Wanted

by ML Ross

“Ryan?! What are doing in here? What if someone sees you?”

  “We have to get out of here.” He says, pulling me towards him by my elbow.

  “Yeah, I don’t feel well. I need to tell Kim I’m leaving though.”

  “No, it’s fine. We have to go now.” He says sternly.

  He puts his arm around my waist and guides me out a door in the laundry room that leads to the garage in the front of the house. There are people everywhere but it’s dark. I’m feeling confused as he practically drags me down the sidewalk. He takes me to a parked car a few houses down and opens the door to a blue Ford Escape.

  “Whose car is this?” Something isn’t right.

  “A friend’s.” He slams the door after practically tossing me in the seat and rounds the car to the driver’s side.

  “Ryan, I don’t feel good.” I moan.

  “You’ll be feeling good very shortly, babe.”

  I sit slumped in the seat, my head lolling from side to side. I have no control over my body. I stare at the roof of the car trying to stay awake. I think I’m in and out of consciousness. The car is bouncing. We must be on a dirt road. We must be on the way to the cabin. Thank God. I feel like I might vomit. The car finally comes to a stop and I’m pulled abruptly from my seat and land on the cold, hard ground. A piercing pain shoots through my back when I land and knocks me breathless. Ryan grabs my ankles and drags me across the dirt. My shirt and my skirt are riding up. Dirt and rocks scratch my back as I’m being dragged. What the fuck is happening?

  “How are you feeling Vanessa? I’m gonna make you feel real good sweetheart.” He continues to drag me across the ground. All I see are tree branches and the stars in the sky until something covers my view. It looks like wood. I think we’re in a barn. There is dim light from the moon seeping through the wood slats in the roof. It’s not as cold in here but I’m still shivering. My muscles hurt from trying to warm myself. My teeth are chattering. He lets go of my ankles and they fall lifeless to the ground. Then, he’s on me. He straddles my bare legs, leaning over me and then with both hands, he rips my shirt open. Buttons fly everywhere. I hear them hit and scatter on the wooden floor. I lay there not able to move a muscle. I just stare into his eyes begging him to stop. He’s breathing heavy and he reeks of alcohol.

  Crazy thoughts start to clutter my head. Ryan is psycho. Ryan has been keeping me captive as his sex slave and I’ve been brainwashed. Ryan might be like Norman Bates and has voices in his head. I open my heavy eye lids and his head is spinning around above me.

  “Ryan, what are you doing?” I whimper. I try to struggle underneath his heavy body but it’s useless. I’m confused and scared to death. I can’t breathe. I’m having a panic attack.

  Then I see his knife. He feathers it across my chest. My heart is beating so fast. I’m breaking out in a sweat even though the temperature must be around 20 degrees.

  “Ryan. Why are you doing this to me?” I mumble, not sure I’m even getting words out.

  “I just want to play. Don’t you like to play Vanessa?” He takes the knife and severs the material of my bra between my breasts. Terror consumes me and my body begins to shake violently. Tears are falling from my eyes. I know I can’t push him off of me. I realize now that I’ve been drugged. My body is completely numb. I can’t move my arms or my legs. I lose my will to fight. I just shake my head back and forth as the tears fall down the sides of my face.

  “Please Ryan.” I beg. “Please don’t do this. I can help you. I want to help you.” I continue to beg.

  “I don’t need your fucking help, bitch!” He slaps my face hard and then moves off of me. His hands grip my skirt and underwear and he yanks them off my legs. I’m completely bare except for my ripped shirt still draped over my shoulders. I’m unable to move and then I can’t see him anymore. I’m terrified. I hear noises. I’m not sure what he’s doing. They’re coming from behind me. I try to move my head to look but I can’t. My head is pounding. I think about my family. I can’t die like this. My mom won’t survive it. The will to survive gives me a burst of adrenaline. I roll to my tummy and see his feet about 10 feet away. I lift my body as much as I can and start to do an army crawl away from him. Then he’s back. He flips me to my back again and backhands my face. Spit flies from my mouth.

  “You’ve been a very bad girl Vanessa. You won’t like your punishment.”

