Prologue:
Sage pulled her jacket tighter around her body as she trudged her way to the parking garage from the hospital where she worked. At 21, Sage was already a Licensed Practical Nurse and was in classes to get her RN. A lot of people would say that she was very fortunate to live the life she lived: She was raised by her grandparents who loved her very much, she was smart, and she was engaged to the love of her young life: Malachi Pittman.
Sage stood at about 5'7 with a small waist, round ass, and firm 36C breasts. Her brown skin was smooth and flawless, though small freckles dotted her button nose and cheeks, big hazel eyes, and shoulder-length, curly hair. Not only did she have a beautiful exterior, she was sweet and caring as well. Malachi was constantly reminded that he was lucky to have her as his fiancée by the looks that Sage received from men and women alike when they were out together. Though he was not lacking in the looks department at all with his solid, dark body and handsome face.
It was very dark outside, Sage had just finished working a twelve-hour shift, barely missing the time for the night shuttle that transported employees from the hospital to the parking garage. When she made it to the parking garage, she let out an exhale of relief to have made it there safely. There had been several attacks reported within the last year by women walking from the hospital to the parking garage. She took the stairs up to the fourth floor and began walking, keys in hand, to her car that was in the corner parking spot in the distance. Making it to her car, she began to unlock it. With no warning, a gloved hand covered her mouth and a knife was pressed firmly against her throat.
Instinctively, she began to struggle and scream behind the stranger's hand.
"Shhh, it will all be over soon, Pretty Girl," a gruff voice growled in her ear. Not giving her a chance to reply, a rag with chloroform was pushed over her nose and mouth. Soon, she was fading from reality and everything went black...
~*~*~*~
-Sage-
I was awakened by sunlight shining in my eyes through a window. I sat up quickly and looked around, trying to get my eyes to adjust to the brightness. My head was pounding and I was a bit dizzy from my sudden movements. After giving myself a moment to focus on my surroundings, I realized that I was in an unfamiliar room, in an unfamiliar bed. Where was I?
I looked down on myself and I was wearing a white, silk gown that stopped at my thighs. What the hell? I put my head between my knees, beginning to feel a bit nauseous. I shakily got to my feet and explored my surroundings. I first looked out of the window. The house I was in had an immaculate yard and was a corner lot. The houses around it looked just like the one I was in: it looked like a nice, suburban neighborhood.
Flashbacks of the night before flashed in my head and instantly, I was terrified. I looked around for my clothes and did not find them, neither could I find my purse. I searched the room for a phone but had no success. Where was I? Who brought me here? What do I do?
With no other options, I walked to the door. If I was a prisoner, I certainly had a pretty good amount of freedom. The doorknob turned freely, it was unlocked. I walked down the stairs quietly, listening for any sign of life. Downstairs, I heard a television playing. Maybe the guy was asleep in front of the television. Maybe I had a chance to get away.
"Hey, Baby," the voice from last night said from beside me when I made it to the bottom of the stairs. My heart stopped... I had a clear path to the door from the foot of the stairs. I made brief eye contact with the man before I made a run for it. He was a white man with sky blue eyes. He was smiling at me like he's known me all my life.
When I made it to the door, I grabbed the doorknob and was met by intense pain. Shrieking, I snatched my hand back and examined it...burned.
"Sage, what's the matter, Baby?" he asked calmly.
Still in pain, I glared at him. "Who the fuck are you and how do you know my name?" I asked through clenched teeth.
"Oh, come on. Stop playing with me," he said, laughing.
"What do you mean?" I asked, still pissed off about my now-blistering hand.
"Pretending like you don't know who I am," he said, walking closer to me.
"I don't know who you are," I said, backing away from him.
"Okay, enough," he said when I backed into the wall, "Let me see your hand, Love."
Confused by his words, I watched as he took my injured hand in his.
"That's a nasty burn, Angel," he whispered, examining my hand closely before kissing it lightly, "Is that better?"
I snatched my hand from him and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Hell no, that's not fucking better! Who are you?" I shouted, officially creeped out.
"Fine, Sage. I'll play your little game," he said, rolling his eyes and smirking at me, "I'm Shane Austin and I'm your husband."
I looked at him in disbelief. "You're my...what?" I said, blinking several times.
"I'm your husband," he repeated a little slower.
"I'm engaged to Malachi Pittman," I said, shaking my head vigorously.
