Shadow of the Mind

Introduction: Sara

As she sat there, the cold metal of the chain biting into her wrists, her mind raced back to that fateful night. Was it yesterday, or day before. She was trying to remember, but felt like her mind was a miss. The flashing lights of the bar had felt warm and inviting, was a stark contrast to the chilling darkness of the basement. She could still hear the laughter of her friends, the shouts for "Shots", and the upbeat music that had filled the air, for mom's night out.

When the Young attractive blue-eyed man had approached her, he had seemed charming, his smile disarming. She remembered the way he had taken her hand, leading her to the dance floor, where they swayed to the rhythm of the night. But as the night wore on, the atmosphere shifted. Her Friends were leaving with men they have met, should she leave with this man she just met? She thought as he handed her the last drink she could remember. She had felt a sudden chill, a sense of foreboding that she couldn't shake off.

Now, as the sound of her captor's footsteps echoed down the stairs, she wished she could go back to that moment, to warn herself to stay away. To have said "No, I have go back to my daughter Mia." The memory of his touch, once gentle, now felt like a taunt. She could almost hear her friends calling her name, their voices fading into the background as she was pulled deeper into the darkness.

The humming grew louder, and she squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to wake up from this nightmare. But the reality was all too real. The tapping of his nails against the wall sent shivers down her spine, each sound a reminder of her vulnerability.

"Please," she thought, her heart racing as she imagined the faces of her friends, the warmth of their laughter. "I just want to go home."

The train horn from the passing Subway could be heard, from her captive spot. Her mind thought where am I? There is no Subway close to Prescott. The closest train that she knew of was near Chicago, but that was over 200 miles away. Where am I? her mind wanted to scream to the man.

Wake up! Wake up! She thought to herself, closing her eyes tighter and tighter. This has to be a nightmare, but the laughter she could hear that echoed into the darkness was not of her friends. It was low and sinister, sending a wave of dread through her. She could feel the tears streaming down her face, a silent plea for help that would never escape her lips.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, she could see his shadow stretching across the floor, a dark silhouette that loomed larger with each passing second. Her breath quickened, and she fought against the gag, desperate to scream, to fight, to do anything to escape this nightmare.

But all she could do was wait, trapped in her own mind, replaying the moments that had led her here, hoping against hope that somehow, she would find a way out.

"Do you know why I chose you, Sara?" said the voice. " I guess no one will ever truly know the reason for after tonight, no one will find you."