I woke up to blackness and I realized a blindfold was covering my vision. My heart beat rapidly against my chest as I sat there with my wrists tied tightly to a chair. I felt the gag in my mouth come loose and I immediately screamed.

"Let me go!"

"Don't make me put the gag back in." The man's voice came from behind me. I pulled my arms to try to release my hands but felt the rope cut into my wrists. I choked back a cry from the pain as I went limp in the chair that I was bound to. I closed my eyes tightly, willing myself not to let tears fall from my eyes and into the blindfold.

"Don't make this any harder than it has to be." The voice said and then the material that had been covering my eyes dropped away from my face. I opened my eyes to see the man come into view. I could barely see in the dark building but a small lamp that sat on a metal table beside us lit up the room just enough that I could make out his face.

"Here." He knelt down so he was eye level with me and then held out a sandwich in front of my face. I stared at in disgust as he nudged it to my mouth, urging me to eat. I clamped my lips shut and turned my face away from him.

I will not give him the satisfaction of being in control of what I eat. I will fight him every minute of everyday that I'm here.

I heard him sigh and then I saw him stand up out of the corner of my eye. He walked over to the table with the lamp and set the sandwich down on a paper plate. He turned to look at me and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Look, I'm not going to force you to eat but if you do get hungry, just say it. I'm here to make sure you stay alive so if you need something, you have to tell me." He explained.

"Fuck you." I spit out. He narrowed his eyes at me, then walked over and knelt down again. His face was just inches from mine and I felt my heart start to race in fear. I braced myself, thinking he was going to hit me but it never came. I slowly opened my eyes to see him still staring at me.

"You're feisty. I'll give you that." He commented.

"Why did you take me?"

"Ransom, I suppose."

"You suppose?"

"I was hired to kidnap you. I'm just in this for the pay day." I watched his smoky gray eyes as they looked over my body.

"Stop it." I ground out. His eyes shot back up to mine and narrowed.

"I was looking to see if you're hurt anywhere. I'm going to go get some ointment for your wrists." He said as he stood up and walked behind me so I couldn't see him anymore.

Why does he care about my wrists? It's not like that would affect a ransom.

"I'm going to untie you for a minute. Don't be stupid, though." He explained and then I felt the ropes come undone around my wrists. I sighed in relief as my entire body relaxed from its tense state. I immediately brought my hands in front of me and cradled them in my lap. He came around and started applying ointment to the bleeding areas. His hands were calloused but he was careful as he softly touched my skin. I couldn't help but be surprised by how kindly he was treating me.

This isn't normal to be treated this way by a kidnapper, is it? I guess I wouldn't know, though. It's not like I've ever been in a situation like this before.

"Why?" I whispered. He glanced up at me for a moment and then started applying a bandage to protect my skin from getting cut from the rope any further.

"He said to keep you safe."

"Who did?"

"My client, the man who asked me to kidnap you." He then grabbed my hands and started to pull them behind my back. I quickly attempted to pull my arms away from him and stood up to run but fell onto my face with the chair on top of me.

Damn it. My ankles are tied to the chair. How did I not realize that?

The man sighed and then helped me up and back onto the chair. He took my hands and tied them together once again.

"I told you not to be stupid." He commented after my hands were securely held by the rope.

"Do you know the man's name who hired you?" I asked, trying to ignore what just happened.

"Do you really think I would tell you that even if I did know?"

"What can I call you?" I asked, moving on quickly from where that conversation was heading.

"John."

"I suppose that's not really your name." I said as I turned my head to look at him. I saw the slightest bit of a smile touch his lips at my response.

"No, it's not." He confirmed as my stomach grumbled from hunger. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the pain in my abdomen.

How long had it been since I ate last? I suppose there's no point in starving myself. I'll need my strength to escape this place.

"Well, John, I think I'm ready for that sandwich now." The small smile turned up a little more before he grabbed the food from the plate and brought it over to me. I opened my mouth slightly and he pushed a small bit into my mouth so I could take a bite. After I finished the sandwich, he helped me drink some water.

"I have to use the bathroom." I said after he threw away the water bottle. He turned around and stared at me.

"Are you going to try to escape again?" He asked.

