Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Suspense/Mystery

       It was a bright sunny day, with just enough shade for a little breeze. As Jessica stepped out of the library where she was studying. A white van with squeaky brakes, tan windows stopped in front of her. One of the men in the back slide open the door, which made a loud thud. Tossed her a gun and said, "No time to explain get in". With confusion on her face she looks around, not a soul in sight. She climbs into the back. The man closest to the door, shuts it after she is in. Without another word the driver squeals tires and takes off. 
"What is this about? Who are you?" Pleaded Jessica. 
The driver doesn't even acknowledge what Jessica has said and began to speak. 
"My name is James, we have some unfinished business to take care of". 
       Jessica is so confused, frightened but says no more. She thinks if she does it will come out wrong. So she just sits there quietly with the shotgun in her lap looking out the window. Jessica can see the city passing by in a blur. She was lost in her own thoughts. While twirling her hair in her fingers. Wondering if her past has caught up to her. Where she was going? All she could think about was her boyfriend Isaiah, a well respected and polite man. Also her beautiful daughter, Isabel. 
          As she sat there in her own thoughts. Chewing on her bottom lip, and twirling her hair in her fingers. She I visions Isabel's smile, chubby cheeks and giggle. Isabel is only four months old, she was named after her grandmother. Jessica has always feared that one day her past would swallow her whole and bite her in the ass. 'If only' Jessica thought, 'I had done things differently'. 
           Even with squeaky brakes, Jessica had not even noticed the van had stopped. James the driver looked over into the back seats. Jessica could hear the fabric moving under his legs. James then spoke, "Are we good to go"? Jessica began to look around after stepping out of the vehicle, nothing looked familiar. 
          Jessica only saw a narrow dirt road with a cottage at the end, hidden within a bunch of old oak and pine trees as tall as her 5 story apartment building. She noticed smoke coming out from the chimney inside the cottage. She thought to herself 'it's a little odd that someone would have a fire going in a chimney, when it was 3pm and outside was a beautiful sunny day'. 
           Everyone had the same outfit Jessica had put on that morning before heading to the library. A bright pink shirt with a smiley face on the front, and a pair of dark skinny jeans that were the most comfortable. Shotguns in hand they started towards the cottage. Jessica still had no knowledge why she was there or what was about to take place. Putting one foot in front of the other she continued to walk. 
          Jessica and James stopped dead in there tracks when they heard a loud bang. Jessica realized it was only the van door being shut. 
        James looked to Jessica and took off his mask. He figured it was time to reveal who he was. The others never moved or revealed there faces. Jessica then realized that James was the man who kidnapped and tortured her those years ago. She couldn't believe it was him. Jessica was frozen in place, she couldn't move or even speak. She was petrified. If she tried to run would they shoot? She felt trapped.
          Jessica's mind was racing now. Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. She could barely breathe. Jessica was not shocked at all to notice she no longer help her gun. Chewing on her lips she started to think, she was going to make a plan. Realizing she was in the middle of nowhere, with a man she despises. No where to run, nowhere to hide. She figured that's how James wanted her. Jessica tried to make sure how she felt didn't show on her face. She was not only scared, alone, and helpless she was angry too. 
What was she to do? Why did she get into the van? Fighting back tears of anger. 
          James had a evil grin on his face. Long jet black hair, pearly white teeth, blue eyes and a scar, Jessica had left right under his right eye. James had never met a woman like her in his life. All of the other women and men he was told to get rid of never put up a fight like Jessica had. 
          James loved her smile, slim body, tight ass and breast big enough to to hold in one hand. He also couldn't get over her dark hair and green eyes. They reminded him of his mother. 
        James grew up in a small town. He was abused by both his mother and father, until the age of 10. When James decided he had enough. He sold drugs and prostitution just to get by in life. At the age of 16 a man named Paul took him under his wing and showed him the family business. James thought to his self about how far he had come. All of what he done, he done for money. Now he does it just for the sake of doing it. 
        James has been in the business for over 8 years now. In that 8 years he has gotten clever with the work he had done. He has always done his job well and no one ever suspected him not even the cops who investigated the crimes. Until Jessica who was a tough one. A fighter some would say.
          Jessica was still frozen. She didn't want to be here with this man. Flashbacks were starting to enter her mind. Suddenly James started to continue to the cottage. A younger, smaller build with short blond hair came from behind Jessica pushing her, making her take steps she desperately tried not to make. With her breath caught in her throat, she heart pounding inside her chest. She forced her steps toward the cottage.
