Everly’s muffled screams made no difference in the quiet hallway of her apartment building, it was too early in the morning and the doors to the other apartments were too thick. Carried down the exit stairs, Everly watched helplessly through her tears as they exited through the empty loading dock, to the waiting black van.
“No,” she screamed with everything she had. They were going to take her and hurt her and she was powerless to stop them. Sagging in his arms, Everly cried harder.
“Sweetheart please,” the deep voice rumbled from the hard chest beneath her in an almost plea. “You are safe with us, we won’t hurt you.”
Lies. He was lying to her she thought weakly, as she lay exhausted in his grip. They were going to hurt her and her baby. The awful thought helped her renew her spent energy. Wiggling harder in the large cocoon like sac, Everly whimpered when the man laid her down on the long bench in the van, strapping her down. Completely restrained, from any movement, Everly couldn’t even turn her head, she was forced to stare at the roof of the van. Hearing the back door close Everly listened to the men as they opened and closed the driver and passenger door before starting the engine and driving away.
The thrashing beat of her pulse pounded in her ears as a sense of terrifying hopelessness settled over her. What were they going to do with her? Answering the dark question, horrible images began to populate in her mind making her tremble all over.
Eventually, the vehicle slowed down before pulling to a complete stop. How long have they been driving? So deep in her escalating fear, she wasn’t even mentally present for the journey. The sound of the front doors opening and shutting echoed in the silent van. Seconds eked by as Everly laid perfectly still waiting.
The van’s door opened at her feet and she could feel the vehicle rock as one of them stepped inside. Towering above her, from her position on the bench, Everly whimpered and tried to shrink away as the man reached for the buckle securing her in place. Again, she was lifted despite her muffled screams. The grip he had around her was tight making it nearly impossible to move in his arms.
The cold breeze of the night’s air hit her face with a shudder. Moving quickly the man jumped deftly down from the vehicle and turned quickly on his heels, the world around her seemed to blur past her. Blinking to focus, Everly peeked a quick glance around. It looked as if he was carrying her through an empty field, just endless stretches of the dark night sky and grass underneath their feet. Squinting, she could swear she could make out the tall, darker shapes of trees in the far distance contrasting with the horizon, but she couldn’t be sure. Adjusting her in his arms the man pushed her tighter against his chest blocking her view as he carried her up what felt like an incline. Struggling against the smothering position, Everly heard the sound of his boots hitting metal. Were they switching vans? Pushing at his chest again, this time she was able to peek out and see the metal paneling of the vehicle.
This space was much smaller, but there was more light coming from the front. Setting her down on yet another bench and strapping her in, he lingered over her. Silently the black void of his eyes in the mask stared at her before he reached up and cupped her face with his leather gloves. Swiping the tears from her cheek, Everly realized that he was the same one who tied her up initially in the bank. Confused she just stared back in return. Standing up he stepped back before leaving her field of view. Blistering winter air licked at her face as the men quickly moved back and forth through the open cargo door carrying and loading various items.
The heavy clunk of the cargo door closing and the equally loud noises of the front doors opening and closing told her they were about to leave again. Pushing, kicking, clawing, nothing worked against the cocoon’s material. The vibrating thunder of the engine starting made her jump. The engine sounded much louder than a car, the whole place started to pulsate and shake.
Voices talking over the loud noise caught her attention, they were speaking to one another but not in English. There was never a time growing up where she heard people speak anything else but English, but when she left her isolated community and entered college, it was like stepping into a whole new world. Different languages not only being spoken but for anyone to learn. The husky melodic cadence of the two men’s words were undeniably French.
The vehicle began to move and the talking stopped.
Faster and faster they move forward until there was a brief weightless feeling then nothing. Everly could feel the tilt of her body and the increasing pressure around them.
Dear God she was on a plane she realized, her body going clammy. Though she had not yet had the opportunity to be on a plane, the facts pointed to that being the only conclusion. Ears popping, accelerated take off, the feeling of weightless suspension all equaled plane. First, she was taken from her home and now she was being taken to God knows where.
She was going to die; her breathing became heavier. They were going to abuse and kill her. It was becoming harder to breathe, she couldn’t seem to catch her breath through the tape. The simple beautiful life she dreamed of with her baby was gone. Her chest began to heave in a quick short burst as she tried to breathe through her nose. Would they torture her long? She prayed if anything they would at least be quick. The black edges around her vision crept closer like a slowly closing aperture.
“Everly!” One of the masked man was above her, bending down beside her doing something with her straps.
Was this it? Her chest rose and fell faster as he pulled her from the bench and swung her into his arms. Was he going to hurt her now? Maybe it was because she showed Taylor where her phone was back at the bank and they were angry with her still. Sitting with her in his lap, she could faintly feel the vibrations from his chest as he spoke, staring up at his black mask with scared eyes. It didn’t matter though, she couldn’t hear him, she couldn’t hear anything. She was drowning in her own panic.
