from the duffel, along with a nice looking white short-sleeved button up. He put the shirt in my lap and told me to put it on. He watched intently as I buttoned it fully.
“I’m sorry that I must cover your pretty face , my dear, it really is for the best this way.” He motioned for me to lower my head.
I did so with great reluctance, while he put the silky black bag over my head, securing it with some sort of thin rope. The material was very thick and my breath was already making it very warm under the cloth.
He traced my shoulders with his fingertips, and then lowered them to my breasts tracing the bottom-rounded area of them. I flinched not wanting him to touch me.
He lightly caressed his way to my hands and then held one of them in his. I heard him going through his duffel bag again. “I’m going to cuff your wrists now, my dear.”
I felt a soft padded material on my wrist, and listened to him fasten what felt like a leather cuff. My insides churned and my stomach felt queasy. He did the same with my other wrist and then held the two together while he locked them.
“Stay put for a moment, Precious.”
He stroked my long red hair fully pulling it down around my back, and I felt him leave the bed. I could hear him turning off the television and zipping up his duffel bag. He took hold of my left arm.
“Up we go, Precious.” He pulled, helping me to my feet. He held my arm firmly while we walked, my bare feet collecting the dirt and grit from the floor. I was disoriented from not being able to see where I was going. He slid his arm in around my waist. “We’re at the stairs my dear, tread carefully.”
I counted the thirty-two steps it took to reach the big metal door as my left hand scaled the peeling gray paint on the handrail. I could smell the fresh air even through the thick black material as he opened the door. We took about twelve steps a nd I heard him open a car door.
“Watch your step , dear. It’s time to get into the car.”
He guided and helped me into what I presumed to be the back seat and closed the door. It took him a couple of minutes and then I heard another door open, the weight of the car shifted as he got in . Then the door slammed shut as he started the car. I could smell his cologne and moved to the opposite side of the car near the window.
It must have been well over an hour of driving and he did not say a word. I sat silently as close to the door as I could, leaning my shoulder against it, the sound of soft music playing on the radio. I should be terrified right now and crying, but such was not the case. I was more angry than scared. And I really felt like I was going to be the next victim talked about on the news. And if such were the case, I wanted it to be over sooner rather than later. After another hour or so had past, he asked me if I was doing okay.
“I’m doing just fine for someone who has just been kidnapped,” I barked behind the thick cloth, wanting him to notice my sarcasm.
I heard him sigh heavily and then he turned up the elevator music. I thought of trying to get this hood off my face, but I could feel his eyes peering at me in the review mirror.
The car came to a stop and he shut it off. I listened as he moved, turning to face me as he leaned over the back seat. He removed the dark hood from my face. I squinted as the light hit my eyes. He no longer had his mask on.
I looked into the face of my abductor for the first time. His thick salt and pepper hair cut short. His eyebrows were full and slightly bushy looking, his nose held a slender slope, and I could see from the wear on his shaved face he was in his mid forties. His bright sky blue eyes accentuated his whole face.
“When we get out of the car, I will put a sweater over the cuffs around your wrists. If you attempt to run, I promise you that you will regret it. Do you understand me, Princess?” He held my face in his right hand firmly, awaiting my answer.
I looked past him