Sitting in the park…sitting in the dark…sitting all alone…sitting with her phone.
The faint light of the cellphone in her hand cast a colorful flickering glow on Mia’s pretty face as she sat on the park bench. It was the old wooden bench by the pond, the one furthest along the narrow gravel trail, the one furthest from where anyone with any sense should be at this time of night. She had picked it deliberately.
Her fingers darted quickly on the keyboard as she replied to the urgent texts from her friends. They were concerned that she was doing something foolish and she was trying to reassure them that she would be okay. If only they knew where she really was and what she was really doing.
Several weeks ago a young woman was out for an evening run, a little exercise to relieve the stress after getting home from a long day of work. She was thinking about a nice hot shower and what she would have to eat before sitting down to watch television.
As she turned a sharp bend in the trail she was startled by a tall dark figure that stepped out from the shadows to stand in her way. It was too late to stop and she collided with him. A strong arm wrapped around her and pulled her body against his, pinning her arms to her sides, while he firmly clamped his other hand over her mouth.
She squirmed and struggled and kicked to no avail. She was small and he easily lifted her and carried her a short distance into the woods. Not wanting to provoke him she stopped resisting. He put her down on the lawn and moving quickly he placed a wide strip of sticky white tape over her mouth. He rolled her face down on the cool grass and bound her hands securely behind her with a short rope.
He then bound her ankles, again with a single wrap of rope, tightly tied. She trembled as he rolled her over to face him and he stood over her. She fearfully awaited what was to come next. He stood motionless for what seemed to be an endless moment studying her carefully. He then took a picture of her, pocketed his camera and knelt down at her feet.
A quick tug on the rope at her ankles, it had been tied with an ordinary bow, and her feet were free. He rolled her face down again and did the same to her wrists. By the time she rolled back and sat up he was gone. She pulled the tape from her lips and stood. And then she ran, she ran very fast.
It was a strange scenario that had repeated itself six times now over the last four weeks. Women alone and outdoors in the dark had been captured. Each one was bound and photographed and released. He made no attempt in any way to take advantage of their helpless state.
He had struck in parks and on the downtown streets and in the residential suburbs. Always in the dark, always at some isolated point, always a victim who should have known better. Mia wanted to be the next.
For years her hearts deepest desire was to be overpowered and bound by a stranger. She fantasized about it every night as she lay in bed and then dreamed about it when sleep finally came. Her hopeful visions were now of the mysterious man that lurked in the shadows.
She told mom and dad that she was working on school projects with her friends at their houses. She told her friends that she was secretly seeing a boy that her parents wouldn’t approve of and she asked them to cover for her.
Each evening for two weeks now she had left home after supper. She walked the darkest streets, ran in the most remote parks and, as she was tonight, she sat in the dark, going anywhere a sensible woman would avoid. She waited anxiously for that sudden captivating embrace. She longed for the silencing tape and the bite of the rope in her flesh.
This would be her last time out. She couldn’t keep up the deceptive pretense any longer. Mom was inquisitive and sure to try and confirm Mia’s whereabouts soon. Dad persistently offered to drive her to or from her destination. Her friends were eagerly wanting to meet this young man who had her out every night.
The air was getting cool as the night deepened. The tight denim shorts and snug red tank top she had chosen were selected to attract attention and did nothing to keep her warm. The thick white sweat socks and running shoes kept her feet snug but the rest of her was getting uncomfortably chilled. She anxiously awaited another five minutes and then texted her mom to say she was on the way home.
As she stood a muscular arm reached over the back of the bench from behind and wrapped around her arms and her slim waist. Her phone fell from her grip to the gravel with a clatter. A large hand covered her mouth and nose. He pulled her forcefully over the back of the bench. The rough wooden slats chafed the back of her legs and she lost a shoe.
He was tall, her feet dangled uselessly at least half a meter from the grass, as he carried her towards the thicket. Thorny branches scraped her bare legs as he pushed Mia through the shrubs. He tightened his grip on Mia and she tried hard to breathe with his muscular arm compressing her chest and his hand sealing her mouth and nose.
