The music blasted, sending a vibration through Eve''s chest as she moved her hips to the beat. People were all around her,
some bumping into her, but she didn''t care. She reminded herself she''d have to give props to whoever it was who spiked the punch. She was feeling great.
Anthony pushed his way through the crowd, careful not to drop the plastic cup in his hand. He''d just filled it to the rim with more punch. He glanced over at the teachers who were chaperoning this dance. He wondered how they could be so clueless.
Finally, Anthony found Eve and moved up close to her. He put a hand on her hip and danced with her. She took the cup from him and drank some.
"MMM!" she said, shouting loud enough so Anthony could hear.
He laughed and nodded in agreement.
The music ended and a slow ballad began.
"Oh, no," said Eve, shaking her head in disgust. "Let''s get out of here!" she told her boyfriend.
Anthony smiled and grabbed her hand and lead her to the exit.
Eve sighed with relief as they got into his car.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked her.
"It doesn''t matter," she told him. "As long as it''s somewhere quiet."
He nodded, started the car, and drove out onto the highway. They rode in silence until they pulled onto a gravel road.
"Where are we going?" Eve wondered out loud.
"Just some abandoned property where nobody will bother us," Anthony answered.
"Oh," she smiled. "Good."
Anthony pulled the car up beside a shed and parked. He turned the radio on and put the volume on low. He reached for Eve, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead. She smiled and hummed along to the song. She began to slowly fall asleep, but was startled by Anthony. He jumped up and cursed.
"What is it?" Eve asked.
He pointed to the rear-view mirror. "I think it''s a cop," he mumbled.
"Oh great," siad Eve, sitting up straight. "What do we do?"
"Just act normal," he told her.
They both watched silently as the bright headlights came closer. Then the car stopped and shut off. Anthony glanced back.
"It doesn''t look like a police car," he told Eve. "I''m going to go see what they want, you stay here."
She nodded as he opened the car door and stepped out, shutting it behind him. She watched through the rear-view mirror as a man climbed out of the car and approached Anthony. They shook hands and seemed to be talking. The man kept gesturing to his car and then they walked over to it. The man popped the hood and joined Anthony with a flashlight. They both leaned in to examine the engine when suddenly the man hit Anthony over the head with the flashlight. He fell to the ground and the man began to kick him in the head repeatedly.
Eve screamed in horror and searched the car for a weapon. She quickly found a crowbar and got out of the car.
"Hey!" she shrieked, and ran towards the man, hitting him on his back.
He yelled in pain, stumbled, but didn''t fall. Instead, he turned around and glared at Eve. He was an ugly man. He had rotting teeth and a long, dark beard. He dropped the flashlight and charged Eve, knocking her to the ground. She cried out for Anthony but of course he didn''t hear her. He was laying lifeless several feet from her.
The man swung his fist, hitting Eve on the side of the head. Then everything went black...
Hours later, Eve began to wake up. She grumbled and held her head as she sat up and scanned her surroundings. Everything was dark. She felt cement underneath her when she touched the ground.
"Hello?" she whimpered. Her voice echoed in the silence.
"Anthony?" she called. But no answer. She began to sob silently in the dark. She stopped abruptly when she heard footsteps approaching. She breathed heavily and hugged herself in fright.
"What''s your name?" came a deep man''s voice.
"I- I''m not telling you," Eve whispered.
There was a pause. Then he shouted. "Tell me your name! Or do you want to die now?"
She b. "It''s Eve," she managed to choke out.
"Eve.." he said with interest. Then she felt a hand grab her and pull her to her feet. She began whimpering again.
"Shh.." he hissed, sliding his hand down her neck. His other hand slid up her shirt and groped her chest.
"Stop!" she cried. But he only pulled her closer.
"You''re mine now," he breathed into her ear.
Everything became a blur to Eve as he pushed her to the ground, ripped off her clothing, and began to have his way with her. Afterwards, he grabbed her clothes and left her alone, naked.
Eve cried for hours. She curled up into a ball on the cold cement and rocked herself to sleep.
The next day the man brought her a paper bag. Inside was a hamburger and french fries. He kicked her thigh to wake her up. She jumped and quickly sat up, trying to cover her body with her arms. She looked around and saw she was in an empty basement. Sunlight lit up part of the room. There was only one window and it was too far up for her to reach or even see out of.
The man threw the bag at her. "Eat." he ordered.
"I want my clothes!" Eve shouted.
"I burned them," he told her. "You don''t need them."
"Why are you doing this to me?!" she cried.
"You''re mine now," he told her.
Days passed. Each night the man would go to Eve and pleasure himself. Each day he would bring her food and drink. Eve searched her mind for a reason this man was doing this to her. She was only seventeen. She wondered why he would do this to such a young girl. She also wondered why he kept feeding her. She figured he must want her alive. But why? To have his way with her every night? She couldn''t think of a good enough answer. She wondered about Anthony. She prayed that he was still alive. If he was, he''d be able to tell her family what had happened. She wondered if anyone was looking for her. They had to be. She assured herself that they had to be.
One night while Eve lay awake staring into the darkness, she heard voices. They were coming from upstairs. Then she heard the basement door open and footsteps coming down.
"Who''s there?" she asked.
Then she felt arms gently pick her up.
"Stop!" she shrieked. Then she heard the man''s deep voice behind her ordering silence.
Eve was carried up the basement stairs and through what looked like a kitchen. Everything was dark. Then she was taken down a hallway and to a room. The man carrying her sat her down in a chair and slammed the door behind him. He then began to tie her arms and legs to the chair. Afterwards, a bright light flashed on. Eve looked around the room. Her eyes darted from side to side but nobody was in sight. She was sitting in a chair placed in the middle of what looked like a teenage boy''s room. She was faced towards a window but all she saw was curtains.
Then a voice spoke.
"If you just cooperate, he won''t hurt you," he said quietly. Eve froze in disbelief. It wasn''t a stranger''s voice. It was a voice she knew very well. It was Anthony...
"Why are you doing this to me?!" she screamed hysterically.
"Keep your voice down or I''ll have to put tape over your mouth," said Anthony. "And I really don''t want to have to do that. Dad said if you behave I can keep you in here with me."
"Dad?!" Eve said in confusion. "What''s going on?"
"Well you see," he began, "my dad hates your dad. He used to work for him but then he fired him for no reason. We barely survive now, Eve. It''s all your father''s fault. But my dad got an idea. What if I became close to the only daughter? Then set her up for a kidnapping. I personally wanted to wait a few more weeks but my dad insisted it be that night of the dance. So.. I brought you to our farm. My dad is going to ask for a
ransom for your safe return. That''s why he hasn''t hurt you."
Eve sobbed silently. "They''ll be looking for me," she told him.
"Thats okay," Anthony said. "I told the police you ditc