Chapter 1 - Paradise Disturbed
Evan Morston had a perfect life. He was a 16-year old student at East Lake Prep School in New Hampshire, an expensive private school for the wealthiest kids. He was a star soccer and baseball player for the school despite being small for his age. Evan was also very popular in the school. His classmates loved his charming charisma and even in the all boys school, he had some that fancied his blonde hair.
Everything was going great for Evan until a warm day in April.
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I walked home from school alone after baseball practice, having changed back into his school uniform of slacks, a polo, black crew socks, and tennis shoes. His routine was also to take the short walk from East Lake to his families large home. It was only a 10 minute walk through a trail in the woods.
I just entered the woods beyond the school's baseball field when a dog scampered off in front of him towards another path. I, naturally curious had never went down the path and decided to this day. Missing the no trespassing sign, i followed the dog a few minutes to an older house in the middle of the woods that had been poorly upkept.
The dog layed down in the open unattached garage and i decided it was home. I turned around to leave but felt a hand roughly grab him by his jacket and hoist him off his feet. I was roughly shoved against a large tree and dropped his bag and looked into the eyes of a large kid about his age. He wore a tattered flannel jacket, brown boots, jeans and a camouflage hat.
"Billy come here!" Yelled the kid ignoring me for the time being. "Bring the Bebe gun!"
"What is it Jimmy?" Another kid who turned out to be 17 said as he rounded the house and came forward with a Bebe gun in one hand and a can of chew in the other hand.
"Looks like we got ourselves a trespasser!" the boy named Jimmy said.
Billy came over and pointed the Bebe gun at Evan's temple.
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"Why you trespassing kid?" I was asked in a harsh tone. I stammered a bit as I was shoved higher up the tree. One hand on my polo hoisting me in the air.
"The dog," I followed it. "I'm sorry, I'll leave. Please don't hurt me."
"He's one of those rich boys Billy," Jimmy told him. Billy snickered as he pushed the Bebe gun against my head even harder. I didn't date utter a sound unless spoken to.
Billy looked to be in thought and looked at me. "What's your name kid?"
"Evan" I said quickly.
"What's in the bag Mr. Evan? Cuz you trespassing on our land. We might have to make a citizens arrest." I was set down so my feet were on the ground. "Jimmy, Pa has some rope in the garage. Maybe we ought to tie this rich boy up huh?"
Billy grabbed my bag and nodded as he was given the Bebe gun from Jimmy. My body still roughly held against the pine tree, I tried to reason "please don't tie me up. I will le...mmmmppphhhh!"
The gun was shoved into my mouth as Jimmy came back with some old tattered rope and pulled my hands behind the tree. I felt my hands being tied together as the younger of the two what ended up as brothers, roped my hands beyond me. I felt some roped around my hands horizontally and then vertically between my hands. It was quick work, but soon the knots were cinched and I was tied to the tree.
Jimmy then began to the my feet together as Billy looked at me. "You talk when we give you permission for got it rich boy?" He told me. I looked around. Outside of the house, unattached garage, and a poll barn in the back, it was all woods. Thick condensed pine trees.
I could only nod my head. "He mouthing off Billy? We could get some duct tape and shut this trespasser up."
"He just gotta learn some manners is all." Billy replied keeping the gun firmly pushed toward the back of my throat. It was just a Bebe gun, but I wasn't about to mess around as my feet were tied together. Jimmy stood up to admire his handiwork.
He went through my sports bag and started throwing everything out on the ground. My baseball gear, my homework, my textbooks, my wallet. Fortunately my phone was in my pocket.
Billy pulled the gun from my mouth.
"You got money in that wallet rich boy? Cuz you were trespassing and now you gots to pay the fine." Billy said.
"Just a couple dollars," I said in a quiet voice.
"Well I think the fine is $300." Jimmy responded. "Maybe $500 for you rich folk."
"Or maybe we just keep you tied up for a while."
"Please, I'm so sorry. I'll get you your money please just let me go, we can talk to the police and sort this out." I said apologetically.
I was punched in the gut and I let out a big "oof" as the wind was knocking out of me. I keeled over as best I could tied up as I was in pain. It was swift and painful. The two boys were my age, but they were definitely stronger than me.
"Wrong answer rich boy. You see this is our land. So we're the police I reckon. So here's your punishment. You gonna come back here tomorrow after your school and work this off. You ain't probably worked a day in your life so you gonna be working real hard rich boy."
"Yes, I will." I responded apologetically.
"And you ain't gonna tell anybody about our little deal or you're gonna get hurt got it?" Billy said showing me my wallet and not only my drivers license with my address on it they took a picture of, but also a picture of me and my girlfriend Selyse.
Just then Jimmy put his hand up to my mouth. His big hand covered up not only my mouth, but most of my nostrils as well.
I mmmpphhed into the hand gag just wanting it to go away, and Jimmy surprisingly obliged.
The ropes were untied from my feet and soon my hands were free.
"Tomorrow at 4:30 kid. Be here." Billy said sternly.
With that I scrambled all my books and other items into my bag and ran off towards home.