As violent as her abduction was Mia’s thoughts were not of escape or hoping for rescue. She was thrilled. Goosebumps covered her arms and she felt euphoric at the thought of what was to come. She anticipated the tape gag and the binding ropes with delight. She knew that it would all go much too quickly and she wanted to savor every second of her capture.
On the other side of the hedge he laid her down. She offered no resistance and he pressed the tape firmly over her lips. She quietly mmphed once. Not in protest but because she had a feeling it was a sound that he would like to hear.
She tried to scream but only out of curiosity. She had never been gagged before and Mia wanted to see if it would really muffle her voice. It did and only a feeble whine escaped. He pressed a hand firmly over her taped mouth to impress upon her the need for silence and then he wrestled her over face down and grabbed her wrists crossing them behind her and tying them.
The tape had an unanticipated sweet taste. Mia’s fingers tingled as the binding on her wrists cut her circulation. Powerful fingers took hold of her elbow and rolled her onto her back on top of her bound arms. He then tied her ankles together and as Mia expected he stood to examine his victim.
There was no moon that cloudy night but the weak yellowish light from a nearby lamppost washed over Mia’s vulnerable form. He smiled at the one shoeless foot with the white sock now stained green by the dew dampened grass. His smile continued as he appreciated the muscular athletic legs which were the result of Mia being a dedicated competitive runner. He noted that her curvy hips had a maturity that was much more attractive than the shapeless skinny build that many seventeen year old's normally have.
The hem of her tank top had pulled up just enough to reveal a firm flat tummy. He paused his gaze for a moment when he noticed her navel peeking up above the waist line of her shorts. Pulling her arms back to tie them had stretched the fabric of her top tight across her breasts which were not overly large but perfectly shaped and firm.
Her face was partially hidden in the shadows but he could dimly see her eyes. Eyes that puzzled him. They weren’t filled with fear as the others had been. He had difficulty trying to determine just what she was feeling but if he were to guess it almost seemed to be a look of excitement. He shook off his confusion and got on with his task.
Mia almost giggled as she felt herself trying to smile but unable to behind the tape as he pulled out his camera. He took a moment to find the right angle and then the flash momentarily blinded her. Before her eyes could recover he untied her ankles and Mia knew that soon it would be over. He rolled her back onto her chest and Mia was disappointed that it had gone so quickly.
His hand took hold of the wrist rope but then he hesitated. He moved his fingers down and placed them gently on her firm bum. A shiver went through Mia’s body like an electric shock. There was no mention by any of his other prey about any intimate touching. He gave her bottom a gentle squeeze and a light caress. Then he moved his hand back to the rope.
Mia felt his body shift and then his chest pressed against her back as he leaned towards her. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek as he placed his lips close to her ear. He whispered to her and then released her and was gone.
What he said made no sense and Mia gave it only a moment’s thought before getting up. She retrieved her errant shoe and her phone and rushed home.
For the next two weeks her nocturnal encounter was all she could think about. She had no romantic notions about her assailant and hardly gave him a thought. Her mind was occupied with the sensations of being bound and gagged. Hands trussed uselessly behind her…feet that had no freedom…her mouth silenced…lying helpless on the cool grass.
Mia had kept the tape and even after it had lost its stickiness she would close her eyes and hold it over her mouth as she lay in bed. The smell and the taste helped to refresh her memories. The ropes were under her pillow and she would tie one around her ankles and twist the other around her wrists reliving those few seconds of bliss.
Then he struck again…or at least the media assumed it was him. The circumstances were similar but the result was different. A young woman had disappeared while out for a walk. The other victims were free so no photos ever needed to be shown. This time the newspapers and television stations displayed the poor victim’s picture and asked “Have you seen this woman?”
Mia casually glanced at the photo of an attractive smiling face. Then Mia looked more intently as the reality hit her. Other than being a few years older and having larger breasts this woman could have been Mia’s twin. Same face…same hair…almost the same build. Did the others also look like her?
A cold shiver of horror ran through Mia’s body as she realized then the sinister meaning of what he had whispered to her that dark night…
…“close but not quite.”
THE END