Bad Memories // a.u.

chapter 22: recognition

keaton's pov

 Noelle was worrying me a lot lately and she was all I could think about during my shift. I was screwing up orders and I even spilled water all over a customer. 

"Hey Keaton, why don't you head home? The diner can handle the rest the day without you," my boss told me as I made my way back to the kitchen after cleaning up my mess. 

"Are you sure?" I ran a hand through my hair, feeling frustrated. This had never happened to me once in the two years that I had worked at the diner. 

She nodded and urged me to leave for the next five minutes, telling me that Sam would take over my tables. I mumbled under my breath as I left saying that I wished anyone but her would take over my for me, but in reality I was relieved to be off work. I went straight to Noelle's house, not bothering to stop at mine to change out of my uniform. I untucked my shirt from my khaki shorts on the way and I was instantly more comfortable. I knocked on the door, not wanting to be rude since she didn't know I was coming. No one was answering the door, which was weird. I tried twisting the knob, but it didn't turn. I banged on the door, harder this time but again no one came. 

Letting out a ragged breath, I made my way back to my house and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail. I decided to call Skylar even though I knew she had her big date with Drew. 

"Keaton? Why the fuck are you calling me right now?"

"Have you seen Noelle?" 

"No, I haven't seen her. I'm on my date with Drew. You know that," she said, her voice tinged with anger that I interrupted. 

"I'm sorry. It's just that she seemed upset earlier and she's not at home and she's not answering and I don't know where she is and I'm worried," I rambled, finally making it home. 

I heard Skylar sigh through the phone. "She probably just went for a walk or something and turned her phone off. She's a big girl, Keaton. She can take care of herself. You need to calm down."

"I know." I took a deep breath and collapsed on my bed. "Sorry for interrupting your date."

"It's fine. Just try and take a nap to relax and call her later, ok?" 

"Alright," I told her and hung up. I put on Death Cab for Cutie because they are my favorite and I finally drifted off, dreaming that I was with Noelle in a far away paradise. 

noelle's pov

I woke up with a blindfold tied around my eyes. It felt like a bandana or something of the sort. I wanted badly to rip it from my face, but my hands were held behind my back with a rope, causing my wrists to itch. I could tell I was still in the back of the van, so the man must not have knocked me out too hard after taking me into the van. I remember struggling pretty well with him after he grabbed me, but I couldn't get away. I decided to keep quiet because I had no idea where the man was and I remembered hearing another voice as he brought me into the van. There was no way I was going to be able to get out of the rope around my wrists anyway. My throat was really dry and I hoped that we got to wherever we were going soon and he gave me some water (or anything really) to drink. 

The van suddenly screeched to a halt, causing my body to fling forward since I had been sitting on the dirty floor of the van's cabin. "Oomph," I said, struggling to right myself up without the use of my hands or eyes. 

"You sure are a helpless thing," the man's deep voice startled me as I heard car doors opening and closing simultaneously. My body stiffened as I felt his hands reach under my armpits and lift me up. 

"It would help if I could see and use my hands," I snapped. 

"Hey! I make the rules here. You got that?" He sounded threatening, so I decided to keep my mouth shut for right now. He dragged me out of the van and I tried standing up, but my legs failed me and I fell to the damp grass beneath me. "Stand up!" he ordered.

"I can't get up without my hands," I explained. I was on the verge of tears, but I found the strength to keep them in. 

"You need to take the blindfold off. She won't be able to get away." This came from the other person. Their voice sounded vaguely familiar, but in my state of mind I couldn't place it. 

"Fine," he groaned, starting to undo my blindfold. "Go inside and make sure everything is set up and ready." I heard footsteps walking farther away from us as he finished undoing the blindfold and the door of a cabin closed just as my eyes adjusted to my surroundings. We were in the middle of nowhere - patches of dead grass everywhere in the vast field. The lone cabin had a few trees around it. It looked rather old and I wasn't so sure that I even wanted to go in. I heard the flick of a pocket knife opening and I flinched as he brought it closer to me. "Calm down," he hissed. "I'm just taking off the rope." I stilled my arms and held my breath as the knife cut through the rope. My arms dropped to my sides, but the man quickly grabbed onto my right one and tugged me toward the cabin.

"You could be a bit nicer," I whispered, hoping he didn't hear me. 

He pulled me harder. "I'll do whatever the hell I want," he snarled, which made me recoil. His voice was rough and scratchy. The stentch of cigarettes was strong on his whole being and I wanted to throw up. Once into the cabin he brought, or rather dragged me to the back bedroom and flung me onto the small twin sized bed. It was made up with white flower printed sheets and had the flattest pillow I had ever seen. "This is where you'll be. Don't ask for anything. Ever."

I observed another person, more of a boy come up behind the man and I instantly gasped. My throat dried up and I wanted to speak, but I couldn't. I wanted to ask him what he was doing here with this man that kidnapped me, but I was frozen. I felt myself start to fade into blackness.

Hi (: ooooo cliffhanger! sorry if this is short, but I didn't want to drag on so I hope you enjoy. please vote and comment. xx zoe 

p.s. who do you think is the person she recognizes with the man??