          Finally on the steps to the cottage the door was opened with a creaky notice. The odor of stale cigarettes, beer, and musk filled her nose. It took all she had to fight back the vomit rising in her mouth. Looking around as she walked, there were no pictures or fixtures around. Jessica noticed the empty home feeling. It broke her heart how such a beautiful place would be left like this. In the room that she thought was the living room had an old couch covered by a single sheet. One lamp covered in dust.
      The hallway was just left of the living room. It was slim and narrow. To her right was a stairwell. If you looked down you could see all of the dusty shoe prints coming and going on the floor. Jessica was then brought to the end of the hallway where there set two doors one went to what she guessed was the kitchen and the other possibly the restoom. She was brought to the door with the kitchen. 
        There was a single lamp covered in dust just like the living room. Table and two chair. Cigarette butts overflowed in the ashtray. James looked over and the man pushing Jessica into the kitchen and said "Bo go get her a glass of the good stuff". With a sigh Bo left out of the room.
          Jessica took the rickety chair across from James which looked Straight into the hallway. She was fighting back tears which stung her eyes. James lit a Marlboro light cigarette. Jessica stared at her hands in her lap. Bo was then back with her glass. She wondered why she was brought here. Every bone in her body hurts. Her heart still pounding a gut feeling it was probably bad. She knew her only way out was to either fight or to wait. If she was to fight she would have to fight harder, harder than the last time. 
Jessica finally looked up. With the drink in front of her she studied it. She could tell the glass hadn't been washed in lord knows how long, the liquid inside had a strong odor of liquor and musk. 
          There was a sound of a vehicle speeding up the dirt road. Dust was flying in through the broken windows. Tires squealed to a halt by the front door of the cottage. The front door creaked open, a man stepped inside. Slowly walking in he made his way down the dusty hallway. With the loud sound of his black boots on the hardwood floors.  Finally. To Jessica it felt like a lifetime when he walked into the kitchen. The man whispered something in James's ear that Jessica couldn't quite make out. 
        James then gave a single look to Bo and headed out of the door. Jessica figured they went into the living room by the sound of there footsteps. Jessica was still confused, scared, and angry. She hoped and prayed it wasn't showing on her face. The man took a seat across from Jessica with his back to the door. Jessica was starting to remember just who that man was. 
        Paul was a tall, thin man with blue eyes, brown hair down to his waist, it was just starting to grey, a beard that looked freshly trimmed, He looked tough as nails. Paul took out a Marlboro red 100 from his shirt pocket and lit it. Taking a long draw before he coughed. 
"My name is Paul, I have a business proposition for you". "If you let me explain it will be worth your while". 
He let the words sink in hoping that letting it stew in her mind she would take him up on his proposition. 
         Jessica sat in the chair quietly looking at her hands. Thinking about what Paul had just mentioned. She was still trying to think of a plan to get out of that house. While sitting quietly she wondered to herself. 
'Should I listen or try to run'. 'If i run would they try and stop me?'
She lifted her head and stared directly into Paul's blue eyes. Jessica watched Paul flick his ashes into the already overflowing ashtray. Jessica opened her mouth to spat.
" I'm going to listen to what you have to say, but at any moment I feel uncomfortable can i leave?" 
        Paul sat silent looking at this strong willed woman and proceeded to light another cigarette, he the spout back.
"Jessica, I know you may be confused or scared. I'm truly sorry." "As I explained what my goal is, I have a feeling you will stay." "But at any moment you feel this is not for you, I still want to have your ok". 
Paul looked into Jessica's green eyes and grabbed her glass and took a big swig. He then set it down with a clink. 
Jessica was stunned by what he just said and did.
Paul began again. "You are welcome to leave at any point, until I tell you my plans". 
         Paul yelled for James to come back into the kitchen. Once James arrived Paul fired at him to get Jessica a fresh cup of liquor. As James proceeded to get a fresh cup, Paul began to confide in Jessica his plans. She sat across from him with her hands clasped around the dirty cup, waiting silently to hear just what this blue eyed man had to say.
        While snickering Paul began again.
"Jessica I understand that you have unpaid debt and student loans". 
"I also know that James kidnapped and tortured you so many years ago". 
 "You also have a daughter named Isabel, by a man named Isaiah". 
"Are you still following what I'm saying Jessica, nod if you are?"
Jessica proceeded to nod yes.
Paul then snickered "Good, now I want you to listen very carefully to me or your daughter may be harmed".
             Jessica could no longer hold the tears that threatened to fall. 
       


To be continued......