"78 cents is your change, enjoy your meal." I retrieved the change along with my food from the cashier.
"I need to stop working so late." I reminded myself as I set off walking to the nearest bus stop.
A heavy sigh left me when I glanced up at the black, cloudy sky.
"A beauty like you will do quite nicely." An unknown voice said from the shadows before a sharp pain exploded in my neck as I sank into oblivion.
***
"You were the most amazing audience I've ever had," the man said. He had a slight accent, but I couldn't tell where from.
I was still trying to wake up, to escape the foggy sleep state. "What's going on?" I said, trying to move my arm. The handcuffs jangled as they bit into my wrists. My arms were pulled uncomfortably behind my back, and my ankles were bound to the chair. "Why am I tied up like this?"
"Don't be afraid," the man took a step closer. I could only see his shoes, and the edge of his pants. They were expensive-looking. His whole outfit was, in fact.
"Why am I tied up?!" I yelled. It seemed ridiculous, the way he had answered my question with nonsense.
"You don't need to shout, Chelsea."
My heart sped up at his use of my name. How did he know my name? Who was he? Where was I? The room was bare except for the chair I was sitting on, a small table next to me, and a lamp that was the only source of light. The light was dim, casting odd shadows across the walls.
"Who are you? Where am I?" I said.
"You can call me Dr. Voronov," the man said. He didn't move closer to me, but spoke calmly, soothingly.
"Dr. Voronov." The name didn't ring a bell. "Am I in Russia?"
He laughed. "No. But you will come to think of Russia as home."
"Are you some sort of terrorist?"
He stepped closer to me. I could see the smile on his face. He didn't look evil, or crazy, or anything, really, except handsome.
"Don't worry about those things. Let's start our date over. You've had a very stressful week, haven't you?"
I blinked. I was still feeling drowsy. And what was he talking about? "A date?!" I said. "This is not a date."
"Of course it is," he said, looking down at me with his hands in his pockets. "Our first date. Isn't that right, Chelsea?"
I struggled against the handcuffs. I'd been kidnapped! But the more I tugged, the tighter the handcuffs dug into my skin. "There is no way! I have a boyfriend and he is not you!"
"Now, now. That's no way to behave on a date." He sighed, taking his phone out his pocket, "We will have to work on your attitude."
"No, we won't," I snapped, tugging at the handcuffs again; despite knowing I was trapped ignored the pain shooting through my wrists.
"Gorgeous but has trouble listening, I see. We'll have to fix that too, won't we," he murmured as he scribbled something into his phone. "Truly a shame you know? Such a beautiful woman like yourself wasting her talents in pursuit of academics." His voice dripping with insincerity. "But don't worry, love, when we're together all those wasted years of college life will be over and forgotten in my home, forever." His words lulled into each other, punctuating every word.
Shivers crept down my body hearing those last two words. Even in my high strung situation, his commanding voice had this pervading effect on my thoughts. I fought to not respond. And failed, utterly, blushing crimson before he could see my cheeks flare with color. The lemony fragrance wafting into my nose just made my dizzy mind feel light-headed, intoxicating. This can't be happening. He shouldn't affect me like this; he's a kidnapper! He's my enemy. A man that was by nature, non-alluring, hostile in fact.
"Now Chelsea," His tall body crossed towards me, smooth powerful hands pushing into my shoulders. Those sturdy yet soft touches shocked me at first before I hissed and jolted at the sensation. His fingers massaged deep into my tense muscles, and I couldn't help but relax, even if it was just a little. "Let's not play coy, you and I are a couple. It's okay, I'm here. Everything's fine."
"Nngh-no...we're not a couple..." I moaned, his fingertips digging deep into my shoulder blades, loosening my tense muscles, "Get off me...this is insane. You're insane."
"Hush, Chelsea." Dr. Voronov's lips brushed against my cheek, and my whole body froze at the touch. A tingling sensation shot through me, a spark igniting in my loins, making them swell and ache. I didn't understand how he could do this to me, but somehow, just the faintest kiss from him could make me melt, and the thought terrified me.
"No, no...this isn't real. You're a kidnapper. You're crazy. Why would I ever want to be with you?" I said, my voice growing frantic as his lips began trailing down my neck.
