## Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Tue May 06, 2014 6:06 pm

Hi everyone! I am a new member here, and this is my first post, so I hope you enjoy it!
I trudged my way towards the ski racks, lugging my skis over one shoulder and dragging my poles behind me. I glanced at the clock by the door to the lodge: it was only noon, but three hours of black diamond skiing had really gotten the best of me today. I probably should have quit earlier, I thought, wincing as I put weight on my sore thigh. Time for a break.
I put my skis down, reached into my pocket, and swore. Shit, I forgot the lock again. I stood on tip-toes to see over the heads of other tired skiers, to where the free ski check was, but I cringed at the size of the line in front of it. I looked at my skis on the rack. They were nice skis, a pair of blue and green K2 Superglides, but nothing special.
They'd probably be okay to leave here, I decided, setting my poles down beside them, and then turning to drag myself inside the lodge.
I found an empty seat by the window where I could keep an eye on my skis and sat down to pull off my helmet. My dark braid came tumbling over my shoulder, a little damp with sweat. It was uncharacteristically warm today. I peeled off my coat too, leaving just my t-shirt and my thermal under-armor.
Still, it had been a good morning of skiing. It was too bad none of my friends had been able to make it. I sighed, staring out the window and resting my head in my hands, tuning out the chatter of the lodge behind me.
Some kid wandered over to the rack where I'd put my skis, and blocked my view of them. I growled in annoyance. He was pretty tall, but I would have guessed him to be seventeen, the same age as me, and I figured by the style of his jacket and baggy snow pants that he was the I'm-a-snowboarder-and-that-makes-me-really-cool type. I rolled my eyes. He didn't have skis or a snowboard with him though, and I could see some blonde curls peeking out from beneath his hat.
He moved away from the rack, and I looked again for my skis, but they weren't there. I sat up, and barely caught a glimpse of the guy before he walked out of my sight, with my Superglides.
I jumped up. "Hey!" I shouted, but no one heard me over the other commotion in the lodge. Leaving my stuff, I made for the door, shoving past some pre-pubescent kids. I sprinted after him, stumbling a little in my clunky ski boots, and turned the corner to see him heading for the parking lot. I clenched my fists. "Hey you!" I shouted. There was no one else, and he had to know I was talking to him, but he didn't respond and kept going.
I followed him. Maybe he'd just made a mistake. He could've thought my skis were his or something. I ran after him. "Hey, green jacket!" I shouted. "Those are mine!"
Again, no response, but he started walking faster. I looked around for an employee, but there was no one, and I kept after him, catching up. Fine. Let's see how he'd like a ski boot in his crotch.
He made it to a dark red van and started loading my skis into his ski rack. There were two other pairs up there already. I approached the car. "Look, asshole," I said. "I know you can hear me. Those are my skis." I reached out to grab his arm.
He whirled around and gave me a shove, sending me stumbling backwards, and two other pairs of hands grabbed my arms. I started to scream, but a gloved hand quickly clamped down over my mouth and muffled me. I twisted and struggled, heart pounding, shrieking insults into my attacker's hand.
For the first time I could see the blonde boy’s face, and he blinked dark eyes at me in surprise, a bead of sweat starting down his forehead. “Shit,” he said. I was still trying to scream, and there were voices coming around the corner. The boy opened the car door. “Just shove her in. Go!”
I resisted, dragging my boots, but they forced me into the van, slamming the door behind me. I screamed and scrabbled at the handle, but it wouldn’t move. “Let me out!” I shouted, pounding on the window. “Somebody help me!”
The door on the other side opened, and I turned around to see two other boys the same age as the first quickly get in and grab me, covering my mouth again. The blonde one opened the driver’s door and climbed in, twisting around. “Holy crap,” he breathed. “What do we do?”
"Shut her up, first of all," another one said, this one with shorter, slightly darker hair. He reached into his ski bag and pulled out a blue bandana. I started struggling harder, shrieking and swinging my fists at the black-haired guy who was holding me down. I caught him in the throat, and he let go, cursing. I lunged for the door again, but they grabbed me, and then I was on the floor of the van, with one of the boys sitting on top of me.
Tears started to pour down my face. "Let me go!" I was shouting. "Let me--" The boy reached down and forced the bandana into my mouth. I let out an angry mmmmph of protest and tried to spit it out, but he produced a ski muff and pulled it down over my head, situating it around my mouth and then giving it a yank at the back. I could feel it pulling tighter over my mouth, and then he twisted the loose part around and stretched another loop over my head.
"Mmmmph!" I wailed, struggling to free myself. I heard the blonde boy's voice again. "Shit, we can't do this," he said. "You guys didn't say anything about kidnapping. We were just here to make some money."
"Yeah, but she saw your face," the other guy pointed out, who was still seated. The black-haired one was the one on top of me, still rooting through the ski bag.
"Well what the hell are we going to do with her? We can't just keep her!"
"No one said anything about that," the black-haired one pointed out darkly. I shivered at the tone in his voice and whimpered.
"Keegan, you idiot, we are not going to kill her!"
I felt him twist around to look at the blonde boy. "You're the idiot!" he shouted back. "Now she knows my name!"
I freed one of my arms, but Keegan quickly grabbed it again. "Help me hold her still," he said to the boy with the brown hair. "And give me your scarf."
Brown-hair fished a black scarf from his own ski bag and handed it to Keegan. He took both of my wrists while brown-hair held me arms still, and I continued to protest into my gag and kick both of my legs against the floor.
Keegan quickly wrapped a loop around one of my wrists and knotted it off, then took my other wrist and started wrapping it around both. I felt him go in between a few times, yanking it tight every couple of loops. I squirmed, still making noise into my gag. Brown-hair tilted his head down to look at my face. “She’s kind of cute,” he said.
I tried to insult him, but it just came out as a series of muffled mmphs. "Dude, shut up," I heard the blonde boy say. "This is serious."
“Zack, start driving,” Keegan said. He gave the scarf another yank, then wrapped the remaining fabric vertically between my wrists to cinch it. I winced, and he knotted it tightly before they both let go.
I twisted and fought, but he’d been thorough, and my hands stayed tied tightly together. I heard the blonde one, I guess it was Zack, start the car, and panicking, started to scream again. My eyes burned and fogged up, and suddenly the gag was making it hard to breathe. I writhed and twisted wildly on the floor. “Shit,” Keegan said. “She’s freaking out.” He grabbed hold of my legs, which were kicking wildly. The car was moving. I was sobbing more than screaming now, spots dancing in front of my eyes.
Keegan had an arm tightly wrapped around my legs, trying to undo my ski boots as I struggled with him. Brown-hair held my body against the floor again. “Hey,” he said, voice shaking. “You can calm down, okay? We’re not going to hurt you? Um…” He glanced back at Keegan. “We’re not going to hurt her, right?”
Keegan, who had just pulled off my right boot and was working on the other one, must have shaken his head. "Right," brown-hair said. "We're not going to hurt you, or...do anything weird."
Although that was a relief, it didn't make this situation any better. Still, I realized that passing out wasn't going to solve anything, so I tried to steady my breathing, tears still streaming down my face. Keegan pulled off my other ski boot, and I desperately tried to kick him, but he dodged me. Another scarf was tied around first one of my ankles, then both, the same way he'd tied my hands. I groaned in defeat, feeling him yank the scarf tight before he cinched and knotted it.
The car sped up a little, and I tried to lift my head to look out the window. Brown-hair quickly pushed my head down again. "Hey, uh," he said. "Are we taking her back to the house?"
"Where else are we going to take her?" Keegan asked. I could hear him rooting in the ski bag some more, and I tested his knots again. They held tight.
"This is your fault, Sam," Zack muttered.
"How is it my fault?"
"It was your idea," Keegan said. He was wrapping something that felt like another ski muff around my knees.
Sam let go of me now that I'd stopped struggling, and I let out my breath, whimpering again. Keegan moved closer to my front. "Lift her head," he told Sam. Sam carefully did, and Keegan not-so-carefullly wrapped a ski mask over my eyes, tightly velcroing it at the back. I shook my head, mmmphing into the gag again.
Sam released my head, and I heard them both sit in the seats, leaving me on the floor. I struggled a little. The scarf around my wrists felt tight, and I couldn't move either one up or down or twist. My legs had been rendered immobile as well, with tight bindings around my ankles and my knees, though Keegan thankfully hadn't gone as high as my thighs. The car bumped and shook beneath me, but I couldn't see under the improvised blindfold.
"What if she was with someone?" Zack asked. "Someone might come looking for her. Or they might have been following her and seen us."
"I didn't see anyone else," Sam said.
"Relax, Zack," Keegan's voice said.
"Relax? Did you seriously just say that? Relax?"
"Just drive," Keegan said calmly.
"We don't even know her name," Sam mumbled.
"Well," Keegan replied. "We can't ask her now."
The car turned suddenly, and began to slow down. I tensed, and after a few more turns, it came to a stop.
Hope you all enjoy it so far!

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by canuck100 » Tue May 06, 2014 7:08 pm

^ I for sure enjoy it so far!

