Waking up the next morning, the first thing I did was to get up and run to see if the door was unlocked. But I received no such luck. My parents think this was a joke going on.
I thought the same at first but now I know that this isn't.
Max and Liam were still fine but that Zack, that guy is utter nuts. Being in his presence makes me shiver and not in a good way. His devilishly handsome looks and strong build give him just the perfect intimidating aura.
Damien was another story. I don't really understand him. He seemed to be the most calm and composed one out of the four boys.
Still in my thoughts, I was searching around the basement for some windows or any form of escape but found none. When I heard the sound of the door opening, my mind immediately went to Max, expecting him to enter and greet me with that nervous smile of his, but when Zack entered, I froze.
He moved his eyes to fix their gaze on me. Tilting his head in mock curiosity, he smirked. I gulped when his steps made their way towards me after locking the door, taking all the leisure in the world as if he relished in my frightened features.
Subconsciously, I walked backwards to create space between us. But I realised sooner that it was a dumb mistake. I felt like a stupid rat who walked straight into the trap.
My back touched the wall and his smirk grew bigger.
"Where will you go now?"
Leaning down to my height, he left minimal to no space between our bodies. He raised his hands to rest them on either side of my head on the wall and looked right into my eyes, moving his eyes all over my features to ingrain every single detail in mind.
"Please let me go. I will not tell anyone about you guys. I promise..." I said in a small voice as I tried to get away from him. But this human was heavy and much too scary to move.
Those cheek burning slaps are something I'll never forget.
"So let me tell you about my plan, Jennifer since you're a part of it." He completely ignored my pleas, not even blinking at what I just said.
"What p-plan?"
"Shut your mouth and listen." He scowled.
I obliged, quickly nodding wordlessly. The faster he's done, the faster I'll be away from him. I really wished Max or heck, even Liam was here.
Those guys make me feel safe but this one in front of me scares the dead shit out of me.
"I'll torture you, make a video of it, send it to your parents, call them, maybe they'll call me themselves after seeing that this isn't a fucking joke going on and then I'll ask for the money. And then-" He pretended to think as he looked me over.
Tilting his face to move his lips near to my ear, he whispered, "I'll just kill you." He chuckled, enjoying the way my eyes widened in fear.
"What the fish?! Why?!"
"Fish?"
"I don't swear... That's an alternative..." I mumbled. "'Shit' is an exception." I shrugged.
"You're even weirder than Max." He muttered with an eye roll.
"Anyway, I'll kill you because you have seen all our faces."
"Maybe learn how to properly kidnap someone... Usually they cover their faces with black masks or something.. Any person with common sense would do that actually-"
My breath hitched in my throat and I halted my unnecessary ramble when he grabbed my throat to stop my speech.
"Nah nah.. Continue.. What were you saying about us lacking common sense.." He challenged, eyes glaring daggers.
"I was requesting you to get away from me... " I choked out when he applied more pressure on my throat at my obvious lie. "In case you didn't know.. You weight like a panda..."
Sometimes I just want to slap myself for speaking too much.
He scoffed. "You aren't any less. At least I am not fat." He rolled his pretty eyes but moved his hand away from my poor neck.
"I am not fat!" I retorted.
"You are."
"No! That's so offensive!"
"Do I look like I care?"
"Nah..?"
Just then there was banging on the door. Interrupting our little friendly chat.
Zack muttered curses under his breath but finally moved away from me. I rubbed my throat, still feeling the lingers of his slender fingers on it.
He opened the door to find Max standing there. Max was looking worried but when his eyes landed on me, he smiled in relief.
Turning his attention to Zack after ensuring I was okay, he asked. "What are you doing here, Zack?"
"I get to ask you that question." Zack snapped.
"Well, I am here to get Jennifer. She hasn't eaten anything since yesterday."
"She won't be affected if she doesn't eat even for the next two days."
"That's offensive, Zack." Max deadpanned with an unimpressed look in his blue eyes.
"You two are so similar. She said the same a few seconds ago."
"Really, Jen?" Max's expression immediately lifted up as he grinned at me like a little boy whose wish was just granted.
There was something about Max that connected me to him. I smile whenever he smiles, I grin whenever he grins. We both love cats! We both love coconut ice cream! And the way his presence oddly comforts me.
"Ugh.. What is with that stupid grin? You know what, I don't care. And no, she won't be given any food. She has to look tortured. She's not a guest that you are worrying about her appetite."
"She is here without her permission. She doesn't have anything to do with our mess. And yes, I'll give her food. And no, you are not going to touch her."
"I will, Maxy." Zack promised before he left us alone.
"Maxy?" I raised an eyebrow at Max who waved his hand off in the air, as if waving off Zack's words.
"They call me that sometimes. It's my nickname.. Like you have Jen for Jennifer." He shrugged.
"Aren't nicknames supposed to be a shorter form of the actual name? Or have the trends changed?"
"Humans are weird."
"True that."
"Anyways, let's go."
"Where?"
"For breakfast."
"Where?" I repeated.
"Upstairs..."
"With all those people."
