This story wouldn't be nearly as good without the help, advice, and suggestions of volunteer editor madisonsub_btm. Thanks for the great ending!
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There was definitely a noise that was unfamiliar. It wasn't a particularly loud noise but I heard it, it was coming from inside the house and it was two in the morning. I lay frozen in bed next to my sleeping wife listening but heard nothing. My heart was racing even though I was telling myself it was nothing. I turned my bedside light off and continued to listen for anything. Was someone in my house? I quietly got out of bed and walked slowly across the room trying to avoid any obstacles that may be in the way. Passing by a trophy case that held several awards for the amateur sports I was always involved in, I gently picked up the heaviest thing I could find. It was a bowling pin from a tournament I had won nearly twenty years ago. We didn't believe in having a gun in the house, my wife was absolutely terrified of them. For the first time in my life I wished I had one. There was somebody in my house, I don't know how I knew but I did.
I slipped through the bedroom door and made my way slowly down the hall towards the living room. I listened but all I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears. The entrance to the living room was dark and the ambient light from outside was minimal due to the shades and curtains being completely drawn. Straining to see any sign of an intruder I pressed forward into the living room looking for any kind of movement. It appeared to be clear so I moved towards the kitchen. Passing through the kitchen entryway I had a terrible feeling and wanted nothing more than to retreat to the bedroom and dismiss the whole thing as just a weird sound you hear. Instead I raised the bowling pin above my head and moved through the kitchen and towards the dining area. I couldn't take it anymore and figured the element of surprise would be on my side so I quickly turned on the dining room lights. The room lit up and cast light beyond into the final room of the house. Nothing. No one was here. I felt foolish. Lowering my meager weapon I turned around only to see a strange man standing there. I screamed and dropped the bowling pin to the floor cracking a slate tile. The man was holding a knife, a big knife that reflected the yellow light of the dining room. He was quick and he grabbed me by my hair and forced me face first onto the countertop. He twisted my arm behind my back and pressed himself close to me.
"Try anything and you can expect this knife in your kidney. Do you believe me?"
Of course I did. His voice was deep and threatening. His breath was hot and smelled of mouthwash.
"Do you?!" He seethed.
"Yes, Yes, fuck yes I do." I was scared. More scared than any time in my life. He was going to kill me. And my wife, oh God my wife.
"Johnny?" Oh God my wife! And now, there she was standing in the entry way. She stopped in her tracks and started screaming.
"Ma'am?" The intruder yelled to her but could not be heard over my crazed wife. "MA'AM!"
She stopped and looked at the intruder. She looked absolutely scared out of her mind. I must have looked the same way. The incredible pressure of the man on top of me was painful and my arm felt numb from being twisted behind me.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry I had to yell but you were being a little over dramatic. Are you done screaming?"
Over dramatic? What the fuck? My wife stared in disbelief and absolute fear.
"Ma'am, I asked you a question and I expect you to answer. If you know what is good for you, you will answer me when you are spoken to, and that will be the only time I expect you to talk. The alternative is watching your husband's blood spill all over this beautiful floor. Understand?"
Holy shit, we were going to fucking die tonight. I felt tears starting to fall down my face.
"You better not fucking touch her!" I spat out through tears and spit. Pain shot through my side as the perpetrator drove a fist into my ribs.
"Same for you Mister, only speak when spoken to. Do you both understand?"
"Yes." We both agreed and kept our mouths shut.
"Good. If you can follow orders and a few basic rules we'll all walk away from this. Now slowly we're going to stand up and make our way to the living room. Do you think you can do that?"
"Yes." I stammered and he pulled me painfully upright.
"Now don't even think of trying anything Mister. Ma'am, pick up this bowling pin and walk in front of us to the living room."
After my wife scurried across the kitchen and retrieved the bowling pin, she walked in front of us and the man behind me held tightly to my twisted arm and shoved me forward.
"Drop the bowling pin and turn the lights on."
My wife complied. In the bright light I could see her trembling. She looked at me and she was unsuccessfully trying to hold back tears. I was so angry and scared myself and could hardly keep the tears from welling up as well. In the center of the room was a large duffle bag and on top of it was rope. I thought of that sound I had heard earlier and now I could picture this crazy man dropping the duffle bag on the floor. That was the sound I had heard.
"Ma'am, please retrieve the rope that is on top of that bag and bring it to me." She didn't want to but complied with his wishes. "Okay Ma'am, please sit down on the couch, keep your hands on your lap and for the love of God, don't try anything stupid. You can only imagine the amount of pain I will put your husband in."
She sat on the couch, just as instructed and wept while trying to remain motionless.
"Sir, I am going to release the pressure on your arm and bind your hands together behind your back. Please comply or reap the consequences."