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by staythirstymyfriends » Wed May 07, 2014 12:34 am

Very well-written. Good imagery, description of emotion and of the physical environment... looking forward to more...
Is it any different to be tied up vs being tied down? One of the great things about English, its flexibility :p

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Wed May 07, 2014 12:22 pm

Thank you everyone for the nice comments!
Someone got down on the floor with me, and a hand kept my head down. "Sam, go check to see if anyone is around," Keegan said. I heard the driver's door open, and Zack got out of the car. I started shouting and screaming into my gag again, kicking my bound legs. "Shush," Keegan said, and his hand pressed down hard on top of the muff. I kept at it, thumping my feet against the floor. Keegan swore.
The side door opened behind me. "All clear," Sam said. Keegan opened the door in front of me.
"Zack, help," Keegan said, as he grabbed my shoulders and started to pull me out. Another pair of hands took hold of me, and I struggled, tensing as my body hung over air. One of them hauled me up over his shoulder. I screamed and kicked some more, and I felt the person struggling to hold me still as we moved.
"Aren't you tired of this yet?" I heard Zack ask, and there was the sound of a door opening.
A gust of warm air hit my face, and the boys thumped their boots on the ground to kick the snow off. Zack resituated his hold on me, and in the process, put his hand on my ass. I let out a muffled shriek, squirming until he moved it. "Sorry," he said.
"Take her upstairs," Keegan told Zack.
"How are you not freaking out about this?" I heard Sam ask, as Zack carried me up a set of stairs. "We kidnapped a person! That's illegal!"
"We've done lots of illegal things."
"Not this illegal!"
Another door opened, and their voices were muffled as it shut. Zack dumped me onto something soft--it felt like a bed. My heart started racing again. Hold on. They said they weren't going to do anything weird. I struggled a little, having no indication of where Zack was until I felt his hands on my head, undoing the velcro on the blindfold.
He pulled it off, and I blinked my eyes to adjust them. He was peering at me carefully, and I noticed again that his eyes were a dark brown. I was in a bedroom, it looked like, on a bed like I thought. The ceiling was slanted, and there was a dresser behind Zack.
Zack slid two fingers under the muff. "If I take this off," he said, "do you promise not to scream?"
My eyes got wide, and I nodded my head quickly. Zack looked at me for another second, hesitant, but pulled the muff off, having to work to get Keegan's loop over my head. It came all the way off, and I immediately spat out the wet bandana. Zack quickly put his hand over my mouth. "Don't scream," he reminded me. "You promised. You're not going to scream, right?"
I shook my head. Zack swallowed, and removed his hand.
I screamed.
"Damn it!" Zack clamped his hand over my mouth again and I kept screaming into it, shaking my head and trying to bite him. He climbed onto the bed and sat on top of me, pushing his hand down. Keegan and Sam came running into the room.
"Dude, what the hell?" Keegan shouted.
"She said she wouldn't scream!"
"You idiot!"
Keegan turned and ran for the stairs, and Zack tried to hold me down on the bed. I squirmed and kicked at him, and somehow managed to bring my knees between his legs. Good. He clenched his teeth and groaned in pain, but held his hand over my mouth. Keegan came back with a roll of duct tape, and my eyes widened.
He tore off a strip and came towards me, and now just whimpering, I shook my head violently. Keegan paused. "If you scream when Zack takes his hand away, I'll put it on," he warned.
I let out my breath and shook my head again. I guess Keegan was capable of some mercy. Zack removed his hand but I stayed silent this time, breathing heavily. All three boys let out sighs of relief, even Keegan.
Zack got off me. "Look," he said, sliding off the bed. "We're really sorry about this. We didn't mean to kidnap anyone. It was a total accident."
An accident? I stared at Zack, probably with the worst are-you-an-idiot expression ever. His wince confirmed that.
"It was hardly an accident," Keegan said. "Just unexpected."
"Erm..." Zack's face was starting to go red. "I'm Zack," he blurted out, even though I'd already figured out all their names. "That's Sam, and that's Keegan. We were, um..."
"Stealing nice skis," Sam finished. "We were going to sell them."
So these assholes were going to use my beautiful Superglides to get some pocket change. Great. I said nothing, staring coldly at all of them. Sam was starting to go a little red too. Keegan was the only one who remained unphased.
"We're sorry about what happened," Zack said. "If that helps." It didn't. Zack stuttered again. "Um...what's your name?"
I looked around at the three of them. Well, what could it hurt? "Molly," I said. Keegan snorted, and my head snapped around to glare at him.
"What are we going to do?" Zack asked again.
"If you let me go now, I won't tell anyone," I said quickly. "I swear."
"I wouldn't," Keegan remarked. "Remember when she said she wouldn't scream?"
"I won't!" I protested, trying to sit up. "Look, I have lots of friends who are probably looking for me and if you don't let me go they'll call the police and--"
"She's lying," Keegan interrupted.
"No I'm not!"
"Look," Keegan said, ignoring me and grabbing the roll of duct tape again. "If we keep her for a little while I might be able to get my hands on some roofies. She won't remember anything."
"What?" I struggled, and Keegan ripped off another strip of duct tape. I inched away from him. "No!" Roofies? "Don't you think that's a little extreme?"
"Zack, hold her still," Keegan said. Zack grabbed my arms and hauled me off the bed.
"You guys can't be serious," I said. Keegan came around the bed, and I began kicking wildly. "Stop it! Don't--" Keegan placed the tape over my mouth and smoothed it down, reducing the rest of my sentence to muffled shrieks. Keegan pressed two more strips down to quiet me even more, and Zack put me back onto the bed.
"Sorry, Molly," Zack mumbled, as Keegan dragged Sam out the door. I felt my eyes getting hot again, but I tried to blink back the tears. Zack looked away and quickly left the room, shutting the door behind him.
I fought with Keegan's knots for a long while, trying not to cry. I managed to work a little slack into them, but not enough. The thing was, Keegan had been right. I had come here alone to ski--no friends, no family. In fact, they weren't expecting me back for another few days. And who knows what these creeps could do to me by then.
I made the tears stop and focused on getting more slack to pull my hands free. I felt air on my wrist, and my hopes surged. I could pull it upwards. Slowly, I wriggled it out of its loop, and finally pulled free.
I peeled the duct tape off my face, carefully, wincing at the sting. Then I undid my legs and slid off the bed, creeping towards the door and expecting the floorboards to creak loudly. They didn't.
I thought for sure that the door would creak when I opened it too, but it was quiet as I inched it open. It led out onto a loft, and right below that, I could hear the boys talking. I gritted my teeth. I hadn't realized that the house was so small. The kitchen was right below the loft, and the front door was right next to that.
The boys were right below me, talking softly, but they all sounded flustered. I stepped towards the rail of the loft to peel over, and then came the creak. I stifled a gasp, and the boys stopped talking. "Did you hear that?" Sam asked.
"It's nothing," Keegan said. I let out my breath, but then heard someone stand up.
"I'm going to go check on her anyway," Zack said, and I heard his footsteps start for the stairs. Shit! Hide, need to hide...To my right, there was another bed. I stepped off the creaky part of the floor and wormed myself underneath it just as Zack came up the stairs.
I'd been stupid enough to leave the bedroom door open, so it didn't take Zack long to figure out. "Shit!" he shouted, and I heard Sam and Keegan jump up. "Keegan! Lock the door!"
Zack ran for the stairs again, and I crawled out from under the bed, but there was nowhere to go but back into the bedroom. I did--there was a window in there, but the house was too small, the boys were shouting, and I didn't have enough time. There was a closet on the other side and I started for it, but stopped. That would be the first place they'd look, I thought. I got under the bed instead.
The boys came running in a second later, and I watched their feet patter around the room. "She couldn't have used the window," Keegan said. "We would've heard her."
"In here." The closet door opened, and taking my chance, I scrambled out from under the bed and out the bedroom door.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Cpt Wiggles » Wed May 07, 2014 12:42 pm

I enjoyed the first person perspective. You don't see enough of that.
There's always time for a nice cup of tea.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Tieup1 » Wed May 07, 2014 3:14 pm

Nice start to the story

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by LordNelson » Wed May 07, 2014 6:40 pm

When ever I go skiing I am amazed at how the women manage to look so good in spite of the layers of warm clothing. I have never considered stealing anyone's skis but the idea of TUGging a few of those lovely ladies has crossed my mind. It's nice to see a story that combines skiing and a damsel in distress; two of my favorite topics.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Lake Lover » Wed May 07, 2014 6:59 pm

Midway through this I had to clean myself up.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Cpt Wiggles » Thu May 08, 2014 9:59 am

> Lake Lover wrote:Midway through this I had to clean myself up.

Dirty boy.
There's always time for a nice cup of tea.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by LordNelson » Thu May 08, 2014 3:28 pm

I'm sure he meant that he spilt his nice cup of tea....

