This is part two of the story of how Selma finds a mysterious man online and signs a contract that states she agrees that he can do whatever he pleases to her for 48 hours. But does she realize how far Erik is willing to take their little game?
All characters are 18+ and consenting adults.
In part one, Selma follows Eriks instructions, but ends up assaulted in an alley, drugged and kidnapped. You can read part one on my profile.
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I slowly open my eyes and look around. My head feels heavy, and it's hard to focus. Where am I? It seems like a hunting lodge? In front of me, a fire roars in an enormous open fireplace. There's a bear-skin rug on the floor, and the walls are adorned with gaudy, taxidermied heads of deer and elk. There's even something I think might be an eagle. Aren't they endangered?
I spot an envelope with my name on it on the table in front of me. Next to it is a clock that tells me I must have been knocked out for hours because it's almost 2 AM. I glance around the room, but there doesn't seem to be anyone else here. I don't hear anything, either. But, where is the man who attacked me? Who drugged me and carried me off to his car - who kidnapped me...?
In the alley, I was terrified, convinced one of the men from the bar had followed me. But now I'm sure it must have been Erik. Was this his plan all along?
I check over my body, but I don't seem to be injured. Apart from my throbbing head, I feel fine. I touch my neck where it felt like something stung me, but there's nothing but the tiniest prick of raised skin. He must have injected me with something. We never discussed anything like this when we spoke online.
I feel stupid. I had mentioned a couple of hard limits, like permanent damage, extreme violence, and anything to do with bodily fluids. I never expected him to do anything like this, though. I guess I should have been more thorough. Being drugged and brought to a second location was not something I would have signed up for. I think...?
My body goes tense. There's always a possibility that whoever Erik is, he doesn't actually care about my limits at all and that this isn't a game. That everything he's said is a lie, and this was all a ploy to get me out into that dark alley... There is a chance that he kidnapped me and that there is no traffic light system. No "red" for stop, no one to save me.
I strain my ears to listen, but the only sound is the crackling from the fireplace. I look around again before I pick up the envelope and open it.
Inside is a handwritten note. A chill races down my spine as I read it;
"When you read this, a timer will start. You have one hour to get ready. There is a bathroom at the end of the hall if you need it. There is food in the kitchen, it should be to your liking.
After the hour is up, you will have another ten minutes to escape before I come find you. Cameras are all over the cabin, so there is no point in hiding.
Good luck.
E"
I scan the room for cameras, but none are visible. Is it true? Is he watching me right now? This guy has spent over 20,000 euros on clothes for me. He somehow has access to drugs to knock someone out, and everything in this cabin screams luxury. I'm sure he could afford some high-tech hidden cameras.
I put the letter down, grab the clock, and stand up. My legs are a little wobbly, but my head is feeling better. I make my way to the bathroom first and quickly do my business, wash my hands, glance in the mirror. My mascara is smudged, and there's a scratch on my cheek. Nothing serious.
Entering the kitchen, I see a whole buffet spread out on the counter for me. At first, the selection seems random, but when I look more closely, I realize it's all my favorite food - even a box of the cookies I always keep stocked.
Who is this guy? It's only been a couple of weeks since we started talking, and we've never met. He must have been watching me for a while. Had he been in my apartment?
A part of me is deeply disturbed by the thought. But another part of me, the part that confessed 'stalking' was one of my fantasies, is intrigued. But, fantasizing about being stalked is one thing. Finding out that a stranger from the internet has been inside my apartment is terrifying.
I grab a sandwich and a smoothie. 42 minutes left until I need to be gone. But where am I supposed to go? Looking out the windows, there's nothing but darkness, and I have no idea where I am.
What if I stay? What if I wait for him to come? What would happen? I consider it for a minute, but I'm only here because I wanted this. I wanted to feel that fear, truly, to be hunted. To be lost in the woods, running for my life.
I wonder if I'm allowed to take anything from the cabin. There must be a warm coat here somewhere. Or a flashlight? But then again, having a flashlight would only make finding me that much easier...
I quickly finish my food and gulp down the smoothie. Glancing at the clock, I note that there are 37 minutes left. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to leave or if I'm supposed to wait until the hour is up, but I decide I can't let the chance of a head start get away from me, so I make my way toward where I assume the front door will be.
I locate the door and on the mat in front of it, I notice a pair of sneakers. There's a note on them and I pick it up.
"I enjoyed watching you run in heels, but I think these might be more comfortable for you. - E"
Slipping into the soft sneakers after walking around in heels is such a relief. I wiggle my toes. I consider rummaging through the closets to look for a jacket but decide not to. If he wanted me to have a jacket, he would have given me one. I take a deep breath before opening the door.
-
I barely make it three steps before being blinded by what feels like a hundred floodlights. My hands fly up to cover my ears when an impossibly loud siren starts sounding. Instinct takes over, launching me forward, running wildly to escape the noise and the lights. I have no idea where I'm going, but I know I need to get away.
The lights don't reach further than the end of the driveway, and I slow down once I'm in the dark. - Well, it's not completely dark. But at least I'm not lit up like a billboard anymore.
I'm not sure if I should be thankful for the light summer nights or if I should be cursing them, but at least now that my eyes have adjusted from being blinded, I can make out where I'm going. I'm on a gravel road, everywhere I turn, there's nothing but dense forest. Staying on the road would mean moving faster, but it would also mean being easier to find.
Before I get a chance to decide, I hear a truck start up somewhere behind me, and it's obvious I need to get off the road. But should I go left? Or right? Neither choice looks worse or better. I don't have time to think about it. I go left.
I don't make it more than a couple of meters before I feel my dress catch on something. I can hear the truck getting closer, and I see its headlights approaching, so I grab the fabric and yank as hard as I can. The dress rips, but I don't care. I'm free, and I sprint to get as far from the road as possible. I hear the truck's engine shut off, and I stop and duck behind a large rock.
The truck door slams, and someone gets out. I'm terrified they'll see me, but I can't stop myself from peeking. The man standing next to the truck is tall, he's wearing all black. His outfit reminds me of a special op guy from an action movie. Is this the guy from the alley? Is this Erik? Why hadn't I insisted on seeing a photo of him before agreeing to this? The more I think about it, the more insane this whole thing is. The man could be anyone. Erik could be anyone. He could be a psychopath who lures women out here to kill them...
I'm tempted to shout "red" to see what he'll do. To end this, so I can go back inside and get warm and not be afraid anymore. But if this isn't a game, then I'd be giving away my location to a psycho killer. I choose to stay quiet, observing. He brings out a flashlight and starts scanning the edges of the road. He walks towards where I left the road earlier. I see him bend down to pick something up. It looks like a piece of my dress. He starts scanning the forest with his flashlight, and I duck behind the rock.
Do I run now? He knows I've headed this way, and by the sound of it, he's moving towards me. Is there a chance he won't find me? If I run now, he'll hear me, and he'll chase me. How fast is he? Faster than me?
I feel my heart beating. I can't stay here. I can't risk it. I get up and bolt. I don't look back, but I'm sure he's seen me. I'm crashing through the undergrowth. I don't care that my legs are torn to shreds by the brambles, I just need to get away. I'm running uphill now, almost climbing towards a rocky hilltop. I get to the peak of it, and I continue downhill on the other side.