Hi! Bit of a long one here. Leija is said "Lee-ah" or however you wish to say it in your head. I only say this as it drives me crazy to read a story with an unusual name and go the entire story wondering how it is supposed to be said. There's some very mild male/male oral - so be warned!
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Leijia squinted as the heavy door opened. She had sat in the dark for a very long time. She knew it had been days, but she wasn't sure how many. She guessed at three, but for all she knew it could have been a week. It was funny how you lost track of time when left alone in a dark soundless place.
She had tried to keep track by counting seconds to minutes to hours. Even with nothing else to do that became tedious and daunting very quickly. She also realized at some point she would have to sleep no matter how frightening the thought of leaving herself vulnerable was.
There was bottled water in the room with her, and boxes of crackers and cookies. She had discovered them while feeling her way around. She had counted forty bottles of water and ten packages cookies and crackers. She allowed herself only small amounts of both just in case she needed to make it last. She had been hesitant at first just in case it was poisoned, but her thirst and hunger got the better of her.
The room was tiled with what felt like clean, dry, cool ceramic tiles. The tiles were smaller and covered the floor and walls as high as she could reach. It wasn't a huge space, maybe a little larger than your average powder room. In fact there was a toilet and a sink too. There were of course no windows, and the door felt like it was probably made of solid wood, but then encased in sheet metal. No sound penetrated the room at all. Maybe there was no sound being made to penetrate the room.
Of course she had screamed and banged and cried for her freedom. No one responded at all.
Should couldn't know if she had been abandoned or if someone was coming back for her. This played with her mind, left her feeling terrorized and terrified. When the door opened the light was absolutely blinding, and Leija couldn't contain a scream. She heard it more than saw it, but someone came stumbling in and fell to the floor in front of her. They made a heavy thump when they landed but no further sound. The door quickly swung shut and the locks all clicked back into place. She heard three locks slide home.
Leija scrambled back from where the person or body landed. She tried her best not to make a sound. She had no idea who this was and if they were here to harm her. She didn't hear the person move, but did notice their breathing was rhythmic as if they were sleeping. More accurately they were likely unconscious.
Sliding forward a little she reached out a shaking hand and poked the space where the body had landed. She connected with what felt like a clothed arm or leg. She poked once and snatched her hand back quickly. The person groaned but otherwise remained clearly out cold.
Leija slid herself into the tiny corner between the wall and the toilet. She curled up and remained there waiting for her new cellmate to awake. She was terrified that whoever it was would harm her. Her mind played tricks making her think of horrible things he or she could do to her.
Finally after what felt like forever, the other person moved. She was almost relieved by this. It wasn't that she was worried about their well-being, but more that it was inevitable so she wanted it over. Leija could tell that they had sat up even without seeing them. Immediately there was groggy mumbles followed by gasps of terror. She could hear the person scramble to their feet and start to move about looking, presumably, for a way out. The person banged on the tile walls and then found the door and banged on that even harder.
"Let me out! Who the fuck are you? Let me the fuck out of here!" They yelled. Leija shrank lower.
The person muttered under their breath as they moved about and banged on the walls and door some more. They walked into the bottles of water and sent them scattering around the small space. One rolled and hit Leija's barefoot. She didn't move and didn't dare make a sound.
The other person was moving closer though. Feeling their way about the room. It was only a very small matter of time before they discovered Leija. She had effectively trapped herself as there was no quiet or graceful way to get herself out from the tiny space she had hunkered down in.
As the sole of the other person's shoe landed on Leija's barefoot she gasped. She and the other person made a startled sound at the same time.
"Who's there?" The other person demanded on a whisper.
"I won't hurt you." Leija responded hastily.
"Who are you?" The voice was male, now that Leija didn't have to concentrate on her breathing so much she could think more clearly.
"Who are you?" she countered.
"My name is Ryan. I won't hurt you either. What's your name?"
