Jenna Hansen talked to her husband, ecstatic about her new job. "I am going to love this place, everyone is so nice. Oh and you'll never guess who I met there. Do you remember Barclay Zinman?"
Her husband Greg, stroked his chin, thought a moment and said, "The geek from High School?"
"Yes, all these years after we graduated he's the mail room guy, that and loading the delivery trucks. He still looks the same, pimply and greasy, its hysterical. He is a bit taller and a lot bigger though."
"I thought he disappeared into some cult right around the time we graduated. I haven't thought of that guy in years. Talk about your losers! What will your duties be?"
Jenna smiled and replied, "I'll be doing all their computer layouts and their print ads. I don't get a staff and the hours are a bit long but my pay check is out of this world. According to my supervisor once I get the process for layouts streamlined my hours will be more regular. I figure that will take me six month tops!"
"This calls for a celebration! What restaurant do you want to try?"
Greg kissed his gorgeous wife and embraced her. Twelve years out of high school and she still looked like the track star and pole vaulter she was at her prime. Long black hair, slim and sexy with great breasts and long lovely legs.Greg was attractive but not like his wife. Greg told his wife often, and sincerely believed, that he had married out of his league. He had been on the basketball and baseball teams and the two of them had met at a party for jocks. Although Greg never had the size for the NBA and had flamed out in baseball's low minor leagues he had put a good life together. He owned a small business which paid the rent and kept the wolf from the door. Greg and Jenna wanted a house however. With Jenna's new job the could put the money aside for a down payment in a few months. Life was looking very promising indeed.
That night Greg and Jenna made love. They had talked about children but both of them wanted a house before they had any. With Jenna's new job, Greg anticipated that by this time next year his wife would be in the third trimester of her pregnancy. The idea of trying to make a baby had profound appeal.
For Jenna the first weeks of work were exhilarating, exhausting, yet so so satisfying. Her bosses were proud of her work and were amazed at the progress she was making. The only downside was that she was often the last one out of the building. She didn't mind locking up but the parking lot was dim and the old building gave her the creeps at night.
Friday night was like any other, except more work was required. She called Greg and told him she would be late and then bore down at her job. It was nearly nine O'clock when she at last shut her monitor off. She reached for her coat and then someone large grabbed her from behind and forced a chloroform soaked rag over her nose and lips. Jenna's world went dark.
She came to in what felt like a basement. She was blindfolded. Her hands were bound above her head what felt like cuffs. She could not see but they were leather lined cuffs connected to a chain fastened to the ceiling. He feet were bound. She did not see these either of course , they were held to the floor by strong cords. She seemed intact other wise. She began screaming for help.
It seemed to her that she had screamed for hours, at any rate she was hoarse and her throat was raw. Obviously she had not been heard. Presently she heard footsteps. She heard the lights flick on and felt a hand behind her head reaching to untie the blindfold. She started screaming again but only a raspy hiss came out. The blindfold was pulled away and Jenna met the face of Barclay, the mail clerk from work. She was too stunned for a moment to say anything.
Barclay offered a sip from a bottle of water the liquid soothed her throat and Jenna found her voice. "Barclay, you are in serious trouble. The police and my husband are looking for me. Let me go NOW before you end up with even bigger problems."
Barclay brought a chair forward and sat before Jenna staring at her.
"Your husband and the police have already found you. You were a flaming corpse,"
"What are you talking about Barclay?"
Barclay got a serene look on his face and said, "All will be explained. Do you remember what I did after high school?"
"Barclay, I am NOT here to play twenty questions LET ME GO!"
Barclay got a very evil look on his face and yelled "Answer my question!"
Jenna, in fear, thought for a moment and said, "I don't remember but Greg said that you joined some sort of cult."
"Cult is such a vile word. I joined the Cosmic Consciousness Front. It gave me the discipline I needed and showed me the way to achieve my dreams. Just as it is prophesied it has come to pass! In addition to enlightenment I sought something I thought even more unobtainable. YOU! The elders told me to secure a plan to win your love and devotion. That is what I set out to do and here you are. With no one looking for you we will have time to get to know each other. You don't give me the time of day at work. But HERE you cannot ignore me. Here you will fall in love with me and be mine."