You never know when and where danger lurks..
Like today...
It was a hot Thursday afternoon and I was heading home..that is until..a red Honda Civic truck pulled up from behind. A young, pale-skinned, dark grey haired man got off and seized me by the neck as I was unaware of the whole thing, due to me having my headphones on.
As he pulled them off, I turned to face him and thought I could get him off me...but I was wrong.
A sharp yet small blade was brought up towards my throat as he dragged me back to his truck. I stared at him, my body trembling in fear as I tried to register what had happened.
It was hopeless...
Forcing me into the back of his truck, he told me to shut up "or else". I've gotten the "or else" threat by my parents..but this?
This was different..
As I sat there trembling, my phone rang. The man looked up at the rear-view mirror, and said in a harsh tone, "Don't you dare answer the phone!!"
I nodded quickly, terrified of him.
~
As we passed by the Circle K near Carl Hayden, I needed to use the restroom.
"S-sir?"
The only reply I got was a short growl.
"What do you want, kid?"
"I-I need to use the restroom."
"No, you are to remain quiet, got that?" He sternly said, stopping the vehicle on a red light.
My phone rang again, startling me as I looked at the man in fear.
He gave me a look saying not to answer the call and I lost hope.
"Nate,"
I was confused. "What?"
"'Nate Conners' is my name." He said, as we passed by a convenience store. He then parked the truck in a driveway with a two-story house. A few houses next to his were abandoned and my first thought was to run away, yet I didn't budge.
"I'm coming on the other side..don't get out.." Nate said, as he opened the door, getting off. I forced myself to remain calm as he got to my door, holding a piece of rope.
Without a word, I got off and stood still as he wrapped the rope around me, starting from the waist up.
"That should do it," Nate said to himself as he tied a knot on the fourth piece, then scooped me up in his arms.
Since I was afraid of heights, I panicked, clinging on him. Taken by surprise, he faced towards me but remained firm.
~
Once he opened the door, he placed me on the couch and brought up a seat for himself. Staring into my sad yet terrified eyes, he asked for my phone.
"W-why do you want my phone?" I said cautiously. He narrowed his eyes into a bored expression and asked again;Â Â "Where is your phone?"
"I-in my back pocket.." I stammered, as he flipped me over, grabbing it.
He then said, "Kid, you're going to have to follow my rules if you're going to stay with me, got it?"
I nodded, fear still in my eyes.
"Now that I have your phone, the second rule that you are to be here at 6:30 pm sharp. No more than a minute, understand?"
I nodded again.
"Third rule, never, and I mean never go outside without my permission. Fourth, since you need education, I will let you go to school but I will place a small chip in your ID, which will record everything you do. By the end of the day, I will check it."
Still shaking, I once again nodded as he stood up, patting my head. He then grabbed the rope binding me, forcing me to get up.
"Let's go," he said, leading me upstairs. We then entered into a small yet dark room as the sun began to set.
"This is my room?" I asked, concerned. He nodded as he untied the rope, "Yea, it is,"
~
The next day, I went to school as usual, but felt uncomfortable with the chip. My friend, Emiliano, said hi to me on the way to advisory and I said hi back. He then asked how my parents were doing and I was like; "they're doing alright,"
"That's good, well, I'mma go to class, ok?" He told me, walking away as I waved bye.
I turned to the right side of the hall where my cousin was standing outside the door.
"Hey," She said, and I froze on the spot, remembering another one of Nate's rules: no speaking to relatives.
I silently said hi back and left immediately, rushing to class.
~
I rushed out of class as the bell rang and got a text from Gloria.
Gloria: hey, why didn't u say hi back?
I froze in place, staring at the screen.
He'd kill me..