Chapter 5: Something Rotten in the State of Denmark
Lena woke up to find herself alone in Kyle's bed. Her clothes were nowhere to be found and neither was Kyle. "Hey Kyle?" she called, but no answer came. She threw off the covers and padded softly out of the bedroom, her heart began to race with a growing sense of unease. She didn't find him in the bathroom or closet, so she poked her head out into the hallway. Peering into the darkness of the rest of the house, she called again, "Hello?... Honey, where are you?" Nothing.
Her unease was starting to turn into worry. She started to search the house more thoroughly, checking rooms and calling his name louder. "Baby, this isn't funny anymore! Where are you?!" She checked each of the bedrooms, the living room, the study, the kitchen... He was nowhere to be found and he hadn't left a note. Panic started to set in as she realized he was not even in the house. Grabbing her phone, her hands shook as she dialed his number. It rang and rang, but there was no answer. She tried again. And again. Still nothing.
Where are you?!
In her desperation, she tried to leave the house. She thought he might have gone out to the garage for some reason. When she tried to leave the house through the kitchen back door, she found herself right back in the kitchen. After standing there for a terrified moment, Lena spun around, looking wildly around the empty room, screaming his name until her voice was hoarse. "KYLE!! BABY! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
A thought hit her;
she hadn't checked the attic yet
.
Maybe he's passed out or hurt up there! But what the hell is going on? Why can't I leave this house?
She ran up to the attic, hoping to find him and figure out just what the hell was going on. When she finally reached the top of the stairs, she peered into the gloom. Once her eyes had adjusted a little bit, she saw nothing but the chair. Confused, she took a few hesitant steps into the room, looking around.
This isn't right, I need to get the hell out of here.
She turned to go and found that the attic door was... missing...?
Oh no! I'm trapped...!
She spun around slowly. There was no door. No windows. Just bare walls and the chair. She backed away slowly, eyes wide. "No..." She whispered, "this is just a dream. It has to be..."
The chair called to her, filling her with longing. It begged her to sit in it again. Lena fought the urge and backed away even further. She was pretty sure the chair was a monster. "No... No, no, no..." She whispered and shook her head. But the chair kept calling to her, pulling her in like a magnet.
Just sit... Just sit... You know you want to...
"I won't..." Lena turned her back on the chair, trying to move to the other side of the empty attic, but found herself moving back towards the chair instead. "STOP IT!" She screamed at the empty space, but her feet kept moving closer to the chair. "I won't..."
You will
, a commanding voice echoed in her head.
Sit down. Now!
Her mind screamed in protest, but her body moved independently, obeying the commanding voice. Lena found herself lowering herself into the chair, sitting just as she had in her memories. She wrapped her arms around herself protectively as the invisible force held her there, trapped in place. "No..." She whimpered. Then Lena looked down and realized she was still naked!
What is happening to me?! How is this happening?!
The chair felt warm and inviting; it called to her,
Strap in. Press the button. STRAP IN. PRESS THE BUTTON!!
Lena shuddered violently, tears streaming down her face as the ghostly commands echoed relentlessly in her mind. With trembling hands that felt disconnected from her body, she reached for the straps. "Don't..." she whispered brokenly, even as her fingers secured the leather around her wrists and ankles.
Visibly shaking, she kept trying to resist, but her finger inched over to the button. She bit her lip and tried to wake herself up,
this has to be a dream!!
This is no dream, you belong to us now!
The voice echoed in her mind.
She can't resist...
She was sobbing now at how much her muscles ached from trying to resist, every fiber of her being screamed at her to stop. "Wake up..." she choked out desperately, squeezing her eyes shut. But the command was too strong, her resistance crumbled. With a shuddering inhaled breath, she pressed the button.
Click
.
The cuffs tightened automatically, securing her in place. The remaining straps slithered into position, teasing exposed and sensitive flesh before trapping her utterly. Her breath came in rapid, terrified pants as the straps cinched tighter. The memories of the first time she got stuck in the chair flooded back; the panic, the helplessness.
She was rescued by Kyle last time she locked herself in, but she was pretty sure no one was coming to save her this time..
. "No..." she whimpered, tugging uselessly at the restraints. "Let me go..."