Pulled

by Danielle Bannister

  “Or what? You’re gonna stop me?” He starts laughing, a wild reckless laugh, then kneels down to look me in the eye and scratches his chin.

  “No, I don’t think I will stay away from her. Sorry.” He stands up and checks the door, to make sure no one is coming. “As for you, we can’t have you just lying around here where someone might stumble in on you. That would definitely put a kink in my plans. But, fortunately for you, I know of a nice little janitor’s closet I can lock you in where no one will find you for quite a long time.”

  I use all of my strength to try and move from where I sit, but nothing happens. The last thing I register is his fist coming fast at my face before everything goes black.

  Naya

  Kari laughs at how ridiculous I look as she helps me into my light pink leotard. I start to laugh along with her when my smile fades. My blood has just gone cold.

  Something is wrong. I don’t know what, or how I know it, but my stomach just hit the floor, and all I can think about is Etash. I rush out of the dressing room, frantically scanning the make-up stations for him. He's not at any of them.

  “Does anyone know where Etash is?” I ask loudly.

  “I think he’s still upstairs warming up,” Thomas says. “Are you okay?”

  “I will be once I find him,” I say, heading upstairs.

  When I reach the top, all the studios are dark, even the one he likes to hide in. Where is he?

  “If you want to see him again, you’ll come with me.” A voice says from the shadow of Etash's studio. Seth.

  “Where is he?” I ask firmly.

  He comes out of the corner holding his finger to his lips.

  “Shhhh, you don’t want to ruin the surprise.” He saunters over to me and pulls me into his arms and I stiffen. “Mmmm. I’ve missed this,” he says into my hair. I try to squirm out of his arms, but he just squeezes me harder.

  “Now, you’re going to come with me, without making a fuss.” I look up at him, horror-stricken. “Unless you don’t want to see him again.” He steps away from me, then holds out his hand. He has Etash. I have no choice; I have to go with him.

  “There’s a good girl.” Satisfied, he pulls me out of the theatre, and into his car waiting just outside.

  My body is trembling with fear and from the cold as Seth throws his coat over me, but I push it back at him.

  “Fine. Freeze to death,” he snickers.

  “Where are you taking me?” I hiss, once he’s started down the highway. He doesn’t look at me, just keeps staring straight ahead, but his nostrils flare.

  “Home.” Home? What is he talking about? It’s only when we turn onto the highway that I know where he's taking me. We're going to his folks, just like he wanted.

  When he pulls into their drive, I’m relieved. His parents will be able to talk some sense into him. But when we pull into the garage, it's empty. They're not here.

  “My parents are in Florida for two weeks, in case you’re wondering.” He stops the car and kills the engine. “Get out.”

  He grabs my arm and leads me into the house, opens the door and tells me to sit on the couch. He disappears into the attached kitchen where he can easily keep a watchful eye on me. I scan the room quickly looking for any evidence of Etash before Seth comes back in with a butcher knife and a roll of duck tape. Seeing the knife, my heart starts to race.

  He rips off a large strip of the tape with the knife then orders me to hold out my hands, and proceeds to bind them together.

  “Get up.” He pulls me off the couch and drags me over to the stairwell, rips off another length of tape and anchors me to the banister.

  “Now stay,” he smiles. Although I can’t see him, I can hear the all-too-familiar sound of his belt coming off. I’m going to be punished, hard.

  The first slash comes before I’m ready for it, and the pain drops me to my knees. I scream out in agony, and he laughs.

  “Scream all you want. No one will hear you out here.” And I know he’s right. The closest thing to his house is the hospital and that's at least a mile away. I try to steel myself into silence because I know he’s getting off on my pain. I bite down on my lip as the belt comes down again, and this time I don't scream.

  “Playing hard to get are you? Well, let's see how you like this.” The next lash brings a new kind of pain. He has flipped the belt and is now using the belt buckle end down, and the pain of the hard, cold metal against my back unleashes a primitive wail of agony from my lips.

  “That's more like it,” he chuckles.

