Prologue
“Yeah, yeah I know – but at least you arrived safely. I’ll call you tomorrow. Try not to get too sunburnt before then.
“Bye.”
“I take it Sam arrived safely,” Kristen said as she watched me put the phone down. It was the second week in June, and Sam was spending two weeks working as a counsellor in a summer camp. I had a job now at a store in the local mall, which meant I hadn’t been able to join her. Kristen was also at a bit of a loose end – her boyfriend was on a field trip, but as she had a dissertation to write over the summer she wasn’t able to go with her.
Actually, if truth be told it was very very quiet. Sam’s mum and aunt had skedaddled for a couple of weeks, and my mum had gone with Sheila to the coast for a holiday.
“So what are we going to do with ourselves all week,” Kristen said as I sat down.
“Oh I think we can find ways to keep ourselves out of mischief.”
“Or get into it,” I said with a grin.
“Or, as you say, get into it.” Kristen looked at me, and then said “you remember that time you went up to the lake with Mom?”
“How could I forget? We learned a few new things then – why?”
“Fancy trying that again this week?”
“It’s an idea – we could try a different theme every day.”
Kristen sat up and nodded. “Okay then – grab some pen and paper, and let’s set the agreement. First up – a theme for each day.”
“Agreed – we set each other a challenge for that day, and also agree to have some fun that fits in with that.”
“Each of us bound in turn, for a set limit of time, and the other does what needs to be done for meals and so on.”
“Sounds good – so what are we going to start with?”
Kristen smiled as she said “I’ve got an idea...”
Smart Sunday
Drying myself off, I started to get dressed before going down to breakfast. Kristen and I had already agreed we would dress properly for church today – a fact that would probably give Mom a heart attack and please Sheila no end.
So – underwear, a pale blue shirt, smart black trousers, and a v-necked sweater composed my outfit, with a smart blazer in my hand to wear once we were on our way. Putting on my smart black shoes, I walked down the stairs and left the blazer on the back of the chair, while I started to make some coffee.
“That smells good,” Kristen said as she came down a few minutes later, wearing a white cardigan over a green short sleeved dress that had a white floral pattern on it. The pleated skirt came to just above her knee, and she was wearing a pair of white heels. I also noticed she was walking slightly stiffly, but said nothing as she sat at the bar.
“Want some bacon and eggs, or would you prefer pancakes?”
“Let’s have pancakes,” she said as I handed her a mug of coffee, and then started to make some pancake batter up, cooking a few and putting them on a plate before I handed them to her.
“So you’re going ahead with the first part of your challenge?”
“Oh yes – but I full well know your turn is going to come later,” she said with a smile.
“That is most certainly the case,” I say with a smile, “so do you want me to drive this morning?”
“I think that might be better,” Kristen said with a smile as she started to eat, and I cooked my own pancakes.
A short while later, we both left the house, Kristen locking up as I unlocked the car and we made our way to the church. It was a short drive, but I noticed the way my sister was fidgeting around for the whole trip.
“Something wrong?”
“What do you think,” Kristen giggled as we pulled into the car park, and then made our way into the church itself. We smiled and talked to some of our friends before we made our way into the chapel, and the service started.
I have to admit, I wasn’t paying that much attention, as my mind was racing ahead to what was going to happen after the service...
Eventually, Kristen and I made our way out to the car park, trying not to show what was on my mind as we walked over to the car. I opened the door to allow Kristen to sit in, and then walked round and sat in the driver’s seat.
“Ready?”
She slowly nodded as I said “all right lady – you do as I say and you won’t get hurt, understand?”
“Please don’t hurt me,” Kristen whimpered, as I took from the side pocket of the car door a length of rope.
“No more talking – hands together in front of yourself, palm to palm.”
Kristen nodded as she watched me tie her wrists together, and then reach over to tie them to the door handle. I also took from the car door pocket a strip of brown sticking plaster, peeling off the backing paper and sticking it over her mouth before I started the car and drove off.
“Whrhrwgnn,” Kristen mumbled as she looked at him.
“Your house – I need a place to hide out and a change of clothes, and some money, which you are going to give to me.”
She watched me as we drove along, and then I pulled into the garage, getting out and closing the doors before I untied her wrists from the door and made her walk out.
“Let’s go,” I said as I held her arm, and unlocked the door to the kitchen, walking us both in as I closed the door behind us, and then took Kristen into the front room.
“Sit down,” I said as I took a bag from the back of the couch, waiting as my sister sat down before I took some rope out of the bag, and secured her ankles tightly together, followed by her legs below her knees. I then untied her wrists, but only so that I could take her wrists behind her back, crossed them and tied them tightly together.
“Lie down,” I said, helping her to lie on her side before I said “don’t move,” and made my way to the kitchen...