All I never wanted

Part 2

This can't be happenig, this can't be happening, I was repeating in my mind, but it didn't help. I was still there and I was really scared. I was barely able to breathe.

"Stay calm and pretend everything's normal," the robber whispered into my ear so menacingly that I jumped a little. He pressed me even closer to him. We probably looked like a very weird couple.

Somebody's bound to see us, I thought, but everyone just kept walking past us like we were invisible to them. We reached the exit and headed towards the parking lot in front of the mall.

His car, a grey old Volvo, was parked in one of the distant corners. He pushed me behind it, then unlocked it and opened the trunk. I expected to see drugs or more weapons, but to my surprise there was just a pile of neatly folded clothes.

"It's freaking hot in this," the robber mumbled to himself and took his hoodie off, then replaced it with a clean shirt. For a moment he lowered his gun and I made an unwanted gesture in his direction. He noticed it, of course. He slowly looked at me and I was sure I was going to die.

"Don't do anything you might regret," he chuckled. "I doubt a girl like you would know how to use a gun. You might end up hurting yourself instead of me."

Tears started gathering in my eyes, because I knew I he was right. I didn't stand a chance against him and I hated him for everything he had done to me.

As if he was able to read my mind, he said: "Yeah, the feeling is mutual. Now stop crying. You'll be free soon."

Was he telling me the truth? If he wasn't, I swear I would ... Do nothing. Yeah, that's right. I was completely powerless.

He slammed the trunk door and I noticed that his dreadlocks were now tied into a ponytail and he wasn't wearing the baseball cap anymore. He almost looked like a normal person, although his eyes still sent quivers down my spine. There was something strange about them, but I couldn't tell what. I certainly didn't like it.

"Get in the car," he commanded and pushed me to the passenger seat, because I didn't move immediately. He locked the door on my side and gave me a stern look.

"You don't want to cause any trouble. If you keep quiet and do everything exactly as I say, I'll let you go as soon as we're far enough from the mall. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"Good. Give me your mobile phone."

I searched my bag with trembling hands and handed him my Nokia. Thank God I didn't have an expensive phone, but there was still one problem left - I wouldn't be able to call anyone. That was probably his intention. He took the battery out and put it in his pocket, then threw my phone over his shoulder nonchalantly.

We drove off the parking space.

I realized I was shaking. There were so many things that could go wrong. He could be a serial killer. Or, more likely, Beth and Claire had called the police even though they were specifically forbidden to do so. I sighed in despair. I really wanted to stay alive.

I looked at the robber carefully, not wanting him to realize that. His look was determined and fixed on the road. His jaw was clenched and he seemed tense. I noticed that he had very muscular arms and I couldn't help but imagine how much he could hurt me if he wanted to. It wouldn't be smart to make him angry.

I tried to picture his life. Who was he? Did he have a family? Where did he live? What was his job in real life? And, most importantly, why had he become a criminal? I'd probably never know. I wasn't sure I even wanted to know it.

"Get ready," I heard him say after about ten minutes. "I'm going to drop you off at the next parking lot and I want you to get out as fast as you can."

I couldn't agree more. My heart was pounding like crazy and I was afraid I would faint, but I was willing to run for an hour if I had to.

The car was slowing down and we almost reached our destination, when I noticed a blue light. What the ... A police car was parked in the parking lot and it was so close that I could see the policemen inside. They would probably hear me if the windows were open and I screamed, but I knew that would be a pretty stupid thing to do. The robber would kill me in a second.

Why were the police there anyway? A part of me was hoping they were looking for me, but the other part was afraid of that.

I was praying he wouldn't notice the car, but today obviously wasn't my lucky day.

"Shit," he spat when he saw it. He quickly turned the steering wheel and drove in another direction. I looked at him nervously. He didn't seem frightened, just slightly disturbed and it made me think that this wasn't the first time he had robbed someone. He was probably well prepared for anything.

I was considering asking him where he would release me now, but I didn't want to upset him any more. I had no idea what was going on in his mind and that wasn't very pleasant. What if he thinks Beth and Claire have called the police? O shit.

I had to say something. Something that would make him believe I wouldn't report him and that it was okay to let me go. I had to be brave and at least try.

I cleared my throat. "They ... They weren't looking for us, I think."

"I know."

"I also think my friends haven't called the police," I continued with a pleading voice, desperately trying to get a few soothing words. A guarantee that everything would be alright.

"I know. Look, I know what you're doing and you can stop now. It's pointless. It's not your fault that the police are here, but I can't risk getting caught. If I let you go now, you might tell them everything and since they just noticed my car and maybe even the number plate, that would cause me too much trouble. Looks like I'm keeping you for a while."

I felt as if he slapped me. I looked at him in horror. No. NO!

"You can't do this to me!" I practically yelled, but he just kept driving. He didn't even bother to respond.

"I won't tell them anything, I won't, I promise! I swear, okay? Please, just let me go," I begged and felt tears rolling down my cheeks. I was sobbing and I wanted to scream until he would let me go, but I was too terrified.

"Don't make such a big deal out of this, you're just going to be away for a few days."

"It is a big deal," I snapped.

"Well, it's Summer, isn't it? It's not like you're going to miss school," he mocked me. "Take this as a vacation."

I looked at him in disbelief, forgetting how dangerous he was for a moment. I was usually a very nice person, but I felt a sudden urge to strangle him.

"My family and friends will be scared! They'll worry about me! Can you even imagine how horrible it is to know that your child has been kidnapped and you can't do anything about it?!"

"Can you?"

"What?"

"Do you have a child?"

The bastard was joking. I sighed and leaned back in my seat, crying quietly. My vision was blurred because of the tears and I could hardly see where we were going, but he made me wear a sleeping mask just to make sure I wouldn't able to remember how to get to his place. The ride seemed extremely long and I was hoping that we were still in the city. He might have just made some extra turns.

When I started thinking we'd never stop, the car slowed down and a few seconds later the engine was switched off. I waited for some time, but nothing happened. The silence was unbearable. We could be in a deserted place. He could be prepairing to kill me. I reached for the mask and tried to remove it, but he stopped me by slapping my hand.

"Don't move until you're allowed to," a cold voice warned me and I would obey if I wasn't so scared. I searched for the door handle, but before I could find it and escape, he grabbed me and forced me to hold still.

"Please don't hurt me," I blurted out and to my horror he laughed.

"You really are a silly girl," he growled and stepped out of the car. He got to my side in a second, opened the door and dragged me out.

I shivered with cold. Where were we?

"Welcome to my basement."