Sold to the Devil

I - TAKEN

“Shot, shot, shot!” I heard everyone in my circle cheering me up.

Without thinking twice, I downed the contents of my nth glass of tequila down to my throat before grabbing a lemon and sipping it. My face scrunched at the acrid taste that slipped through my mouth. I couldn’t count how many shots I took anymore. Ten? Twenty? I have no idea!

But I'm guessing that I had more than enough based on my staggering steps.

“Let’s dance!” Bethany shouted and pulled me towards the dance floor. She's one of my friends from the company that I am working for. I'm a promo girl and we just finished a gig at a corporate event that hired us. We came here to unwind after a busy night at work.

I laughed and let her take me even though my world was already spinning before my eyes. The flashing strobe lights aren't helping at all either.

Despite that, I grooved my body to the loud electronic dance music that was filling the whole place with my eyes closed. I was dancing without a care in the world until I suddenly felt someone come up from behind me. He held my waist and I felt him dancing with me. I didn't stop to look at whoever it was. We're on a dance floor and it's just normal. I even raised my hands and danced harder.

He tried to keep up with my moves. His hand traveled from my waist up to my ribcage until it stopped, slightly grazing my underboob with his thumb. I suddenly felt hotter. The material of my dress and the pads that were covering my breasts didn't stop me from feeling the warmth coming from his fingers. I bit my lip to stop my moan when he moved his thumb in a circular motion at the side of my boobs.

We're practically having foreplay here in the middle of the dance floor!

He pulled me closer until my back landed on his muscular chest. I gasped, the sudden movement caused my head to spin more, but I just ignored it. We moved in unison with the boisterous music. I waved my body with the beat and threw my head back at the stranger's right shoulder.

I closed my eyes and grinned when a naughty idea came to me. I playfully ground my booty against the front of his jeans before scurrying away! Leaving the man in the middle of the dance floor without bothering to look back.

He must have been suffering from a painful boner right now! But the hell do I care? He can look for another b***h to cater to his needs tonight. I wasn't in the mood for any hanky panky. I just came here for clean fun. Nothing more.

I laughed out with Bethany. She saw what I did.

"The guy you left was hot!" she slurred. Her words rolled out her tongue.

"Hmm, really?" I looked back to see anyone who could get my attention.

"Yep. But he isn't there anymore. He left when you escaped him." she chuckled. "It was your loss b***h!"

She pulled me again and we found another spot to dance in. We danced and jumped until the effects of the tequila seemed to wear out. Then we went back to our seats. Our other friends were either busy drinking or kissing their boyfriends or boy toy for the night.

I slumped down on the couch before taking my glass and the tequila bottle to fill myself with another shot.

Some boys tried to hit on me but I just ignored all of them. I don't need to add more complications to my life. Men are just headaches! I turned to my friends and drowned myself in alcohol.

I have a pretty good alcohol tolerance but I wanted to get wasted tonight. I drank way more than my body could bear to drown all the shi't that I wanted to bury.

We drank, danced, and laughed the night away. Before we knew it, it was already past one in the morning and it was time to go home.

Cath, one of my girls, has a car so I decided to go with her since my house is along her way home.

"Can you still drive?" I asked her after we both sat inside her car.

"Of course!" she slurred before putting the key in the ignition. She struggled for a while before she finally inserted it.

"Oh my god, you're drunk!" I giggled because I am also as drunk as her.

"Just sit and relax! Oh and pray too that we don't end up in jail or hospital." she laughed.

"If that's the case, I'll need my seatbelt!" I buckled up even though it was so hard to shoot the latch into the buckle.

The car went off and, thankfully, nothing happened. It's the wee hours of the morning. There are only a few other vehicles on the road, so it wasn't that dangerous. Plus, we both sobered up a little on the way while singing along with the song playing on her car stereo.

"Shout out to my ex! Hey look at me now!" we screamed the lyrics in unison. We went on singing with our equally terrible voices. We laughed at ourselves until we finally reached my street.

She dropped me off near my house.

“Bye! Take care!” I waved, then watched her car speed away.

When I couldn’t see it anymore, I took a deep breath to fill my lungs with the chilly night air. Then I started to tread the dark alley going towards my stepfather's house. I tried to steady my legs because, trust me, it’s hard to walk in the dark while wearing high-heeled shoes, especially if you’re drunk.

