Unfound

4

I woke up on the floor of a dark and dank room. There were two small windows, too small for any human to fit through, and very close to the ceiling which stood at least four feet above my head. I took in the rest of the room, my head spinning slightly. There was a large wooden table, but no chairs and a queen sized mattress on the floor which has been set with plain white sheets. I guess this was where he expected me to live. It wasn't a large room, about the size of my dorm, but it wouldn't drive me insane for a day or two. I saw the stairs leading up to a narrow door and decided not to bother. If Seth expected me to stay here for a while, that door would surely be locked and if I stayed away from it in the beginning, he may slip up in the future.

I rose to my feet, my head still spinning, but I was confident my feet would hold me up. I began to pace. I walked wall to wall, counting the steps it took to try and calm me down. Seth was an ass, clearly, but we couldn't be too far from campus -I knew he couldn't carry me for a long stretch of time without someone seeing him and getting suspicious, so I had to be close to where he drugged me - and Liam would surely know I was missing if I didn't come home that night. I went back to the window. It was still light outside, but not too bright. Most likely it would be dusk soon. That means that I've either been out for an hour or two or over twenty four hours.

I put my ear against the wall with the windows, trying to listen to anything that could possibly give me clues to where I was, but I heard nothing. Not even a dog bark or a siren, though I hoped I would be hearing some sirens sooner rather than later. I jumped back as I heard the door creak open and went back to lay down on the spot on the floor where I had woken up. I closed my eyes and pretended to still be asleep. I slowed my breath and willed for my heart to stop racing. I was hoping if he thought I was still unconscious he would leave me alone.

His steps were slow and boisterous on the wooden creaking steps as he slowly crept into my new room. The sneakers on his feet giving away his likely weight, 150 to 175 max. I would be able to take him on if I really needed to, but if I didn't take him by surprise I wouldn't win. He had taken me with such ease and comfort that I knew this couldn't have been his first abduction, and he was likely armed or overpowering in some way. I tried to stay silent and still as he reached the concrete floor.

I heard him sigh, "Oh, Kara. Still out I see." His voice was deeper and scratchier than I remembered it being. He set something down on the table, "It's been over a day, shouldn't you be waking up soon? The website said you should only be out for a few hours and I would hate if I gave you too much. It would be a pity if I killed you already." I heard his steps coming closer, lightly now, and I couldn't help but flinch as his rough hand reached down to caress my hair, "So you are awake." I felt the presence of his devious smile though I kept my eyes squeezed shut, he was enjoying this, "Kara, get up. You should eat something." He forcefully grabbed my shoulder, trying to drag me to my feet.

I didn't want to follow his order, but I remembered what could happened if I were to disobey. I slowly stretched and got up, pretending to still be slightly out of it and wobbled, leaning against the wall. I looked at the floor, making sure to avoid eye contact. He stood back, watching my every move carefully. He smiled grimly, "You don't have to pretend with me, Kara. I can see it in your eyes." I stood up straighter, afraid to speak. "Good girl." He approached me, forcing me further against the wall, putting his arm next to my head, blocking me in. I was regretting my choice to shelter here, the wall provided me no escape or comfort. I was screwed. He smiled again, his breath rank and harsh against my face. He chuckled as I leaned back as close as I possibly could into the cold cement, "You better get used to seeing me, Kara," his voice purred as if he savored my name on his lips, "You're going to be staying with me for a while."

"Why?" I managed to spit out, my voice holding strong though my knees were weak.

He laughed, throwing his head back, his short black hair covering his beady little eyes. "Because, sweet Kara, you're meant for me," he tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. My face must have given away my concern because he said, "Don't worry, if you don't see it now, you will soon. School and Liam," he practically growled when he said his name, "have been distracting you from what's real. You and me are real." His face got much closer to mine as I struggled not to grimace at how much I severely wanted to punch him in the face. He took a small step back, "I've been watching you, Kara. For a long time now." His face grew dark and grim, he wasn't messing around. The shadows cast on his face were something of a nightmare, "You may not see it now, but you will. In the mean time, it's my job to take care of you." He motioned to the table and in that instance the shadows lifted from his face, turning him back into the light, chipper Seth that I had met in the cafeteria just the day before. The image of a normal him made me sick to my stomach. How could I have missed this.

"Look, Seth, I belong up there. People will notice I'm gone. I have to go back, Seth, I'm Sorry." I thought apologizing would help settle any leverage I had over him, maybe invoke some emotion from him, but all his eyes mirrored were delight. He wanted me to beg. He wanted a reaction from me. I knew then that I couldn't give him anything. No pleading or begging or crying. I'd have to pretend to be someone else, to like it here, if I ever wanted to leave.

I slowly walked to the table, afraid to get to close to him, but wanting to keep him happy enough. I've been through this before and as long as they stay happy, I'll stay safe. I made my way to the plate where he had made poached eggs and bacon. I stifled a laugh upon seeing that it was in the shape of a smiley face. Ironic. I reached for a fork or knife, but there were no utensils. Seth stepped behind me, pushing his front against my back, his breath hot on my ear and I tried not to flinch. "No utensils, Kara. I learned my lesson with the last girl. Apparently even spoons can be dangerous." he was smiling. Absolutely disgusting.

My breath stopped, my heart slowed to a dangerous speed, 'The last girl'. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had thought that he may have done this before, but now that I know for sure. He had done this before, and had gotten away with it. The worst part, the last girl had likely ended up dead. No way he would let anyone live after coming at him with a weapon. Either she attacked Seth and he replied by killing her, or she figured that killing herself was better than dealing with him. I couldn't speak or move. He had mentioned that he would be sad if he had killed me already. 'Already'. I focused on that word. He wasn't expecting me to survive here very long, and I didn't either.

He took a step back to get a better look at me, "No chairs either, I'm afraid. Some of the girls have had a little too much spunk and ended up hurting themselves or me with the objects I provided them with and I had to teach them an unfortunate lesson. Never fun to clean up." The sick bastard pouted, "Now it's just the table, your mattress, and a few paperback books per your request." He flashed me a smile and bowed. I held back the contents of my stomach. "I'll leave you to eat and get familiar with your new home. The process of eating without utensils becomes quite messy and I rather don't enjoy watching it." He approached me again and planted a kiss on my forehead before I was shaken to my senses and took a rather large step back. He took pleasure in my actions, his smile widening, "I'll be back soon, Kara."

I watched him walk up the stairs, never looking back at me as the dark wood creaked under his weight. The green door slammed shut behind him and I heard the click of the lock. As the door closed I crumbled to the floor, my legs no longer able to keep me standing. Girls? Teach them a lesson? He was a murderer. Most likely consisting of girls from the college I went to, and we've never heard of him. This also means that he probably isn't a student at all, at least not any more. Girls. More than one and he's still doing it. He hasn't been caught yet, why would he now? I wasn't safe and I would not be saved by anyone else. I had to somehow escape on my own. He wanted me. Romantically? As a pet or a slave? I could use that to my benefit, but for how long before he expected something more. I couldn't be his girlfriend or wife or sex partner or whatever else he wanted. I couldn't do it. I had to get out. I hadn't lived yet. I want to travel the world, to see Paris and England and Greenland and Antarctica if at all possible. And by wanting to see the world, I didn't mean the basement of a psychopath. I could have done without that life changing experience.