Chapter 11
Kidnapped
I hold my breath, waiting for a response from whoever is behind me. " Here are my rules: do what I tell you or I'll kill you; don't make a sound or I'll kill you; don't try to run or I'll kill you. Do you understand?" a muffled, male voice whispers.
I slowly nod, my face scraping against the wall. The object is removed from my back and the man grabs my shirt. He shoves me forward to the end of the alley and pokes me with what I believe is a knife. I walk forward. Wild thoughts race through my mind. I don't know what he wants or who he is. He shoves me forward and I stumble slightly forward. We keep moving down the back of the village. Behind it are snowy mountains and a cave. I stand in front of the entrance, sensing something is inside when he shoves me forward, into the mouth of it. The interior is far darker than the alley and I cannot see anything. I blindly stumble forward, putting my hands out. After about ten minutes of going completely straight, he whispers again, sending an echo throughout the cave, "Turn left." I turn left and keep walking for about twenty seconds. "Turn right." I turn right. I see a bonfire on the right side of the cave, against the wall.
Perhaps I can use this to escape. I run forward and snatch a stick from it, scattering embers in the air. I whirl round and shove the fire-lit stick against the man's shoulder. He screeches and stumbles back, dropping the knife. The stench of burnt flesh lingers in the air. I push past him and slam into the wall. I drop the fire-lit stick or torch on the ground and the flames go out. I turn to pick up the stick. Once my fingers touch it I gasp and drop it again. My fingers burn. The man grabs my arm and sticks the knife against my throat. The bonfire dimly lights my surroundings, showing the man. He is clad in black and wears a dark cap. A mask is on his face, but I can see anger in his eyes.
"I said," he says, sounding as if through gritted teeth, "to not try to run. Try that again. I dare you." He pulls his knife away from my throat, releases me from his grip, and punches me in my gut. I bend over, hands on my stomach, gasping. He takes hold of my arm and yanks me. "Come here!" I pull as hard as I can, but cannot get away. What do I do? He's going to kill me? I reach down and sink my teeth as hard as I can into his arm. He lets go and I race forward; then I turn to the right, then the left. I hear his footsteps close behind and trip on something. I fall on my face and get up, but my leg is grabbed from behind. I fall again. I twist my neck round, even if cannot see and kick his face with all my strength. He lets go with one hand and I kick him again, but feel a sharp pain in my leg at the same moment. I throw him off with my leg and get up. My leg isn't injured enough for me to not to be capable of running, but there is something wrong with my foot.