Jake was desperately trying to free himself in the trunk of his father's car. How could I ever have been stupid enough to do this! He mentally chastised himself. His father really was a menace. He was 14 when his father was sent to prison for a string of offences. His mother had refused to tell him why, telling Jake he had been a very bad man and Jake could no longer see him. He had reluctantly accepted this, moving on with his life and going to college. It all changed last year….

Flashback

He was walking home from college when a van came out of nowhere. It was a blur as strong hands pulled him inside, blindfolding him. Jake was absolutely terrified, fearing he was about to die. He was driven for what seemed like miles, before finally being bundled into a run down house. The blindfold was finally taken off, as a million thoughts ran through Jake's head. He could never have predicted the shadowy figure that was stood in front of him. "Hello son"

Jake was initially in shock, before he shook with uncontrollable anger at the man who had left such a hole in Jake's life. "What the hell are you playing at, kidnapping me? you shouldn't be anywhere near me"

"I'm sorry Jake, to do this to you; it must have been an unpleasant experience for you, but it was the only way I could see you and I needed to see you" His father didn't seem the slightest bit perturbed. You've grown into a fine young man"

Jake couldn't believe what he was hearing, unpleasant? Who was he kidding! "I thought I was going to die!"

"Now listen Jake I don't know what rubbish you're mother has been feeding you about what happened, but you will hear my side of events"

"No I don't have to sit and listen to anything you have got to say" Jake shouted, getting up to walk away. Jim Moss stood in the way, blocking Jake's exit.

"You're not leaving until you hear what I have got to say" He said forcefully. Jake reluctantly sat whilst Moss fed the spiel of what Jake now knew was a pack of lies. About how he was set up by the kids and they needed to be taught a lesson and of all the things, he would do for Jake if he helped him.

End Flashback

I was so naïve! He thought angrily, guilt swept over him as he thought back to the events at the ball.

Flashback 2

Jake sat in the car with Moss partly hid on the backseat. He sat incredulous as his father passed him the gun. "I'm not taking that" he said staring at it horrified.

"Its not even loaded Jake, you're not going to use it, but she doesn't know that. Nobody's going to get hurt Jake, it's just a bit of revenge. Don't you want them to pay for what they did to me, to us?"

"Yes but is there not another way?" He said wishing he had never agreed to this plan.

"You can do this son, don't worry, just do as I said. Now you remember what I told you to say to her? Make sure you do it and only she sees the gun"

Jake pulled down his mask and scouted out his prey as he stepped into the ballroom. His palms sweated as he felt the gun in his waistcoat and the realisation of what he was going to do hit him, as he took the beautiful girl into his arms. He remembered what she and her friends had done to his family and his features hardened as he dragged the struggling girl out of the ballroom, anxious not to get caught.

"Please let me go" She pleaded with him, attempting to slow him down by dragging her feet on the floor. He yanked hard pulling her along, closer to the car where his father lay in wait. Suddenly she fell to the floor, seemingly in a heap, scratching her face. Hurriedly he bent down to pick her up, time was running out. She kneed him right where it hurt and he crumpled winded, as she ran for her life. He watched in a blur as his father shot out of the car and grabbed her, hand clamping firmly over her mouth, he saw the pure terror on her face as he forced her into the trunk and Jake scrambled to join his father.

End of flashback 2

Now as he lay in that same trunk, a helpless prisoner in his father's twisted games, he prayed his own stupidity was not going to cost those young people their lives.