by Ruff, K. S.
“You drugged me,” I rasped in a thick voice. “Again.”
He traced my jaw and chin with his tongue. Then he latched onto my neck and began to suck. Hard.
“Please don’t. Oh, God, please don’t do this... not this,” I pleaded. I wedged my hands between us and pushed against him as hard as I could.
He batted my hands away and tugged the strap of my dress down.
I flailed against him, desperate to get away. A loud, blood curdling scream echoed through the room. I froze, so mindless with fear that I didn’t know the scream had been mine.
Justin grabbed my wrists. He pinned them together with one hand and pressed them into the cushion above my head. He lifted himself a few inches from my body as he reached for his zipper.
I twisted and kicked against the cushions as I lunged for the floor.
He dragged me back onto the couch.
“No,” I sobbed.
“Hold still,” he gritted as he pinned me beneath him. His hand brushed against me as he unzipped his pants.
My chest heaved as deep, ragged breaths tore through my lungs. “Stop!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Stop screaming,” he bit out as he shoved the dress over my hips.
I bucked against him, trying to get loose. Then my body went slack as I began sobbing. “Please, Justin, don’t do this. Please don’t do this.”
“Shut up,” he rasped as he anchored his hand over my mouth and nose. “Just relax. I promise you’ll enjoy it. Then everything will be okay.”
My heart ground to a stop when I saw his eyes. They were completely dilated. I bucked against him again, completely terrified. I couldn’t breathe. He was smothering me, and he didn’t even know it. I ripped my hands loose and clawed at him as I fought for air. Darkness crept over me. Then everything went black.
Chapter 12 – Rescue me
Air Force met Navy just outside the door to the Mount Adams Ranger Station. It was pitch black by the time the two teams met up, but the front of the ranger station was well lit with two outdoor floodlights. Kadyn and Dan shook hands as the two teams approached one another. Dan began the introductions. “Kadyn, you remember my friends… Ron, Larry, and Marty.” He eyed the team that Kadyn had assembled, then added, “They all served Navy in Vietnam.” Dan nodded toward a man Kadyn didn’t recognize. “This is Marcus. He’s the skip tracer out of Portland.”
Kadyn shook Marcus’s hand. “The retired Navy SEAL. I appreciate your help.”
Marcus pulled a manila envelope from the inside of his jacket. He opened the envelope and handed Kadyn four photographs. “The property is located approximately one hour up the mountain. When I left there, an hour ago, your girl was sleeping on the couch in the living room. I couldn’t get a very good look at her, but she appears to be okay. The floor is an open concept. The suspect was in the kitchen overlooking the living room. He was preparing food when I left.”
Kadyn examined the photographs. “This place looks more like a house than a cabin,” he noted. He handed the pictures to Cenia.
She glanced at the photographs before passing them around.
Marcus nodded toward two men wearing brown uniforms. “The forest rangers have lined up twelve snowmobiles from local residents and outfitters. There’s a single dirt road going into the property, but it’s packed with snow. I have marked a location about a half mile from the house where we’ll have to park the snowmobiles and walk in. Everyone needs to stop when they see the trees marked with orange flagging tape. It’s the same kind of tape that loggers use, so it shouldn’t raise any red flags. The snowmobiles will be too loud to drive any closer than that.”
Kadyn nodded. “We’ll split into groups of three so we can each secure one side of the cabin. I want Cenia and Roger with me. We’ll take the front.”
Phil began distributing headsets from his pack. “We can communicate through these. I made sure they’re all functional. I want Mason and Marie with me.”
Kadyn nodded. “Matt, I’d like you to go with Dan and Marcus.”
Matt stepped forward and shook their hands. “I’m Matt.”
Dan strode toward a nearby pickup truck. He grinned at Kadyn as he lifted a tarp and began pulling guns out of the back. “You might recognize some of these.”
Marie’s eyes grew wide as she joined Kadyn and Dan at the back of the truck. “Nice,” she murmured appreciatively.
