Stockholm Syndrome

Episode 01 : Why Am I here?

I woke up. I wasn't in the place where I was familiar with. I can tell that it has been a while since I was held here against my will. Days? Hours? I never know. Why am I here?

I don't remember how I got here, but I remembered my name; Lucas Ackerson, but Luke for short. The first thing I opened my eyes, I felt heavy in my head and pain in the back of my head. I believed my sights weren't blind and I was not dead, but here, it was pure darkness with the four empty walls with a wooden door, and it was so cold that I couldn't even feel my toes. I felt that I was lying on the thick mattress but could not move around. I felt like I was paralyzed. There was this shadow without a voice, pricking with a needle on my forearm every hour. It drives me crazy, distorted and numb in every limb.

To describe right now, I feel my throat hurts because of not having a drink or food. I haven't been out of this room, obviously. Not even a bath or even take a shît if I don't feel like it. It's like whoever the f**k it is intentionally wanted to leave me in this damn room and let me freeze into death.

The things that I've been grateful for to whoever put me here; they haven't tied me up. Since it was expected if you didn't want your hostage to run away, maybe it's because I don't have any strength at all. I felt like I was paralyzed, but I knew I was not. But sometimes, I feel the walls squeezing around me, something... heavy on me whenever I close my eyes. I don't know if it was one of the hallucinogens. I don't remember what it was... I don't know what this cruel person did to me when the shadow came to inject me with a freaking drug like one thousand eight hundred seconds ago.

To be honest, I was really scared.

I don't know who brought me here. It's all blurry... It started when...

I have been working late at night for two years already. Since I was officially assuming the position of interim CEO at the age of twenty-one. Acker Industries is a multinational industrial company and the most prominent tech conglomerate in America. Founded by my father, who is a lot of things; the President of Acker Industries, a philanthropist, a billionaire; you named it, so he is one of the most powerful men. However, I never saw him after my mom died when I was nine, except for work or meetings. I was on my own with my butlers, who raised me when I was a child. I have no friends, relationships or anyone waiting for me at home. Pathetic, I know.

I would just work from day until night and return home on time. So, I don't have time to look for a partner in life or fool around with anyone for i*********e and forget the following day. I am somewhat more old-fashioned, and I have been attracted to this guy working in the same building. We haven't talked to each other or met personally, only occasionally. Besides, it'll be weird to have a date with a worker or someone question me about my sexuality.

What will everyone think about it?

Anyway, an hour later, I decided to finish my work and go home. I had a coat, a briefcase, and a laptop that I had just in case. I shut off the lights in the office and looked around; the hallways were open and quiet. Everyone in the building left before it got dark, so I figured that. When I walked past, the guard roaming and guarding in the lobby told me good night. So I said the same thing to him. It was only part of the habit. I went to the parking lot behind the building. Yes, I have my own parking space in the garage, but I'm used to parking my car outside. Still, the vehicle should have been parked inside the building.

I felt a presence behind me when I walked, like someone was following me. I kept glancing at my back to see who it was. But unfortunately, there was no one. I sensed it had been a week that I felt the same thing... like someone who was stalking behind my back every time I went home at that hour. Little did I know. I wasn't someone who would've used a gym too much to gain a lot of muscles or do boxing to defend myself from threats. My father always hired a bodyguard for me. I didn't think I should need it when I was just working. It was too late.

I shrugged off the thought, walking faster as I could to my car. I looked around me, pressing the button on my car keys. As it responded, I jogged to my car then opened the door. An adrenaline rushed through my system when I felt the arms around my chest when I did. Before I could react, the person clutched my mouth with a cloth, and I started to struggle in their embrace.

It smelled intense, odd and it made me dizzy. But I managed to get the person off me, but somehow, my balance was off, and I kept stumbling on my feet as I tried to run and get help.

My head burned with dizziness, and the vision blurred over my eyes when I just fell flat on the ground. I tried to get up, but a foot stepped my back, preventing me from moving. I haven't got to see who was the person who did this to me. Before I knew it, I fell unconscious.

I gasped when I heard the door open. My heavy eyes, following the shadow of the wall from the light silhouette outside the door. I couldn't catch the face of my kidnappers. I never knew what they wanted, nor have I spoken to anyone here, like this person.

I felt myself pulling up harshly and pushing my back on the wall even though I didn't have any strength at all to even lift up my finger. I groaned when this person forced me to sit up. I don't want to get an injection for a high again. It hurts and is annoying.

But, I felt something cold against my frozen lips. I couldn't move a muscle, but I felt their lean fingers cup my cheek. I couldn't fight against them, which were now pressing my jaw down to force my mouth open. Before I could deny it again, the cold liquid ran into my throat. It was just water. Finally! I whined in satisfaction, drinking the water that I wanted to ask for. I hope... They didn't put in the poison or anything.

I'll just call this person a fûcking shadow.

Shadow pulled the cup away even though I wanted more. At least, I could feel a little bit of energy and my mouth could move slowly. The sight is still blurring, but I can see a glimpse of the person. Shadow wore a freaking mask, but maybe I could confirm Shadow is a male because his grip is firm. I think I could ask him the questions right dâmn now.

"W-who are you?" I asked. Well. I sounded pathetic already.

But he didn't answer the freaking question. He was just doing something from his side. If I was strong enough, I would punch his gut for not answering me. Before I could ask again, Shadow entered a cold creamy into my mouth quickly. I realized he was feeding me a yoghurt. I could taste the sweetness and sourness in my dry mouth. I think it gained my strength. He kept feeding the spoonful of the fifth yoghurt into my mouth. Slowly, I could see Shadow better in a figure. But I get panicked when it hits me because the kidnapper feeds me!

I choked the yoghurt in my throat. I arched down my aching body as I covered my mouth with my hand, coughing up from it. Then, I felt the small hand placed on my shoulder. I turned around and scooted away from him. "D-don't touch me," I spat fiercely.

I gasped when he strongly yanked my leg and pulled me back to lay down. However, I had enough for sleeping. I think I could be crazy to be like this for the rest of my life if he didn't plan to kill me. Not that I wanted him to kill me.

I looked up when he stood up with empty hands as he started to walk to the light. This dumb àss didn't even close the door, and my lucky àss now to leave this place. I hope...