  He ties my wrists together with rope and it’s digging painfully into my skin. I cry out but then he shoves something in my mouth. My eyes widen. It’s hard to breath and the more I panic, the harder it is. I try to calm down and take big breaths through my nose. I look above me and all I see are rafters. He pulls me by my tied hands above my head and hooks them onto something. Then I feel my body being strung up towards the rafters. He stops when I’m fully standing with my arms stretched above my head, my toes barely touch the floor. I’m swaying slightly as I’m trying to touch the ground with my toes because the ropes are hurting my wrists so bad. I can barely keep my head upright.

  Then he stands in front of me.

  “You like to play, don’t you Vanessa? Or should I give you your punishment first?” He asks tapping the tip of the blade to his lips.

  He runs the blade of the knife lightly over my chest. I try to hold my breath because I’m afraid if I move, it will slice me. I start feeling like I’m going to pass out so I’m forced to gasp for air through my nose. My chest collapses with my inhale and presses out with my exhale. As I exhale, I feel the blade slice my skin above my breast. My eyes water as the open skin starts to burn.

  He pulls the knife away from me, watching me bleed with a sick look of satisfaction on his face. He quickly starts to unbutton his pants as he continues to stare at the blood now running down my breast. I’m screaming in my head. Muffled sounds seeping out from under my gag. I push with my toes on the ground trying to swing myself away from him. He holds up the knife, holding the bloody blade in his hand and showing me the wooden handle. He slides the handle down my body until he gets between my legs. Oh God! I shake my head, as tears continue to fall. I can’t catch my breath anymore. I must pass out because everything goes black.

  Chapter 15 - Ryan

  “What the fuck!” I sit up straight in the seat squinting through the windshield at the couple walking down the sidewalk. Is that her? My heartbeat takes off in a sprint as I start to panic. She looks drunk. He’s holding her up while they walk to a car parked a few houses down. I get out of the truckster and walk on the opposite side of the street, keeping my eyes on her. Shit! I can’t see. Then I hear her ask “Whose car is this?” and I know. It’s her. Son of a fucking bitch. He pushes her into the passenger seat and before I turn to run back to the truckster, I catch a glimpse of the back of his car. It’s the same fucking car! He was at the cabin. It was him! Who is he? Shit! I run back down the street turning around to see what direction they’re headed.

  I head in the same direction trying to keep up with them so I don’t lose them. I keep up for a few miles and then he must make a turn that I miss. I pound my hands on the steering wheel and scream. If anything happens to her, it will be all my fault. I will deserve prison. I’ll deserve worse than prison. I turn around and drive slowly looking for the spot where I missed his turn and then I spot it. A dirt trail going into the woods. I turn off my headlights and follow the trail slowly until I see his car parked up about a quarter mile ahead. I get out of the car with the gun shoved in the back of my pants. Shit, I can’t be more than ten minutes behind. Please don’t let him hurt her. Please.

  I had a bad feeling about her going to this party. I fucking knew it. I’ll never forgive myself. Please let her be okay, I chant to myself, please let her be okay.

  I stalk towards his car and then notice a barn. This is the same area they described when they found Kim and the two other girls. I start to feel like I might vomit. I hold it back and keep walking towards the barn. I hear some noise and I think I hear his voice. I creep up slowly not wanting to give him any w
arning that I’m here. I don’t want him to hurt her or run before I know who he is.

  I come to the opening of the barn and I see her. She’s hanging from the rafters. Her hands tied together above her head. She’s completely naked and her head hangs to the side, eyes closed, something stuffed in her mouth. He has his back to me and looks like he has something in his hand that he’s touching her with but I can’t see. I quietly pull the gun out of my pants and walk slowly towards him. As I get closer, I see that his pants are undone. He has a knife in his hand. He’s holding the blade and has the handle pressed between her legs. His eyes are closed and he’s panting heavy as he starts to push the handle of the knife into her.

  “You sick son of a bitch!” I shout, lunging at him. He drops the knife and backs away from me as I point my gun at his head from 2 feet away. He smirks at me as my mouth drops open in utter shock. As I lock eyes with him, I feel like I’m staring into a mirror.

