The Attic

Chapter 6- Astra

Mel was screaming. 

A/N no shit

She tried to find me. She was here. I was so close. She was so close. I tried to scream back, but there's a gag tied around my mouth. I've been alone in this room, tied to the bedpost for a day.

No one has come. Not to give me food, or water. Not to take me to Amelie, of course. But I thought there might be someone. I'm being kept in the dark.

Oh my god, what if I'm a hostage. What if they're torturing Mel? I couldn't live with myself if they did something to Mel. I struggle with my bounds, my arms hurting from the hard rope that keeps them held above my head to the bedpost. I'm scared. Mel was screaming, right? What if she's hurt? Why can't someone come here? I'm so thirsty. And I'm hungry. I've never gone this long without water.

It doesn't help that I've been screaming for the past few hours. You'd think I would be bored, but you'd be wrong. I've just been thinking. Drifting in and out of sleep, I'm not sure what's real or not. I might be having hallucinations from lack of water. Or I could be going insane.

I mean, isn't being kidnapped grounds enough for mental unwellness? 

A/N no shit

Whether or not it's fake, I don't know. But John came into the room a minute ago, looked at me, and closed the door. I guess he's probably coming back. I wait a few minutes, still drowsy, until he comes back. Wait. not John. The other man. What was his name? I can't remember. He walks in, staying well out of my reach. He's holding something. He looks at me, still struggling against my bounds.

His hair greasy as ever, he starts "I have... something for you." He holds a plastic plate with a sandwich on it and a plastic water bottle. I try to reach for the water, the thirst in my throat making my head pound.

"Ah ah ah!" he says, holding the bottle just out of my reach. "You want this? Do ya? Do ya?" He's teasing me, like he's playing fetch with a dog. The intelligent part of my brain is offended. That's just so... dehumanizing, for lack of a better word. But my instincts win over and I nod, hard.

He gives a smug smile. I swallow. He walks towards me, now holding the water bottle up. The sandwich is wrapped in paper, but it's held at his side. I remember I can't reach for it, and my arms ache. "If you want this..." he looks at me, almost laughing at my suffering. "You have to promise me something."

Scared but without a choice, I nod again. His eyes light up, but not from happiness. More... complacent. He knows I'm in pain and he's laughing. I have to agree to whatever he says. And he knows it. I'm scared. I want Mel. I want to go home. Back to boring, and normal, and school and stupid people and parties and hair dye and imperfections and perfection and friends and- breathe.

"You have to comply. You will do whatever we tell you to, and you'll get your friend and that other girl on board too, alright?"

My friend. Not my girlfriend. Wait- other girl? There's another hostage? On board with what?

I try to ask through my gag, but he just laughs. "Oh-oh-oh! Got a little problem here? Hmm... what will we do?" It's like dangling a mouse in front of a cat. I hate him, and can't help but think that if Amelie was here that she would punch him in the throat, cuss him out and escape. Shivering now, I attempt to chew through the gag, but the fabric is too thick. 

A/N no shit

I struggle in my bonds, the rough rope chafing my wrists.

"Ah ah! You have to be my good girl for this to go as planned. Can you do that?" he bends down to be at eye level with me as if I'm a toddler. I hate myself as I nod and relax against my bonds. His obedient little servant. Exactly how he wants me.

"So.. do you still want the water?" he shakes the bottle in front of me. I'm processing what he's asking. To convince Amelie and some other girl to do what he says. For me to have to do what he says. I could agree and then go back on it? The last time I tried, they hurt me. My spine shoots in pain at the thought. I nod anyway.

"Good girl." he pats me on the head and tosses the water bottle at me. I reflexively try to catch it, but my arms just slam back into the bed. "Oh, having some trouble?" he smiles again. He sets the sandwich on the ground near my feet. With no way for me to get either of them.

A/N no shit

He pulls out a knife. Oh no, I think as he comes towards me. As he's about to cut me, I feel my arms fall from the bedposts, still aching.

He grabs my chin and my head juts forwards as he cuts my gag off. I snatch up the water bottle and drink half of it in one go. He just watches me.

I bring the bottle down from my lips as I realize there's no certainty he'll bring me more. Stupid. I should ration it. I grab the sandwich and start chewing it, for once in my life not caring about manners or company, only food.

Not even a minute later, the sandwich is gone. He's still there, at the top of the stairs, watching. He sees that I'm done with his sandwich and turns around to open the doorway to the rest of this god-forsaken house. I hear the lock click behind him as he closes the door behind him, and once again, I'm all alone. 

A/N hey guys, i hope you liked this chapter, i think its okay. if you like my story, or any of my other stories, please consider following or voting on this story! even if you dont, i hope you have a great day! remember to eat something and drink water today! until next time <3