Bound by Fear (English Ver)

Chapter 1: The Ambush

Lisa, a vision in a sapphire dress that clung to her curves, hummed along to the oldies station as she unlocked her apartment door. "Just a shower and some takeout," she murmured to herself, "and this day will be a distant memory." The long flight from Paris had been tiring, but the smile on her face was genuine. Kicking off her heels, she let out a sigh of relief, the day's stress melting away.

Unbeknownst to Lisa, a dark figure lurked in the shadows across the street. He'd been watching her since she'd parked her car, his features obscured by the brim of a wide-brimmed hat. In his hand, a small, innocuous-looking vial glinted under the dim streetlight. "Tonight," he muttered, his voice a low rasp, "tonight, she'll finally be mine."

Lisa, oblivious to the danger, reached for the light switch. A prickling sensation on the back of her neck made her pause. It smelled… sweet, cloying, almost artificial. "Ugh, what is that smell?" she wrinkled her nose. Before she could react further, the world tilted on its axis.

"What's happening?" she slurred, her voice thick. The sweetness intensified, a thick fog clouding her thoughts. Her knees buckled, and she crumpled to the floor, the last image burned into her memory – the dark figure looming over her, a twisted smile on his face.

The man, fueled by a delusional sense of possession, wasted no time. With practiced efficiency, he produced a length of rope and a roll of duct tape. Lisa, utterly unconscious, offered no resistance. He bound her wrists tightly behind her back. "Don't worry, my love," he crooned, his voice a sickening parody of tenderness, "this won't hurt a bit. We'll be together forever."

Lisa's mind flickered in and out, a prisoner in her own body. A muffled whimper escaped her lips, but the gag effectively silenced her. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.

He secured her ankles together. His movements were methodical, devoid of any human emotion. A cruel glint entered his eyes as he reached down, his gaze lingering on the lacy remnants of her travel day. With a sickening twist, he shoved her underwear into her mouth, effectively gagging her. A final layer of duct tape secured the makeshift gag, muffling Lisa's whimpers that never reached the outside world.

Heaving Lisa's still form over his shoulder, the man carried her across the hall and out the fire escape. A black van, seemingly innocuous from a distance, waited in the alley. "This is just the beginning, my darling," he whispered, his voice a chilling promise. He tossed her unceremoniously into the back, the roar of the engine swallowing any noise she might have made, even if she'd been conscious. The van lurched forward, carrying Lisa away from her life and into the heart of a nightmare.