  Before I can catch my breath, he hits me again and I feel my costume start to rip apart, along with some skin. He strikes again. Warm blood starts to trickle down my back and I wonder frantically, if he can do this to me, someone he claims to love, what has he done to Etash.

  “Where is he,” I manage to wail in between beatings.

  Another lash, harder this time. More skin peels off.

  “Not here,” he says.

  He throws the belt down at my feet, then goes upstairs, satisfied for the moment. My body hangs limp off the banister. I don't have the strength even to try to pull myself free of the tape.

  When he comes down the stairs again he’s carrying two duffel bags and a bottle of vodka. He throws the bags by the door then rummages around in one of them producing a bottle of pills. Even though I can't read the label, I know that it's my missing prescription bottle.

  He tips my head back and pours in the contents of the bottle of pills into my mouth. How many were there? I try to shove them out with my tongue but he grabs my jaw and holds it open. With his other hand he grabs the vodka, and with his teeth unscrews the cap.

  “Drink,” he orders, then tips the liquid down my throat. Choking and gagging, I feel some of the pills slip down my throat. He only stops drowning me with the vodka when he's seen I've taken them.

  “Now, we wait,” he says, putting his feet up.

  “Wait for what?” I cough.

  “For you to lose consciousness,” he smiles. “Can’t have you knowing where we’re going, now can I?”

  “What are you talking about?” If I was scared before, I’m absolutely petrified now.

  Something in his face shifts. He gets up from the couch and cradles my tear-streaked face. “Naya,” he whispers, “do you not have any idea how much I love you? How far I will go to protect you from him?” He kisses the top of my head, and I can do nothing to stop him. “I know he’s got you brainwashed into thinking you love him. But I know you better than anyone else in the world. I know what you need. And what you need right now is time alone with me.”

  He has lost his mind.

  “You're kidnapping me!”

  His eyes turn hard. “I’m protecting you. And our love.” He pulls me to him and kisses me. I try to resist, but he’s so strong, and I am so weak. My body is shutting down; giving up. He pulls away and is purring with delight at the lack of fight in me.

  “Guess this cocktail works faster than the first one. Need to make a note of that.”

  I struggle to get out two words: “What cocktail?”

  Giving me a knowing smile he says, “Normally, I only give you one of your magic pills. It takes you about an hour before you black out and we can have some fun.”

  Asshole.

  “But this time,” he continues, “I gave you a double dose and added some of my mom’s opiates, just for good measure. And look, it’s working already!” He’s beaming at his discovery, but I’m terrified. Terrified by what he’s going to do to me once I’ve blacked out. Terrified of where he’s taking me. But mostly terrified that I’ll never see Etash again.

  Etash

  When I wake up, it’s dark and my face is killing me. I can feel that my mouth, wrists and ankles have been bound together with duct tape and I curse.

  “Naya!” I mumble through the tape. No one will ever hear me. Seeing a small crack of light, I inch my way toward the door, knocking down a mop as I squirm. With my bound feet I start poun
ding against the door, hoping against hope, that someone will find me.

  Chapter 19

  Etash

  With each second that ticks by I grow more and more desperate. In the darkness I search for anything I can use to cut this damn tape off. There's nothing on the floor, but maybe on a shelf. I push against the door and worm my body upright. Feeling along the wall with my hands bound behind my back I find a light switch. For a moment I'm blinded by the overhead light. Instantly, I try the door. But it won't budge. There is something blocking it from the outside.

  I need to get this tape off. Turning around, I assess my options. There's an assortment of hammers and screwdrivers, and as luck would have it, some wire cutters. Since my hands are behind my back, it takes an eternity to work the dull blades through the tape. Once I'm free I rip the tape from my face and feet.

  Pushing with all my might against the door, I manage to open it a bit to see what's blocking my escape. A soda machine. He moved a soda machine in front of the janitor's closet.

  Well, at least I know what I'm up against now. It takes a few running charges, but eventually I'm able to move the door open enough to squeeze though.

