Squinting into the darkness, I waited, knowing that screaming for help won't work.
I didn't have to wait long. A rectangle of light appeared, prompting me to squeak and try and make myself as small as possible. That turned out to be rather difficult, because I was tied to a chair.
"Good morning, my dear Taeko! How are you doing today?" A male voice called from the rectangle of light. It was marred briefly by a silhouette appearing to walk down steps. Then everything was light. No warnings whatsoever.
When my eyes adjusted, I could make out a boy standing next to some cardboard boxes. The room I was in looked to be someone's basement, the boy's I assume. The boy himself didn't seem all that unusual. In fact, the only way he seemed to be 'unusual' was that he looked so damn normal!
"Who are you? Why am I here?" I managed. Too late, I realized my mistake. When he slapped my face, it hit me. Never question the crazy psycho. That was the main thing most kidnapped victims do wrong.
"Taeko, it's not polite to not return someone's greeting. I'll ask again; How are you doing today, Taeko?" He glared at me. I gulped. Steeling myself, I quickly noted that he valued politeness.
"I'm doing quite well, thank you for asking. How are you doing today, Mr...?" I winced, expecting a slap. Instead, I got a gentle pat on the head.
"I'm doing fine as well, Taeko. My name's Atsushi Aishi, thank you for asking." He smiled. "So, Taeko, can you repeat my name? I want to be sure you've remembered it."
"Your name is Atsushi Aishi." He smiled again.
"Very good, Taeko." He pat me on the head again. So answering questions correctly results in praise.
"Taeko, are you hungry?" He looked at me, concerned.
"Yes, I am very hungry. May I please have some food, Atsushi Aishi?" He reached down to pick something up. A water bottle.
"Please just call me Atsushi, Taeko. And yes, you may have some food. But first, you need to drink some water. One second, I'll be right back, okay?" He left his basement, turning off the lights.
I heard rattling and bumping.
Atsushi came back down, turning on the lights to reveal that he had a dog dish in his hands.
When he came to a stop close to the chair, he placed the bowl in my lap and unscrewed the cap of the plastic water bottle. He poured a quarter of it's contents into the bowl, capping the bottle after.
He grabbed the bowl gently, so as not to spill, and brought it up to my lips. I raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Drink, my dear Taeko." It wasn't a suggestion. I opened my mouth and allowed him to tip the contents into my mouth slowly. I gulped it all. "Slow down, Taeko. You'll give yourself hiccups."
After I finished drinking, Atsushi asked again, "Taeko, are you hungry?"
So I repeated as well. "Yes, Atsushi, I am very hungry. May I please have some food?"
He smiled again. "Certainly. I'll be right back, Taeko." And he disappeared up the stairs again, taking the light with him.