The tape was peeled away from her mouth, cold air painfully filled her lungs as she inhaled deeply. Unhindered now, she began to breathe faster as she stared at the void eye holes of the mask.
“Slowly Everly,” the deep even command was like a ballast in a storm, slowly her mind started to come back from the vortex of fear she created. “Breathe slowly sweetheart. We won’t hurt you.”
Lies! Why would they take care if they didn’t mean to harm her?! Faster and faster her breathing increased again until her chest heaved even through the thick sleeping bag. The black edges around her vision reappeared, this time encroaching even further.
“You must calm down,” the deep warning tone combined with his tightening grip around her. “You’re going into shock, which is why you are hyperventilating. If you don’t slow down your breathing Everly, you’ll pass out.” He informed her roughly.
She couldn’t. Everly couldn’t step out of the storm of panic that surrounded her, it was as if she was drowning.
“Listen to me,” his voice grew louder as he adjusted her higher on his lap until his mask was all but pressed to the side of her face, allowing her to feel the puffs of warm breath against her neck. “I will not let you put this type of stress on your body Everly, you will do as I say. Now take a deep breath and hold it.”
Stress on her body. The words repeated themselves over and over like a mantra in her head. No, she couldn’t do that, not to her baby. She had to find her way out of the storm.
“That’s it, good Everly,” the puffs of warm air rasped roughly at her neck as he continued his instructions. “Breathe out slowly and slowly back in again sweetheart.”
Gradually the frenzied panic abated as she followed his voice through the torrent of her emotions. Exhausted she laid limply against his bulky frame trying to get her thoughts in order, absently focusing on the repetitive motion of his chest rising and falling.
Another voice from above where she could see a thin curtain blocking off the pilots’ seats called out. Without saying anything, he placed her back down on the bench and strapped her back in before walking back up to the fron
t. The change in pressure and the slight change in altitude signaled their descent. With a few bumps, the small plane landed rather smoothly. Rolling to a stop, Everly could hear both men jump out of the plane and their crunching steps as they walked around to the back towards the cargo door. Unlatching the heavy metal doors, Everly watched silently as one of them walked up the ramp towards her. It was the other one this time, the one who initially took her from her bed. Although they were dressed the same, there were subtle differences that set them apart. The gait in their step, the width in their build, and the most noticeable how they approached her. This one always paused and stood still when he looked at her as if he was thinking of something. The other one, the one who forced her to breathe properly was much more animated in his movements and not so reserved like this one.
Stopping beside her, the masked man looked down at her before grumbling something in French over his shoulder towards the other man outside. Receiving a short reply, the man continued to reach down and unsnap the straps around the sleeping bag. Stiffening at his touch, Everly let out a small whimper when he quickly picked her up carrying her high in his arms and out of the plane.
Despite having no tape over her lips, her voice felt as if it was still trapped in her mind. Inside she wanted to scream and shout, but as she looked at the utterly barren airstrip that led to a single metal barn-like shed, she realized there was no use. The homemade airstrip was only a cut of land surrounded by a thick, dense tree line. Looking over his shoulder as he walked, she watched the other man close and lock up the plane in the building. A cold gust of wind whipped around them just as he reached the parked truck. In minutes they were all in the front seat of the large black expensive looking truck. Keeping her in his lap, Everly was forced to lay her back against the passenger door and window. Silently, both masked men looked at her making her stomach feel as if it dropped to her toes. What were they thinking? Shrinking in his hold, Everly tried to bury herself deeper in the cocoon-like bag.
Not saying anything they started up the vehicle. Driving through the trees on a narrow dirt road, Everly could feel her panic rise back up. There was forest everywhere. Not the thin piney woods she grew up with in Tennessee, but thick ranging forest that dipped in some areas and climbed in others. Looking up to the windshield she could tell they were traveling through the mountains. Winding and turning, the road they were on took them deeper into the forested mountains. The road itself looked old and narrow, as if it was never used by anyone else but them. No other cars, no outlets that led to any signs of life, just them and nothing else. Trembling, Everly shut her eyes, she had to think. What could she do to get out of this?
The grip around her shoulders tightened, pulling her closer to his chest. Why!? Why were they doing this? Why do they keep trying to comfort her, after they caused all of this? And why do they keep calling her sweetheart?
Tears welling back into her eyes, Everly buried her face into his black sweater, feeling the hard planes of his chest beneath. “Why are you doing this?” She asked, loud enough for them both to hear in the quiet vehicle.
They didn’t say anything. The shift of light through the windshield caught her attention. Breaking through the trees they drove along what looked to be a narrow sandy beach. The water beyond looked calm and endless, were they at the ocean?
