment was thrillingly unnerving.
The only thing that peeved me was your own self-degrading comment on the chapter being boring, it was too distracting. In all honesty, this chapter was genius. It had everything good storytelling asks for, even necessary plot exposition and first insight at your antagonist. It was brilliant.
Author
Reply
Wow, thank you very, very much! In all honesty I just felt like I was going into detail too much... I had all these plans for torture and stuff and I wanted to skip to them right away, which is why I felt this was boring by comparison, haha. But your words mean so much to me! Thank you so much!
Sat, June 9th, 2012 4:22pm
Yes it is a slow start but every good book starts off slowly. I hope you never degrade yourself in your own comments cause it doesn't help you let alone the readers. Your story is great
Mon, August 6th, 2012 2:57pm
Author
Reply
Aw, thank you very very much! xD
Mon, August 6th, 2012 10:41amFacebook Comments
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Hannah3126
Oh lord this is getting really awesome XD it's brilliant!!! KMU!
Wed, December 28th, 2011 12:20pmAuthor
Reply
Wow, thank you so much! :D I will. :D
Wed, December 28th, 2011 4:30am