Kidnapped & In Love

Chapter 1

I slowly regained consciousness.

My mouth felt dry.

Very dry, I needed some water immediately. Something was stuffed into my mouth too.

I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn’t. I was blind folded.

I figured I should remove whatever was blinding my eyes, but my right hand was pulled back by whatever held it back above my head.

I tried the left hand, but it too was held back also above my head.

Why were my eyes blind fold and my hands tied?

Where was I?

I told myself not to panic and that it was just another bad dream. I started to sweat as I slowly tried to register where I was.

It felt like I was on a bed, with my hands tied up with a chain of some sort and to a metal headboard because every time I pulled my hands towards myself, I could hear metal click   as it came in contact with other metal.

The cloth covering my eyes was so thick I couldn’t see anything through it.

The cloth in my mouth was now almost chocking me, I tried to push it out with my tongue.

I could hear voices in the next room.

A man was yelling at someone or more people.

“How could you get the wrong girl. And not just one but two!!”

“You never get anything done correctly!” he shouted

Was the angry man yelling referring to me?

And who was the second girl, he said two.

The next thing I heard was,

“Go and check if she’s awake!!!”

I heard large feet stomp the floor then the door swung open.

I tried to be pretend I wasn’t awake, but who was I fooling. My breathing was heavy, and I was sweating like a pig.

“She’s awake boss” I heard the man standing by the door scream.

Another set of feet stomped the floor and banged the door on the wall as he entered. He walked towards the bed and I felt the mattress deepen next to me.

He was quiet and breathing heavy.

His scent was so nice and manly, and he smelt good.

god damn lisa, why are you appreciating your kidnappers scent. You should be freaking out now.

A hand came up and cupped my jaw. I felt the life drain out of me.

What was he doing to me? I started to panic and tried to scream.

He removed the cloth in my mouth an put a straw,

“Drink” he said.

I pulled whatever was coming up that straw into my mouth for close to 30 seconds when I realized it was water.

Thank God it was water.

At least I know they don’t want me dead.

Yet.

The straw disappeared from my mouth and so did the man that was next. I heard footsteps walk out of the room then the door closed.

“Should I ask Stella, to prepare her food?” I heard a voice ask outside the door

“Yes” the voice I heard earlier responded.

Then there was silence, no voices, no footsteps.

Where was I and how did I get here I asked myself.

A week before I got kidnapped

I was the happiest being in the house when my college acceptance letter came in the mail. I was finally getting a break from everything and everyone. My parents just decided to get a divorce after being married for 25 years with two children. Luca is my elder brother who was lucky to be in Madrid during the period mum and dad started fighting and not speaking.

In the two weeks that followed, Hanna my best friend and I went shopping for things we thought we needed to carry to college. Both Hanna and I were attending college in Manhattan. I was accepted at Columbia while Hanna at NYU. I was glad my best friend was not more that 30mins away.

Hanna’s parents drove her to NYU on Friday while I waited for Luca who drove me to Columbia the following day on Saturday. We passed through NYU to pick Hanna because she insisted, she wanted to help me settle in.

We were standing by Luca’s car outside my hostel after we had unpacked all my stuff from his car into my room.

I swore to not make any friends in my new hostel because they would only want to be friends with me because of Luca. Every girl was gawking at him if not flirting with him as we moved my things into my room.

 “Thanks, Luca, for taking time off to bring me here, I really appreciate it” after saying this I hugged him tight as if it were the last time, I would see him.

“Anything for my little sister” Luca gave the best bear hugs. “Mum and Dad are having their issues now but with time everything shall fall into place. I promise” he said this then kissed me on my forehead.

Hanna Joined us and gave me a hug.

“Don’t worry Luca, I’ll take good care of Melissa” she told my brother who returned her wide smile with a doubtful look on his face.

“I would love to believe that you know” he said to Hanna

“C’mon Luca, you need to trust me on this” Said Hanna

“I trusted you once remember” Luca said.

A year ago when mum and dad started fighting, I was really depressed and went over the edge. Luca was so worried about me he asked Hanna to keep an eye on me. She became closer than before, always hovering over me.

One weekend a guy asked her out and she turned him down. She was avoiding every guy that came her way because she wanted to stay focused on taking care of me and I needed a break. I pushed her to accept the date emphasizing that I was okay. After she went on her date, I attempted suicide.

I was told the Pizza guy found me in the Livingroom after I had passed out on an overdose. He came back to switch the pizza after giving me the wrong one when he walked in and immediately called 911. Both my parents and Luca weren’t around and were called to rush to the hospital.

Hanna blamed herself for what happened for over 6 months. I started Therapy and Luca made sure I attended it, he skyped every afternoon until I entered the therapist’s office. Hanna also made sure I went and sat outside the office until I finished. Because of the two’s persistence I got the help I needed from my therapist.

Convincing everyone I was ready to go to University was a big challenge. But Luca agreed being away from mum and dad would really help me and forget everything that was happening.

“I swear am never dating ever again” Hanna swore

“No need to make such a promise Hanna. You can date, I will be fine.” I turned and faced Luca “Please stop being hard on her, she has already done so much for me.”

“I know. I am sorry for putting pressure on you Hanna” Luca pulled her in for a hug

“I forgive you, but I promise to still look after her” she promised. It was hard seeing them both like that. Hanna blamed herself for leaving me that night while Luca blamed himself for not being there when everything was happening.

