(story based on a premise from NinsBijou)
Patricia Green sighed as she wandered into the living room of her three bedroom suburban house, turned out the overhead light, and slid lazily down into the armchair that faced the French doors that opened to give access to a neatly trimmed back garden. Today had been long, and uneventful, as had many days recently. She was alone in her house and all the daily chores had been completed early. Having nobody to cook for she had, as she frequently did, purchased a pre-made salad while buying the few groceries she needed to sustain her. She looked at the clock. It showed seven P.M., far to early to go upstairs to bed. Patricia switched on the lamp and picked up the copy of Ohio Magazine from the table beside her and looked for some article that might hold her interest. She looked out of the French doors and saw the last vestiges of sunlight disappearing below the tree line. After adjusting the cushion behind her, she smoothed out the pale brown skirt she was wearing that was complimented nicely by the green silk blouse that covered her upper body and began to read.
The magazine had fallen to the floor as Patricia had dozed off into a light but satisfying sleep. She awoke suddenly and froze as a male right hand clamped tightly over her mouth from behind. The left hand appeared before her eyes, which were now wide open and unblinking. The hand held an index card, which had twelve words on it, typed in capitals. "DON'T SCREAM!"
"DON'T MOVE!"
"DON'T TURN AROUND!"
"DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!" Patricia's breathing all but stopped as a black blindfold was put across her eyes and knotted tightly at the back of her head. The hand was removed from Patricia's mouth and moved to grip the back of the collar of the green silk blouse and pull upwards. Patricia stood up following the silent command. She could feel the presence of whoever was doing this to her close behind her, and breathlessly waited for what was to happen next. Her mind was racing and her heart beating faster than she could ever remember. She heard the ottoman on which, a short while ago she had rested her feet, slide as it was kicked out of the way, then felt the strong grip of a hand on each of her shoulders as she was turned around and moved backwards. Patricia sensed she was about three feet from the armchair and facing it. She heard the chair adjust as someone sat in it, facing her blindfolded body. Then she heard a faint click, though in the breathless silence it sounded like a tree limb snapping. Patricia heard the voice of a man. A voice she did not recognize. "You will do as you are told!" The command was delivered firmly enough to convince Patricia that not obeying could mean the end of her life. "You will not speak!"
"You will answer any questions only with nods of your head!"
"Do you understand?" Then there was another click. Patricia processed the commands and the question in her almost scrambled mind and nodded affirmatively. She drew a deep breath as she felt her captor get up from the chair and cross the living room. She listened intently, almost smiling at the thought that entered her blindfolded head. Perhaps the blind do have enhanced hearing or other senses. The man was pouring himself a drink! To Patricia, this simple yet audacious act seemed to take forever. She stood waiting, almost petrified.