  The hallway is dark, but I recognize where I am. I'm still in the theatre, in the basement.

  Scrambling up the stairs I run back to the theatre, but it's deserted. How long was I in there?

  Spinning around in the hall, I notice Elizabeth's light is still on. When I barge in, she’s on the phone.

  “Never mind, he’s here.” She hangs up. “Etash, where have you been? You missed the show!”

  She's about to read me the riot act, but then her face takes me in. “Oh my God! What happened to you?”

  I don’t answer her. “Where’s Naya,” I pant. She looks at me, confused.

  “She's not with you?”

  A guttural scream escapes me and I sink to my knees.

  “Call the police,” I yell. “He’s taken her.”

  “Who?”

  “Naya! Her ex-boyfriend. He kidnapped her!” She hesitates for a minute until she sees the look on my face.

  “Where did he take her?” she asks, picking up the phone again. There is only one place I can think of. The place he'd wanted to take her the night he showed up at my apartment. 'Home.' I push Elizabeth aside and start hammering away on her keyboard. I log back onto facebook click on Seth's profile page. He still uses his folks' address. Got ya.

  “Send them here,” I say, tossing the phone at her. “He’s holding her there.” I can feel it. Without looking back, I run out the door.

  “Wait! Where are you going?” Elizabeth yells after me.

  “I'm going to find her!”

  Shaking, I run to my car, trying desperately to steady my hands enough to turn the key. I’m coming, Naya. I’m coming.

  Naya

  Still heavily sedated, I open my eyes, but I can't feel a thing. Even breathing seems to be a struggle.

  “You don’t look so hot,” Seth chuckles. He gets off the couch and looks in my eyes. “Guess it’s okay to lay you down now. You’re not going anywhere.”

  He pulls the knife out and saws away at the tape until I collapse to the floor. I thump to the ground, limp, but I don’t feel anything.

  “Let’s get you cleaned up. Can’t have you bleeding all over my parents' house.” He starts removing my leotard and I’m utterly defenseless to stop him. He must pick up on my fear because he strokes my face. “Don’t worry, love. I’m just going to get you changed up so we can leave.”

  He props me up on the coffee table then leaves again, coming back a few minutes later with dressings for my back. He takes great care cleaning my wounds, as though his mending me will somehow make up for it all.

  When he’s satisfied with his repair job, he gets out a Florida State sweatshirt of his, and pulls it over me. He then pulls some sweat pants over my legs.

  “There. You’re perfect.” He kisses my cheek and my head falls backwards, limp. With my neck exposed, he starts kissing it, slowly pulling himself on top of me. He starts moaning in my ear. I beg for unconsciousness to take over.

  “Get off of her!” Etash shouts from somewhere behind Seth.

  Seth's lips are still against my ear but I feel them curve slowly into a smile. He pulls back and looks at me before his eyes go dead.

  Summoning all the strength I have, I squeak out one word: “Run!”

  Etash

  The sight of her in his arms makes my stomach lurch. But the image of her once he’s climbed off her is devastating. Her face is covered in tears and her body is limp. He's drugged her.

  As Seth stands up I notice a belt on the floor, stained red with her blood; I lose it. An ancient rage consumes me and I charge him. Although I’m only half his size I’m able to knock him to the floor with the speed of my attack and I start wailing on him. Punch after punch, cursing profanities and spitting venom.

  Eventually his brute strength manages to knock me off him, his right hook just missing my nose. As I dodge his next punch, I knock over a small table lamp. It comes crashing to the floor, and it gives me an idea.

  Swiftly, I jump over the shattered glass, then retrieve the base of the lamp and come at him swinging. He manages to duck down and miss my first attempt, but I clobber him with the second swing, crashing it firmly against his skull.

  I watch with satisfaction as he sinks to the ground. I stand over him breathing heavily, more than ready to hit him again, but he doesn’t move.

  Naya whimpers softly behind me and I drop the lamp and rush to her side. Grabbing her hand, I notice her fingers are cold. Pressing my ear to her chest, I can make out a heartbeat, but it’s dangerously weak.