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Thu May 08, 2014 5:18 pm

Thanks to everyone who has been reading!
"Hey!" They ran after, and panic shooting through me, I stumbled down the steps, turned the corner landing, and collided with Sam.
He grabbed me and pinned me down, as Zack and Keegan came down the steps. Tears came again, and I convulsed to try and throw him off me. Keegan was holding a coil of rope, and I slumped as Zack grabbed me under the arms and Sam took my ankles, and they both carried me back up the stairs.
They dropped me on the floor and Keegan climbed on top of me, with another bandana in his hand. I clamped my mouth shut as he tried to push it in, shaking my head. "Open," he commanded. I didn't, and he reached over and pinched my nose shut with his other hand. I tried to shake him off, but eventually had to open my mouth for air and Keegan forced the bandana in. He put his hand over my mouth so I couldn't spit it out, then grabbed the roll of duct tape sitting beside him and ripped off a long strip to press over my mouth. He put two more on after that, and no matter how much I tried I could barley make any sound at all.
Then Keegan took the coil of rope and flipped me onto my stomach. "The more you struggle, the harder you make this for yourself," he told me, crossing my wrists behind my back. Zack was sitting on top of my knees now to keep me from kicking.
Keegan folded a length of the rope and wrapped it around one wrist, threading the entire coil through the loop and then winding it around my wrists horizontally and vertically, pulling it tight and then wrapping it diagonally in both directions. He tied it off tight, with a good length of the rope still remaining. "I'll be right back," he said getting off me.
Sam quickly took Keegan's spot, holding me flat against the ground as I wailed and shook. Keegan returned, dragging a chair out of the bedroom, and placed it near the wall. All three of them hauled me off the floor and made me sit in it.
Keegan tossed Zack another coil of rope. "Tie her legs," he told him. Sam was still trying to hold me still. Keegan took the remaining length of rope still attached to my wrists and started to wind it around my waist, wrapping it a few times before he yanked it tight and weaved it th rough the bars on the back of the chair. Meanwhile Zack was wrapping rope around and in between my ankles the same way Keegan had done, knotting and then cutting the rope with his safety knife when he was finished.
Keegan tied off the rope at the waist, and then he threw another one over my head and started wrapping it around my upper body, just below my breasts, threading it through the back of the chair. I watched Zack quickly bind my legs just below my knees, and then he set to work tying them above my knees.
I was struggling feebly now but could barley move, mmphing softly. Keegan wound the rope around one of my upper arms and then pulled it over my shoulder, stretching it across the top of my back and then wrapping it around the other arm. When he pulled, my arms were yanked even closer to my body, and I whimpered.
Keegan did something else with the rope that I couldn't see, and then he connected it to my bound hands, threading it through the back of the chair in the middle. Zack bent my legs so that they were underneath the chair, then looped another cord around my ankles and tied that to my wrists as well, making sure it was taut before he stood up.
I struggled, and my cheek started to feel wet again. Sam was standing there gaping at me, and Zack punched his arm. "Cut it out," he said.
"That'll hold her," Keegan said, starting for the stairs. "One of you watch her for a bit. I'm not leaving her alone again."
"I'll do it," Sam volunteered immediately, and my eyes widened, but Zack pushed him towards the stairs.
"Don't be a pervert," he said. "I'm watching her."
Keegan shrugged and dragged Sam back downstairs, and Zack sat down on the loft bed, drawing his knees up and going a little bit red. I averted my eyes too. Yep. This was embarrassing. But at least it was Zack sitting in front of me and not Keegan. Zack at least felt sorry for me.
I squirmed in the chair. The ropes were far from comfortable on my skin, and as I wriggled I couldn't help a soft whimper.
Zack let out a long breath, turning his head the other way. Keegan and Sam were talking quietly downstairs, and suddenly Keegan shouted up-- "I'll be back later, okay?"
Zack got up and leaned over the loft rail. "Now? You're leaving now?"
"Yeah," he replied, either not sensing Zack's annoyance or ignoring it. "You can handle things for a few hours, right?" There was the jingling of keys. "I'll be back later tonight."
"Keegan..." The door opened and shut, and Zack let out a growl. While he wasn't looking, I tried to struggle with my binds but could barely move, with my legs firmly held under the chair and my body secure against the back. Zack turned around again and I stopped, shoulders slumping.
He plopped himself back on the bed. I looked a little more closely at him--his hair was a little curly and a dark blonde, growing over his forehead, but not enough to hide those eyes. He felt my gaze and looked over, and I tried to make my eyes as wide and scared as possible.
It worked, and he winced. "Don't look at me like that," he said. "You wouldn't be mad at me if you knew how awful I feel right now."
Yeah, good. You should feel awful. Unlike Keegan, who acted like this was a normal everyday thing. Well, who knows--for Keegan, maybe it was.
I think it was several hours we sat there, and Zack didn't talk to me again. He laid back on the bed and began counting the tiles on the ceiling, and I got lost in imagining the awful things I was going to do to these three once I got out of this.
Of course, that was assuming I would get out of this.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Fri May 09, 2014 4:47 pm

It got dark, and I heard Sam come up the stairs. Zack sat up. "Hey, um..." Sam looked at me, then quickly looked away. "Keegan's not going to be back for another hour or so. You want dinner?"
Zack opened his mouth to answer, then looked at me. Now that he'd brought it up, I realized that I hadn't eaten since this morning. My stomach was churning in anxiety, but my throat ached from all the screaming. Zack looked back at Sam. "Make some for all of us." Zack stood up and took out his pocketknife. I blinked in surprise.
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Sam asked, eyes widening.
"She has to eat." Zack cut the rope connecting my ankles to my wrists, then started at the ones holding me to the chair. "Just go. It'll be fine."
Sam shrugged and went back down the stairs, as Zack carefully cut me out of the chair, but he left most of the ropes on my body. Then he hoisted me over his shoulder again as easily as if I were a pair of skis and carried me down the stairs.
I looked around. The kitchen area was right below the loft, and Sam was standing at the stove with a few packets of ramen noodles next to him. He glanced at us nervously, but said nothing as Zack carried me over to the table and carefully placed me in a chair. I noticed the roll of duct tape sitting nearby on the counter.
"If you want to eat, you can't scream," Zack reminded me. I tried not to glare at him and nodded. At this point, my arms were stiff and sore and I was just desperate for a glass of water. Zack swallowed nervously. "Okay," he said. "It's going to hurt." He started to carefully pull the layers of tape off, and I squeezed my eyes shut, wincing. He pulled it off, and I spat the bandana out and started coughing. Zack and Sam both held their breath, but after a few seconds when I didn't scream, they both sighed.
Zack turned. "Sam, get her some water."
He put his knife back in his pocket, and my heart sank. I thought he was going to untie me. I could ask him. I sized the two of them up. Zack already felt sorry for me, and Sam didn't seem all that bright. I swallowed. "Zack," I said, and he whipped around in surprise at hearing me say his name. I made myself look small. "Do you think you could untie me?"
"Um..." Zack looked at Sam.
"Keegan wouldn't like that," Sam said, and my hopes dropped a little.
"Please," I said. "Just my arms. They really hurt." That wasn't a lie. "You can leave my legs if you want."
Sam looked hesitant and shook his head at Zack. My eyes dropped. It had been worth a try.
But then, Zack spoke. "Keegan isn't here," he decided, then took his knife out of his pocket. I perked as he cut the binds around my body and my shoulders, and then freed my hands. After a moment's consideration, he bent down and let my legs free too. I rubbed at my wrists, watching him.
"Thanks," I mumbled. Sam handed me a glass of water, which I quickly drank down. My eyes flickered towards the front door. The house was small, and the door was only ten feet or so from the kitchen, but I doubted I'd be able to get up and run to it without Sam or Zack intercepting me. And then they'd just tie me up again and not let me loose this time. I sighed, and Zack sat down in the chair across from me.
Zack shifted uncomfortably, clearly searching for something to say. Sam was quiet too, stirring the pot. Zack stared at the table. "Me saying sorry doesn't make this any better, huh?" He glanced at me, and I looked at the wall in response. From the corner of my eye, I could see he looked sheepish.
As I discreetly watched, I decided that Zack and Sam were harmless. They at least acknowledged that I was a person, unlike Keegan, who just saw me as an inconvenience to whatever the hell they were doing. Keegan was the one who really scared me.
I thought about asking what they were going to do to me. They obviously didn't trust me not to go to the authorities, and I didn't blame them. If I did escape, I probably would go to the police. I knew all their faces and their names, and chances were these guys already had criminal records.
So what were they going to do...? Keep me like a pet forever? No, that would be unrealistic. The easiest thing to do would be to kill me. I tensed at that, feeling myself go pale. Okay, maybe Keegan would, but Sam and Zack definitely wouldn't go for that. Right?
I looked at them again. I didn't really know them. I didn't know how desperate they were not to be caught. There was a lump in my throat, and my heart began pounding. Suddenly, all three of them looked like killers in my mind.
Then again, Keegan had said something before about drugging me so I wouldn't remember. But I had a feeling that this experience was too far gone to just forget, even with a roofie.
I wanted to ask them, but at the same time I didn't. If they were planning to kill me, they'd probably lie and say they weren't. That was a lie I really wanted to hear though. My breath shook as I let it out.
Zack sat up. "Do you need more water?" he asked me. I looked at my empty glass, then wordlessly shook my head. Sam came to the table with a bowl, and put it in front of me. I gripped the sides of my chair and stared into it. There were some ramen noodles floating in a brown broth.
I didn't eat, looking up at Sam. He wouldn't have poisoned it, would he? I hadn't been watching him make it, and it would be a quick and easy way to get rid of me. I began to tremble. Sam sat down at the table with another bowl and gave one to Zack, but Zack was too busy watching me. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked.
I looked at Sam, who was already shoveling the noodles into his mouth. I relaxed a little, and then nodded at Zack and started to eat.
It tasted really good, being that the only thing I'd eaten today was a muffin at breakfast. Zack seemed relieved.
"So...what was your name again?" Sam asked. I looked up, swallowing. Zack rolled his eyes.
"Molly," I answered, looking back down.
"Oh," he said. "Well, um...sorry we stole your skis."
I actually laughed a little. Sam's smile got big, but Zack didn't look amused, giving him a shove. "Just eat," he grumbled, and I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or Sam.
I ate faster than I thought I would, trying to forget about my current situation, but there wasn't much else to think about. Every time I tried to think about my family or my friends, I would just remember how none of them would realize I was missing for another week. Sam finished before me and sat on the couch with a Game Boy, while Zack stayed at the tableand waited for me to finish. He wasn't going to just tie me to the chair again when I was done, was he? I started eating a little slower. Keegan was probably going to do it when he got back anyway. I felt like crying. I wanted to go home...
I finished, and pushed my bowl away. Zack stood up. "Do you want to use the bathroom?" he asked me.
I perked and nodded, standing up. I followed him out of the kitchen and into another back bedroom, which had an adjoining bathroom. "I'll wait outside the door," he said.
Gee, thanks. I said nothing and went in, shutting the door, and immediately looking for a window.
It was a spacious bathroom, but no windows. There was a shower to the far left, a sink to the far right, and then a toilet in the middle. Hopes dashed, I lowered the toilet seat.
As I was relieving myself, I looked down, and swore under my breath. Of course.
I looked around the bathroom and reached over to open the cabinets under the sink, but I didn't know why I thought I'd find anything in there. Shit...I swallowed. "Hey, um...Zack?" I called.
"Yeah?"
"Um..." I felt myself go red. "You...you guys wouldn't happen to have any tampons around here, would you?"
There was a long pause. My cheeks burned. "Tampons," he repeated slowly. "Um...no." Another pause. "Do you...need them right now?"
"Yeah. Kinda."
"Um...okay..." He sounded a little strained. "Right...I'll call Keegan and tell him to grab some on his way back." I heard him start away, but then he stopped. "Can you, like...improvise for a while?"
"Yeah." Head spinning with embarrassment, I grabbed some toilet paper and stuffed it in my underwear, then tried to clean myself off and stood up, flushing. Wow, that was uncomfortable. I shifted, washing my hands before I came out of the bathroom.
Zack was waiting, with his cell phone pressed against his ear. I went red again, and so did he, and he quickly turned and led me back into the living room.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by LordNelson » Fri May 09, 2014 5:02 pm