"Not according to this," he said, pulling a piece of paper from a drawer in a shelf and handing it to me.
I looked at it:
Sage Cooper and Shane Austin
It was dated for July 5th, 2012... the day I was taken. What was today? Was that my signature? Sage Austin? That was definitely my handwriting. What the hell is going on? I looked at my hand. My engagement ring was replaced by a beautiful, yet foreign wedding band.
"What is going on here?" I asked, voicing the question that was resounding in my head.
"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, Sage, but I'll play along for now," he said, walking over to me. He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled me close. "I love you."
"Who are you?" I asked again, tears welling in my eyes.
"I'm Shane Austin... your husband."
~*~*~*~
-Shane-
It almost hurt my feelings seeing her look so hopeless...so afraid. I didn't want to hurt her. I loved her. I loved her from the moment I saw her... She was my sister, Charlotte's nurse about a month back when her appendix ruptured. She moved around the room as graceful as an angel. She bathed her, cleaned her wound, drew her blood, talked to her, everything. She was so...perfect. She lived and breathed perfection. She was filled with so much love and kindness that I had to have her for my own.
After Charlotte was discharged, Sage insisted on rolling her down to my car and helping to load her and her things because she developed a bit of a relationship with her over the week and a half that she was hospitalized. I was so into her but she never really noticed me. It really hurt me that she didn't know who I was when she saw my face... it really made me realized how much I didn't mean to her. None of that mattered now. She was my wife and I damn sure wasn't letting her go.
Over the following month, I watched her... I knew what car she drove, I knew her work schedule, I even followed her home a couple of times. I saw her fiancé. He was a tall, black guy with lots of muscles and all that bullshit. It didn't matter. He didn't love her like I did...no one could ever love her like I did. I looked through their windows and watched them when they made love. He didn't treasure her or worship her body like it deserved. She faked her orgasms... I could tell. Some people may think I'm crazy or some sort of 'stalker' but that's not me at all. I loved her and knew exactly what she needed and I planned on delivering...and soon.
-Sage-
My husband... I legally had a husband. A husband I knew absolutely nothing about. I was taken from a parking garage and...married. What kind of bullshit was this? I should be fighting right now, struggling to get away. Yet, here I am laying with my head on this stranger's shoulder and relaxing into his strong embrace. I had to escape...
"Are you hungry, Baby?" Shane asked, pulling me away to look in my eyes. He had the most heavenly blue eyes and I couldn't help but think how much it sucked that he was a fucking psychopath and that I was engaged to Malachi. Shane was actually very attractive.
Momentarily lost in his gaze, I didn't notice my hunger. I hadn't eaten since lunch of the day I was taken. I nodded meekly.
"Aww, why didn't you say so?" he asked, gently stroking my cheek. I fought the urge to flinch away... the last thing I wanted to do was piss him off. Crazy people are even scarier when they're pissed off. "What would you like?"
I pondered a minute. "What's today?" I asked.
"Today's July 7th," he said, matter-of-factly.
My eyes widened, "I've been here two days? No one has found me, yet?" I asked, terrified.
Shane's eyes went downcast and his irises darkened a bit. Then a wicked smile painted his face. "No, no one has 'found' you. You know why? Because there's no one looking you. You're here...at home... with your husband... Why would anyone find anything amiss?"
My mind was reeling... was it even a possibility that no one was looking for me? I shook my head vigorously. No, someone had to be. "What about my grandparents? What about Malachi?"
"Sage... seriously. This whole thing is getting old. Now, what do you want to eat? You haven't eaten anything in two days," he asked, dismissively.
The last thing I wanted was to eat anything... I knew I probably wouldn't be able to keep it down, but as I've said before: I didn't want to piss him off.
"Anything," I said, meekly, "Just nothing too big, I don't want to make myself sick."
"Alright, Baby. I have some leftover spaghetti in the refrigerator. Let me get some for you. Follow me and have a seat at the table," he said, guiding me to another room with his hand protectively around my waist. Everywhere he touched me felt tarnished... I needed to get away.
-Shane-
I hated pretending like nothing was wrong. I hated dodging her questions and making her feel as though she was insane but I figured that the fastest and easiest way for her to accept her fate was to keep her from thinking about the past. This was now... our future. I was sure that eventually she'd come to terms with it. I was sure that one day she'd be happy with me. Mark my words.
~*~*~*~