Luca took both Hanna and I for Lunch at a very nice place out of campus before he dropped us both back at Columbia. He had to drive back home then fly back to Madrid. Luca got a scholarship 4 years ago for his outstanding performance in both sports and academics. When he went to Madrid, he was playing soccer for the first and a half year then he started his degree in Information Technology.

Unlike my brother, I wasn’t interested in sport except soccer which he played. I remember Luca forcing me to watch him play soccer all the time he had a game. My parents were so proud of him and so was I.

                                                            ************************

The first week of class had come to an end early. By Wednesday we were all oriented with our class schedules and all. Hanna was already friends with my roommate Stacy. She was African American, 20 years of age and in her 2nd, year studying Environmental science.

She was exactly like Hanna.

Fun and outgoing.

Stacy informed Hanna about a carnival that was taking place on Saturday. Stacy gave Hanna and I spare tickets to the carnival.

Both Hanna and I were looking forward to the carnival, we hadn’t been in almost ten years.

Friday night we decided to spend the night in Hanna’s room at NYU. I had only been there once in the past week since we started. Hanna was in a frat house which she shared with 5 other girls. The frat house had 3 rooms which were occupied by all the girls in pairs.

Beth with Sydnee, Isabel with Christine and finally Hanna with Margot. Margot spent her entire time at her boyfriends place who lived off campus leaving the entire room to Hanna.

Saturday came and we got dressed for the carnival. It was a warm day and so I wore demine shorts with a black and red long-sleeved checked shirt which I folded up to my elbows, I also wore my favorite black canvas. My long ginger red hair was tied up into a tight ban.

 Hanna was in a short yellow summery dress with cute sandals on. Her long blond hair fell to her shoulders in deep curls. She had some makeup on to cover up her freckles, she finished off the look with bright red lipstick. If this wasn’t her usual look on weekends, then you would be mistaken and wonder if she really was Hanna.

The carnival was packed with a lot of people were young and with elderly adults behind the stands. The carnival was diverse, the circus was there with cyclists, magicians, rope walkers, Acrobats and jugglers.

There was a variety of food stands, popcorn stands, hot dogs, corn dogs, and so much more. When we got there the first place, we went through were the food stands, I was starving.

Then after we went to the side shows. We saw a palm reader who pulled out a card and screamed in fear saying I should watch my back, something bad was coming my way but I would find a way out. I was already going through something bad, my parents were getting divorced what more could happen?

Hanna’s cards were hysterical. It was all about her and the diverse relationships she found herself in. Hanna always liked and dated any guy that gave her attention at first site. The palm reader emphasized that she laid back on her flings because one would lead us both into great trouble.

We both left the palm reader and went on to the see other side shows. We met a lot of students from both my school and Hanna’s. Hanna now wanted to go on a boat ride. It wasn’t even a boat, it was small and could only fit two people and you had to roll and sail to move to boat.

We stood there arguing about going on the ride then this guy came and offered,

“I will go with you” he said, both Hanna and I turned and faced this guy who just came to my rescue. Hanna started smiling and playing with a bundle of her hair. He looked familiar, I had been seeing his face everywhere we went around the carnival. He and Hanna bumped into each other on a few occasions.

“Thank you, please bring her back safe” I gently shoved Hanna in his direction, and he caught her wrapped his hands around her arms helping her balance. She smiled in his face and I walked towards the popcorn cart.

I sat on a bench and ate my popcorn as I watched Hanna and this stranger make small talk as they sailed in their little boat. Hanna was laughing at whatever he was telling her.

She was into this guy.

After their ride ended, they came towards me and Hanna introduced him to me.

“Lisa, this is Dante” she introduced, and he stretched out his hand towards me. I took it and shock it

“Hi Dante, nice to meet you and thanks for saving me” I responded, and he laughed

“Nice to meet you too, Hanna told me you’re at Columbia” he said. I turned to glare at Hanna, who was already spilling out information about me to a guy she just met.

“Yes, I am” I half smiled at Dante

“I haven’t seen you around though” he said

“Well, I only started a week ago. I don’t move around as much as Hanna does. I don’t even know my way around yet” I said, and he laughed.

We continued to talk more, Dante was a 2nd year student at my school and was majoring in Environmental Science like Stacy. I told myself to remember and ask her if she knew him. There was just something strange about this guy.

The two went on for a roller coaster ride while I went to watch a magic show. I knew magic wasn’t real, but it was always so fascinating to watch.

As usual, a rabbit was pulled out a hat and so were flowers. His assistance was put into a box which he later cut in pieces and the crowed went ‘wow’

Next the magician made his assistance disappear and wanted a volunteer. He picked me and I denied but the small crowd that was present booed and so I went up the stage.

When I stood on stage, the first thing I noticed was that the light was so bright I couldn’t see the crowd. I wondered if that was how they performed, it helped reduce the stage freight. The magician asked what my name was, and I told him. He then introduced me to the crowd.

The magician explained to the crowd while he held my shoulder that he would put me into a deep sleep with a snap of a finger and bring me back with another snap. It sounded simple but am sure while I was in the said deep sleep, he would then ask me to make dog or chicken sounds.

I prayed he wouldn’t embarrass me.

Magic isn’t real I told myself.

It’s a lie.

It’s just a scam.

The magician came around and stood behind me.

He started whispering into my ears.

“You’re going into a deep sleep now”

“You shall be safe, nothing to worry about”

“I will snap my fingers twice and you shall fall asleep”

He kept repeating the same sentences for a minute then he pinched my shoulder and I went unconscious.