"Oh honey, I have no idea what you talking about. We are out on a date right now. Do you remember?" He asked, his voice so calm and sure.
"Yes...ummm, no, uh maybe?" My thoughts seemed to swirl together as I sat on the chair with Dr. Voronov behind my licking and kissing along my throat. Fingers carefully drawing sensual patterns across my flesh while his lips alternated between feasting and speaking. Every kiss became a slow reminder of some dream I had: sips of an alien drug, boiling memories of before. All the experiences I had seemed to twist together, getting mixed with these strange new desires for being here with this man.
"Good girl Chelsea. Just relax on our date. Enjoy our time together. Remember I am such a good man, taking time out my day to treat you with the proper affection you deserve from me." He said as I felt the weight of the handcuffs disappear off my limbs, my anxiety falling off into nothing as I began slumping forward. I knew it was all wrong, my mind hazy and confused but unwilling to submit to this creep.
"All those confusing little thoughts drifting away." Dr. Voronov breathed next my ear, causing my face to flush pink, "Such a stubborn one, seems you need another dose." Despite the daze I fought to make sense of what this crazy Russian guy was doing to me! Chels, get hold of yourself! Stop him! Wake up!
"Close your pretty eyes and we can go right back to our date." Dr. Voronov droning is growing far worse as he prepares to inject the drug into my neck. The remaining resistance within me surged through my body as I realized that I was no longer restrained. All my anger swelled up once more. No, I will not let this happen!
"No! Go back to whatever hole you crawled from you fucking sadist!" I knocked his arm to the side, almost twisting the needle loose. I pushed my hands upwards then as hard as I could knocking the syringe out his grip.
"Now, now, pet, what a bad girl you've turned out to be." Dr. Voronov sighs, annoyed, like I had ruined some fun activity for him. The needle falls to the ground with a clatter, rolling away until it reaches the door.
"I'm not a pet! Stop calling me that!" I said, standing up, glaring at him.
"Sit back down. I'm not finished with you." He motioned down to my chair where the handcuffs sat by my feet. "Now." The air crackled with his command, causing heat to rise under my cheeks. My body hesitated, still effected by the lingering compulsion to obey his orders. "Bad pets who don't do as they're told require re-training, to bring them back into line"
Chels! If he gets that drug in you we are over...your mind will turn to mush! Left without much choice and with waning resistance against his words I made a dash for the door; my only route of escape.
"Don't make me run girl," He sounds displeased, stern almost. Woozy I reach the exit turning the cold golden knob, panic sets in when nothing happens. The door held shut like someone nailed it down. This only confirms my darkest fears, he is stuck here with this man in god knows where.
"Now look what's you've done Chelsea." He spoke solemnly, closing the gap, hand brushing aside stray hair off my cheekbone. My struggling continued still at first, my mind still trying to clear its haze, but I stopped thrashing so wildly when my body touched his. Falling limp to the ground with tears streaming down my soft pink cheeks. With any strength spent I relaxed, wearily in defeat. What else is there to be done? I lamented this was the end, my days to be spend with some rapist whom I couldn't resist.
I didn't want to give up but I lacked the ability to come up with a different solution, I was locked in here, just like an animal in a cage with him! Suddenly, I felt something cold against my hand, the needle he tried to inject me with moments before. Holding down to his leg my hands clenched tight around its shaft, one single thought ran across my mind.
The moment he moved close to me. I stabbed at his leg with what remaining fight in my body, perhaps a faint glimmer of light shone in the end of this nightmare. He looked stunned initially, unsure how or where the source of sudden pain had manifested. When he spotted my actions he seemed dumbfounded, astonished at this rebellious action I pulled, fighting back again.
"What are you-" He winced, gritting his teeth, stumbling back away. Dr. Voronov had never prepared for a scenario where his prey would retaliate. "Ugh..." he groaned as he stumbled, leaning against the wall. I quickly jumped up, the haze and fatigue leaving my body for a moment.
I kicked the door again and again, and then grabbed the handle, shaking it desperately. "Please! Please!" I begged to whatever god would listen. "I can't stay here! Let me out!"
The sound of the man's heavy boots against the floor echoed, "This was greatly outside my expectations." He sighed, and took another needle from his pocket.