“How many people are we taking on?” Cenia asked as she eyed the arsenal.
Marcus joined them at the back of the truck. “One. The guy’s working alone. I was able to identify two guns in the house. He has a hand gun on the dresser in the master bedroom, which is located on this side of the house.” Marcus pointed to the photograph that Matt was holding. “He also has a shotgun, which is propped against the wall next to the door in the living room. Those were the only two guns I could see, but it’s possible he has more.”
“Are you sure this guy doesn’t know you’ve been there?” Mason asked skeptically.
The Navy SEAL folded his arms across his chest as he turned to face Mason. The hardening of his eyes was his only response.
“Marcus is good... one of the best. I’m sure Morris has no idea he’s been there,” Dan insisted as he tried to break the tension between the two men. “Ron, Larry, and Marty, why don’t you take the back of the house? Marcus, Matt, and I will take this side, where the bedrooms are located. Phil, Marie, and Mason can take the other side of the house, where the living room is located.”
Kadyn looked at the sheriff and the two deputies who were silently observing the conversation. “Sheriff?”
The sheriff gave Kadyn a measured look. “This is our jurisdiction.” He paused as he studied the group. “But, to be perfectly frank, you have more man power at your disposal than I do. I’d have to pull in officers from another jurisdiction.” His eyes settled on Marcus. “And we don’t have anywhere near your expertise in extracting people.” Finally, his eyes returned to Kadyn’s. “I’ll grant your request, but I’m only giving you a thirty minute lead. Then, we’re heading up there.”
Kadyn nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“I didn’t see what that one had in the back of his truck.” The sheriff jerked his head toward Dan. “I don’t want any dead bodies when I get there. There’s too much paperwork with dead bodies, and there’s nothing I hate more than paperwork,” the sheriff grumbled.
Kadyn smiled. “We’ll do our best.”
“One more thing,” Marcus interjected as everyone walked toward the snowmobiles. “I gathered some additional Intel on your boy, Morris. He used to serve in the Army. So he’s not without skills.”
* * * * * *
My eyes flew open, then narrowed when I discovered it was dark. I sat up and looked around. “What happened?” I asked, completely disoriented. Slowly, the fog lifted. My eyes locked on Justin. “You drugged me.”
Justin folded his arms across his chest. “You were having a panic attack.”
“I was not having a panic attack. I had a bad dream. Only, it wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare. But it’s not just a nightmare. It’s real. It’s real… you’re real… this whole place is real…” I trailed off, at a loss for anymore words. Then I gasped. “You raped me.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “I did not rape you. You fell asleep. It’s a bit of a buzz-kill when the person you’re trying to make love to falls asleep.”
I ignored the fact that he had blown off drugging and suffocating me and focused on the more important issue. “You stopped?” While I waited for him to respond, I mentally inventoried my body. The only parts that really hurt were my face, my shoulder, and my left side.
He had the nerve to look insulted. “Of course, I stopped. I’m not going to have sex with someone who’s passed out. It makes it a little difficult to prove you would enjoy it, don’t you think?”
I stared at him incredulously. “You have completely lost your mind.”
He chose to ignore my comment. He motio
ned toward a large pine table that was positioned between the living room and the kitchen. “Come eat.”
I rose shakily and walked toward the table as I tried to unravel what he was thinking. Then I stopped abruptly and stared. The table was set with a white tablecloth, white porcelain plates rimmed in silver, elegant silverware, and crystal wine glasses. Light danced off the facets in the wine glasses. Five thick candles were clustered on a silver charger in the center of the table. I fidgeted in front of the table as I pulled the strap of my sundress back over my shoulder. “What is this for?”
Justin returned from the kitchen with a large platter of salmon. “You’re a bright girl; surely, you can figure it out.” He set the platter on the table.
My mouth fell open. The salmon was topped with capers and lemon slices and drizzled with a dill sauce. “You cooked this?”
Justin retrieved a bowl of salad and some bread from the kitchen. He set the food on the table, then shrugged. “I was hungry.”