Leija made a sound between startled and relief. She knew this voice suddenly. Ryan was so stranger and no threat. "Ryan? This isn't a trick?"
"No. Leija?"
"Yes!" Leija hauled herself out from beside the toilet and reached for her older brother. "Ryan! I was so scared!"
Ryan found his sister in the darkness and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Leija, we need to figure out where we are and who took us. We're not safe just because we're together. Whoever took you took me too."
"How long have I been gone?" Leija asked.
"Three days."
"How did they get you?"
"No entirely sure. I think I was drugged."
Ryan and Leija sat and held each other. Neither had much information. They didn't know where they were or who took them. Neither could fathom why they had been taken. Their father was wealthy, but not famous or influential in any way. Leija had been taken from a parking lot when leaving the mall. Ryan had been taken while out searching for his sister.
"They thought you had run away. The police wouldn't even make a missing person's report. They told us you're an adult and you're allowed to leave if you wish. We tried to tell them you wouldn't do that."
Leija wept quietly while holding tight to her brother. She didn't really feel safer but she did take some solace in having him near so she didn't have to face this terror alone. Even still she wish he was still free. She would gladly face this alone if it meant he could be free.
Seconds turned into minutes and minutes to hours. They held tight, they slept against each other, and when they woke they talked of feeble plans to escape. They shared water and crackers but still ate and drank as minimally as possible. Going to the washroom was a bit awkward, but they ran the water and Leija hummed.
No one came for them. They didn't bother wasting their voices or strength in yelling. They just knew the room was sound proof. Ryan tried to hoist Leija to the ceiling to check for an air vent. They couldn't reach the ceiling but Leija could feel fresh hair coming in from up there. They tried to reach higher on the walls but didn't locate any air vents or blocked windows.
Finally, in what felt like two days later someone came. The door opened with blinding light. Leija and Ryan squinted blinded by the light as they sat against the wall together.
"I have a gun trained on your both." Came a booming voice. "If either of you misbehaves or tries to escape I will shoot the other. Do you understand this?"
"Yes." Ryan said strongly. Leija repeated him but more softly.
"Good. Now stand up. Do exactly as I say when I say it. Don't argue, don't hesitate and don't disobey."
"What do you want with us?" Ryan asked boldly.
"You'll see soon enough. You might even like it." the booming voice cackled with laughter that made Leija's stomach churn.
The brother and sister remained huddled closely, but stood. They still blinked at the dark figure and the gun were easier to see now. It was a huge deadly gun and it was trained right on them.
"Hold hands and move slowly out of there. Don't be a hero, Ryan. I will shoot her dead in an instant if you try anything. Same goes for you Leija."
Leija noted the use of their names, and wondered momentarily how he knew them. Then it dawned on her that he had their IDs. She didn't like this man with the gun using their names. It felt weird. She clasped Ryan's hand tightly and let him lead them out of the small room. She thought of the water and food and wanted to grab them, but just knew it wouldn't be permitted. Where was he taking them? What did he want? She wanted to ask, but was too fearful the man would harm her brother if she asked too many questions.
They ended up in a shadowy dark hallway that was very reminiscent of a hospital. They moved in front of the man with the gun. He had them move briskly as he directed them down hallway after hallway. The only light they had was cast by the powerful flashlight the man carried. It had also been what had blinded them when he opened the door. Ryan clenched Leija's hand reassuringly.
Finally after numerous long hallways the man brought them to a door and told them to stop. "So, do you have any questions? I sense you have some questions." his tone was mocking.
"Why are we here? What do you want?" Ryan said angrily.
"It's a little experiment. To be honest, it's really just for my amusement." the man laughed as if he had made a joke. His voice was cold and calculated.
Leija felt a shiver run up her spine. "Do you plan to kill us?"
"That's not the plan currently. Be good, do what I expect of you. The longer you resist the longer your stay here will be. I think we're all really going to enjoy this!"
