Aria
I never thought I would be the type of girl that was constantly the damsel in distress…guess I was proven wrong.
“Come on, it will be fun!”
I pleaded with my best friend Kim. She wasn’t the type to go out and party but I just heard of this new club and I needed to go check it out. I didn’t go out all the time but this was a new cowboy theme bar and it looked so fun! After a bit more coaxing and bribes of having to sit in a bookstore with her on a future date she was in.
“Fine,” She sighed, “But can I at least be the driver so I don’t have to drink and I can leave when I want?”
“Whatever, as long as you come!” I screeched.
A few hours later we were pulling into a slightly sketchy parking lot.
“Are you sure this is the right spot?” Kim questioned nervously.
“I think so,” I paused, “Oh look those girls have cowboys boots on let’s follow them.”
I also had my cowboy boots on. They were thrifted but they still smelled of leather. They were light brown with a few designs along the sides. I was also wearing a short dark red dress with puffed cuff sleeves on my shoulders. My curly brown hair left flowing halfway down my back. I had soft features on my slightly round face. I wasn’t one for makeup but I threw on some mascara for the special night. Making my blue eyes pop. The dress flowed over my wider hips hiding my slight muffin top and was just low cut enough to show off my boobs. I felt so adorable. I could tell my friend was feeling herself too. She was also wearing cowboy boots. Kim’s boots were black and she paired them with black skinny jeans making her look even thinner and taller than she was. She added a flowy green top. Her blond hair pulled up high into a ponytail which I then made her put a black bow on top of. Because I mean why not.
We hand over our IDs and start our way inside. I can feel the vibe of the place already bumping. Everyone went all out for the opening with cowboy boots and hats everywhere. Mostly jeans but a few dresses like me. I wanted to get on the dance floor and spin around to the music but I needed some liquid courage first.
“Come on, let’s head over to the bar for a drink.” I screamed over the loud pulsing country music.
“Okay.” She yelled back. “But I have to run to the bathroom first.”
“Meet you on the dance floor?” I asked. She just nodded in return
The bar was absolutely packed and I didn’t see a way in. As I was trying to lightly push to find an opening I was shoved by a guy in front of me. Unfortunately for me, these boots were a bit too big and I wasn’t very balanced in them. I started heading down to land on my ass and awaited the sharp pain. It never came. Instead I was grabbed around the waist and pulled against something. No, someone. Someone incredibly hard it almost hurt as much as the ground would have. I made a little ‘Ouff’ sound as they pulled me against them, completely caught off guard. After a second of confusion I found my footing and righted myself while turning around quickly to face whoever just caught me. I nearly dropped my jaw.
A classically handsome guy stood behind me with a slight smirk on his face. Almost as if he was happy that I fell into him. He had sharp features and blond hair peeking out from under his cowboy hat. He paired those with blue jeans, a white shirt and a flannel pulled overtop. Clearly he wasn’t a real cowboy as he had black sneakers on. The most interesting part about this guy was his eyes. You’d expect a guy with blond hair to have light eyes but he had the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen. Black even. They made a shiver of anxiety run down my.
While I was staring for a half a second he still had a hand placed protectively on my waist.
“Are you alright?” He asks with that same smirk. I decided, what the hell. I came to have a good time so let’s flirt a little.
“Thanks to you, I’m just fine.” I smiled back at him. Placing my hand over my chest for added effect.
“Well I’m glad I could be of service to such a stunning little cowgirl.” At that I blushed, I just couldn’t help it. He takes his hand off my waist and reaches it towards me.
“I’m Trevor, nice to bump into you.” He said with an emphasis on the word bump.
I giggled. “Nice to meet you as well. I’m Aria.”
Damn I haven’t even gotten a drink yet and I had the hottest guy in the room hitting on me. That reminded me. “I was just about to get a drink,” I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder, “Can I buy you a beer for literally saving my ass.”
“I think I could take you up on that offer, little cowgirl.” Damn that nickname was adorable.
Since this guy was so massive he was able to push his way through the people and get to the bar. I piped up first cause I wanted to buy this guy’s drink for him. You know girl power and feminism and all. I can buy my own damn drink.
“I’ll grab a vodka cranberry,” I half shouted at the bartender. I looked at Trevor beside me. He answered my gaze, “and a bud light.” I smiled and turned back to the bartender. “And a bud light please.”
I paid the bartender and we walked back towards the dance floor. Standing at a tall table with no chairs. I looked around for my friend so I could give her some kind of signal that I needed a minute to flirt. Instead, I saw she was busy herself. She had found some people she must know because she was chatting with them animantly, already headed towards the dance floor. Kim didn’t like to drink but she could dance her heart out all night. She noticed me and then the guy I was with and gave me a quick wave. Got to love a friend who lets you talk to hot guys.
“Who’s that?” Trevor asked. Bringing me back to my senses. It caught me off guard as I think it came out harder then he meant it. Maybe he didn’t want to be interrupted. I’m not sure.
