Intrepidity

Unexpected

                                                                          Andrea's POV

When I opened the door, I wasn't ready for what I saw — it was a strange man aiming a gun directly at my face. I couldn't see his face, because he had a black mask, that covered his whole face on. Only his eyes could be seen, but judging by the structure of his body, I could tell he was a man — a hulky one at that.

Intuitively, I took a step backwards, then another. My breathing skyrocketed and I instantly began to hyperventilate. My thoughts were running wild. I couldn't pinpoint why he was at my doorstep or what he wanted from me. If he was a robber, then he made a terrible mistake by coming to my building. I had nothing at the moment. I was practically broke as s**t.

Spontaneously, I continued taking more steps backwards and to my horror, he took a step forward and once he was completely inside my apartment, he shut the door from the inside and threw the keys in his pant pocket.

My breathing hitched in my throat and my palms instantly became sweaty. This was it! My gut feeling told me I was about to meet my end. Reminisces of how my parents pleaded with me not to leave the house because of the little argument we had, but I adamantly refused, flashed into my mind, making tears prickled my eyes. I regretted not listening to them. I didn't even get the chance to ask them to forgive me. Too bad I would never be able to. "Wh...at do you... want from me?" I croaked out,  angry at myself to have stuttered like a total dimwit.

Surprisingly, his eyes shimmered with an emotion I couldn't decipher. "You." He responded.

You — One word that left me nonplussed. My face scrunched up. "Wh... What do you mean?" I dared to ask.

"Now." He began in an enfeebling voice. "Do not stress that pretty brain of yours. In due time, you are going to understand why I'm doing all these." He finished, pulling out a white  handkerchief from his other pant pocket.

"No...help!!!" I screamed. I attempted to move back, but my back hit the hard wall. I was stuck between two hard pillars. He grabbed a hold of my hand and spun my body around. I could feel his hot breath on my neck and before I could be able to comprehend what was happening, he placed the kerchief around my nose. I tried to stay conscious, but darkness overpowered me.

•

I awoke to an unacquainted room. The ceiling was different from the one I had come to get accustomed with. The walls were greyish in colour. I tried to get up, but couldn't. Like a speeding trunk, realisation hit me — I have been tied up by the sick bastard that abducted me! Again, I attempted to move my feet, but I still couldn't. "How dare he!" I gritted my teeth in exasperation. The psycho didn't just bound my feet to the bedpost, but my hands as well. He had indeed gone too far! I could not wait to be opportune to hit him hard across his disgusting face — I had not gotten the chance to see his face, but I was pretty sure it would be as disgusting as I imagined. No handsome guy would waste his precious time abducting helpless, broke ladies, such as myself.

Breaking out of my reverie, I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Help me! Somebody help me! I have been kidnapped by a psychopath."

Right on cue, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. My head snapped to the side and I could see the doorknob being twisted. I increased the volume of my screams. "Please.. Is there no one out there?"

"Unfortunately, but fortunately for me, there is no one around. It's just me, you and our home."

"Our...home?" I choked on my words. Indisputably, this man was sick in the head.

"Yes, baby." He ambled towards me.

I tried to get freed from the restraints, but my attempts were futile. "What do you want from me?" I asked again. Tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I was beginning to get really terrified. Initially, I thought he was a robber and that he would steal from me, hurt me a little or worse, kill me, but since he did none of that, I wondered why he abducted me. Could he perhaps have done this for ransom? "Is it money you need? I...I can call my parents. They will give you all you ask for, but please spare me." I beseeched.

"Money?" He asked, his gaze traveling around the room. "Wait...do I look poor to you?"

If the situation had permitted it, I would have rolled my eyes at his stupidity. If it was not his aim to ask for a ransom, why was I kidnapped then?

"I took you, because you're mine." He emphasized.

I involuntarily let out a humorous chuckle. "You must be mistaken, mister. I'm not the person you are looking for. I might look a bit like her, but trust me, we are different persons. Please let me go. I promise to not say a word about this to anyone —  not even to my parents."

"I'm sorry, I can't do that." He remarked, remorselessly. "I have waited for this moment for a very long time." He slowly took off the mask from his face.

My eyes widened at what I saw. Contrary to what I imagined him to look like, he looked far better, but since I wasn't bothered about his looks, I averted my gaze away. All I wanted was to be free — like I used to be. "Who the hell are you?" I screamed, my patience began to completely wear off. Just who was this stranger who thought he had the right to barge into people's apartment, drug them and then tie then up in his own house? "I don't even care who you are! Just let me go! I have done nothing wrong to you."

"Of course not, baby." He drew the chair in front of the dressing mirror closer to the bed and had his seat.

I visibly cringed at his endearment for me. It felt irritating coming from him. I felt like throwing up all over his disgusting figure.

"You've done absolutely nothing wrong to me, in fact, you're the key to all of my problems." He smirked, underhandedly.

Tears blurred my vision at the possibility of being stuck with the psycho forever. This wasn't how I imagined my life would turn out to be. My wrists were burning, due to the pressure from the ropes. I was extremely uncomfortable lying in that position.

He must have noticed my discomfort, for he stood up and released my wrists, as well as my feet from the restraints.

Instinctively, I used my elbow to hit him hard against the jaw. Swiftly, I got down from the bed and raced towards the door, but unfortunately for me, he had locked the door and the keys were in his pocket — I had seen him put them there. Hopelessly, I went back to where he was seating comfortably, like I didn't just attempt to pull out a tooth from his mouth earlier. I did what I thought would help me escape the situation — I fell on my knees and subconsciously, tears streamed down my face. "Please let me go." I beseeched.

It seemed I was taking to a mannequin, for he remained emotionless. He must indeed be a beast without an ounce of conscience remaining in him.

I got startled when he all of a sudden, got up. I parted my lips to continue talking, but even before I had the chance, I was cut off with a resounding slap across the face. The impact was so strong that I could swear I saw stars floating and dissipating in the air. Momentarily, my mind went blank. I couldn't think of anything. My head seemed to be spinning.

"Don't you ever try that in your life! Never again!" He boomed.

The aggressiveness of his voice made me want to shrink into the floor. I had never been talked to like that before. I felt scared, but being the type of person I was, I refused to make it visible. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me as a weak person. I was a woman and women are strong!

I stood tall in front of him and made sure my gaze bored into his. "Just let me go, you bastard!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, blood boiling in anger and lips trembling as I spoke. "I want to go home." I added. Albeit not wanting to sound weak, my voice cracked. I felt scared — scared for my life. 

"Home?" He slurred, running a feathery touch of his hand along the length of my face. The coldness and coarseness of his hand, sent shivers down my spine. My breath quickened  as his touch trailed down my neck. 

"But this is home." His lips curved into a lopsided smile.