  “Who the fuck are you?” I scream. As I’m dealing with the realization of what is happening, I must lower my gun slightly. He takes the opportunity to run. I’m stunned and can’t move my legs to go after him. I hear his car spit rocks and dirt before I finally snap out of it.

  I slip the gun back into my pants and run to Ness. “God, baby. I’m here.” I whisper as I untie her bloody wrists. She falls lifeless into my arms and I drop to the ground with her, holding her in my lap. I pull the ball of fabric out of her mouth and check her breathing and then I frantically check her body. She has blood smeared all over her chest and a bruised cheek. Her back is scratched and bloody. I swallow loudly and squeeze my eyes closed as I put my hand between her legs and run my shaky fingers gently between her legs. I lift my fingers in front of me and pray I don’t see blood when I open my eyes. My heart is beating frantically. I open my eyes slowly and breathe out a huge sigh of relief. She’s going to be okay.

  “I’m here Ness. You’re okay. I gotcha.”

  I hug her to me, rocking her as I feel my eyes start to sting with tears. The thought of what could have happened to her if I wasn’t there with her at that party tonight kills me. I look down at her pale limp body and realize its fucking freezing out here. I pull my shirt off and pull it over her head, carefully sliding her arms in. I hug her to my body to warm her and then I look around for the knife. I have to take the knife. I see her torn shirt on the ground and decide I can use that to wrap the knife in. Slowly, I lift her fragile body and take her to the truckster. I slide her in the back seat and kiss her cheek, making sure she’s covered with my shirt.

  I run back to grab her ripped shirt and then use it to pick up his knife. I wrap the knife in her shirt trying not to smudge anything and then put it in the trunk. I drive slowly, trying to find my way back to the cabin and checking on her periodically so she doesn’t wake and freak the fuck out.

  When I reach the cabin, I check all around for anything out of place. I carry her in and lay her on the bed covering her with the sheet. I back away a couple of steps, watching her. She’s going to be okay. I run my hands over my face trying to pull myself together. She’s going to think it was me. She is going to freak out and run. Tentatively, I lift her wrist and wrap a bandage around it and then handcuff her to the bed. Shit.

  Chapter 16 - Vanessa

  I’m experiencing déjà vu of the worst kind.

  I wake up groggy. My body heavy. My eyes swollen. It takes me awhile for visions to start filling my memory. I remember the party. I remember the conversation about Ryan:

  “It’s always the quiet ones. I heard he brutally attacked her and then tortured her with a knife until he thought she was dead.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “Well, believe it. He ran. He’s totally guilty. You always hear about these psychos on the news. He was quiet. He seemed like a nice guy. He was charming. Like that Scott Peterson who murdered his pregnant wife. They’re fine one day and then all of a sudden, they just snap. They are just sick!”

  I remember him above me ripping my shirt.

  I remember the knife.

  I remember being stripped down.

  I remember being tied up and hung from rafters in a barn.

  I remember him cutting me.

  I remember the knife between my legs.

  I remember Ryan.

  Oh God. It was Ryan. I force my eyes open and immediately focus on the piece of peeling wallpaper in the corner. I’m back in the cabin. I try to sit up and realize I am fucking handcuffed to the bed. Again. I scream.

  Ryan comes running into the room. His arms up in surrender.

  “Let me go you fucking sick son of a bitch!! Why? I trusted you!!! You nasty fuck!!” I struggle with everything I have but my body still feels weak from the drugs.

  He comes closer to me and I kick at him as hard as I can, screaming.

  “Ness! Stop, it’s me. Please Ness. Listen to me! I didn’t hurt you.” He unlocks the handcuffs and I try to hit him but he grabs both my wrists in his strong hands and straddles my legs so I can’t move. I spit in his face but he doesn’t let go of me. I buck my body as hard as I can to get him off but I can’t. I lose it. I sob. My body convulses and I continue to scream.

  “Ness!! Listen to me! Stop screaming. Please Ness! Fuck, please listen to me.” He begs.

  Ness……

  “I just want to play, don’t you like to play Vanessa?”

  Ryan never calls me Vanessa.

  “Ryan?” I whisper.

