Those 7 years: Missing One Shot Chapter

3

The van rattled along the uneven road, jarring my body with every bump and turn. The blindfold over my eyes made it impossible to see where we were going, but the smell of damp earth and the chill in the air told me we were far from the city now. The rope around my wrists had started to cut into my skin, each rough jolt sending fresh waves of pain through my arms. My body ached, muscles stiff from being forced into such an unnatural position for so long. My heart was racing, fear coursing through me with every passing second.

I tried to focus on Travis, on the warmth of his kiss before I left, his hand lingering at the small of my back, and the smile that always made me feel safe. But that memory felt a lifetime away now, lost in the dark swirl of panic that gripped my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about how long I'd been gone, if he knew yet, if he was worried, or if he was tearing the city apart trying to find me.

Suddenly, the van slowed, and the tires crunched against gravel. The voices up front were low, just a murmur of conversation, but I could feel the tension shifting. The door beside me creaked open, and the rush of cool night air hit me like a slap, sharp and biting against my skin. Hands grabbed me roughly, dragging me out of the vehicle. My legs buckled beneath me as I hit the ground, my knees scraping against the gravel, but I didn't have time to react before they yanked me back to my feet.

"Get up," one of them growled. The voice was sharp, impatient, and I knew better than to resist.

I stumbled forward, the rope around my wrists pulling tighter as they led me. The air was damp and thick with the smell of wet grass and mud, the night silent except for our footsteps and the distant rustling of leaves. My mind raced, trying to piece together any clue as to where they were taking me, but there was nothing familiar about this place. Just darkness, cold, and fear.

We walked for what felt like forever, the rough hands on my arms unrelenting as they pushed me forward. My feet caught on something, a branch maybe, and I stumbled again, nearly falling face-first into the dirt. They didn't stop to help me, just yanked me up with a cruel tug and kept moving.

Finally, we stopped. I could hear the creak of a door, the groan of rusted hinges.

"Take off her blindfold," one of them barked.

The blindfold was ripped from my face, and I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the sudden flood of moonlight. My vision swam for a moment before the shapes around me came into focus. We were standing in front of a small, rundown shed. Its wooden planks were weathered and rotting, barely holding together. It looked like it had been abandoned for years, a forgotten relic in the middle of nowhere.

"Take her inside," one of the men ordered, his voice cold and devoid of any humanity.

Two pairs of hands grabbed me roughly, and I was dragged toward the shed. The door creaked open, and I was shoved inside with such force that I fell to the ground, landing hard on the dirt-covered floor. My hands were still tied, making it impossible to catch myself, and I winced as my shoulder hit the ground awkwardly.

Before I had a chance to gather myself, the men were on me again. They yanked me to my feet, their fingers digging into my arms as they spun me around. My heart pounded in my chest as panic surged through me.

"Let's make this real clear," one of them hissed, his breath hot and sour against my ear. "You're not getting out of here anytime soon, and you're not going to be needing these."

Before I could process what he meant, I felt them begin to tug at my clothes.

"No," I tried to scream. My heart raced in terror as they began to rip at my clothes, their hands rough and unfeeling. My hoodie was the first to go, the fabric tearing with a sickening rip, exposing the skin underneath to the cool night air. I struggled, twisting in their grasp, but it was useless. I was outnumbered and bound, completely at their mercy.

My leggings were next. I felt the waistband dig painfully into my hips as they pulled them down, exposing my legs to the biting cold. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I couldn't let them see me break. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

They yanked off my shoes, tossing them aside as if they were nothing, and I was left standing there, stripped down to nothing but my undergarments, shivering from both the cold and the fear coursing through my veins.

"Not so high and mighty now, huh?" one of them sneered, holding my wedding ring up in front of my face, the gold band gleaming in the moonlight. "Bet your fancy husband wouldn't like seeing you like this."

I stared at the ring, my heart aching with the weight of it. That ring was a symbol of everything—of love, of safety, of the life Travis and I had built together. And now, in their filthy hands, it felt like they'd stripped me of everything.

They laughed as they pocketed the ring, as if it were a trophy, something to flaunt. My blood boiled, but I was helpless. My body trembled with both cold and anger, but there was nothing I could do.

"Throw her in there," one of them commanded.

They grabbed me again, dragging me toward the far corner of the shed. A smaller door creaked open, revealing a space so small it could barely be called a room. It was more like a crawlspace, the walls closing in on every side, the dirt floor cold and damp. Without warning, they shoved me inside. I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring every bone in my body, but I barely registered the pain.

The door slammed shut, plunging me into darkness once again. I could hear the click of a padlock on the other side, sealing me in.

I was trapped.

The air in the small shed was thick, suffocating. The walls felt too close, pressing in on me from every side. I struggled to sit up, my arms still bound behind me, my wrists throbbing from the tightness of the rope. My body was freezing, my skin exposed to the biting chill of the night air, and the damp earth beneath me only made it worse.

I tried to calm my breathing, but every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was their hands ripping away my clothes, their cruel laughter ringing in my ears. I felt sick, the bile rising in my throat, but I swallowed it down, trying to stay composed.

I had no idea where I was. No idea how far I was from anyone who could help me. The reality of my situation hit me like a freight train, and for a moment, the panic was overwhelming.

Travis had no idea where I was. He had no idea what was happening to me. I could be miles away, in the middle of nowhere, with no one to hear me, no one to find me.

The tears that I had fought so hard to keep at bay finally spilled over, hot and fast, as I curled into myself on the cold, damp ground. My body shook with silent sobs, the reality of my situation crashing down on me like a tidal wave.

But I couldn't give up. Not yet.

I had to believe Travis would find me. He wouldn't stop until he did. He'd tear the world apart to get to me, and I had to hold onto that.

I had to survive.

The cold seeped into my bones as I lay there, my body trembling. I could hear the faint murmur of voices outside the shed, but they were distant, muffled. They thought they had won. They thought they had broken me.

But they didn't know me.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe, forcing myself to focus.

I wasn't giving up. Not yet.