My knees are wobbly and I feel like the ground is moving along with every step that I take.

Damn. I thought I was already sober when I was sitting down in Cath's passenger seat. But I guess it's a different story now that I am standing up and trying to walk. I clung to the walls as I tried to take each step.

Why is the house so far from the main street? I mumbled to myself as I kept on going.

It’s already quiet as it is two in the morning and everyone must be asleep. The only things I could hear were car engines from afar and my voice.

I was still humming the music from the club that seemed to be stuck in my head. I lightly banged my head in the air while humming. But my hums turned into a loud shriek when someone suddenly grabbed me from behind!

The person covered my mouth with his large, stinky hand before I could even think of screaming for help. His other arm snaked around my waist tightly.

Fuck! What the hell is happening?!

I almost gagged at the strong stench of smoke and something fishy in his hand.

“Hmmph!” I tried to shout but it only got muffled within his palm.

I couldn’t see him but I knew that he was a man because of his build and strength. He’s taller, that’s why he can easily drag me towards the darker corner of the street.

My mind is in a panic!

What is he going to do with me? Is he going to rape me? Kill me?!

Oh my god! I can't let that happen!

I started kicking and thrashing, but he is so much tougher than me. And to think that I am also drunk and already sleepy! I’m in such a hopeless case right now. He could kill me in a blink and I couldn’t even fight back!

“Hmm! Hmmph!” I was already cursing him but it all got stuck inside my head because I couldn’t voice out anything. I wanted to bite him but I couldn’t open my mouth because of how tight he was holding it. Even my breathing is getting difficult because he's also pressing down my nostrils. Not to add the really bad odor of his hand. I feel like I would pass out soon, but I can't just let it happen.

He kept on dragging me carelessly. My other foot is now bare because my pump went off while he was pulling me. When I was finally able to free my left hand, I started hitting him but he didn’t even bother to stop!

“Stop it!” he growled and that’s when I realized who he was! How can I not recognize that voice? It even haunted me in my sleep when I was still young.

He’s my stepfather! I'm sure of it!

But what the hell?!

What is he up to this time?

I struggled to make myself free, but all my efforts turned futile. I couldn't do anything against his muscular build. Where is he taking me?

I tried to look around but all the pulling and struggling just made me dizzier and now I can feel the contents of my stomach wanting to go out. When I couldn’t hold it anymore, I just let it all out!

“Beuurrk!” I threw up and he immediately removed his hand over my mouth. Finally! I can breathe some fresh air!

I continued vomiting for a while but I stopped when he suddenly hit me on the back of my head! I stumbled on the ground because of that.

“You b***h! What are you doing?!” he asked in a restrained voice. I can see that he wants to scream at me, but maybe he doesn’t want to get anyone’s attention.

“Have you tried to smell your hand? Who wouldn’t puke with that kind of stench?!” I growled back at him after wiping my mouth with the back of my palm. Some of the puke went to the front of my dress but it's the least of my worries now.

“Where the hell are you taking me?! Why do you have to drag me just like that?!” I asked furiously, which made him go back to his senses. He grabbed my right arm and started pulling me again. I felt my other leg twisted because of the abruptness of his movements.

“Ouch! What the?!” I tried to pull my arms back but his fingers just gripped them tighter, his sharp nails were digging into my skin painfully.

“Let me go!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Help!”

I tried calling for help even though I knew that the people who live here wouldn’t give a damn even if he killed me right here and now! I even doubt if my own mother would come and rescue me from the hands of her stupid husband.

But still, I have to try at least.

"Let me go!" I screamed as he kept on pulling me. I winced when something sharp stabbed my left foot. I whimpered, but he just ignored me. I pulled my hand back but he was holding onto it too tight. I'm even surprised that it hasn't snapped in two yet!

"Help me! Please!" My screams echoed into the silence of the night. Dogs from a distance started barking but still, no one came out to rescue me. Is everyone here deaf or what?

"Help!" my voice is now hoarse from yelling too much.

“Shut up!” he bit back.

“Why would I shut up?! Just let me go! I want to go home now!” I yelled much louder this time. "or if you don't want me in your house, then fine! I will leave peacefully, just let me go!" I tried to bargain but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"Aah! Help!" my throat hurts and my eyes also sting now from hopelessness. I wanted to cry in frustration, but I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. I tried to tug my arm away from his grasp again but it only caused him to snap.

