She sat alone in the dark, the minutes and hours creeping by. She had no idea how long he'd been gone, but the sun had long since disappeared from the tiny crack in the wooden boards that covered the window. She only knew that she had to escape somehow. She began tugging at the masking tape that bound her to the chair, stretching it, trying to make it snap, but it was too thick. She sighed. It was hopeless.
Footsteps outside the door made her turn. If it was a neighbor maybe she could attract their attention. Carefully as she couldn't see what she was doing, Scully started trying to shunt the chair over, scraping it noisily along the floor. There was the sound of a key in the lock and the door swung open. Her heart sank as he flicked on the light and shut it behind him. He approached her a twisted smile on his face.
"Where you a good girl?" he asked, caressing her cheek. She pulled away sharply. "You've moved. Oh well, I was planning on moving you when I got back anyway." He pulled a sharp looking knife from his pocket and regarded it with affection. "This is my baby, my pride and joy. Got her for my 18th birthday. Present from my pa." It seemed to Scully like he was introducing it to her, as if it were a person. This guy was whacked, of that she was certain.
He moved the knife around, cutting the air with it. He ran a finger down the edge and smiled at the thin trail of blood he left on it. Scully's eyes never left that blade. She was anxious to know exactly what he was planning to use it for. He took her face in his hand and ran the blunt edge down her cheek. The steel was cool against her skin. She struggled against him and he hit her maliciously across the face with the handle of the knife. A purplish bruise was starting to form even as he stood and walked across the room to retrieve his camera. He moved back toward her and held the camera up to his eye.
"Smile for the camera Dana." Click. He took the photo and hung the camera by its strap round his neck. He picked up the knife again and knelt down beside her. In two quick movements he'd cut the tape that bound her legs to the chair. Two more and he'd freed her arms. Now she saw her chance. Quick as lightening she punched him square in the face. He fell backward and the knife flew from his hand. She ripped the tape from her mouth. She dashed across the room toward the door and tugged at the handle but it wouldn't budge. He'd locked it after he came in, the sonofabitch. Frantically she turned the key in the lock. She was struggling with the deadbolts when arms encircled her from behind. She let out an ear-piercing scream and a hand clamped down over her mouth. She kicked behind her with her legs and felt her foot connect with something. He released his grip on her and let out a cry of pain. She ran at the door and continued to wrestle with the bolts. They were old and stiff, only giving a millimeter at a time. She started hammering on the door with her fists, praying to God someone would hear her and call the police.
Suddenly he grabbed her again, yanking her roughly away from the door. She screamed for help and struggled against him, thrashing around with all her might. She broke free from his grasp a second time, but he was blocking her path to the door. Scully attempted to run round him but he easily grabbed her and, with all his power heaved her against the far wall. She hit it with a loud thump and landed in a crumpled heap on the floor. She was dazed but not unconscious. He moved swiftly over to where she lay. He knelt down beside her. She stared up at him, breathing heavily.
"That was silly Dana," he scolded, shaking his head. "You should've known I wouldn't let you get away. You're too precious." He smoothed her hair out of her face. "I must admit." He spoke in a whisper, like he was confessing some deep secret. "The more I watched you, the more I found myself becoming attracted to you. You are a very beautiful woman and I am only human." He scooped her up in his arms and walked over to the bed, placing her gently on it. Her head was spinning and a throbbing pain on the right hand side told her she'd hit it on impact with the wall. There was a dull pain in her lower torso, suggesting she'd done damage to her ribs as well. She attempted to sit up but her arms gave way and she fell back onto the bed. He smiled at her. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, a manic glint in his eyes.
"He doesn't deserve you," he said. His voice was soft and even. "Maybe losing you would make him think about the pain he caused me. Ira did nothing wrong. So he killed his cheating whore of a wife and the lying bastard that she was having an affair with, was that really any reason to have him executed?" He stared at her, waiting for her answer. She didn't give one. Viciously he grabbed her by the throat and pulled her into a sitting position.
"When I ask you a question," he spat through gritted teeth. "I expect you to answer. Now was that any reason to have him executed?" She shook her head rapidly and he threw her back onto the bed, regaining his composure. "I didn't think so. But now he's gonna pay so bad for what he put me through. Ira wasn't just my brother he was my best friend and all the family I had left. My world fell apart when he died, and now I'm gonna make sure Fox Mulder's world falls apart too. He's gonna rule the day he arrested Ira Chandler for murder."
He grabbed a length of rope that lay beside his bed and roughly tied Scully's hands to the bedstead. He bound her feet with masking tape. When he was done he rested one hand on her jean-clad leg. Slowly he moved it up past her knee to touch her thigh. She jerked it away and glared at him. He laughed.
"No. That comes later. I suggest you get some sleep. You've had a long day." He pulled off another strip of tape and scooted closer to her head. He caressed her face before planting a passionate kiss on her lips. She wanted to throw up right in his mouth. He pulled away and placed the tape over her lips.
"Sweet dreams Dana." He gently kissed the top of her head before crossing the room and flicking out the light.