Turning onto a paved bridge with a large solid metal gate, the masked man driving hit a button and they all silently watched as it opened. Driving through and shutting the gate, Everly watched stiffly as a large two-story A-frame cabin came into view as they pulled down the long drive. Stopping the truck, the driver finally spoke. “We’re here.”
Terror crept back up her spine as she realized the buffer time, the travel time, that lay between her capture and whatever they planned to do with her was over. Stepping out of the car with her in his arms still, the sound of gravel beneath the man’s boots brought reality home and her lost voice back.
Renewing her struggle, Everly screamed. “No!”
She heard a curse in English though she wasn’t sure which one it came from. Moving faster, the man took the steps to the cabin two at a time. In minutes, they were inside and carrying her into a room. Images of a large foyer and kitchen whizzed by her but she didn’t focus on that, she only focused on fighting out of the man’s hold.
The sudden pressure of softness beneath her silenced her screams as she realized he just sat her on a bed. Panicking, even more, she began to kick violently at the bag around her.
Ignoring her thrashing, one man turned her encased body as the other unzipped the zipper along the sides. The cool air met her hot trapped body giving her a taste of freedom. Stepping back in unison the masked man watched her scoot away from the bag that was her prison until she was stumbling to stand on the other side of the bed.
This was her chance. Looking around frantically Everly grabbed the first thing she could find, a silver bedside lamp sitting next to her on the nightstand. Knocking off the lamp shade to the floor Everly clutched the metal lamp close to her as she stared accusingly at the two-silent men.
“There is no need for that Everly,” the stiffer of the two men, the silent one spoke. “We told you we wouldn’t hurt you.”
Trembling all over, she clutched the lamp tighter, shaking her head vehemently to dispel their lies. “You…” She stuttered, her voice tight with fear and anger. “You abducted me.”
“Yes, we did,” he answered matter-of-factly.
“You put me in a plane and stole me from my home!” She shouted. How could they act like everything was fine? What kind of monsters were they?
“Yes.” The other one answered this time.
Hate so pure surged up through her she knew it gleamed in her eyes. Tightening her grip she narrowed her gaze towards them. “I will not let you touch me.” She hissed at them.
Looking to one another silently as if confirming something, both men reached up and peeled off their masks.
The strength and her legs nearly gave out as she let out a gasp. Covering her mouth in horror, Everly backed up until she shakily bumped into the wall behind her.
“Wha…Dr. Black?” Looking to the other familiar face. “Zane? What are you… What’s going on?”
Chapter 6
“Wha…What’s going on Zane?” Looking from one man to the other, Everly tried to calm her racing thoughts. “Why did you rob the bank? Why are you…” Still so confused she stumbled over her words as the multitude of questions began to multiply in her mind. Looking to Dr. Black, she squinted in clear confusion. “I thought you were my teacher?”
Slowly, Dr. Black put his hands in his pockets and quietly walked towards the large picture window in front of the bed that stared out over the treetops to the calm rippling water. Shafts of the warm yellow light beamed across the trees signaling the rise of the early morning sun. Stopping in front of the bed he turned to look at her directly. “My name is Reid, Reid Black.” His dark blue eyes held hers as he continued. “The teaching job was only to get me close to the bank job.”
Confused she absently let the lamp base relax in her hand. Bank job? All of that, to not steal anything? They were told by the authorities that the masked men only went inside and stood around?
Seeing her evident confusion, Zane stepped closer to the other side of the bed. “We just pulled a simple insurance fraud job, at the request of the owner who is currently teetering on bankruptcy.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re professional criminals?”
Well of course they were, they had to be, she just couldn’t believe it though. The friendly flirtatious construction worker she had gotten to know and her quiet hard-edged teacher were actually criminals. Glancing back at Dr. Black, Reid, she mentally corrected, she shivered under the weight of his stare. Well if she thought about it, she didn’t really have a hard time picturing him doing something dangerous.
Reid’s dark sapphire eyes narrowed as Zane stiffened.
“We took a simple job for the owner of th
e bank. Stage a robbery, steal nothing, and hurt no one.” Reid replied evenly. “If you want to label us professional criminals for that Everly, so be it.”
The dark retort felt like a hard blow, clearly warning her never to tread that path again. Swallowing she took a step back until she hit the nightstand next to her.
Zane gave Reid a fierce look and said something in French. Dropping his intense gaze, Reid let out a frustrated sigh as he responded before turning with his back towards her to look out the large floor-to-ceiling window. Zane looked back at her and gave her a soft smile. Looking at Zane’s handsome face, she looked back over at Reid, whose back was still toward her, and looked back to Zane again. Zane’s smile grew wider, devilish, as he read her train of thought.
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