Hidden Monster Read online

  ***

  “Just tell me—what do you want?” I asked, knowing it was pointless. In the three weeks—or had it been longer?—of my imprisonment, I had yet to get an answer. He never spoke.

  I blinked, trying to clear the blurry blob that occasionally floated across my right eye. Never having glasses before, I was annoyed by my hazy vision. I blinked again, my eyes refocusing on the figure pacing the room. What had started as a dull headache was now a hammer drumming at the back of my eye sockets. I need water. My stomach grumbled with nauseating hunger.

  There was no escaping the noxious, pinstriped mattress, except for the periodic bathroom breaks, which weren’t frequent enough.

  My jaw quivered, and I clamped my mouth shut. Don’t start chattering now, I commanded myself, knowing it usually ended with my whole body convulsing. October was merciless on my bare skin; my arms and legs were permanently smattered with goose bumps.

  Stupid running shorts. I wished for the thousandth time I’d listened to my mom and worn a sensible sweat suit that day. The swish-swish of his warm ski parka and pants seemed to mock me, as he continued his route of six steps forward and then six steps back again.

  First time in my life that I love my leg hair.

  Too late, I realized it was quiet, the rhythmic swish-swish gone. In one impossible leap, he was next to me. I squeaked out in surprise. This wasn’t the first time he’d come close, but usually he ambled over, producing a long needle from his pocket.

  Silently, he pressed his face against mine, the black ski mask tickling my forehead and nose. I shied away, terrified by both his touch and the change in his behavior. My bindings made my attempt to move useless, so I squeezed my eyes shut. My chest heaved up and down as my heart galloped against my rib cage. It’s ok. He’s got a needle. The pinch’s coming still. It’ll be over soon, I consoled myself.

  The ski mask lifted off my face. I tried to steady my pulse, inhaling slowly. Not daring to open my eyes, I waited, but there was still no pinch. The stillness stretched on, with only his heavy breathing letting me know he was near. Never talking, the mechanical sounds he produced reminded me of Darth Vader. I long since decided that he was actually a human and the protruding square under his mask was just a voice modulator. He’s still a monster. His growling sounds sent chills through me.

  Maybe he has food. I cracked my eyelids, peeking through feathered lashes. His body leaned over mine, elevated by knuckles planted in the mattress. Terror rippled through me. Why isn’t he drugging me? Why isn’t he drugging me? I welcomed my arm being stuck with a needle. It was my only escape from this nightmare.

  With tall boots, gloves, and a long, knit mask, I hadn’t known if my abductor was male or female at first. Now with the way he moved, stared at me, and shoved water bottles and bread into my mouth, I knew he, it, was a man.

  The bed lowered as he sat down next to me, his weight pulling my body toward him. The bedsores on my backside smarted at the slight shift. Even with his face covered, I could feel him ogling me. One hand reached out, stroking my matted hair down, brushing errant strands from my face. I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to bite his glove. He hadn’t actually hit me before, but I didn’t want to take my chances. Maybe I should bite him. Maybe it’ll end this misery.

  The breathing halted as the ski mask cocked to one side.

  His voice slurred. “What do I want?” I bit my lip to keep from gasping. He’d never responded before. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? I want you to fall in love with me.”

  Holy freak! He’s more insane than I thought! I swallowed, forcing my dry tongue to moisten my mouth. “I’ll never love you!”

  He chuckled, the sound like a horror movie. “Yes, you will. You see, I’ve always loved you, Samantha, or should I call you Sammy?”

  He knows my name? Dark spots popped in my vision, and my body felt like it was floating several feet above my head. Crap, I’m going to pass out!

  He touched my arm with his gloved hand.

  “Don’t!” I hissed, and he instantly recoiled. Dumbstruck, I stared at the ski mask. Is he really listening to me? I didn’t want to faint or be drugged. Not if this was my one chance to talk to him. Pulse pounding in my ears, the adrenaline cleared my mind, giving me courage. “Please, I need water.”

  He cocked his head to the side, as if considering, and then produced a small water bottle from his pant pocket. A gloved hand tugged my hairs out as he elevated my head, but this time, he didn’t shove the bottle against my lips. I drained it within seconds, not satiated, and wanting more.

  I asked again, “What do you want? Why am I here?”

  “I already told you. I want you to fall in love with me.”

  “Then let me go! Untie me,” I begged as something wet tickled my lips. I licked the salty tear away.

  He didn’t say anything, just sat next to me breathing.

  “Who are you?” I persisted. Again, silence. “How long are you going to keep me here?”

  “That depends on how long it takes.”

  “For what?”

  “For,” he paused, “you to love me.”

  I resisted the hysterical laughter bubbling within me. He’s serious, completely psychotic, but serious.

  “How can I,” I hesitated, “fall in love with someone I can’t see? Why don’t you take your mask off?”

  “No!” he barked, jumping to his feet.

  Relieved he was further away, I decided to push him. This might be my only chance.

  “Can I know your name at least?”

  “No.”

  “Ok, well, how do you know me then?”

  “I’ve known you a long time.”

  I shuddered. “Do I know you personally?”

  “Yes.” The voice modifier made it sound like a growl.

  My body began shaking. “What do you want?” I whispered.

  “Why do you keep asking the same question over and over? You’re smarter than this. That’s why you’re so unique, Sammy. You’re not only beautiful, you’re brilliant.”

  Okay, maybe he doesn’t know me that well. I’m anything but brilliant. Stay calm. Keep him talking. “Why are you drugging me? Why can’t we just talk then?”

  His sigh sounded more like a roar. “You ask too many questions, Samantha. You need to sleep now.”

  “No!” But he grabbed my arm with one hand, while the other produced the all-too-familiar needle. “No,” I begged. “I can sleep without it! I don’t need it!”

  “Yes, you do. I know what’s best for you. Trust me; this is for your own good. And this one is a special blend; I made it myself. You’ll sleep wonderful tonight.”

  I thrashed against the ropes, but it was no use. The tip of the needle burned my skin.

  He paused and then glanced down at me, his ski mask moving with his mouth. “Wait, I want to tell you something first.” I could no longer feel the point of the needle against my skin. “You are going to fall in love with me Samantha. It’s only a matter of time. You’ll be mine one day. One day you’ll lie in my arms and kiss my lips.” His gloved finger traced my lips.

  I turned away and spat, “Never! I’ll never love you!”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. We’re meant for each other, and no one can ever love you like I do. You were always my special girl.”

  My head snapped back to glare at him. Special girl? Only one person said that to me. A sinking sensation flooded my body as I gasped, “Jeremy? Is that you?”

  The needle inserted, but I no longer cared about the pinch and the burn it caused. All I knew was the scrambled voice that said, “I guess you’ll never know now, will you?”

  I struggled to respond but the drug worked fast, seeping through my veins like ice-cold water hitting an empty stomach. My body welcomed it, drifting off into the black void it created.