  “Naya, can you hear me?” Her eyes open a crack and when she sees me, she smiles. “What did he do to you?”

  “...drugged ... so weak.” She is struggling to get the words out.

  “Shh, it's okay, the police are on their way; just hang on.” I brush some hair away from her ashen face.

  “I’m … sorry,” she croaks.

  I take both of her hands in mine. “No, don’t be sorry. I’m here. You’re safe now.” She shakes her head, and licks her lips, needing to say more, so I lower myself to her again.

  “I’m sorry ... you'll have to … find me again.” For a second, I’m confused, but when I look in her eyes, I know what she means. She doesn’t think she’s going to make it.

  “Naya. Stay strong. Help is coming. Do you hear me?” But she shakes her head weakly.

  “Promise ... me,” she gasps. “Promise me you'll find me again.” Tears streak down her face. She squeezes my hand lightly, needing an answer.

  “I promise,” I say, “but I won't have to look hard. You're not going anywhere. I'm going to be right beside you.” She gives me a weak smile, then grimaces with pain.

  “I … love … you”

  “I love you too,” I moan, and lean in to kiss her, hoping my touch can be healing for her again. But when my lips touch hers, I feel it. I actually feel her soul slip out of her body.

  “No! Naya! Damn it, you open your eyes! You are not leaving me!”

  There is a small frozen smile on her face which makes her look so peaceful that it hurts to look at her. I bend over and press my lips to hers again, unable to believe she's gone, and as I do, I feel something sharp sink into my back, hot and acidic. I turn my head enough to see Seth holding a butcher knife, which is now lodged deeply into my back.

  “Burn in hell, asshole,” he says.

  Blood pours out of me, running down my back, dripping down my legs.

  I hear sirens blaring in the distance, but I know it's too late for me. Seth hears them too. He looks down at me, scared. There is a small satisfaction that, at last, he will pay.

  His eyes gloss over as he walks to a gun cabinet in the corner. Like a robot, he smashes in the glass with his fist, and pulls out a rifle. He's going to finish me off, and I can't help but feel grateful. At least then I'll be with Naya.

&nbs
p; But he denies my request, and instead points the barrel at his own head and pulls the trigger before I can open my mouth to stop him. He crumples to the floor as pieces of his head rain down around him.

  I start to close my eyes against the whooshing sound filling my head. This is it; I'm going to die, too.

  A flicker of light forces my eyes open in the few seconds I have left, and I am awed. Hovering just over Naya’s body is the most brilliant flame dancing over her in shades of gold and amber. It begins swirling in the air, where it gets overshadowed by a brighter, hotter light. I find myself needing to see where this other light is coming from.

  But as I turn my head, I discover that I am the source of the fire. I look at my own body and find an identical set of flames rising above my own broken body.

  Even in the moments before my death, I know that these are our souls, finally joined and dancing together, and the most wonderful sense of relief floods over me. A smile creeps across my face. I will find you again, Naya. I promise. Then I close my eyes for the last time.

  Epilogue

  The gentle beeps from the monitors fill the hospital hallway with a hypnotic rhythm indicating the steady heart rate of the hospital's three newest patients.

  A tall, lanky woman in her late forties approaches the nurses' station, obviously coming to gossip about the evening's events.

  “Brenda! Did you hear the news?”

  Of course Brenda had heard. It was all everyone could talk about. Not wanting to deflate Marilyn's balloon, Brenda plays dumb.

  “No, what happened?”

  Marilyn's eyes grew bright with anticipation at being the first to tell someone the story. “Well, you remember the Weavers out on Tucker Road?”

  “Sure.”

  “Turns out that the parents were off in Florida on a vacation, when their son, Seth, you know the one, big beefy guy, not bad on the eyes? Well, he kidnaps his girlfriend, brings her to his folks' house, drugs her causing her to OD, then this other boy, who I'm guessing must have been the girlfriend's lover, he gets stabbed in the back, like literally. One guess who did that, right? Then the cute one up and shoots himself in the head!”