Ev
I woke up with crust in my eyes from the tears that flowed in my sleep. I couldn’t believe this. I had been kidnapped. I couldn’t get a date to save my life, literally and now; I had been abducted. This was like a cruel joke. Who in the hell would kidnap me? I am plain and boring. Why is this happening to me? I started crying again. I always thought if anything like this happened to me, I would be bad ass. I am pathetic. I have got go get a grip.
Who is this guy? Do I know him?
Does Dug know him? Is this man the “Neighboring Man”? I heard footsteps above me. He was pacing. I kept trying to pull myself free from my restraints. It was no use. This asshole knew what he was doing. I was stuck. I was getting so angry. How in the hell did I get myself into this? How the hell was I going to get myself out of it?
It was several hours before my captor came down stairs to check on me.
“Are you hungry?” he asked holding a trey as he walked down the stairs.
“A little,” I answered. “I really need to go to the bathroom.”
He sat the tray down on the bedside table. He went to the head of the bed and turned something that made my restraints longer. “There’s a porta potty behind that curtain.” The restraints were just long enough for me to get behind the curtain and relieve myself. I sighed. I had been holding it for a long time. Modesty be damned. I had to pee. There was a roll of toilet tissue on the floor beside the potty. I glanced around the room as I walked back to bed. There was one window and it had glass and bars on it. I tried to not let my disappointment show. I sat back on the bed and he got the tray and put it across my lap.
“I hope you like tuna fish sandwiches,” he said, as if it were the most normal thing. “I gave you unsweet tea to drink and chips. I know you must be hungry.”
I smiled awkwardly. “Thank you.” I took a bite of the sandwich and then took a drink of the tea. "Why are you doing this?” I asked him.
He smiled. “I watched you run. It astounded me. I couldn’t believe you could run and sing at the same time. I was fascinated by you.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me out?” I asked him stupidly, as I ate, trying to remain calm.
He laughed. “I didn’t want to date you, silly. I want to own you. I want to know you from the inside out.”
Terror formed like a brick in my stomach. “You can’t own someone.”
His face turned dark. “Yes you can, Evelyn. I am going to own you.”
I looked at him. He was the nice looking man that I waved too when I ran at night. The one I thought might be a teacher. He was handsome. He had dark hair, hazel eyes and stubble. He almost looked like a rock star. His teeth were perfectly straight and he looked perfectly normal, but I knew when he said he wanted to own me, I was in a world of hurt. “What’s your name?” I asked. I took a drink of tea. My heart was in my throat. I was terrified but trying not to show it.
His arm went around my shoulders and it took everything in my making not to flinch from his touch. He looked me straight in the eye. “I am not ready for you to know my name yet. I will let you know when I am ready. Finish eating. You need to rest. I am worried about that bump you took on your head.”
I smiled shyly. “Thanks for your concern.” I wanted to add some ugly words and tell him this was his fault in the first place. I finished my sandwich and he left. I was asleep within minutes which led me to believe that I had been drugged.
In my dreams, I kept seeing Donnie running from me and I kept hearing Dug say: The neighboring man wants you. He’s coming, Ev. He’s ready for you. He’s mean. He’s evil. The neighboring man owns you.
I woke in a cold sweat. I knew the neighboring man had caught me.
I realized tears were running down my face and dripping on my chest. I wondered if anyone was missing me. I closed my eyes and willed someone to rescue me. I knew the truth deep down inside that most women don’t get rescued and if they do...they rescue themselves.