They were there when I got home from work. Four men in an unmarked sedan parked across the road, just sitting there watching me.
I didn't think too much of it. I was distracted. Things to be done - a shower, shampooing my hair, supper. I think about that now - should I have done something, called someone, been more suspicious? Was I unconsciously leaving the door open, the field clear? Was it all somehow my fault?
This is how it happened. Let me tell you quickly and plainly before I lose my nerve.
I fitted my key in the door, let myself in, picked up the mail. I walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil. It was quiet in the house. And warm, the sun streaming in the window. I leaned against the counter and began to sift through the mail. The kettle began to whistle. And suddenly, I felt warm breath on my neck. And a hand at my mouth, covering it, stifling the first scream.
My eyes darted wildly around the room, my body jerked. Three men I could see and one behind me. Young men. Casually but not badly dressed.
A voice in my ear "I am going to take my hand away now, and you will not scream. If you scream, if you make a sound, we will cut you". Cold steel against my cheek - a jagged hunting knife. "Do you understand? We do not want to hurt you, only play with you for the afternoon. But if you scream, we will cut off your tongue, cut your cunt, cut you badly. Do you understand?"
I felt buzzed. Dazed. All I could do was nod. The sharp edge of the knife slid down, circled a nipple, poked gently. Then the man took his hand away.
"Now, very slowly, take us to your bedroom. Show us the way."