"They are just three?"
"Zack would be there too... I don't want to be anywhere near that guy." I visibly shuddered.
"Zack might make it seem like he's a bad guy but trust me, Jen.. He's not."
"His behaviour says otherwise." I said in a flat tone.
"We just need the money, Jen..." Max looked down at his shoes and mumbled in a small voice.
"For what?"
"I can't tell you that right now."
Before my mouth could speak, my stomach did.
Max smirked at me. "I think your tummy's asking for some food.." He grinned. "Can't deny it that, can we?" He wiggled his eyebrows.
"Yeah yeah.. Fine.." I looked away in embarrassment.
Max led me upstairs to where the boys were already eating breakfast. They were discussing something about soccer. Well, only Liam and Zack were talking. Damien was as usual sitting like a robot.
Expressionless.
If I pinch him, will he react?
Liam noticed us walking upto them first. "Hey, Jennifer. Good morning." He smiled as he greeted me.
"Good morning, Liam." Zack rolled his eyes at just my mere presence, scarfing down whatever it was he was eating.
I narrowed my eyes at him until he noticed. 'Stupid boy, I hope you choke.' I thought as I rolled my own eyes at him just to get back at him.
He glared at me yet again but I ignored his moody ass and sat down on the dining table, opposite to Damien.
"Here's your food, miss." A plate with two sandwiches and a glass of orange juice was placed in front of me by Max who was acting like a waiter.
He was such a silly boy who reminds me of myself a whole lot much.
Damien was staring intensely at me but I didn't dare to look up at him. Because if I do and when I look up at his emerald like eyes, I was doomed to choke.
Something I wished for Zack but didn't happen.
Oh well. Not all our wishes come true, do they?
Why do I think so much?
Thankfully, Max sat down next to me, making me feel a little less awkward being at this table with them.
"So I was thinking that we need clothes for Jennifer, as I know you all know that she would be staying here for a little longer." Max said.
"Clothes? Why? She's not a guest-" Zack scowled.
"She can't stay in the same clothes for days. And besides, she also needs to shower."
I felt so weird hearing all of this. Why are they talking about me as if I'm not here?
"That's right.. But where will you get her clothes from?" Liam asked.
"My house obviously."
I stated the obvious. I stared at Liam like he had just asked the dumbest thing on the planet.
"No.. That can't happen, Jennifer. We can't risk being seen around your house." Liam said to me.
"I don't think that's really a problem considering her parents aren't home and she barely has any friends... I am sure not even her neighbours are aware of her existence." Zack scoffed.
"And how can you say that?... ZACKY!" I snapped with a scowl of my own.
"What did you just call me?" He gave me an offended look.
"Are you deaf?"
"How dare y-"
"Can we discuss this first?" Max interuppted
"What's there to discuss in this? There are only three options." I stated.
"And those are?" Liam urged.
"First: one or two of you go to my house and bring my clothes."
"That's already ruled out. Second?"
"Maybe you guys can lend me your clothes-"
"No.. That's... Weird.... Nuh Uh." Liam said looking weirded out.
"I wouldn't even share my fucking sock with you." Zack dead panned.
"Then there's only one option left."
"Which is?" The three of them asked in unison.
"SHOPPING."
They stared at each other, then at me, then at Damien, who looked absolutely unbothered as he silently ate his food.
Seriously this guy-
"That's right! Let's go shopping. It's been a long time since we last-" Max said excitedly before being interrupted by Zack.
"Are you two crazy?"
"Tell me one thing... I am really curious to know this." I said keeping the shopping discussion aside for a moment.
"What is it?" Liam asked.
"Am I the first person you kidnapped?"
There was silence in the room as all four of them, yes even Damien, shared a look with each other.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Am I right?"
"Uh...Yeah.." Liam answered on their behalf.
"How did you know?" Max wondered.
"It's so obvious. I mean- You guys didn't even know how to kidnap me in the first place. Like who shows up at someone's door and says that they are there to kidnap you?"
"That was Max's idea. He said that we should properly introduce ourselves to you and let you prepare for what's about to happen." Liam explained, cringing when he thought back to the idea and that they actually acted on it.
"That's... Thoughtful." I said to which Max gave us a proud look.
"I don't even know why I had agreed to that." Zack shook his head.
"Back to shopping. When are we going?" I brought up the shopping discussion again.
I grinned cheekily at Max and he looked just as excited. Both of us were looking like small children whose parents had just agreed to take them to Disneyland.
"These two are related or something?" Zack asked with a blank expression.
"I don't know man." Liam shrugged.
"So we're going after breakfast." Max decided.
"Aren't you worried that someone might recognise me?" I wondered.
"Recognise you?" Zack gave out a short chuckle. "Your parents didn't even believe you're kidnapped. We might seem like we don't know how to kidnap properly but we did do some research on you before kidnapping you. You just have one friend. Zero interaction with neighbours. And we are very far from your neighbourhood. No one would come searching for you." Zack dismissed.
"Oh."Was my only disappointed reply. Fine then, if no one would come to save me, I'll save me myself.