Morgan

....ugh...my head hurts. So does my arms and legs...and....stomach...heck! Everything hurts!

I'm suddenly woken up by something cold and wet. The first thing I notice when I open my eyes is the darkness very dimly lit by the light from a small window. Another drop falls on my face. I look up and it seems to be a leaking water pipe. My mouth is taped. I'm laying down on the floor. Mustering the energy to move, It's then that I realise that my hands and feet are tied behind me. What...happened...? Where am I? I think I'm still half asleep because I can't process anything. I look around and get one thing clear.

I'm in a basement.

After that, the previous events slowly start to flood into my mind. The bullying, the shed, the beating, Jessica's knife, me running away and then....getting Kidnapped. Fear begins to well up inside me. Damn...I have the most rotten luck.

I force myself to get up into a sitting position. Maybe it's a good thing they didn't tie me to a chair. How long has it been since I was out? First things first, need to find a way to get out of here. Through the window? Nah, it's too small. I could break it and scream for help. Yeah, that'll work.  Now I just need to free my hands and feet, then take off the tape from my mouth. The rope is tied pretty firmly. I scan the room for anything sharp. My eyes by now have adjusted to the darkness. There is a lot of junk around here. Old or broken furniture, paint cans, torn books, an old T.V, a pile of boxes with who knows what in them etc. I need to stand up! Even though my feet are hurting, I bring them under me and jump up. The sudden quick motion brings more pain throughout the body. I wince as the throbbing in my head returns. Focus! I need to hurry before anyone comes! I gulp hard and move forward by jumping.

I go towards the old furniture. My feet stings with every leap. Once near, I look around for something sharp. The only thing sharp I see here are nails and smashed wooden pieces. Will it work? I turn around and place my hands on a long nail. It simply pierces the rope and then doesn't move. No use. I look around and a metal trunk catches my eye. I make my way over to it. After somehow managing to open it I look inside. It's dark but I CAN identify a few things. Some spoons and forks, small books, wine bottles, a ball, old newspapers and....what is that? I turn around and pick it up with my hands. Wait....don't tell me...

I jump over to where I was laying when I woke up since that was the place with the most light. I then look over my left shoulder and down on my hands. Yes! It really is a swiss army knife.

As if fate didn't like my little bit of happiness, I hear footsteps coming from above. I look upstairs at the basement door. Oh no...is someone coming!?

I sit back down, back towards the wall. pulling out the blade, I start cutting the rope. The footsteps stop at the door. Sounds of keys unlocking. Then the door opens, letting in a bright white light from outside which lights up the basement. I can see a silhouette of a tall man. As he steps down the stairs, he becomes clearer. Looks like a man in his late 20s. He's holding something in his hand that looks like a plate. I guess he's bringing in food.

" Wakey, Wakey~ food's here," he says

His voice sends shivers down my spine and my head is filled with fear and racing horrible thoughts. Kind of like how if you were lost in the woods. You'd be scared to be alone but even more terrified when you hear the roar of a lion from a distance.

What...will happen to me? I quickly move my hands slicing the ropes faster. Either the rope is firm or the blade is dull.

"what's this? You're already up? That's a shame. I was planning on kicking you awake " he laughs. As he reaches the last step and begins to walk towards me, my heart starts to beat fast.....I'm so scared...

He puts down the plate near me and squats down to eye level. Which makes my breathing unstable.

" ha! you look like a scared little rabbit who just came face to face with a wolf " he grins. Of course, he's having fun. I try to say something by making muffled noises.

" what was that? I guess I could take it off " he says and with his cold fingers, rips off the tape from my mouth.

" ouch!!!" My face stings! I take a deep breath.

" Please...let me go...I won't tell anyone " I sound cliché

" Do I look that stupid? " he says rolling his eyes.

I need to stall him while I work on the ropes " why me!? If... it's money then I'm really poor! My family doesn't even care about me so they won't give you anything! " I yell. Well, it's mostly true I guess. Mom will surely be delighted.

He scratches his head. " Nah, not a ransom. Someone ordered us to do it. Ha! This person must hate you " he says laughingly.

My face goes pale. What..!? Someone ordered these guys to Kidnap me!? Wait...I...what's going on..? Is it Jessica!? Why would she go this far...or....it could be mom too...

" who is- " I began to ask when his phone starts to ring.

He gets up and takes out his phone. Looking at the screen, he grins " well, speak of the devil "

It's almost done. Just a few minutes and my hands will be free.