"No." He rose an eyebrow and walked up to me and crouched down. He got inches away from my face and stared at me.

"Really?" He asked.

"Really." I tried to sound confident but it looked like he knew I was lying. He took out his knife, anyways, and cut the ropes on my ankles only and helped me stand up. He grabbed a hold of my right upper arm and led me to the bathroom.

"I'm going to stand outside the door...there's nowhere for you to run so just...don't try. Ok?" I nodded reluctantly. He closed the door and I looked around the bathroom.

A small window that looked like it didn't open.

A vent. I climbed up on the toilet and stood on it to look at the vent closer. It was only held in place with two screws.

Maybe I can find something to unscrew them with?

I looked around the bathroom for anything that I could use but didn't find anything. I decided that I would try a different time but for now I would have to give up. After peeing, I tapped the door with my foot a couple of times to let him know I was done. When he opened it, he looked a little surprised.

"You actually listened this time?" I shrugged in response and walked past him. I took in my surroundings as we walked back to the chair. I saw a table with a bunch of tools on it and found a screwdriver laying to the right of the table. I smiled to myself as I decided on a plan.

If I can just get my hands and ankles free at the same time, I could get out of here. But how?

I sat down in the chair and let him tie my ankles back up. He stood up and stared at me for a moment before walking away. I heard a door open and close behind me.

Maybe I can get a hold of a knife and cut the ropes myself. But how can I do that?

I looked around the room and spotted a knife by the lamp.

There. I just have to get to it.

I tried moving the chair, wobbling it back and forth to get momentum. Just then I heard the door behind me open and close again. I stopped moving and made sure that I hadn't moved the chair that much so that he wouldn't notice. John came into view with a camera in his hand.

"Smile pretty." He said and put the camera up to take my picture. I gritted my teeth together and narrowed my eyes, mentally giving him the middle finger.

Click. Flash.

I watched him as he looked down at the camera and nodded his head in approval.

"That'll do, Rori." He commented. My eyes widened in shock and nervousness.

"You know my name?" I asked incredulously.

"Of course I do. You think I go around kidnapping girls without doing my research?" He rose an eyebrow at me like I was dumb.

Does that mean he kidnaps girls a lot? What does that even mean?

"Who are you sending that to?" I asked, nodding to the camera.

"My client."

"But you don't know his name?" I asked, trying to anger him. He looked up from the camera and focused on me.

"No." His eyes had narrowed at me and I knew I had found where his goat was tied.

"Who works for someone they don't even know the name of? You said you do your research but it sounds like you don't really do too much if you don't even know that." I shrugged a little with a smirk creeping onto my face. He took a couple steps towards me in an aggressive way but I made sure not to flinch.

"Watch your tongue. You're in no position to be mouthing off." He warned and I could see his entire body tense up.

"What are you going to do about it? You said it yourself, you're supposed to keep me unharmed, right?" I replied rebelliously.

"Doesn't mean I couldn't mentally torture you." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly.

"I may or may not have brought your little friend here, too."

My friend?

"What are you talking about?"

"That girl you were talking to before I took you. Jessie, right?" My eyes widened and my stomach flipped.

"No." I whispered. He rose an eyebrow at me.

"Not so vicious now, are you?"

Wait...

"You didn't take her." I said confidently. He narrowed his eyes at me again.

"How the hell would you know?"

"I was the only one in that van. You didn't take her. You're bluffing." A small smirk crossed his lips, making me doubt myself.

"You think I'm working alone?" My breath hitched in my throat. "I have friends in low places, little girl. Don't doubt my connections." His voice had turned dangerous.

"You're fucking sick." I ground out.

"Perhaps." He shrugged. "Have a good night, Rori." He said and walked behind me so he was out of sight and then I heard the door open and close. My heart started beating rapidly as my thoughts raced through my mind.

I was kidnapped by a man who was hired by who-the-hell-knows and Jessie might have been taken, too. I don't even know why this is all happening in the first place, either. He thinks I was kidnapped for ransom and, well, maybe I was. I mean, my father is a congressman but...something just doesn't seem right about this. It's like there's this ominous feeling that something more is going on. I just can't quite put my finger on what it is just yet.