chatroulette's stranger

Chapter Twenty seven: Try a little vanishing

Few weeks went by and life seemed to settle slowly. A sweet little routine had insinuated itself and taken place in Esteban and mine's life. Starting with the light breakfast we would share every morning, the ride to school in his car, the different classes and then going back home after hanging out for a while, for a cup of coffee or something similar. We still obviously ate too much take away, although we were trying, well, Esteban was trying to cook more frequently, still it felt good, i was meeting Caleb often. Surely i missed him but we were slowly getting used to this new lifestyle. 

One afternoon, as i was walking back from a meet up with Caleb, i see Jimmy on his little bicycle, riding it towards me.

"Hello, Amelia!"

"Hey, big boy. What's up? How is your little girlfriend?" I ask remembering the little blonde haired girl.

"Oh, it's alright, thank you," he answers with a grin before adding, "Mummy would like to talk to you."

"Okay, sure." I walk towards the neighbour's house, slightly curious at what she had to say, but for sure she must be having another date night and needed a babysitter.

As i stand on the doorstep, just as i was about to push the doorbell, I suddenly feel strong arms snaking around me from behind. One right arm around my waist and the other partly on my left shoulder with a hand pressing up a soaked tissue against my nose, the acrid smells burns my thorat as I struggle more and more but the hold is too strong and i quickly tire, slowly but surely feeling myself slip in the dark as i fall into a silent sleep.

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A loud headache, wakes me up from my deep slumber, my throat feels dry and scratching, i open a tempting eye but quickly decide against it, as the light sends a jolt of pain in my head. Few seconds pass by and slowly the fog seems to recede, i start to remember what happened before, the smell, the figure, the fainting. My heart rate spikes up, i'm suddenly more aware of my surroundings, my hands are tied behing my back and by the moving motion, i can tell i'm in a car. It looks like a minivan, I see the figure in the driver's seat, hands on the steering wheel, i can only see the back of his neck and his black hair already greying around the edges. I cease the opportunity of him thinking i'm still unconsious to try to get out of the car once it stops. I temptingly glance out the window, when i see that we have stopped at a gas station. He gets out of the car, I quickly close my eyes feigning sleep. A neverending moment afterwards, I put my joined hands on the door handle, opening the car. Just as i was about to put one foot out of the vehicule, the man stands in front of me, blocking me from moving out. I am filled with dread when I finally get the chance to look at his face. But nothing could have prepared me for the shock I received when i saw the familiar traits. The same face that's been haunting my dreams all those years ago. Someone i wouldn't have believed i would recognise until the very moment i did.

The gang member from all those years ago.

"Get back in the car." He says, with cold eyes and a heavy weight settling against my stomach. OI glance at its direction, it's a gun. A damn gun! But i don't get the chance to even begin freaking out. All my thoughts have been stopped in their tracks when the same voice mutters again.

"Do not say a word or you'll regret it."

As I retreat into the van, my brain seems to turn into automatic mode. I don't think, I don't talk, I dont feel anything besides the domineering fear which has freezed me. The man gets inside the car, which soon enough starts moving again, he throws a furtive glance to the rearview mirror.

"I did not want to do this," he starts, " I didn't. But i have to."

His face wears a manic sort of grimace while saying these words.

"You gotta help me out with something. And if you do, nothing bad is goint to happen to you. I promise"

I try to stop myself from answering the visibly conflited man, but i find myself quietly murmuring:

"You just kidnapped me, why would i believe you?"

It was more of a rhetorical question, i certainly did not expect him to give an answer but surprisingly, a look of hurt crosses his face, and his fingers turn white as they tighten on the steering wheel.

He looks like he is about to say something, then decides against it. he doesn't even stare at me through the mirror. He just drives.

Moments later, the car stops in front of a house. One that looks perfectly normal except for the fact that it is completely empty on the inside. No sofa, no TV, no sign of human activity. Just a thin layer of dust and a rudimentary chair put in the middle of the main room.

"Sit." he gestures blankly. I do as asked, he follows behind me, and pulls out a rope that he ties around my wrists and the back of the chair. Shortly afterwards, he disappears in another room. I hear him talking to someone, probably on the phone, i can only make ot bits and pieces of his words. Although it isn't enough to actually understand anything.

Esteban's POV

It's getting late, still no sigh of Amelia, i fight the worried voice nagging at me and try to call her another time.

No answer.

I decide to call her brother, knowing she met up with him this afternoon, which is why i came cabk alone to the house.

"hello?"

"Hey, Caleb, what's good?"

"Not much man. The usual." Before adding in a worried tone "Is everything alright?"

"Uh, yes, of course. I was just wondering if you were still with Amelia, she hadn't come home yet."

"WHAT? wait i'm coming right now!"

"No, no need to come. She's probably just with Cassie or laken. I'll try calling them"

"Alright, you do that. But call me right after"

"Okay, don't worry."

And the call ended. I contact Cassie and then Laken but none have seen her. Laken decides to come right then. I agree, guessing i'll probably need the help. As the worry becomes more and more overwhelming, I try calling Amelia's phone again and again.

 Few minutes later, I hear an engine right outside the house, i recognise Laken's bike and join him outside quickly.

"Any news?" He asks

"No, nothing at all. Maybe I should call her brother now"

"I think i'll look at th café we used to go to" he anounces

Just as i was about to answer him that it was a good idea, i see jimmy, slowly wheeling towards us, and saying rather excitingly:

"Did Amelia like the surprise?"

I'm startled by this, "What surprise? "

"Her uncle came here, he wanted to meet her. That was her surprise." he answered

What the....?

She doesn't have an uncle!

As the situation, gets more tangled and visibly more dangerous, I immediately call Caleb, who asks me rather roughly not to call the police.

 I can't help but think of the worst things possible. I urge Jimmy back home while Laken and I hurriedly get in the house, waiting for her brother to come.