Bound By Ties

Chapter 4

Holding onto me tightly he carried me down the halls and then through a door. As soon as we had exited there was a black limo in front of us. The man I believed to be as Miles opened the door for us. Mr. Wells swiftly stepped in with both of us and sat me down on the warm inviting seats.

"I had them heated for you Miss Karen," Miles said. I nodded as a thank you.

"Would you like something to drink? There is wine or maybe a scotch," Mr. Wells asked

I shook my head.

"Perhaps a vodka?"

I shook my head again. I had never drunk...even at parties, I never drank. I was always the designated driver. I was fine with that.

"Hot chocolate?" I asked.

A peculiar smile formed on Mr. Wells face.

"I buy you for 15,000$ and put you in an expensive limo, and all you want is a hot chocolate?"

I nodded shyly.

"The cheap rich and cream kind is the best," I said quietly.

"Miles. Is there any cheap rich and creamy hot chocolate?" Mr. Wells asked. He was acting light and humorous.

"Well, I don't' know what cheap brands are any more. But yes, there is a box rich and creamy hot chocolate. Would you like some?" Miles asked.

I nodded again. I watched as Miles, a six-foot man with a neatly kept blonde beard and tidy kept hair made hot chocolate for me. "Here you go," he said. I took the cup from him and wrapped my hands around it. The smell was inviting. Smelling the chocolate made me realize I hadn't had any food in I don't know how long. The hour's sense I had woken up had all felt like a blur.

"Are you still cold?" Mr. Wells had asked.

I nodded.

Miles reached in an overhanging cupboard and out came a blanket. He handed it to Mr. Wells and he wrapped my shoulders with it.

"Thank you," I said.

"I like it when you actually speak," he said. "Your voice is inviting," Mr. Wells said. I looked at him. His eyes were a warm brown with a hint of gold. His facial feature was sharp. His hair was the color of a golden brown that matched his eyes. His teeth shown an impeccable white smile. He was sensible....and quite handsome.

I didn't know how to reply to him. I darted my eyes to my hot chocolate and sipped it. It was the perfect temperature to drink. It warmed my throat as it went through.

I tried to speak up. I had every intention to. I was going to say something along the lines of 'I know you probably aren't as bad as the drunks and the woman that were trying to buy me. But I wanted to thank you from saving me from them. I would have been humiliated...you didn't humiliate me.' But instead of words I sobbed.

I began to think of never seeing my parents again. I started thinking about how hurt they would be not seeing me again. Would they see me again? I also thought of my cat Star and my dog Duke. They would both curl up in my bed and sleep with me at night. I didn't know what I would do without them. I thought about my friends at school. I was supposed to graduate this year. I was supposed to walk onto stage and receive my high school diploma so I could go to college and become a veterinarian. I was supposed to find a man you I could love for the rest of my life. I would marry that man. We would have children. But not our own children. They had to be adopted. Because a lot of children don't have families. I wanted to give them that....and the Olympics, an Olympic swimmer. I was being scouted.

Tears fell down my eyes as I tried to drink my hot chocolate. I couldn't say anything.

"I'm sorry," I sobbed. I cried big tears. I was loud. The limo was moving at this point. It was heading towards a destination I'm not sure where. Mr. Wells rested a hand on my shoulder. "Shh," he comforted. I continued to cry and drink through my hot chocolate. Miles took it from me when he saw it begin to shake so much more. I curled up into a ball on my seat and buried my head in my knees. Mr. Wells continued to rub my back. But what help was that supposed to give me. He was taking me away after all. I tilted my body to the left to lean against the arm cushion of the seat. I moved away from the touch of the man that had bought and saved me. I shut my eyes and wrapped myself in the blanket. Neither Mr. Wells nor Miles touched me.

I shut my eyes and cried myself to sleep.

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"I will see you later," I said. I was walking away from my friend Reed. We had been at a friend house party. We were seniors and our group of friends got together and just had an enjoyable house party.

"Are you sure you don't want a ride home?" Reed asked.

"No, my house isn't that far from here. I don't mind walking a few blocks. Plus, if I cut through the park, I'm like practically almost there." I said.

"Suit yourself. Just make sure to kick any man in the groin if he tries to come get you. I mean it. Be safe," he said.

"I will. Don't worry. How else am I supposed to humiliate you as I give my valedictorian speech at grad?"

"Ha-ha, very funny. See you tomorrow at church!"

"See you tomorrow," I replied and began to walk off.