In my stories I have taken into consideration that captives have to eat, drink, sleep and use the washroom. I have dealt with parents and siblings snooping around looking for my victims. I have taken into consideration the possible backlash of tying up my sisters friends. I have struggled with the question of how long is too long to be tied up. But never have I ever considered that the girl in my clutches might have her period!!! For a fictional story it is certainly giving the readers and the captors in the story a dose of hard reality.
Keep up the good work.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Sat May 10, 2014 2:20 pm

Thanks LordNelson, I'm so happy you like it!
I sat down on the couch, and Sam looked at us in question. "Hey, Keegan," Zack said finally. "Are you on your way back?"
A pause. Zack was avoiding my gaze. "Okay...could you, um...stop and get...tampons?"
I winced. Zack looked at the ceiling. "Yeah. Tampons." Sam looked at me again, and Zack sighed. "I don't know, they look like...long, and..." Zack listened to Keegan talk. "I mean, yeah, they come in a box." Then he did look at me and mouthed "Right?" I nodded, staring at the wall.
"Okay. See you." Zack hung up, and then looked at me. "Keegan will be here in a little while. Um...I guess I should take you back upstairs." My eyes widened, and anxiously, he kept talking. "Or, I guess you could stay down here, if you want, um..."
"Let her stay down here," Sam said. He closed his game and put his feet up on the table. "It's mean to keep her tied up all the time. She's a person, not an animal."
Okay. Sam was officially my favorite. I smiled a little bit at him.
Zack turned away, clenching his fists. "I know," he mumbled, but left me alone.
There was a long silence. Sam tapped on his knee. "So...you like to ski," he said.
I blinked at him, but I was a little grateful for the distraction and nodded. He seemed to rack his brains for more to say. "For how long?" he asked.
"Since I was four."
"Oh," he said. "What are you now? Seventeen?"
I nodded again. He leaned back. "That's a long time. You're probably really good."
"Yeah," I agreed, and then couldn't help myself. "It's too bad my skis got stolen."
Sam shrank down, but smiled a little. "Sorry about that. You'd understand if you knew why we needed the money."
So there was an actual reason? "Why do you need the money?"
"It's none of her business, Sam," Zack said from the kitchen.
"It kind of is my business," I said, feeling brave enough to reply. "Since you managed to 'accidentally' kidnap me, I think I deserve to know why."
Zack came stomping out of the kitchen, holding the roll of duct tape. "Do you want me to shut you up?"
I gritted my teeth, but glared and shook my head. Zack went back to the kitchen to clean the dishes from dinner, and I pulled my legs onto the couch and hugged my knees. Sam laid back on the couch and kept playing his Game Boy.
About ten minutes later the door opened, and Keegan walked in carrying a plastic grocery bag. He looked at me sitting on the couch, and sheepishly tossed the bag at me. "There," he said, for the first time looking embarrassed. "Is that enough?"
I looked inside the bag, and had to clench my teeth to keep from laughing. Keegan had bought nine boxes, consisting of three different brands and all different sizes. "Yeah," I said. "Thank you."
Keegan grunted in response, and jerked his head at Sam. "Sam, take her to the bathroom."
I grabbed box of supers and followed Sam back to the washroom, where I removed the paper and did what I needed to. I put the box in the cabinet under the sink and then washed my hands before I came back out.
Sam was waiting. "You good?" he asked weakly. I nodded, and followed him back into the living room, where Keegan and Zack were arguing.
"Then why don't you let me talk to Tails?" Zack was saying. "I'll beat the right amount out of him."
"Zack, he said five thousand, and he's not going to change his mind."
"Five thousand isn't enough! He told us ten thousand before!"
Sam stopped in his tracks. "What's going on?"
Keegan turned and looked at me. His eyebrows were knit downwards, and there was a look in his eyes that scared me even more. "Sam, take her upstairs," he said, tossing him the roll of duct tape. I tensed, but Sam threw it onto the couch.
"This is my problem too, you know," he said, clenching his fists. "What happened? Tails isn't giving us the money?"
"His sale price dropped," Zack snarled, slamming the cabinet door. "Now we need to scrape up another five thousand dollars in the next three days."
I stared at Zack, frowning in confusion, and suddenly realized that Keegan had grabbed the duct tape and was coming towards me. I tried to back away but he grabbed hold of my braid and started dragging me to the first floor bedroom. I shrieked in surprise as he yanked on my hair, eyes watering in pain. Zack started shouting at him. "Keegan, you're hurting her!"
Keegan didn't care. He hauled me into the bedroom, ignoring my protests and throwing me onto the floor. He started yanking tape off the roll, and I curled into a ball, tears streaming from my eyes. "No, please," I begged. "I'll be quiet, I'll be quiet!" He got down on the floor and pulled my hands away from my face, unbothered by my sobs as he held my wrists together and wound the tape around them. I started shrieking at him. "No!" I screamed. "Leave me alone!" Keegan wrapped the tape over my fingers as well, then ripped it and smoothed it out. I kicked and cried as he tore off another long strip and taped over my mouth.
My screams became muffled, but not muffled enough for Keegan. He tore off another strip and placed it over the first, and then another one, and then another one. I tried to scream for Sam, or Zack, or anyone other than Keegan, but before long none of my words were intelligible.
By that time I was just sobbing, as Keegan scooped me up and carried me to the sliding-door closet. I kicked and moaned, but Keegan opened the door, dumped me inside, and then shut it, and I heard the sound of it locking. Everything went dark.
I kicked on the door, screaming and sobbing at the same time, but Keegan had already left, and I had a bad feeling that I was going to spend the night there.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Mon May 12, 2014 2:07 pm

