Prologue
I wake up with the throbbing pain in my head. My body felt heavy. My neck is stiff, I can't barely move it. I was tied in a chair. My eyes were covered with a thick cloth up to my upper nose and I am gagged. I can't hardly breathe. Maybe because I am starting to panic or that I am in a close room with no air. That is just my guess of course. I don't know where I am. I don't know how I end up here. I don't know who took me.
And the strangest and scariest part is…
I don't know who I am.
16 hours ago
Catherine
"You look beautiful" my mother said to me. She was standing in my back and were facing the mirror. She looked at me with unshed tears in her eyes. I turned around to face her.
"Mom. I'm not getting married yet. This is only engagement party. Don't cry like that." I wipe the tear that escape on her left gorgeous eyes.
"I know. I just couldn't help myself. My only daughter is engage and someday you will leave us and build family of your own. I am sad and overwhelm at the same time."
"I am always be here mom. Evan and I decided that we will find a place somewhere near so that I am only minutes away from you".
"Good. Because if ever you plan on making me a grandmother soon I don't have any problem coming your place and take my grandchild to take care." My mom finally smile.
And finally I smile.
She left me a few minutes after with my father. They went to the venue earlier to meet our relatives who came from Toronto just to attend my engagement party. I was left alone in my room looking at myself in the mirror. I am wearing a red fitted dress which I bought over a year ago for special occasions like this. Since my engagement with Evan two months ago, I feel different. I don't know if different good or different bad. I am not really sure. I love him, yes but I am not hundred percent sure of my engagement with him. It feel too soon. I am only 28 years old. I wanted to enjoy my life more. But Evan is such a sweet loving man and I couldn't say no to him. I guess this is my destiny. Be married to the man who is trying to be perfect.
I left my apartment five minutes later. I am on inside the elevator going down to the basement where my car is park. As I went outside I noticed a man standing between my car and the pillar. His head is bowed and seems like he's waiting for someone. I suddenly felt uneasy. I noticed that my hands were shaking as I open my purse to get my car keys. I looked around to see if there is anyone beside me in the basement and fear crept to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I see another man far away not to notice his face. He was wearing a cap and his hands were on inside his jacket. He was coming toward me. I hurriedly walked to my car but before I open the door someone hit me on the back on my head. The last thing I saw is the man with the cap running to me and his deep gravel voice when he shout "NO!"
~~00~~
The door click open and I heard footsteps coming toward me. He pull a chair and he sat facing me. His knees touches mind. I jerk my head even if it hurts when his callous hands came to my cheek. I stopped when I realize what he intent to do. He removed the cloth from my mouth and he reached the back of my neck to untie it.
"Who are you?" I spoke before I realize he still leaning near me. His hands still linger in my neck and I feel goose bumps all over my body. His touch send chills to my body in a strange ways.
"Where am I? Why did you kidnap me?"
I caught my breath when he speak . His face is so near I can feel his breath fanning my face. "You don't remember why you are here?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No." I don't even know my name.
He sigh.
"Are you hungry?"
I nod my head. I'm too tired to speak. All I want to do is eat, sleep in a comfortable bed and weep.
He stood up, leaving me crying in despair.
I wonder why I'm here. Why I'm tied up. Who am I? There's so many question I want an answer but the more I think about it the more my head hurt. I want to touch it to check if there is a serious wound. It feels like they cutting it into two. I feel like slipping away to unconscious again. Everything hurts. My eyes were heavy. My head slowly fell on my side until warm callous hands catch it.
"Hey, hey"
"My head hurts."
"I know."
"If you want to kill me, just kill me now. I can't bear the pain on my head." a sob escape from my throat.
I heard him curse under his breath.
"Just kill me. I don't remember anything anyway!"
"What? You don't remember anything at all?" his deep masculine voice sounds surprise. And I am surprise that he is sounds surprise.
I nod.
"I will tend your injury-
"Wait. You didn't do this?" I cut him off. It's my turn to sound surprise.
"Listen to me. Let's make a deal. I will tend your injury but promise me, you never ask any questions to me. You understand?"
"Why?"
"Just don't."
"What will you do to me if I ask you a question?"
"What did I just say?" his voice now became stern and hard. Like he is a commanding a little girl.
I bit my lower to stop asking him. I noticed that his hand still holding my head.
"You promise?"
"Yes."
"Wait here."
A few minutes later, he was tending my wound. His hands so gentle I wonder if he is really a kidnapper because he has a hands of a doctor. I am a seconds away to slip into slumber when he spoke again.
"This part is swollen. He hit you really hard and it cause you temporary loss of memory."
I want to ask him who hit me, how he knows, but I kept my mouth shut. Maybe he was with someone. They just ordered him to look out for me. That is what I usually saw in the TV. They will ordered man to kidnap someone. Maybe this man is working with a mob or a gang but why me? Am I relate to some gangsters? Damn it. I can't remember anything. But he says my amnesia is temporary so it means I will remember. But when? When I'm dead? God! My head still aching.
"You were never hit me."
"What?"
"It's not a question. It's a statement."
"What are you talking about?"
"You may be kidnapped me but I know you didn't hurt me and you will never hurt me."
"How can you be so sure I will never hurt you?"
"Because if you did, I don't have a head right now." I smile.
He became silent. I wonder how he reacted to the words I say. I don't know what came on me to say those words. What if he didn't take it seriously and he became piss?
"Hello."
"You are right, I will never hurt you. I never ever hit a woman. So please do what I say. Don't ask any question."
"Just one more question." I plead. "Please."
"What?"
"What is your name?"
