Taken

Tied

The older boy leans in, so close I can smell his breath.

"You listen to me. Listen close, 'cause I'm not gonna say it again.

He looks me straight in the eye.

"You will not talk unless we ask you a question. You will not struggle against the rope. You will not complain or whine or cry. You will be given some sustenance later, so don't ask for food. You're going to have a guard, one of us-" He gestures at the boys behind him. "-at all times, so don't try to leave. I doubt you'd be smart enough to anyway."

Turning away from me, he goes back to the group of boys and quickly confers with his friends.

I hear their whispers like moth wings.

The boy I saw earlier looks from me to the older boy nervously. "Are you sure, Ron?" He asks in a quiet voice.

The older boy, Ron, says, "It'll be a good test, Nick. You don't even have to look at her, just...be careful."

"Okay."

The boys exit the garage, going out through a little door I didn't know was there before. It was metal, like the walls. And it was seamless, melting into the walls like butter.

After the last boy left, he shut the door.

And then the boy and I were alone.

He was about my age, about fifteen, and lean. He was taller than me, but short compared to the other boys, with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes. . He had a kind face, too kind to be a kidnapper.

I lifted my eyes to meet his.

He caught them.

I silently plead with him.

"Look," He says. "It's nothing personal. I'm just sorry it had to happen this way."

"What way? I've been knocked out, tied up and threatened by a group of teenage boys. Are you honestly telling me that there wasn't another way for you to get what you need?"

My voice breaks.

He turns away.