Taken From Reality

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Anika’s POV

            I began to open my eyes but synched as I felt the pain pass through my face, more confused then ever. I finally was able to open my eyes completely when I let out the loudest scream I have ever managed within my life. There was a boy sitting at the end of a bed, staring at me with a shocked look on his face.

Wait, a bed? Who’s bed?

I looked away from him and noticed that I was in a room with just this bed and a small little night stand next to it and a toilet with a sink and a mirror in the corner, nothing else. The nightstand had marking on it that almost seemed etched into the surface, had someone been in here before me? I screamed once more and he got of the bed and began to approach me. I began flailing and shouting until he pinned me down with so much force it hurt to move.

            “Please stop making so much damn noise; you’re going make him mad. Just calm down and I’ll explain things to you. Okay?” He said with desperation in his eyes. Tears began to roll down my face but I nodded in agreement hoping he would let me go. He slowly removed his arms off mine and sat back down as I pressed my body into the corner as hard as possible, pressing the paper thin pillow tightly across myself.

            “Please don’t be scared, the easier you accept this, the easier it will be for you.”

 I began to speak but then he cut me off.

            “Just listen, the man who made me take you isn’t a very good man, and you’re not the only one down here. I promise you though if you just listen to what I say, I’ll make sure you don’t get hurt.”

            “But I.. but.. No, I can’t stay here, let me go!” I pleaded as the tears poured down some more.

            “I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. Please, just try to remain calm and everything will be fine. This is your life now.”

He got up off the bed once more and stared at me with blank eyes until went to the door, quickly exited and then locked it closed.

            I couldn’t believe what was going on. This just doesn’t happen in real life. This has to be some kind of sick joke my friends are playing on me for winning Queen. Yeah, that’s got to be it. The thought calmed me down, but deep inside I knew that wasn’t really what was going on. I got off the bed and yanked down my dress, scanning the room for anything I could find. I noticed some folded up clothes at the very end of the bed with a note reading “put these on.” I unfolded the stiff clothes, noting that it was just one single white tee shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. I wanted to puke at the thought of putting them on but I could barely breathe with this dress on. I walked to the farthest corner of the room and laid the clothes down on the floor. I reached for my back to unzip the dress and then fell to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

            I thought about my mom, and if she even knew I was missing. I thought about Joe, and how badly me not being at the rest of homecoming broke his heart. But mostly I just thought of the fact that I may die.

            I’m not sure exactly how long I was lying on the floor, but then the door creaked open as the boy walked back in.

“I have lunch for you” he said as he placed a tray on the nightstand.

“Malachi would like you to put those clothes on now, eat and then clean up. He’s going to come down here to see you, just stay calm, answer him whenever he talks and do not scream. I promise you won’t get hurt.

I lifted myself of the floor with weak arms and croaked as I said “Why are you doing this to me?” He looked at me so desperately and just quietly said “I have no choice” and left the room once again.

It took every ounce of energy to get up and change into the clothes that were left for me, and once changed I slowly made my way over to the mirror and began to shake as I saw my reflection. I had a small cut above my eye, and my mascara was completely down my face. My light brown hair now looked dark from what I assume was dirt and my lips were puffy from all of the crying. I took a deep breath, and turned on the sink and began splashing my face with the water. I used some of the toilet paper to clean up the makeup and the cut and then fingered threw my hair, trying to get it clean. I was just about finished making myself look like me again when the door opened once more. I turned around, and there stood a man whom was way taller than me and had a disgusting grin in his face. I began to say something but before I could, he slammed the door closed and started walking my way.