"Why are you asking my name instead of yours?" he asked. A little amused. I heard his footsteps move in front of me. He put both of his hands on my chair trapping me and I can feel his body so near I want to lean on him. I feel something that is pulling me to him. I still don't know him but I can feel he is not a bad guy. The way he took care of my head is one proof the he is a good man.
"Because I know you already know mine and I know by chance you will mention it someday. But I need to know your name if ever I get out of here I will report you to the police." I stop wondering he will take it seriously. "I'm just kidding." I release a chuckle that was a mistake. I silently mouthed "ouch".
"See the result when you are asking?"
"I just want to make fun of our situation. I'm not even sure if I will live or die tomorrow or if I am a joker before I got an amnesia. I just want to talk to you that's all. Maybe you will change your mind and tell my name. I don't know." Why am I blabbing? Why I'm so comfortable with my kidnapper?
"Soon. I will tell you."
"What? My name or yours?"
"One more question and I will kill you."
"You didn't mean that. Do you?"
"That's two. Stop before I change my mind."
"Change your mind for what? Telling our names or killing me?"
I heard him sigh. Good God. Did I annoyed him? Am I annoying?
His phone ring and cursed before answering it.
"Yes Patrick? Yeah. She's with me. What? Fine." He hung up and then I heard him left the room.
"Wait. Where are you going? You didn't tell me your name." I called out but he's already gone.
My eyes were heavy and my stomach growl. I forgot how hungry I am. If I didn't asked him questions I've already eaten by now. The door flew open and a loud thud startled me. I heard footsteps. This time he is not alone. I felt scared knowing they are a lot more now. What if they will do something bad to me. Raped me maybe before they will kill me? The thought is sickening.
"She doesn't remember anything? Are you sure?" the man that is in front of me-I guess- asked.
"Yes. There is a swollen part of her head that caused her to have temporary amnesia" he told him. "You hit her hard. She's lucky she is still alive." He added. His voice a little bitter and concern. My heart do flip a little.
"Good. That is my goal anyway. God! Look at her she's so fucking hot." His voice disgust me.
I am not aware that I am wearing a dress. My ankles are also tied in the chair so I'm practically sitting with my legs open. I tried to move my head, trying to find him through his voice. His voice comfort me. I only want to hear his voice. Nothing else.
"Yeah she is. But you can't touch her. We are off limit on that part." He said. He's a little far for me.
"Who says I can't touch her? Nobody knows unless you tell Gabe."
Before he spoke, the man touched my leg sliding his hands to my thigh making my dress go up. I want to move, scream at him to back off. But I only did was to pray. Praying HE will save me.
"Please. Don't touch me." I beg. I turned my head where HE is standing. I knew he is watching but I also knew he doesn't like what he is seeing. "Please stop him."
"Patrick stop! You already hurt her. Don't try to do something stupid. She is not yours." He told him, jerking his hands away from my thigh.
I sigh in relief.
"Fine. You are a big bastard that is trying to be loyal with Gabe. I know you don't like him but you knew he will still kill her."
I gasped. They are talking to me. This Gabe-their boss I assume- still want to kill me. What did I do to make them do this to me? I started to tremble. Knowing I will be dead soon. I will be dead with no memory.
"Leave! Before I will break your nose."
"Accept it dude. No matter how much you try to please him, he will never changed his mind. He is dangerous. I'm trying to warn you but you never listen to me. Now you are stuck with him forever and you will never ever get out from him. This is your life now and soon he will kill you when he realize you are useless. Ohh. I forgot. You already are." Patrick chuckle before he walked out and close the door with a loud thud.
"He will kill me. Who is this Gabe? What did I do to him?" I asked him. The cloth in my eyes is soaking wet with my tears.
"Stop asking questions!" he shout. I didn't expect him to shout at me and I don't know why. Maybe it's my problem, that I believe he is different from them that he is a good guy but he is here. He still one of my kidnappers. I bite my lips to suppress my sob. He is upset and he make me upset too. He doesn't want this. I can feel it. This is not his life before.
"You're not useless like what Patrick said. He is. Don't be upset about that and please don't shout at me. Your voice gives me chill. You made me scare of you."
"Why you didn't feel scared to me at all?" He's asking me question and that is good.
"No." don't ask me why because I don't know either.
"I am dangerous. I warn you. Just because I don't let Patrick touched you doesn't mean I am a good guy. I can do worst than Patrick." He came to so suddenly. He pull my chair and he pressed his forehead on mine. He touch my lips with his thumb and I wanted to suck it.
"You have a soft plump lips. I want to bite them." I bite my bottom lip unconsciously. I heard him growl.
"Damn it. Don't do that." He pull it away from my teeth. His nose so near on mine. We are like a lovers breathing each other breath.
That moment I wanted to touch him. I want to know what he looks like, what his body capable of.
"I am still not afraid of you." I whisper. My head still pounding and my stomach is growling but I don't mind. I want him near me. It's odd I know but I like him near me.
"What if I force to kiss you hard and do things that make you scream my name? You will not still afraid of me?"
I let out a loud chuckle. "Are you kidding me? I didn't know your name yet how can I scream it? And you are a badass kidnapper why are you asking me to get afraid of you if you like to be scary? If you really a bad guy, you already kissing me."
"You are something. Maybe the wound made you bold and funny." He commented. "You are right. I am a bad guy trying to be a good guy. I am this close to kiss you feverishly but I force to stop myself because you are not mine." He let a loud sigh. He stood up before I start to lean my head on him. "You are hungry. I will get your food."
He walked then stop. He went back. He lean down to whisper in my ear.
"Vincent. My name is Vincent."
I smile. I know he is watching me so I flash my one hundred megawatts smile. I felt relieve, gratitude that he trusted me to say his name. That is all I need. I know someday I will scream his name.
