Blindfolds of Desire

ABDUCTED

ARABELLA

“Let me go!” I scream, my voice breaking.

I kick wildly, thrashing my legs with every bit of strength I have left, but it feels completely useless. He doesn’t budge even an inch.

“Stop fighting,” he says. His voice is calm, almost bored, like he’s done this a hundred times before and my panic is just a minor inconvenience.

I don’t stop. I thrash harder against him, kicking at his legs, his sides, anything I can reach. I scream as loud as I can, hoping desperately that someone—anyone—will hear me in this godforsaken night.

“Help!” I shout at the top of my lungs. “Somebody help me!”

No one comes. The rain drowns out my screams, pouring down even harder now, like the sky is conspiring to wash away any trace of me.

I keep screaming. I keep struggling, twisting against his hold.

He sighs heavily, as if I’m nothing more than an annoying child throwing a pointless tantrum.

Then I feel it—something sharp and cold pressing against my neck.

“Stop,” he says, his tone turning icy.

I freeze instantly. My heart pounds so hard it becomes painful.

A sharp pinch follows. A sting. Something cold and liquid spreads through my whole body.

I feel dizzy. My eyelids grow heavy, drowsy.

What did he inject me with?

Is this the end?

“No,” I whisper, but my voice sounds distant, as if it belongs to someone else.

My legs go weak. My vision closes off. I try to fight it, try to stay awake, but my body won't listen.

Everything goes black.

---

.........................................................

I wake up slowly, my head throbbing with a sharp pain that makes it hard to think straight or even remember where I am.

I try to move, but I feel a sharp pain in my wrist.

I force my eyes open and look up.

My right hand is tied tightly to the bedpost with thick, rough rope that bites into my skin.

I pull at it hard, yanking with all my strength. The rope cuts deeper, scraping my wrist.

I scan the room desperately. It’s small and dark, with only one plain wooden door and one small window high up on the wall. The window has thick iron bars across it, blocking any hope of escape. The air smells damp and musty, like old wood and something else. A single dim bulb hangs from the ceiling.

I yank at the rope again, twisting my wrist, trying to loosen the knot. I am desperate at this point. It doesn’t move a bit.

“Help!” I scream as loud as I can. “Somebody! Please help me!”

My voice echoes in the almost empty room.

No response.

I scream again, even louder, until my throat feels painful and sore.

Still nothing.

I keep pulling frantically, using my free hand to pull at the knot. My fingers fumble in the dim light. The rope is too tight. The person who tied it must be an expert. I twist and tug harder, ignoring the pain as the rope digs deeper into my skin. My wrist starts to throb seriously, swelling and turning red.

I finally stop when I get exhausted. I am panting, sweat mixing with the dried rain on my skin.

I stare at the rope, at my wrist, at the bed I’m chained to.

It looks fancy in contrast to the dull room.

I glance at the window again. It’s way too high. Even if I could free myself, there’s no way I’d reach it, and those bars look unbreakable.

I’m trapped. Completely.

I close my eyes tight, trying to steady my breathing.

I think of Liam.

Where is he? What could have possibly happened to him? He was supposed to come for me. He promised. He said eight minutes. Why didn’t he show up?

Maybe his truck really did break down on the way. Maybe he got into an accident in the rain. Or worse…

My parents’ warnings echo in my head.

“Enemies of this family. Business rivals who would use you to hurt me.”

Is this what they meant all along?

Who is that man?

Is he one of my father’s enemies, someone who’s been waiting to strike the moment they got the chance?

They warned me over and over. They said I would have no protection if I left. That I’d be on my own.

Is this it? Is my life about to end here, in this dark, soulless room?

I remember the man’s words clearly now, the way his blue eyes locked onto mine like he truly knew me, like he had been watching me for years.

“Someone who has been waiting for you,” he had said. “For a very long time.”

“Blood.”

These words ring in my head, sending chills through my entire body.

Blood.

What does that even mean? Is he some kind of psychopath? A ransom kidnapper? Something worse?

I ran away thinking I could finally break free from my parents’ control and be with the man I love so much.

But now, I can’t find Liam anywhere, and I don’t have the slightest clue where I am or who has taken me.

Suddenly, I hear something. A faint sound outside the door—footsteps, maybe.

I freeze. My heart stops beating for a second.

But no one knocks, and the door doesn’t open either.

---

...........................................................................

LIAM

Liam gets to the ivory gate.

He's late. He knows he's late. His truck broke down two blocks away and he had to run the rest of the way.

He's soaked. His T-shirt sticks to his skin. He doesn't care.

He just needs to find her.

"Arabella!" he shouts.

He looks around. The gate is open. She should be here.

But she's not.

"Arabella!" he calls again.

Nothing. Just the rain. The wind. The empty road.

He pulls out his phone. Tries to call her.

It goes straight to voicemail.

He tries again.

Voicemail.

He sees her texts:

"I'm at the ivory gate. Where are you?"

"Liam"

"I'm scared. Please come"

He ruffles his hair in panic, water dripping into his eyes, then he tries texting her:

"I'm here. Where are you?"

No reply.

He waits. One minute. Two.

He walks up and down the road, looking for her, calling her name.

She's not here.

He calls her again. And again. And again.

Voicemail. Every time.

He sits on the wet pavement.

He feels angry. He should have gotten here sooner.

Did she change her mind?

Did she go back inside?

He looks over at the Garcia estate. The big house on the hill. The lights in the windows.

Maybe she couldn't get out. Maybe her parents caught her. Or something.

Damn the truck.

He punches the gate hard, feeling the pain in his knuckles.

She needed him. She asked him to come. And he failed her.

He doesn't know what to do. Where to go. How to find her.

So he sits there in the rain.

Hoping she appears somehow.