Luckily, that wasn’t the case. After a little while I stopped kicking and just cried, curled up in the corner of the closet. I saw the light turn on from under the door and shrank back, whimpering softly. The lock clicked, and Zack threw open the door.
I imagine that I was quite a sight by that point, eyes red and puffy, trembling and curled up in the corner. Zack sighed and knelt down, carefully reaching towards me. “It’s okay,” he said when I shrank away. He reached in and grabbed me around the waist to pull me out. I was still shaking, and Zack started pulling the tape off of my face. “Look, I’m sorry about Keegan,” he said. “He can be a little...rough.” He got it off, and the started trying to peel the binds off of my wrists. “There’s just a lot going on right now.”
I barely registered what he said, tears still streaming down my face. And I couldn’t stop shaking. These guys were nice to me one second, and the next they treated me worse than an animal. They probably were going to kill me.
I couldn’t help it. I started sobbing again. Zack winced, finally freeing my hands. “Damn,” he muttered. “Don’t do that...what do you want from me?” He wasn’t helping, and I couldn’t stop, eyes foggy and burning. Zack sighed and lifted me, carrying me in his arms this time instead of over his shoulder. I didn’t move, head falling against his chest as he took me from the bedroom and started carrying me upstairs. Keegan and Sam were both in the front room, and Zack glared at Keegan before ascending the stairs.
He took me into the top floor bedroom. The bed had been made, and there were a few comforters and pillows laying on the floor beside it. Zack laid me in the bed. I was trying to calm down, but still shaking all over. “Molly," he said. “Look...you know we didn’t want this, and I know you’re scared, but we’re really not going to hurt you.”
That was good to hear, and I pulled my knees up, rubbing at my eyes. Zack tried a smile. Still, I wasn’t so sure Keegan had the same idea in mind.
He left me alone for a few minutes after that, and I got up, wiping my eyes and investigating the window. Nope. They’d made sure it was shut tight. And there was nothing in the room for me to break it with.
I climbed back into the bed, looking at the bedding on the floor. God I hoped that was for Zack, or preferably Sam. Just not Keegan.
Luckily, Zack came back in and shut off the light, and then I heard him situate himself in the nest of comforters beside the bed. Realizing how cold I was, I burrowed under the covers and tried to relax, think about something else. It was hard, but exhaustion finally won me over, and I fell into a troubled sleep.
I woke up in darkness a couple of times, entangled in the covers. I was tossing and turning, and my stomach ached with anxiety. I pulled myself free and slid off the bed. Zack was asleep on the other side, and I tiptoed towards the door.
Evidently, Zack was not a heavy sleeper. “Where are you going?” he asked sleepily, and I jumped, with my hand on the doorknob.
“Bathroom,” I answered.
There was a pause, and I heard Zack turn over. “Okay,” he mumbled. I waited, but it didn’t look like he was going to get up, so I opened the door. I guess I got to go to the bathroom by myself now. Lucky me.
But when I stepped out onto the loft, I saw why Zack hadn’t been concerned. Keegan was asleep in the loft bed just to the right. I stopped in my tracks, tensing.
I heard Zack at the door behind me and turned to look at him. He glanced at Keegan. “Yeah, don’t worry,” he said. “He won’t wake up for anything. Go on, there’s one right there.”
With another nervous glance at Keegan, I went into the bathroom. This one didn’t have a window either, and was smaller than the first one. One of them had put the tampons in this bathroom too, thankfully.
Zack was leaning against the wall waiting for me when I came out, and Keegan was still fast asleep. I looked at him as I went back into the bedroom. He’d kidnapped a person today. How could he sleep like that?
I tried to go back to sleep and had a lot of trouble, stomach churning and aching. I slept in short, stilted intervals, watching the sky get a little brighter outside the window every time I opened my eyes. I could hear Zack tossing and turning around down there too, once again confirming that at least he had a conscience.
In the morning I woke up with the feeling that my internal organs were being fed through a dull paper shredder and moaned softly. Cramps sucked. I wished for Advil. I had a bottle in my ski coat pocket, but that was still back at the lodge. I wondered what had happened to all my stuff that I’d left back there. The employees had probably thrown it away, or stuck it in the lost and found. I doubted any suspicion had been aroused from it.
Zack woke up a few minutes later, and I felt him gently shaking my shoulder. “Molly,” he said. I twisted my head around to look at him, clutching my stomach. He blinked sleepily, blonde curls sticking out in all directions. “Time to get up,” he said, motioning me towards the door. Cringing in pain, I dragged myself out of the bed and followed him onto the loft. The loft bed was empty now.
He let me use the bathroom again and then led me downstairs, where Sam was in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge, and Keegan was on the couch with the news on. “Morning,” Sam said to us, as though I was a regular member of the household.
“Morning,” Zack replied. I slowly walked to the table and sat down, hoping to just disappear there, but Zack looked at me. “What do you want to eat?” he asked. “We have cereal and some bread, I think…” He opened the pantry closet door.
I glanced anxiously at Keegan, but he was staring blankly at the television screen, lost in thought. “That’s okay,” I said to Zack. “I’m not really hungry.”
Zack blinked at me. “Right,” he said. “I guess you wouldn’t be.” Before I could wonder what that meant, he closed the door and opened the cabinet right next to it. “Do you want an ibuprofen or something?”
Huh. So he wasn’t totally clueless about this sort of thing. “That would be great,” I said, relieved. “Thank you.”
Zack nodded and opened a bottle, tipping out a small red pill. He opened the fridge to pull out a carton of orange juice, sniffed it, then poured a glass and set it down in front of me, with the pill.
I took the ibuprofen and sipped at the juice, while Zack put a couple pieces of bread into the toaster. Sam slid into the seat next to me with a bowl of cereal.
Finally, Keegan spoke. “I’m going to talk to Marcus today.”
Sam stopped eating, and Zack lifted his head to look at him. Keegan turned his head back to look at the news broadcaster on the screen, putting his heels on the edge of the coffee table. “It’s gotta be done sooner or later,” he said.
What has to be done? They weren’t talking about me, were they? My heart began pounding, but Zack and Sam didn’t even look at me, so I had an inkling this was something else. “Are you sure that's a good idea?” Zack asked. “If he finds out we can’t get the money…”
“Marcus knows what a cheapskate Tails is,” Keegan replied. “I’ll bring Sam--he likes Sam. He’ll give us a few extra days. It’ll be fine.”
“We need more than a few extra days, Keegan,” Zack said. “It took us two weeks just to come up with the five thousand. Marcus is going to think we’re making up excuses, and he’s pissed at us as it is.”
Keegan leaned back, but I thought I saw a glimmer of anxiety behind his calm expression. “It’ll be fine,” he repeated. “I’ll sell the equipment to Tails and give Marcus the five thousand. He’ll buy some beer and cigarettes, try to teach Sam how to smoke, Sam will cough a lot, he’ll laugh, and we’ll get some extra time.” Keegan shrugged. “Easy.”
The bread popped out of the toaster, and Zack grabbed two plates. “Whatever,” he said, smearing butter on the toast. “You won’t tell him about Molly, will you?”
I looked up, and for the first time Keegan seemed to acknowledge that I was in the room. He gave me a sideways glance. “Why would I tell him about Molly?”
Zack swallowed, relaxing a little, then came to the table and slid one of the plates across to me. “Eat it,” he said. “You’ll feel better.”
I said nothing and nibbled at it, now that the ibuprofen was starting to kick in. Sam chewed his cereal thoughtfully. “Do I have to smoke the cigarette again?” he asked.
“Yes,” Keegan said. “And make a big show about choking on it. Marcus will like that.”
Sam glumly turned back to his cereal. I kept my eyes angled down, trying to make sense of what they were saying. So they owed this Marcus guy the ten thousand, for some reason, but they only had five thousand. I looked around at them. Was this Marcus some kind of loan shark? None of them were much older than me. Why would they owe that much money?
Zack took my plate when I had eaten the toast, and Keegan shut off the television. “Hey Molly.” I looked up at him, gut twisting. He smirked. “I’ve got a present for you.”
He held up a pair of silver handcuffs. Zack rolled his eyes. “Come on, Keegan, leave her alone.”
“Sure,” Keegan said. “Maybe I should open the door for her too, while I’m at it. Then we can give her our address and our full names so she can take them to the police.” Zack gave no reply, dropping some silverware loudly into the sink. Keegan crooked a finger at me. “Come here.”
I looked at first Zack, then Sam, but neither of them said anything, and I slowly got up and walked over to Keegan. He grabbed my left wrist and locked the cuff on tight. There was about a six inch chain between each cuff, and he attached the other one to a bar on the pellet fireplace.
I had to sit down, and Keegan patted me on the head. I glared at him.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Mister Mistoffelees » Tue May 13, 2014 2:16 am

Well thought-of details, ppg! And your Keegan is a very villainy villain! The relationship you're building between the characters is intriguing, particularly since they don't follow a steady path but shift back and forth as circumstances change. Looking forward to more!...
Welcome to Snowden! Enter at your own risk...

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by angim350 » Tue May 13, 2014 9:12 am

Can I just compliment you on what a superbly written piece of work this is! You really put us in that situation with Molly, and really make us feel for her! Very well done! Keep up the good work

