Screaming In The Darkness - Chapter 3
There's no escape
So keep me save
This feels so unreal
Two people staring at each other.
No words.
No movement.
Two strangers.
One holds up his right hand.
Other draws up his knees.
''You alright?'' asks a deep voice from the shadows.
Zac nods, feels panic boiling through his guts.
The door clicks closed.
It was three minutes after midnight when the doorbell rang.
Vanessa knew because she had actually started to count the minutes. It was only driving her crazy but she couldn't help it.
She sat up and put the blanket around herself. Standing up was tough because her body was so stiff after lying down for so long.
She felt helpless.
She walked to the front door and tried to gather herself as she went. She was still in her black dress.
Vanessa opened the door and found Starla, David and Dylan standing in the doorway.
''Hi,'' she said and tried to smile weakly, not really succeeding in it.
''How are you, sweetie?'' starla asked and gave her a quick hug.
''Been better,'' she said and hugged David and Dylan as well. ''Come in.''
The three Efrons stepped in and took off their coats.
''No word on Zac?'' David asked.
''Nothing,'' Vanessa whispered.
Everybody were too scared to put their thoughts into words. If somebody actually voiced something there would be a change it all became too real.
Zac wasn't so sure what time it was or when had he actually managed to drift off to sleep.
But a voice had woken him.
The lock on the door sifted and the door opened.
''I don't mean to hurt you, not really, not yet anyway. But it would be a lot easier if you'd just do what I tell you to do right from the beginning.''
Zac didn't dare to say a word.
''Not so smiley and sweet anymore? Well, let me just tell you, I actually prefer you this way.''
Zac didn't respond.
''I actually have something I need you to do.''
The man pulled a pencil and a piece of paper from his pocket.
''We're going to start a little game with your people. The rules are that we send them short letters after another and see how they'll react. Now, doesn't that sound like fun?'' the man said with a smile and revealed a yeallow line of teeth.
Zac didn't say anything, just looked at him.
The man offered him the paper and the pencil.
Zac accepted.
''Now here's what I want you to write,'' the man said and gave him another piece of paper.
Zac felt like passing out.
Vanessa sat at the kitchen table, staring outside through the window. The night was dark and the lights were on in the inside so she wasn't really seeing anything.
She missed Zac. That's how much she had admitted to herself during the night. She had always counted on the fact that Zac would be there if she needed him. And now he was nowhere to be seen.
Vanessa looked up as she felt someone approaring. Dylan took a seat in front of her and looked at her.
''This better be good,'' was all he said.
''How so?'' Vanessa asked with an odd look on her face.
''I was supposed to go with my friend's family tomorrow. But I see it's not happening.''
They were silent for a long minute.
''He has to come back,'' Vanessa whispered and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
''He will.''
''How do you know?'' Vanessa asked, challenging.
''Cause he always does.''
Vanessa smiled slitghly.
At the same time David and Starla walked to the kitchen, looking frantic.
''What's wrong?'' Dylan asked.
''Some guy came by with this,'' David said and gave Vanessa a little piece of paper.
Vanessa took it and stared at it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Someone's got me, don't know for how long.
- Zac
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It was Zac's handwriting, she could recognize it well.
''I'm going to call the police,'' David said and left the room.
Starla pulled Vanessa into a warm hug and whispered, ''We'll get him back.''