Next Door Neighbor

CHAPTER 18: THE FIRST DAY

TW: Violence

SPENCER'S POV:

My eyes are so heavy. It takes me a few blinks to get them fully open. My head is pounding. What happened? I rub my eyes, the blurriens clearing away. I'm on the floor. The cement is cold underneath me. I'm in a small room, no windows, a small bucket, and two pairs of chains hanging from the ceiling. A video camera sits in the corner near the door, light blinking, showing that it is recording. I look next to me and see Stephanie laying on the ground, a foot or so away from me. This makes me wake up. Everything comes rushing back. The stalker broke in, knocked me out. I reach for my gun, but there's nothing there. This is not good. "Stephanie. Stephanie, wake up." her eyes gently flutter open and she looks over at me. Her eyes widen as she takes in the small cement room around us.

"Spencer, where are we?" she asks slowly. "I don't know." I tell her honestly. She scootches closer to me and I wrap an arm around her. Whatever's coming, I need to protect her. I'm still trying to figure out why I'm here. Why would the unsub take both of us? That's more risk, more work, especially if he's only after one of us. I'm startled from my thoughts when I feel Stephanie shaking. She must be terrified.

"We're going to be okay. The team is probably already looking for us. I won't let anything happen to you." I reassure her. She sends me a small smile. I'm about to say something when I hear the locks on the door open. I help her up. "Get behind me. Now." Stephanie shoots me a worried look but shields herself behind me. The door creaks open. The man in the tiger sweatshirt comes in, a black mask over his face, hood pulled down. He has a gun in his hand, pointed down at the ground. He walks over to us, cockiness clear in every step. "Hello, Stephanie." he says, his voice deep. I stay silent. Anything I say could just infuriate him. "You don't recognize me?" He tuts. He pulls off his mask. "It's me, Lance." He says, a sick smile appearing on his face.

Stephanie's eyes go wide as she realizes who he is. "Good, you know who I am. I was worried you forgot about me." He says. "I had to figure out a way to get to you. I have to make sure we're together, and that nothing gets in our way. We can be together, forever." He explains.

"Lance, you don't need to do this. We can figure this out, let's just talk." I say slowly, trying to keep my voice even. One wrong move could set him off. He's unstable. "I don't think you're in any position to try and bargain with me, Spencer. You know, I watched you both for a while. You were the one that kept us apart, and for that, you have to be punished." His voice is angry, his face full of fury, a stark switch from the calm facade he had before.

"It's me you want. Please, Just let Stephanie go. She's innocent, she doesn't need to get involved." I try to reason with him. If I can get Stephanie to safety, everything will be okay. Lance's face changes from angry to calm again. For a moment, I have hope that he will free her. "No. She needs to stay here with me. She'll realize she loves me, it just takes time." Lane says. "I'll make her realize. And I'll make sure that you stay out of the way. But you have to be punished for keeping us apart. And that will start right. now."