"You really won't shut up, huh?!" he hissed between his gritted teeth.

I was about to bite back but the next thing I saw was his fist coming to my face. I didn't expect it, so I wasn’t able to dodge it. His hard knuckles came in contact with my jaw. I swear I heard my jaw bones snap before everything just went black after that...

I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the unfamiliar gray ceiling and an intricate lighting fixture in the middle of it. I rubbed my eyes to clear my blurry vision.

Bit by bit, what happened last night slowly registered into my fuzzy mind.

Where am I? Am I kidnapped? But why would my stepfather kidnap me? It doesn't make sense.

Where did that son of a gun take me? He will pay for punching me in the face! I’ll make sure of that!

I sprang up from the bed before looking around the unfamiliar room. I am on a large and very comfortable bed. How did my stupid stepfather find a place like this? Everything here screams of luxury and there’s no way in hell that he can afford this!

Our house is even smaller than this whole bedroom!

There’s a large television on the opposite wall of the bed with a love seat in front of it. There’s a door on the side which I assume will lead to the bathroom.

I stood up and winced when my left foot stepped on the floor. I looked down and saw a cut on it. Maybe it hit a rock or something last night while I was being mercilessly dragged against my will. Both my feet are bare. Where are my shoes?

I looked at the door again before I took tentative steps to check on it. I was right, it's a bathroom. Even the bathroom left me in awe. It looks like those in magazines!

Woah!

Am I dreaming? I thought as my eyes roamed around. I don’t want to step inside in the fear that I might break something!

I walked to the bedroom door only to find it locked. Why am I here? I wondered silently.

And why do I feel calm even without knowing what happened?

Maybe this elegant bedroom made me feel at ease? No kidnaper in their right mind will put their victim in a place like this! In the movies, it will always be a small dark room with a dangling light bulb in the middle. It was nothing like that.

I don’t even feel bothered that I am in an unknown place right now. Heck, I can stay here forever if he wants!

It’s a dream come true to be out of that stinky place!

I dragged my aching foot to get across the room.

It was still a bit dark in here, so I fiddled with the switches beside the door. I wanted to see how it looked with proper lighting. I pressed one and small dim lights turned on in the corners of the ceiling. I pushed another one and suddenly the dark blinds went up!

I watched in awe as it revealed a full glass wall making the sunlight flood into the room. I had to squint my eyes and raise my arms to cover them from the sudden harsh sun's rays. I must have slept for a long time, judging from the brightness of the sun outside.

When my eyes finally adjusted, I started walking over to it. My eyes almost popped out when I saw the scenery outside the glass wall!

It seems that I am on top of a very high building!

I can see almost everything in the city below. The skyline looks so beautiful with its bright blue color! On the far left is a beach lined with short mountains, then most parts are covered with tall buildings. This whole place is unfamiliar to me…

Where am I? I am almost sure that this isn't the same city where I live.

How long have I slept?

Too many questions are running inside my head right now that it starts to pound. Or maybe it’s just because of the tequila that we drank last night? I don’t know. I’m not sure…

I tried to think of the things that happened last night but I really couldn’t remember anything about coming to this place. How did they bring me here without me waking up? Was I that drunk or had my stepdad just hit me too hard?

But wait, did it really happen, or was it all just a dream?

Maybe I had a one-night stand? Did I go home with some punk from the club? I tried to feel my body but everything seemed normal except for my headache.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when the door opened abruptly. My head snapped back in its direction and I gasped when I saw the person who opened it!

I think it's confirmed. There is no doubt that I will come willingly with him even though he's a stranger. He's gorgeous!

My, my!

Who is he? He looks so damn hot in his black bathrobe!

It’s sloppily tied at the waist, making the top loose and giving me a sneak peek at his hairy chest and sculpted abs. Hmm, this view is even nicer than the one outside the glass wall!

He cleared his throat but I didn’t bother to look at his eyes. I kept on scanning his body. He looks so yummy. I can eat him for breakfast! I thought as I naughtily bit my lower lip.

“Elise.” He called my name coldly. This time he successfully got my full attention.

How did he know my name?! Did I introduce myself to him? But I don't usually do that in casual hook-ups.

I looked up into his dark, brooding eyes. He didn't back down and equaled my stares. His gaze was so intense that, for the first time since waking up in this room, I felt scared…