“This is beyond insane,” I muttered as I lowered myself onto one of the chairs.
He opened a bottle of Pinot Grigio and filled both of our glasses before sitting in the seat next to me. “Salud,” he said, as he tipped his glass toward mine.
I chose not to return the salutation. I wasn’t about to touch the food or the wine. God only knew what Justin would do to me the next time he drugged me… and there wasn’t going to be a next time, not if I could help it. My head cleared as I watched him eat.
I slowly began formulating a plan to escape, but Justin was distracting me with his incessant small talk. He was acting like the last four days hadn’t even happened… like he hadn’t kidnapped me, hit me, chained me up, drugged me, or tried to rape me. In his deranged little world, we were simply two friends enjoying a nice dinner. The guy was beyond delusional.
I pretended to take interest in what he was saying as I worked through the details of my plan, but I was having a difficult time multi-tasking. In the end, I simply nodded, commented when necessary, and toyed with the food on my plate.
When Justin was halfway through his salmon, I briefly excused myself to go to the bathroom. I glanced at the bed as I walked by my room. Relieved to see that what I needed was still there, I continued on to the bathroom, then promptly returned to the table. “Do you have a pair of socks I can wear? My feet are cold.”
He glanced down at my feet. He looked surprised by the idea that I might need socks. “Sure. They're in the master bedroom, second drawer on your left.”
I turned and walked back down the hallway.
His chair scraped across the hardwood floor as he rose from the table and followed me.
I stopped in front of my bedroom and turned to face him. I took a tentative step toward him as I brushed my fingers against his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m not very hungry. I know you worked really hard to make this dinner special for me. I know I haven’t been fair to you and that all you're asking is for me to give you a chance.”
He eyed me suspiciously.
I looked down at my feet as I waited for his response.
“Will you?” he whispered softly
Relief flooded over me. “Will I what?” I asked as I looked up at him.
His eyes searched mine. “Give me a chance.”
I laughed nervously. “Well, I have to admit, I don’t think anyone has ever put this much effort into taking me out to dinner before.”
He smiled. “You’re not angry with me?”
“A little,” I admitted honestly, “but I’m also a little flattered… and I can’t stop thinking about the way you kissed me on the couch.” I looked back down at the floor, knowing full well that I was playing with fire. I prayed he was truly as delusional as he seemed.
“So that’s what you’ve been thinking about,” he murmured thoughtfully.
I glanced back up at him. “I want you to kiss me again,” I whispered.
His eyes darkened with desire.
I fidgeted nervously.
He pulled me against his chest as he lowered his lips to mine.
My hands fisted in his shirt. I closed my eyes and prayed I’d be able to convince him that I genuinely wanted this kiss. I choked back tears as I thought about Kadyn and our very first kiss.
I shuddered as Justin’s tongue swept teasingly across my lips. He reached his hand behind my neck and tangled his fingers in my hair as he angled my head back. He nudged my mouth open with his tongue.
My stomach lurched. I steeled myself as I resisted the urge to vomit. I forced myself to deepen the kiss as I slowly backed into the bedroom.
Justin broke the kiss just as my legs hit the side of the bed. He looked thoroughly confused as his gaze shifted between me and the bed.
I cupped his cheeks with my hands. “Please,” I whispered pleadingly. “I want you.”
His face lit with joy. He crushed me against his chest as he pulled me in for a bruising kiss.
I pulled back gently and sat on the bed.
“I’ve wanted this for so long,” he groaned. He boxed me in with his arms as he lowered his head for another kiss.
I tangled my left hand in his hair. Then I kissed him with all the passion I could muster. I slid my right hand toward the handcuff that lie open on the bed. I continued kissing him as I began to pray. Then I cinched the handcuff over his left wrist. The other end was already attached to the bed.
Justin stilled. He looked down at his arm. Then his eyes locked on mine.
I kicked him in the groin as hard as I could before scrambling across the bed. I fell off the other side as he lunged over the bed.
