Trapped

chapter two

It was getting dark and my legs were overcome with fatigue. I must have been walking for at least an hour by now, angrily trying to put as much distance between myself and anything that would remind me of what had become of my life. I wanted more than anything to go back to the girl I used to be, the one who was happy no matter what and would always have a smile on her face, the girl who barely had a care in the world. I knew I was safe back then, whenever anything was bothering me my dad would scoop me up in his arms and cuddle me until all the doubts and fears went away. I missed him; I missed our days out and not having to take care of the rest of my family, but most of all I missed not constantly being worried about what my mom would do next.

I sighed, stopping and leaning up against a lamp post, it's light cascading down as it flickered above me. I watched as a young girl sat in the window of her bedroom reading a book, every so often her face would light up as she smiled at whatever was encased within those enchanted pages. A few houses along, a family were sitting down to dinner, the two young boys laughing and joking as the parents stared lovingly into each other eyes. It was hard to believe, with the contrast to my family, that places like that existed anymore.

"Are you lost Janie?" I spun round, startled by the voice which seemed to have come from nowhere. Searching in the gloom I found the culprit, a middle aged man leant casually against a brick wall not far from where I was stood.

"No, I-" I stopped, my blood running cold. Had he just said my name? The man took a step closer, reaching the outskirts of where the street lamp cast it's glow. I could see his face from this distance; his features were defined, partially covered by a matt of dark brown hair which hung down over his eyes.  He didn't look dangerous, but who knew what lay underneath this tender skin? "How do you know my name?" I asked, finally managing to find my voice.

The man chuckled slightly, showing off a lopsided grin, "Oh Janie Robinson, there is really nothing that I don't know about you." He took another step closer, backing me up against the wall behind me. "Here's what's going to happen Janie," My breath caught in my throat as the gun he held glinted in the faint light. Flicking it upwards he pressed it against my ribs. Scream Janie, scream  I urged myself but I couldn't seem to form any kind of sound. "I want you to smile, hug me and get into my car over there," He indicated with his free hand to where a car with the engine running sat, mere meters from where we stood. How had I not noticed that before? Oh my god, I thought, my eyes darting around searching for a way out. I was telepathically screaming at the girl who remained seated in her window lost in her book. If she just looked up now then she would see us. The man followed my gaze up to the window, giving off a faint laugh. " You really have no choice," He whispered leaning in close to me, pressing  a hand over my mouth preventing me from making any sound, despite the fact that I remained frozen to the spot. "I know you Janie, I know all about your mother and your brother and sister. I know what happened to your father and I know about how you used to speak to your best friend everyday on the phone until one day she stopped calling you. I know how you went to see her and she walked away from you in the park and about how badly you have been failing in school. And if you think for a second that I would hesitate before killing any person in your life who has ever meant anything to you then you are so very wrong." He pressed the gun harder against my ribs. "You could call the police but they would never get there in time. Now do as I say."

I was visibly shaking as his face hovered just inches from my own. I had no choice; there was nothing that I could do to get away from this psychopath. There was no doubt in my mind that he would carry out his threats. Kidnapped from plain sight.