Blood Red Blindfold

Chapter 9

Grant. Why would he ever tell me his name? Why would he ever check on a captive for another captive?

I hear loud voices from somewhere above me. But I can't distinguish any comprehensible sentences. What does Terrox want? I have nothing to offer. Josh can't offer much either. These kidnappers chose the wrong pair of people.

After what seems like forever, the door opens again. I stand, waiting anxiously. Grant descends the stairs silently. "Put the blindfold back on," he whispers.

"What? Why? Josh has seen the house already," I say, staring at him.

"Shhh. Keep it down. Listen, you want Terrox to think you are no threat. You have to make yourself seem small and helpless, got it?"

"I don't-" I start.

"Be quiet. Let me lead you around, act small and petty. You want to leave here with your life, don't you?" He whispers.

"I thought you said the intention wasn't to hurt us," I whisper back, my eyes full of worry.

"Just do as I say. Terrox hasn't been in a giving mood lately."

I gulp and wrap the red cloth around my eyes. Grant's hand lightly closes around my wrist as heads me up the stairs. He leads me through the house and I try to look as scared of what is to come as possible. My act is nowhere near the terror I feel in the pit of my stomach.

I don't keep track of where we go in the house. I just listen to the blood rushing in my head and Grant's knock on a wooden door. As we hear the knob turn, Grant whispers into my ear. "Answer all his questions."

I am sat in a stiff wooden chair, and the blindfold is untied. I watch it flutter to the floor. The red cloth lays on the floor, resembling a bloody mess.

Josh sits in an identical chair to my left, a few feet away. An enormous mahogany desk is before us, with Terrox sitting in a grand chair behind it. He stares a me coldly. I want to stare back, but I heed Grant's warning and shy my head away. Terrox chuckles.

"What's your name sweetheart? I'll consider this your last chance." He says.

"Hailey Graham," I mumble. I look up at him. "You came to my house."

"I figured it was a vacation home." Terrox says indifferently.

I tilt my head slightly, confused. Terrox doesn't seem to notice.

"I understand you likely know why you're here," he says.

I shake my head. I have honestly no clue. "I-" but his look stops me dead in my tracks. It's amusement.

"You don't know?" He laughs. "Your face gave away what you're thinking. You're clueless!" He starts to laugh so hard he shakes. The others join in besides Grant, who doesn't seem amused.

"She doesn't know?" He questions Josh, still laughing.

My head swivels to Josh. He looks guilty. He doesn't look at me. "What?" I ask. I'm more than confused.

"I didn't tell her," mumbles Josh. "It wasn't important." He frowns.

Terrox turns back to me. "Shouldn't you know someone's background before you go off dating them?"

Josh's head pops up, wide eyes. My mouth drops open. "We're not- he's not- we're just- he's my best friend," I stumble for words.

"Oh." Terrox scratches his head. "You're here either way. And what Josh has failed to tell you is that's he's loaded."

"Loaded as in rich!" Shouts Bumpy.

"Filthy, filthy rich!" Tops Shaggy. Josh ducks his head, looking at his hands in his lap.

Terrox looks at me, waiting for surprise on my face. I'm too shocked to even look the part. So I just stare back.

He continues. "So this is a ransom kidnapping. We're gonna sell little Joshy here back to his parents. But you. You're an unexpected bump in the road. But no matter, I can collect money for you too. Neither of you leave here until I get my money." He grins.

My insides feel crushed. I can't breathe. I start to feel the panic kick in. Josh is looking at me, thinking the same thing I am. I don't have money. I don't have parents. How am I going to be able to leave?