He grabbed me by the hair with his free hand and jerked me to my feet. His face was livid.
My arms flailed wildly as I vacillated between hitting him and pulling his hand from my hair. Tears filled my eyes as he yanked at my hair. I lunged for the lamp on the night stand and smashed it over his head. His grip loosened, and I wrenched myself free.
I bolted from the bedroom and ran straight for the front door. I grabbed Justin’s coat from the hook and shoved my bare feet in the monstrous hiking boots he had left sitting by the door.
“I’ll kill you,” he screamed.
I stifled a scream when I heard him trying to break the headboard. I pulled the door open and ran out into the snow. I looked around desperately. My breath caught when I spotted the Range Rover parked in the darkened driveway. I stumbled forward, then ran around the vehicle. I tried all of the doors. They were all locked. I braced my back against the Range Rover as I contemplated how best to escape.
I pushed off the vehicle and began searching for the road that Justin had driven in on. The driveway seemed to disappear through the trees. I stumbled toward the tree line and discovered tread marks running down a narrow lane of compacted snow. I glanced back at the house. Then I ran.
* * * * * *
Kadyn stood staring in disbelief at the house. The massive windows revealed the entire living room, which was empty. He spoke quietly into the headset. “The front door is open.”
Cenia, who had briefly left Kadyn’s side, whispered over her headset, “There are two sets of footprints, roughly the same size. One stride appears much longer than the other.” She joined Kadyn. Then she pointed toward the trees at the end of the driveway. “They separate there. One set of footprints appears to stay on the road. The other disappears into the trees.”
Marcus’s voice came over the head set. “Ron, Larry, Marty, Phil, Marie, and Mason… you secure the house. Locate the guns and make sure nobody is in there. Dan, Matt, Cenia, Roger, and I will take to the trees on either side of the road. Kadyn, go get your girl.”
Kadyn walked to the end of the driveway. He quietly examined the narrow road. Then he ran.
* * * * * *
Shards of pain ripped through my side as my feet pounded against the snow. I tripped over the oversized boots, then fell. I cried out as my hands and knees hit the snow. I had already fallen countless times. I was wet, cold, and completely
exhausted. “I can’t run in these stupid boots,” I cried to no one in particular. They were completely filled with snow. I kicked them off, thoroughly disgusted. I turned the boots upside down and emptied them out.
Somewhere nearby, a twig snapped. I froze, then quickly scrambled to my feet. I looked around frantically, but I couldn’t make anything out in the dark. The clouds were covering the moon, and there were far too many trees.
I looked down at my bare feet. I was surprised that the snow was no longer bothering me. I slowly edged toward the boots.
The snow crunched behind me.
I abandoned the boots and took off running as fast as I could.
Footsteps pounded behind me. Then someone tackled me from behind. He rolled at the last minute, pulling me on top of him so he’d absorb the impact of the fall. A gloved hand immediately covered my mouth. I kicked at his legs as I tried to break free.
“Kri, it’s me.”
I stilled when I heard his voice. I closed my eyes and prayed. Please God, don’t let it be a dream.
Kadyn kept his right arm wrapped around my waist. He slowly removed his hand from my mouth. “Don’t scream,” he whispered. Then he released me.
I scrambled to my knees as I turned to face him. “You found me. Oh my God! You found me!” I flung my arms around Kadyn and sobbed hysterically.
Kadyn gently pulled away. His jaw clenched when he saw my face. “Kri, where’s Justin?”
I swallowed my tears as I tried to explain. “I think he’s still back at the house. I handcuffed him to the bed.”
A slow smile spread across Kadyn’s face. “Good girl.”
“Think again,” Justin rebutted from the edge of the trees. He stepped from the tree line and pointed his shotgun at Kadyn. “Get away from her,” he snarled.
“Not a chance,” Kadyn bit back. He slowly stood and helped me to my feet. He stepped in front of me, intentionally positioning his body between Justin and me.
Justin cocked the gun. “She’s mine,” he gritted out.