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Tue May 13, 2014 4:08 pm

Thank you all so much for your comments, I really appreciate it!
Zack cleaned up in the kitchen and was silent, while Sam came over and sat on the couch with a Rubik’s Cube. I laid back on the floor, counting the bricks on the wall.
My eyes wandered to Sam a couple of times as he grappled with the Rubik’s Cube, turning it first one way and then back, twisting it and essentially going around in circles. I watched him for a long while before I couldn’t take it anymore. “You know you’re doing it wrong,” I said.
Sam looked up, pausing. “Huh?”
“You’re supposed to solve the top layer first,” I told him.
Sam looked at the cube in bewilderment. “How am I supposed to know which is the top?”
“White goes on top.” Without thinking, I kept going. “You solve for white first, then you go around and solve the top row of each side and work your way down.”
“Oh.” Sam stared at the Rubik’s Cube for another minute, eyebrows furrowing. I smiled a little, trying not to laugh. Finally, he got up and sat on the floor next to me. “How do I do all that?”
I sat up and spent the next few minutes trying to show him how to solve it. He was persistent, I gave him that much, but he had trouble making progress even with my instructions. After a while, Keegan came back into the room, dressed in a black button-up shirt and a red hoodie. “Come on, Sam,” he said. “Time to go.”
Sam started to get up, but then stopped and handed me the Rubik’s Cube. “Here,” he said. “You solve it.”
He got up and ran to catch up with Keegan, letting the door slam shut behind him.
That left me with Zack. I laid back down on the floor, still a little peeved with him. For a little while I’d begun to like him, but he still let Keegan treat me like some kind of inhuman being. I solved Sam’s Rubik’s Cube quickly, which was a mistake, because after that I was bored. I sighed, bringing my knees up and folding my arms across my stomach. Zack was still messing around in the kitchen, no doubt just stalling now so he didn’t have to talk to me.
Fine. I didn’t care. I figured that if I was good for a while, Keegan might let his guard down and I could get away. Keegan was a heavy sleeper, so I might be able to do it at night. On the other hand, Zack was not a heavy sleeper, and I had no clue about Sam.
Of course, Keegan wasn’t here now. Zack was strong too, I thought, remembering how he lifted me up and carried me so easily up and down stairs, but he was humane. He would readily unchain me if I told him I had to use the bathroom, but he’d take me to the one down here. The door to that bathroom opened into a narrow hallway, and Zack was always standing right outside the door. I turned my head to look at him, and realized with disappointment that there was no way I’d be able to knock him down.
I needed a different idea. Of all the stuff they’d taught me in high school, I really could’ve used a course on how to escape from your kidnappers. I’d been too busy wasting my time on calculus and essays…
Zack was still busy doing dishes in the kitchen. I looked around. This couldn’t have been their house. It had to be one of those village houses owners rented out for skiiers…I guess that was why they had been keeping it so clean.
He moved away from the sink and went to the counter, where I noticed that there was an iPod dock. He stuck an iPod in it, and I perked a little. Maybe music would make this a little less boring.
Much to my surprise, I recognized the song that started blasting through the speakers. You see me now a veteran…
“...of a thousand psychic wars,” I finished softly, and Zack looked up in surprise. I turned my head sideways. “Blue Oyster Cult.”
“Yeah.” He blinked at me. “You know this song?”
“I know all their songs,” I answered. “All the scars are on the inside…”
“I’m not sure that there’s anything left of me,” Zack finished, grinning. He looked so delighted that I couldn’t help but smile back. “I was pretty sure I was the only one who still listened to this.”
“Nope, there’s two of us.” I laughed a little. “They’re my favorite band.”
“Mine too.” Zack’s smile got a little better, and he moved on to the next verse. “You ask me why we’re here, why I can’t speak to you…”
“You blame me for my silence, say it’s time I changed and grew.” I was smiling more too, and he joined me. “But the war’s still going on, dear, and there’s no end that I know...and I can say if we’re ever…” There were a few guitar notes, and Zack mimicked them in the air. I laughed. “I can’t say if we’re ever gonna be free.”
“What about Asia?” Zack asked, breaking out of the song. “Do you like them too?”
“Asia is pretty good,” I said, sitting up. “Not as good as Led Zeppelin. Or Live.”
“I’ll be damned,” Zack mumbled. “Do you listen to anything from this decade?”
I looked at him, and we said it at the same time. “Green Day.”
Zack laughed again, and I giggled a little bit too. “You know,” he said. “If we had met under normal circumstances, I probably would have asked you out.”
I blinked in surprise, flushing a little, and I smiled. “Well,” I said. “I probably would’ve said no.”
Zack glanced at me, taken aback like he wasn’t sure I was kidding. I laughed a little, and he smiled back, shrugging. “Are you okay over there? Do you want anything?”
I held up my chained wrist, shaking it to make it jingle. Zack’s mouth pressed into an apologetic line. “I can’t do that,” he said.
“Why not?”
“Keegan would kill me, first of all,” he said, trying to be funny again. I looked down, and he seemed uncomfortable. “Look, I’m sorry.”
“I know you’re sorry,” I sighed. “You three do realize that eventually people are going to notice that I’m missing, right?”
“Yeah,” Zack said, scrubbing at a plate. “We know. Chalk it up with all the other problems we have.”
“Who’s Marcus?” I asked, feeling brave.
“Just some guy,” Zack mumbled.
“A friend of yours?”
He snorted. “No.”
“Keegan and Sam are your friends, though?” I tilted my head.
Zack stopped, letting out his breath. “Um...I guess. I don’t know. It’s hard to say.” He turned the subject onto me. “What about you? Do you have friends?”
Why? Are you afraid they’ll come looking for me? But I didn’t say that. “Yeah, I have friends,” I said. “Most people do.”
Zack grabbed a towel and dried his hands. “From school, or…”
“I graduated.”
“You graduated.” He looked surprised again. “I thought you said you were seventeen.”
“I skipped the seventh grade, so I'm a year ahead.”
“Oh.” Zack came into the living room, picking up the solved Rubik’s Cube that I’d set on the table near me. “So you’re one of those super-smart straight-A kids.”
I laughed bitterly. “Try straight-B plus,” I said. “And I’m not super smart.”
“Really?” He held up the Rubik’s Cube. “Sam’s been trying to solve this for ages. And here, you go and do it in five minutes.” He put it back down, smiling.
I shrugged. “It’s not hard, once you learn how to do it.”
“Hm.” He dropped onto the couch, crossing his arms. “So...are you still scared of me?”
I blinked in surprise, and was suddenly reminded that I was a captive. I’d forgotten for a few minutes. “Of you?”
“Yeah. Are you still afraid?” His smile had faded. “Because I don’t want you to be afraid. We don’t want to hurt you or do anything to you. So there’s no reason to be scared, right?”
I stared back at him. “I’m not afraid because I think you want to hurt me,” I said. “I’m afraid that you’re going to do it anyway.”
Zack winced. “Okay,” he said. “I guess I’m making it worse, aren’t I?”
“Yeah. A little.”
“Should I stop talking to you?”
“God no,” I replied, leaning back against the wall. “Being kidnapped is so boring.”
That made Zack laugh again. “Keegan says we shouldn’t talk to you,” he murmured.
“Of course he does,” I said. “You wouldn’t want to realize that I’m an actual person with emotions and thoughts, would you?”
“Keegan’s really not that bad, once you get to know him,” Zack defended. “He’s just sort of tense right now.”
A Muse song came on, and I cracked another smile. “I forgot about Muse,” I said. “I like them too.”
“I bet we have the same favorite color too," Zack joked. "Green?”
“Indigo,” I corrected. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
Zack smiled and shrugged. “Darn. Can’t win them all.”
The door handle moved, and Zack’s smile faded, standing up from the couch. Keegan opened the door and stepped into the house, shaking snow off his boots, but he said nothing. His head was down and his hair hung in his face. I grabbed the Rubik’s Cube off the coffee table to show to Sam, before realizing that he hadn’t come through the door.
Keegan closed the front door, and paused on the threshhold. Zack broke the silence. “Keegan? What happened?” More silence. Keegan looked, if it was possible, almost guilty. Zack stepped towards him. “Where’s Sam?”
Keegan let out his breath, and finally lifted his head. “We are in deep shit.”

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by LordNelson » Tue May 13, 2014 6:08 pm

The detail that you put into the story is amazing. Add to that the effort of juggling the different personalities of four characters. I can't imagine there is much room in your head for anything else but this story. Considering how the plot has continued to develop with each installment I can't wait to see how it ends.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Lake Lover » Thu May 15, 2014 12:13 pm

What do you mean, "Deep Do-Do???" Where is Sam?? AARRGGHHH!!
I bet mysterious Marcus is holding Sam as hostage insurance for specific performance.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by bondagefreak » Mon May 19, 2014 4:27 pm

I'm really loving this story and the level of detail in it.
The efforts you are putting into this are really showing.
Please continue! This is fantastic!

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by markusthe1st » Sat May 31, 2014 11:31 am

Your writing is very strong. Really a lot like a former member here named Mirae.
Walk the mile first... then have the fun!