" Hello?....yeah, I called before but you weren't picking up......yes your majesty~ the job is done. I even sent you a picture as proof.......got it.....ok....so I'm assuming you already transferred the other half of the payment into my account right ?........great thanks! " he exclaims

Yes! Only a few threads to cut! Just then the man looks at me which makes me flinch.

" so like, what do you want us to do with her now ?......really!? We can do whatever we want!?...." he eyes me closely and then his mouth forms an evil grin which sends a chill down my spine. I feel tears welling up in my eyes. No....no way...I need to quickly get out of here!

He turns his back to me and looks out the window " so I get money AND a girl to have fun with!? It really is a great pleasure working with you Miss Lydia.....yeah sure, I could dispose of her later afterwards. "

I freeze...

My eyes widen in shock and I feel like someone just punched me in the gut. What...did he just say ?....no...it can't be...Lydia!? It doesn't make sense! Why would she...? No! I'm simply misunderstanding! There are a lot of people named Lydia. Yeah...

The ropes finally off. I still hide my hands behind me along with the knife. I need to strike at the right moment. I'm shaking all over and my mind is filled with different emotions and confusion. I need...to stay calm.

" ok...goodbye " he finally hangs up the phone. He places it on the table and looks back at me. The look on his face makes me feel so disgusted!

" it'll be ok " he smirks. When he starts walking towards me, I instinctively move back towards the wall and stick to it as if it'll protect me. My breathing is heavy.

" No..." I say in a cracked voice. My throat is so dry.

He bends down and just as he grabs my shoulder, I quickly swing the knife and pierce it into his neck near the shoulder. As warm blood start pouring over my hand I let go of the knife, bring my tied feet up and kick him away.

He squirms and takes out the knife from his neck. Desperately trying to stop the bleeding with his hands, a huge pile of blood starts to form.

I quickly start to untie to rope tieing my feet. There was a mistake! I just wanted to wound him, not kill him! If he dies I'll become a murderer!!! I'll call an ambulance after I get out of here.

Once free, I get up. Both my hands and feet sting. As I began to leave, I look towards the phone on the table. I just need to confirm it! I want to erase my stupid doubts. I walk over to it. Luckily the phone didn't close up. I click the phone icon with my bloody fingers and press recent. A huge wave of relief flows through me as I see that it's an unnamed number and the number itself is not Lydia's. Hesitantly, I press the call button. I walk upstairs as the call connects. When I reach the door, I look around. Good. No ones there.

" Hello? What is it now? "

The voice from the phone causes me to drop it. But the shock is not from the suddenness of the voice from the phone.....but from the realization of who the voice belongs to...

" Did you really just call me for this? Whatever " and she hangs up.

It's Lydia...

My dearest and best friend Lydia...

Tears start flowing down my face. I...feel numb...this feels worse than being beaten up badly. Focus!...need to make sure the house is empty. There were two men in the car. Need to find the other one quick.

I run around the house looking for him. Then I finally find him sleeping in a room. I walk over to him, the blood-stained knife in hand. He's a man in his early 30s. I stab him in the stomach. His eyes open and he gasps. Then breaths deeply, unable to process what had just happened. I take out the knife and leave the room.

Only my hands are bloody so I just put the swiss army knife and the first guy's phone into my pocket. I look out the window. Yeah, I know this location.

I call an ambulance on the bloody phone. After that, I grab the hoodie hanging on a stand in the living room and leave the house with my face and hands hidden.

Strange...I stabbed the second man so easily. Why did I not feel guilty? My head was so filled with rage, grief, doubt and confusion that I didn't even care. Even now...

I find a nearby park and a public bathroom. In the bathroom, I wash my hands. The dark red colour swirling away with the water. I feel so weird. Just then something starts raising inside me. Bending over, I vomit.

I sit down at the park bench. I heard the ambulance and police sirens a while ago. I don't know about the guy in the basement but the guy in the room may survive. I'm a murderer now. The first one may have been self-defence but the other was not. That's one reason for not telling everything to the police. The other is...Lydia.

I swear it was her voice on the phone. Why!?...just....why!? Was someone using her? That makes more sense. Lydia is a sweet and caring person. She'd never do something like this to her best friend of all people.

I get up and start walking towards home. I could see the crowd forming outside the house as the police shouts at them to back up.

I need to talk to Lydia. I need to know the truth. I don't like thinking such horrible thoughts about her.

I bite my nail as rage begins welling up inside me