I looked up at the starry night sky as it began to rain. That was just perfect. All I had was a t-shirt and jeans. I didn't have a coat at all. But instead of a light rain, it began to pour. I didn't like going through the park at night. I also didn't walk around alone at night either. I always liked to take precautions when it came to keeping myself protected.

Because of the amount of rain, I decided I was going to take the short cut through the park. I did for a moment stop and look up at the pouring rain. It had been a really hot day. The rain was kind of nice. But it was a bit chilly. I turned around slowly looking around me. Looking mostly up high, but made a glance at two men in jackets that were walking behind me. I felt creeped out by them so I started to walk. I walked briskly, holding my arms tightly together. I glanced back and they seemed to be keeping pace with me. I started to run. Not only was I scared but I was starting to get a little cold. I turned left up a flight of ten stairs that was the entrance into the park. I stopped at the top.

I didn't see the men any more. It must just have been a coincidence. I decided instead of going home I was going to sit on the swings and swing in the rain. Just a couple minutes. I always enjoyed the swings. It was the perfect time to day dream. I just lightly swung back and forth, running my feet against the muddy dirt. I was thinking about how I was going to make my speech on graduating day. I was also thinking about the church service tomorrow. They were making a service for the grads and our accomplishment for the future.

As I thought about these things I felt a hand grasp my mouth tightly and a man toppled over me pressing my chest to the muddy ground. I struggled trying to push the person away. I managed to turn around to see who it could be. It was the men in the black jackets. My eyes widened and I tried to fight back. His hand was firmly over my mouth so I couldn't scream or shout. I moved my arms I wriggled and kicked. I tried to knee him in the groin area but the other black jacket man pinned me down. The man that held my mouth tight reached with his free hand into his pocket pulled out a rag of some sort and then pressed it against my mouth. Soon my eyes began to close.

As my eyes began to close. The only thing I could think about was I should have taken Reed up on his offer. If I had taken him up on his offer, he would have drove me home. I would have been safe. I thought about how paranoid I always am about never walking in the dark alone.... maybe this wouldn't have happened.

Was I going to die?

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"Karen, Shh, calm down, it's alright, Karen," I began to hear. Someone was shaking me. I felt panicked. My eyes shot open. It was just a bad dream. It was all just a bad dream. I wasn't taken, I wasn't stripped naked, I wasn't bid on. I looked up and my heart sank. It was all true.

The dream I had. I remembered what happened to me that led me to this limo. My careless thoughts of I will make it home no problem were stupid. I was scared.

Mr. Wells began to reach his hand towards me. I moved back. Even though his handsome face wasn't scary. I was still in the moment scared of him.

"Water," Mr. Wells said.

Miles began to pour a glass of water. He handed the glass to Mr. Wells and he slowly reached his hand with the glass to me. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just need you to trust me." He said.

I looked at him with wide eyes but they softened. Ever so slightly as my hand reached for the glass of water and I drank it.

"You had a nightmare?" He asked.

I nodded.

" What was it about," he asked. "I want you to speak," he said. "It will help."

I hesitated before telling him. I opened my mouth to begin to speak. "I was at a house party. It was five of us. We were a group of friends... we were celebrating that in the next month we were going to graduate from high school. When I was leaving. My best friend asked if I was sure I didn't need a ride home. I said I didn't, hat I would be fine. But the men....in the black jackets...those...I didn't...I should have...." I started crying again. All I had to do, was take that ride and I would be sleeping in my bed with Duke and Star.

"I'm sad because all I had to say was yes, I would like a ride home and I would be able to sleep with my cat and my dog. I would be at a church service on the Sunday and I would be giving the valedictorian speech at my high school graduation. I want Duke and Star," I sobbed.

I was a sobbing mess. The makeup that the man in the shorts had put on me had left me with a raccoon face.

Mr. Wells rested his hand once again on my shoulder to try and comfort me. I didn't flinch away this time. He took the glass from my hands and set it on the floor of the limo and embraced me in a hug.

"Are Duke and Star your pets?" he asked.

"Yes," I sobbed. "I can't sleep without them. They always sleep with me. Star nuzzles against my face. And duke always nuzzles himself between my legs.to keep my warm."

Here I am and all I can think about it Duke and Star. I was pathetic. Shouldn't I be crying for my parents? I guess Duke and Star were my protection.

"It's OK," Mr. Wells whispered in my ear. I didn't know why I was letting him hug me now.

I didn't see Mr. Wells had turned to Miles and mouthed something. But Miles had nodded to him and he was on his phone searching for something. The limo began to slow down until it came to a halt. "We are here," Mr. Wells said.