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Sun Jun 01, 2014 6:32 am

Hi everyone! I am so glad you are all enjoying the story so much. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment!
"What?"
Keegan threw the car keys onto the counter and turned without a word, heading for the back bedroom. "Keegan!" Zack stormed after him. "Keegan, what the hell happened? Where's Sam?"
The bedroom door slammed shut, and for the next few minutes, there was a whole lot of shouting.
Their voices ran together and I couldn't make out what they were saying, but for some reason it made my stomach twist up in anxiety. I looked at the completed Rubik's Cube sitting on the coffee table. I bit my lip.
After a couple of minutes I heard the door slam against the wall, and Keegan came stomping out, jaw clenched. "What is wrong with you?" I heard Zack shout after him. Keegan threw the door shut. I flinched at the sound.
He paused on the edge of the kitchen, breathing heavily, and I stared at him. A moment passed, and he lifted his head to meet my gaze.
I saw the look on his face and immediately dropped my eyes, but it was too late. He started towards me. "Get up," he snarled, pulling the handcuff key out of his pocket and grabbing the manacle chained to the fireplace. He unlocked it and jerked me to my feet.
I gasped, stumbling. "Keegan--"
"Shut up," he snarled, dragging me towards the stairs. Annoyance fired up inside me, and fed up, I planted my feet firmly on the ground and gave him a good yank back.
"No!" I shouted. "What's going on?"
Keegan looked stunned by the sudden resistance, but only for a second. His jaw set, and he pulled me close to him. Our noses were almost touching. "You. Upstairs. Now."
My chest was about to explode, but I swallowed and stayed where I was. "No."
His thick eyebrows were pulled down, and I instantly regretted saying it. He was going to smack me. I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for it.
But instead, Keegan bent down and grabbed me around the thighs, hoisting me easily over his shoulder. Frustrated, I screamed and beat on his back with my fists, which made him struggle a little, but he still carried me all the way up the stairs and into the bedroom.
He dumped me on the bed and then walked out, slamming and locking the door behind him.
For a second I just lay there, breathing heavily. So much for my big standoff. I tried digging my fingers underneath the cuff on my right wrist, but it was too painful to even try moving the cuff to a spot further down on my arm. I sighed and left it.
I felt sick. Why was that? Maybe the ibuprofen was wearing off. Right...that was definitely it. And I definitely wasn't worried about Sam.
I angrily turned over. I refused to be concerned. These guys were not my friends, they were my kidnappers. What did I care if one of them had run off, or gotten lost, or maybe that guy Marcus had...
I turned over again and stared at the ceiling. But why did it have to be Sam? I wouldn't have minded if Keegan had gone missing.
I was locked in there for a little over an hour before Zack opened the door. He had gotten the handcuff key from Keegan and took the other cuff off my wrist, thankfully, and then let me take a shower. He didn't say anything about Sam--he didn't have much to say at all. I was determined not to ask about Sam, but as soon as I had showered and and he left, I regretted it.
And that pretty much summed up the rest of the day. I paced around the room a bit and investigated the windows some more, without much success. When it got dark I lay in my bed for a while and eventually fell asleep.
After a plethora of nightmares, I woke up to darkness, entangled in the covers.
The sound of heavy breathing was coming from the floor on the bed beside me, and extracting myself from the sheets, I assumed that it was Zack again. But when I looked over the side of the bed, I instead made out a map of black hair resting on the pillow.
I stiffened. Keegan. I laid back again, staring at the ceiling, but I was wide awake now knowing that Keegan was in the room. Well, what did it matter? Keegan was fast asleep anyway. According to Zack, he slept like a rock.
I recalled what I'd thought about that earlier today. As long as Zack wasn't sleeping on the loft, this might be my only chance to escape. I sat back up, heart beating faster. But if I failed, who knew what they would do to me...
Carefully, I swung my legs onto the other side of the bed, touching my feet against the floor to make sure it wouldn't creak before standing up. Chest thumping, I started towards the door, one step at a time.
The side of my foot jammed into the bedpost and made a loud thump. The bed rattled. I gasped and quickly shoved my fist in my mouth, trying to keep from cursing. Anxiously, I looked at Keegan. He hadn't moved.
I rolled my eyes, relieved. He didn't just sleep like a rock. He was like a goddamn mountain.
I opened the door and stepped onto the loft, closing it behind me as quietly as I could, but I couldn't help the soft click. There was stirring from the loft bed, and I winced, seeing Zack lift his head.
I looked at him, and he blinked blearily at me. "Molly?" he said. "Is everything okay?"
Is everything okay? I wanted to repeat. What the hell do you mean, 'is everything okay'? I've been kept prisoner in this house for two whole days! Of course everything isn't okay!
I opened my mouth to make up an excuse for coming out of the bedroom, but choked on a lump in my throat, and instead began to cry.
Somehow, I spent the rest of that night in a fitful sleep on the loft bed, right beside Zack. I woke up feeling not sure how that had happened and a little embarrassed about it. Of course, I should clarify that nothing happened, and I mean nothing at all happened, but waking up next to him still made my face go red.
I felt him stir and sit up quietly, and then after a moment of hesitation, he shook me gently.
I rolled over to face him. His face was red too, but his expression was still purely concerned as he looked at me. "Are you okay?"
Again, what a stupid question. I nodded at him anyway and got up to follow him downstairs.
Keegan was already awake and had the news on again, and didn't spare us so much as a glance. Sam was still nowhere to be found.
As I was finishing eating breakfast in silence, there was a loud, impatient knock on the front door.
All three of us froze. Zack paused right where he was in the kitchen, and Keegan's eyes flickered over to me.
The knock came again, and I opened my mouth. All at once Keegan leapt up and Zack shot over to me like lightning, hand clamping over my mouth in time to muffle the scream that rose from my throat. "Uh, coming!" Keegan shouted at whoever was behind the door in an attempt to cover up the sound.
I grabbed Zack's arm and dug my nails in as hard as I could, still screaming. He pulled me to my feet, knocking the chair over and snatching both of my wrists in his free hand. He dragged me back into the corner, out of sight of the door just as Keegan opened it.
My breathing came in rapid gasps as I twisted and struggled with him, but his fingers were like iron around both of my wrists and he held me tight against his body to keep me from moving. Keegan's voice came from the front door. "M-Marcus?"
Zack drew in a breath, and I stopped struggling. Keegan had actually sounded alarmed.
There were heavy foosteps, and a few protests from Keegan. "Um, wait--"
"Where's Zack?" a man's voice asked.
Swallowing, Zack released me and walked out into the room. I fell to the floor. "Marcus," he said, voice quivering. "Um, we..."
"Listen," he said, cutting through Zack's sentence like a knife, and Zack and Keegan both fell silent. "I've been thinking about what you said to me yesterday, and I've decided to be lenient."
Slowly, I crawled along the floor and peered around the side of the table The man that stood in front of Zack was tall and broad-shouldered, with thick dark hair and a square jaw. His eyes were hard and narrow. Zack was looking relieved, and Keegan was still by the door, eyes wide. "W-we'll get the money to you as soon as we can, we swear," Zack said. "We just need--"
Marcus gave Zack a piercing stare and he broke right off again, falling silent. "You have until Thursday to come up with the money," he said.
"Thursday?" Keegan repeated weakly.
"But that's only two extra days!" Zack protested. "There's no way we can--"
In a flash, Marcus had whipped around and grabbed Zack by the shirt collar, yanking him close. I gasped. "Maybe you didn't hear me right," Marcus growled. "I told you I was going to be lenient." He gripped Zack tighter. "You should be grateful. Are you grateful?"
Zack nodded quickly, keeping his mouth shut this time. Marcus stared him down a second, and then released him. "Good. Until you do get me the money, I'll just keep an eye on Sam for you. How's that?"
Zack's eyes widened, and he looked like he wanted to speak again, but Keegan caught his eye and shook his head. Zack swallowed and they both nodded.
Marcus began to turn for the door, as if to leave, when his eyes landed on me.
I quickly ducked back around the table but too late, because I heard his heavy footsteps stride across the floor and his giant hand grabbed hold of my hair, yanking me none too gently to my feet. "And who's this?"
"No!" Zack said quickly, stepping forward. "She's just, um, she's--"
"Your girlfriend?" Marcus asked, looking at Zack. Zack blinked and violently shook his head.
"She's not my girlfriend," he protested. "She's--"
"You know," Marcus interrupted him yet again, examining me without letting go of my hair. "She's not bad." His gaze wandered down to my chest. I tried to pull away from him, eyes watering in pain. Marcus turned around and looked at Keegan. "I'd say she's worth about five grand, wouldn't you?"
Keegan blinked. "What?"
"How about it?" Marcus's other hand cupped my chin. "You let me take this lovely with me, and we'll consider your debt paid." He glanced between Keegan and Zack. "And I won't have to touch a hair on poor Sam's head."
I couldn't breathe. Keegan and Zack may have been my kidnappers, but they wouldn't. They wouldn't. I stared at Zack pleadingly, but he already looked appalled. "No way!" he blurted out.
"Zack," Keegan hissed. "Shut up."
Marcus was too busy examining my breasts again, clicking his tongue. Then, finally, he let go of my hair, and I gasped. "I see you need to give it some thought," he said, and started towards the door again. "I suggest you think hard." He gave me a last glance, and grinned, standing at the door. "Either you give me five thousand dollars, or you give me her. By Thursday." He opened the door. "You know where to find me once you've decided."

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by MiaTiedUp » Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:05 am

Great chapter! I've been looking forward to this all week

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by LordNelson » Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:24 am

This just confirms what I've known all along; skiing is a dangerous sport.
Joking aside, another great chapter. Many writers get too ambitious and the quality suffers towards the end of a long story but you have managed to maintain your focus all the way through.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Lake Lover » Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:54 am

So, Marcus makes his ugly appearance! The boy's fear of Marcus now places innocent Molly in grave danger.
He must be taken out.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:15 pm

Thanks again to everyone for commenting!
Marcus slammed the door shut behind him, leaving the three of us to sit in a shocked silence for a good minute.
Zack turned to Keegan. "Keegan," he said, his voice low. "You had sure as hell better not be thinking about this."
Keegan, who had been chewing his lip, glanced at Zack, and then at me quickly. Air was not coming easily. I tried not to cry again, but my entire body was quivering so badly that I was pretty sure the chair was shaking.
Keegan averted his gaze. "We need to have a talk," he said to Zack.
I couldn't help myself. I was angry and terrified at the same time--I did not want to be used as a damn bargaining chip. I absolutely did not want to know why Marcus thought I was worth five grand, and what he planned on doing with me if they handed me over. My head started rushing and hot needles pricked me all over my body. My heart raced like a rabbit. I got up from the chair and made a burst for the front door.
I hit the ground way before I got there, Zack's weight landing heavily on top of me and knocking my breath out. He grabbed both of my arms and pulled them behind my back. "Molly," he said, struggling to hold me down. "Molly, we're not going to give you to Marcus."
"I wouldn't make any promises yet," I heard Keegan mumble. My head snapped up to stare at him, eyes wide.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Keegan?" Zack shouted. "Why would you say that to her?"
I was too busy having a small panic attack to listen to Keegan's response. I shook my head and tried to throw Zack off me, tears obscuring my vision completely. I felt Zack get off me and roll me over to scoop me off the floor. "Look, it's only Monday," he said, placing me on the couch. "We have a while. We need to talk about this. We can't hand Molly over to Marcus. It's wrong."
"What do you suggest, Zack?" Keegan plopped down on the other sofa, putting his hands behind his head.
"I was thinking yesterday that we could try to ransom her back," Zack said. I blinked tears from my eyes, now that breathing was coming a little easier, and glanced at Keegan with a sliver of hope. That meant I'd go home. This nightmare would finally be over.
Keegan smashed my hope with a rock. "We have three days," he reminded Zack. "There's no time to mess around with a ransom note." He sighed. "Besides, that sort of thing always goes wrong. With our luck, it'd be sure to blow up in our faces."
Zack looked frustrated. "Then we need another way to come up with five thousand dollars. And fast."
Keegan leaned back, dark eyes staring thoughtfully at the fireplace mantle. "Or," he said quietly, "we don't pay him at all."
I blinked at Keegan, quiet now. Zack's reaction was the same. Keegan felt my gaze and nodded at me. "Do you really think this is a conversation we should be having with her in the room?"
Keegan stood as if to respond to his own question, and motioned to me. "You. Come on."
I sat up a little, and Zack gave me a nudge. "Go one," he said wearily. "He won't hurt you."
I was hurt that he didn't defend me, but got up and followed Keegan into the back bedroom. He closed the door and picked up the roll of duct tape on the dresser. "Get on the bed," he commanded. "Hands behind your back."
I glared at him. "You don't have to--"
Keegan grabbed my arm and thrust me face-down on the bed. He put his hand on my head and forced it down hard into the comforter. "Hands behind your back," he repeated. I struggled, trying to lift my head to breathe, but that only made him press harder. I began to get dizzy. He repeated his command again, and grabbed my arms. I let him, and finally he released my head. I gasped.
Stunned, I laid still while he wrapped duct tape around my wrists, and let him haul me up so that my whole body was on the bed. I rolled over and tried to sit up, staring at him. He tried to smother me. There was no shame in his expression.
Keegan whipped around and walked out, and I waited for the door to close before getting off the bed and running to put my ear against it. I expected to hear Zack start yelling again, but after a moment all I heard was Keegan mumbling something very softly.
My stomach was double knotted. I had been relieved to hear that Zack wasn't inclined to hand me over to Marcus so readily, but as I stood against that door, I could practically sense his doubt. After all, it would be a win-win for them, I thought. They wouldn't owe any more money to Marcus. They'd get Sam back. And they'd finally be rid of me, without having to worry about me going to the police.
I sank down to the floor as I realized that my odds did not look good. This wasn't fair. What had I ever done to deserve this? Keegan was in the next room over, convincing Zack of how good of an idea this was. I was completely and officially screwed.
I felt like passing out. Being sold to a mafia group as some kind of white slave was not the way I had envisioned the rest of my life playing out.
I caught myself before I had another panic attack. It's okay, Molly. I didn't know anything for sure yet. Maybe, just maybe, Keegan would grow himself a heart and they'd find another way...
I got up and sat back down on the bed, trying to calm my stomach for a couple of hours. As per usual, it was Zack who came to let me out, looking downcast. He opened the bedroom door wide. "You want to come into the front room?" he asked me.
I stood, pausing to balance myself. He hadn't taken out his pocketknife, but I decided not to push my luck and let him take me into the living room. I sat down on the couch, and Zack went into the kitchen without saying a word to me. I swallowed, sitting very still. Why was he acting so weird all of the sudden? Was it guilt?
I didn't see Keegan anywhere either. I let out a shaky breath. Should I ask him what they were going to do...? Did I want to know?
I sat quietly for a good long time, pondering the situation. Zack still said nothing, though I could hear water running and some things clinking in the kitchen. And Keegan had vanished. I didn't like not knowing what he was up to either.
Zack came back into the room holding a steaming mug, and still silent, he offered it to me. I didn't move, and with a heavy sigh, Zack put the mug down on the table beside me.
He walked away, and I peered inside the mug. It looked like tea, or maybe coffee. Either way, I wasn't going to let him feed it to me. I hadn't lost that much dignity yet. Zack was still in the room, standing awkwardly. "Do you, um..." he mumbled. "Do you need to go to the bathroom to...you know." He rubbed the back of his neck.
I realized after a second what he was talking about and shook my head. "No, I"m okay." My period had almost passed. Usually it lasted a bit longer, but maybe that was one positive effect of all the stress I'd been experiencing over the past couple of days.
I was in the living room for the better part of the day, with my hands tied until late afternoon when Zack started feeling bad and cut me loose. I eagerly reached for the tea as soon as he did. It was lukewarm by that point, but it was the only thing I'd been given to drink all day.
By dusk, I still hadn't seen Keegan. Zack didn't seem worried though, spending the day either watching television or messing around on his laptop, so I tried to just enjoy the peace while it lasted.
I must have drifted off at some point, because when I opened my eyes everything was pitch dark. I sat up, blinking to adjust. Zack was asleep on the other couch, and I noticed a pair of muddy shoes by the front door. The car keys had also been returned to their usual spot on the counter.
So Keegan had come back after all. I lay back on the couch with a soft sigh. What the hell had he been doing for so long?
And in the morning, when I woke up again, it was to see Keegan standing over me with a gun pointed at the side of my head.
"Get in the car," he told me. "Now."