  “It’s me Ness. I didn’t hurt you. God, I would never hurt you. I….God, I love you. I wouldn’t ever hurt you. Please, tell me you believe me.” He pleads.

  “I don’t understand. What’s going on? I saw you! What’s happening?”

  “I think I know. I think I know! Listen to me Ness. I think I have a brother. I think it’s my brother. I have to get that information about my biological family. I have the key to the safe deposit box my Mom left for me. I know my Mom left me that information. It has to be there. I saw him Ness. I saw him. He looks just like me.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “I saw him take you to his car. It was dark, I didn’t get a good look at him at first. I followed him. I was a few minutes behind. He took a turn and I lost him for a while but I was able to get there in time. He took you to the same area Kim was attacked.”

  “Ryan, what did he do to me?” I cry, looking down at my body. I know I blacked out. Oh God!

  “Nothing. Nothing baby. I got there in time.” He sits back on his knees and pulls me up into his lap and squeezes me into a hug, holding my head to his chest.

  “But I remember. He cut me and he unbuttoned his pants and then he pushed the handle of his knife……” I start to cry hysterically.

  “Vanessa, look at me. Baby, look at me.” He holds my face in his hands and looks me in the eyes. “You’re okay. I saw him with the knife. You must have passed out right before I got there. I checked you, baby. He didn’t do it. I got there in time. I promise. You’re okay.” Ryan’s eyes swell with unshed tears as he looks at my terrified expression. He squeezes my body to him. “You’re okay Ness.” He reassures as he rocks me. “I had the gun with me and he ran. He dropped the knife. I have the knife with his fingerprints. We have evidence, Ness.”

  “Oh God, Ryan is it over?” I whisper.

  “I need to get to that safe deposit box. I can take all the information to the police along with that knife with his fingerprints. You can press charges. We need to tell Kim. She needs to go to the police to clear my name.” He pauses as something seems to dawn on him. “What made you realize just now it wasn’t me who hurt you?”

  “You call me Ness. He called me Vanessa. I was so scared and the drugs were clouding my thinking last night. Now, when I think back, I realize he looked different and he didn’t have a tattoo. I bet once Kim knows the truth, it will make sense to her too. I’m sorry Ryan. I’m sorry that for even one second I thought it was you.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You have no idea how scared
I was when I saw him take you from that house. If I wasn’t there?” His words break off.

  “You were. You saved my life. Twice! Ryan?” I pause wondering if I should ask. “Did you just tell me that you loved me?” I ask shyly.

  “I do. I love you Ness. I was so scared of losing you. You have no idea how scared I was.” He squeezes me to him tighter.

  “Do you think he was the one that was here the other night?”

  “Same car. It was him.”

  “Oh my God.”

  “Baby, your safe now. He won’t come here. He knows I saw him. He knows I have a gun. He’s probably on the run now. We’ll go to Kim tomorrow and get to the police. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”

  “I’m so tired.”

  “Sleep baby, you’re safe.”

  “Ryan. I love you too. I’ve loved you since you killed that spider for me.” I cuddle into him and we lay silent awhile before we both dose off. Neither one of us has had a full night of sleep in days. We’re so tired. As sleep takes over me, I’m transported back to that barn.

  It’s dark and so cold. My arms are stretched above me, the rope digging into my skin. My toes are barely touching the dirt floor. I’m completely nude and gagged. I feel a sharp object gliding across my breasts. My skin is stinging as its being sliced open. Cold blood drips down my stomach. I hear heavy breathing and my own whimpers.

  “Vanessa, do you like to play?”

  “No!” I scream in my head. “Please no!” Then I feel the blade slide between my thighs and I scream. A blood curdling scream.

  “Ness!! Wake up baby, wake up!”

  “Ryan! Oh God, It was a nightmare, it was just a nightmare.” My body is soaked with sweat and I’m shaking uncontrollably.

  “Shhhh, I gotcha. You’re safe. No one’s gonna hurt you baby. I gotcha.” He squeezes me to him and holds my head to his chest.

  “Let’s get you into the tub, Ness. A warm bath will help you feel better and relax, okay?”