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by Lake Lover » Wed Jun 04, 2014 7:06 am

Looks like Keegan has decided to take the easy way out. It is frightening to witness his intransigence.

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by angim350 » Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:14 pm

Bloody hell. There's good stories on here, and some great ones, but this is just something else. I'm literally on the edge of my seat here. Seriously good piece of work. Bravo!

### Re: Stockholm Syndrome

Post by powerpuffgirl42 » Wed Jun 04, 2014 6:07 pm

Wow, I am so grateful for all of your comments! You guys are the best
Keegan had a gun. Keegan had a flipping gun. Holy shit. If there was one person on this earth who I was absolutely sure should never be allowed to have a gun, it was Keegan.
My muscles were frozen for a few seconds as terror ripped through me. As soon as I moved to get up my entire body began to shake. He was going to do it. He was really going to trade me for Sam. I looked around for Zack, desperate, and heard him coming down the stairs. I stared at him with wide eyes as he hit the floor.
Zack met my gaze for about a quarter of a second, and then quickly looked away.
"Do not make me repeat myself," Keegan growled.
I made my feet move, almost stumbling, and looked pleadingly at Zack one more time before I shakily opened the door.
There was a short wood chip walkway to the road, where I recognized the red van that was parked there. There was a forest right across from the house. We were in a townhouse-like development, with the houses smashed right up against each other. No wonder they hadn't wanted me screaming. I wanted to scream now. I prayed for someone to look out the window and see Keegan holding a gun to my head, but the mist in the air and the early morning sunlight said it was too early for many people to be up and about yet.
Keegan drove me towards the car, and instinctively, I moved towards the back car door. "Uh-uh," he said, and then jerked his gun in a gesticulatory movement towards the back of the car. I saw that the trunk had been opened.
I couldn't stand it. I turned around and looked at him pleadingly. "Keegan, please don't--"
I broke off when he gave me a hard glare, arm not even wavering as he aimed the gun at me. Slowly, I moved towards the back of the car.
Keegan waited until I stood in front of the trunk before grabbing my shoulder and spinning me around. He grabbed both of my wrists and before I could react tightened a zip tie around both of them.
He gave me a push towards the trunk, waited until I'd climbed inside, and then closed the door tight.
I drew my knees up to my stomach, trying not to throw up. There was plenty of room for me in the back of the van, but the walls of the car still felt tight around me. This was it. I was really going to be traded. I guessed Keegan really had convinced Zack, since he certainly hadn't tried to stop them.
A dry sob escaped my throat, but I tried to swallow down the ones that followed. I wasn't going to cry again. That wasn't going to solve any of my problems.
I heard voices outside the car, and a moment later, two car doors opened. I sat up and peeked over the back seat. Zack and Keegan were both seated up front, with Zack in the driver's seat. He started the car.
I sat back. The car was moving. I couldn't assume anything. Maybe Keegan and Zack had a different plan. One that didn't involve trading me for Sam. But you'd think they would have said something to me so I wouldn't get the wrong idea.
Nope, nope, nope. My heart pounded. Was it me, or was the car moving really fast? My stomach came closer and closer to overturning with every bump we hit. Keegan's zip tie was starting to sting as well, digging into the skin of my wrists.
When the car finally came to a screeching halt, I nearly had a heart attack.
Zack turned the engine off, and I heard the car doors open. I squeezed my eyes shut.
There was a click, and the back door opened. With a small whimper, I opened my eyes.
Zack and Keegan were both there, and Keegan crooked a finger at me. I had to blink my eyes several more times to keep them from watering. Zack still wouldn't meet my gaze.
Keegan pulled me out of the car and I looked at the surroundings. The road was behind us, but other than that the area was pretty deserted. The car was parked in front of a single-story warehouse, with gray outside walls and several small windows--some broken, and some boarded up.
I saw Keegan's gun sticking out the back of his pants just before he adjusted his shirt to cover it. Zack's shirt was untucked also. Was there a gun under there too?
A hand gripped my arm and I jumped. Keegan nodded towards the warehouse. "Let's go," he told me.
Zack was in the lead, with his head down, and Keegan kept his hand firmly on my arm. The walk towards the building took an eternity. My eyes still burned, and I could feel droplets of sweat forming at my hairline.
Instead of a door, there was simply an opening where a door might've been, and in its place were some boards nailed to the corners and some broken glass on the ground. It crunched beneath our feet as we stepped inside.
It was dark, but Zack seemed to know where he was going and moved immediately to the left. There was a metal railing and a set of stairs leading to an underground floor. Zack started down with Keegan and I close behind. At the bottom of the stairs there was some sort of dim light.
We turned again at the bottom of the stairs where there was a heavy iron door. I was startled to see a burly man standing in front of it, arms crossed.
The man looked at us, and then nodded and reached for the door handle. My head felt light. Keegan had to give me a good yank before I moved towards the open door.
This room was only it by a few electric lanterns in the corners of the room, and there were a few more men scurrying around. Keegan's grip on me tightened.
We waited for a long minute. I watched the men in the room. Most of them had a gun sticking out of the back of their pants, and the ones who didn't probably had guns concealed in the jackets they were wearing. And they were all big, with hardened faces and thick limbs.
The metal door opened again, and I recognized Marcus as he came through and paused in the doorway, giving us the once-over. His eyes lingered on me, and he cracked a smile. "Good boys," he said. "Here to finally pay your due?"
"I want to see Sam first," Zack said firmly. He almost succeeded in hiding the quiver in his voice. Almost.
Marcus looked amused, and turned around, jerking his head at a man still out in the hallway. He came in, dragging Sam by the back of his shirt collar. I drew in a breath.
Sam was covered in bruises. His eyes had dark circles underneath them and his brown hair was mussed and tangled. Sam's hands were tied behind him, and there was a thick leathery cloth that had been forced between his teeth and tied off at the back of his head. Keegan tensed beside me, and I saw Zack's fists clench.
"What the hell, Marcus?" Keegan blurted out. "You said you weren't going to hurt him!"
"He's fine," Marcus replied, as his man shoved Sam to the ground. "Just a few scratches." He stared at me greedily. "Send the girl over here, and you can have your friend back."
My stomach twisted. Keegan and Zack exchanged a glance, and Zack gave a short nod.
I let out my breath, giving Zack a wide-eyed stare. Keegan pushed me towards Marcus but my feet wouldn't move. Zack looked stoically forward.
I felt the barrel of Keegan's gun press agaisnt the back of my head.
Sweat was pouring down my face. I had no choice.
"Molly," Keegan said, very softly. My body went rigid. Keegan cocked the gun.
"Duck," he said.
Duck?
My eyes fixed on Marcus directly in front of me, and with a jerking realization, threw myself to the floor.
Bang!