“Oh that’s just my friend Kim.” I turned my back on Trevor to point towards my friend already joining a line dance on the floor. “I came with her tonight but she seemed to have found some people to talk to much like I did.” I gave him a little wink as I turned back to him and he smirked again. Another chill ran through me.
If there was ever a time for liquid courage it was now so I reached down and took a big gulp of my drink. It was tart and I could taste the vodka burning down my throat. There was something else I wasn’t used to. I made a funny face. Trevor noticed my reaction. “Is there something wrong with your drink?” Was it just me or was he still smirking? Maybe I don’t want to talk to this guy all night.
“No, no, I think it’s just been a while since I’ve had one. It was more sour than I was used to but still nice.”
I was accustomed to the warm feeling of vodka left in my stomach but this was leaving a fuzzy feeling in my head. Maybe I didn’t eat enough dinner. I took another small sip to taste it again but it just added to the feeling. I know it’s been a few months since I’ve been out drinking but I knew this wasn’t right. I know I’m a lightweight but I can handle a few drinks before feeling like this.
I realized that Trevor has not said anything in a while and I looked up towards him. He has a really big smirk on his face now. I know there’s a piece to what’s happening that I’m missing but my brain is getting too fuzzy to figure out much of anything right now. Especially how to use my legs. They start to wobble out from under me. I see Trevor come around and grab me around the waist. My hip now pushed up against his much more tightly than necessary.
Trevor looks down at me from the full head taller that he is. “Whoa, you look a little pale. Let’s get you some water and fresh air.”
The way he said it was odd. I couldn’t put my finger on why while I focused on walking and breathing. We started heading the way I came in. Not just 20 minutes ago with my best friend. At this point my head is starting the lull against my shoulder. He uses his free hand to reach around and pull my now very heavy head only his shoulder. I’m starting to get scared. The way this guy is holding me is anything but gentle. His hand dug into my ribs hard as he pulled me up against him. Everything is spinning. I think he’s saying something to me but it comes out all fuzzy and garbled.
I hear a second voice and begin to panic. The last part of my brain that is still working is trying desperately to figure out what’s happening as a second guy grabs my ankles and throws me into the seat of a truck. I think it’s a truck because it felt so high off the ground. Or maybe it’s just my head that’s making me feel all floaty. I feel them put the seat belt on around me. Two sets of hands touching me where I would much rather them not. There were muffled sounds of talking and laughter as two sets of doors opened and closed before I completely passed out.
I have a raging headache as I start to wake up. Damn, how much did I drink last night? I try to remember but it’s all a blank. I only can remember pulling up to the bar in my bestie’s little bug. Then nothing. I’m laying on my side and it still seems dark behind my closed eyes. Either I slept all day or it was really early. Either way I groan and roll onto my stomach and go to grab my pillow to stuff my face into it. There was no pillow there. All of a sudden I’m aware that I don’t have a blanket either. I roll over and try to sit up, my head still pounding in my temples making it hard to see. I open my eyes slowly and my jaw drops.
I’m not in my room. I’m barely even on a bed. I’m in a large dark cement room sitting on a small twin sized dirty mattress. Covered in dark stains that I don’t want to know the origin of. I can barely see the other side of the room due to the lack of light. I shiver and at this moment I notice that my dress and boots are gone. I’m left in my bra and underwear that I wore the night before. My heart is now beating so hard I’m scared it’s going to explode. I’m too scared to even scream as I continue to look around. My mouth hangs open in shock as I breath rapidly on the verge of hyperventilating.
There are other beds around me. Not too close to me that I could reach over and touch it but far enough away that my drug addled brain is having trouble focussing on. Yep, I’ve come to the conclusion that I was drugged last night by that asshole Trevor. I hear a moan on the other side of me and notice someone else for the first time. Another girl. Laying on a mattress with her back towards me in just her bra and underwear as well. But she looks dirty. What looks like bright red hair is clearly covered in dirt as well as her body. Her pale skin seems so light against the dirt smeared on her. I notice other marks on the part of her back I can see. They look like bruises and scratches. Some look fresh with dried blood around them as I look closer there’s a lot of healed marks as well. I gasp audibly. The girl, hearing me, rolls over and notices me. Sitting up on my hip staring at her completely shocked. What scares me the most is that she does not seem surprised to see me.
“Hey.” she rasped, as she slowly sat up. I could see the pain in her face as she tucked her legs under her. “I saw you come in last night. They were rough with you. Are you alright?”
I’m still staring at her in shock but now that I pause for a moment I can feel the soreness in my ribs and my left shoulder that I had been laying on. Was I thrown here? I lift my arms up in front of me to check for more injuries when I hear a small deep jingle. It’s a weird noise. I search for the sound and I see my left wrist has a large metal band on it, with chains connected to it. I follow the chains to find the other end and my even bigger fear is revealed. I am chained to the wall. No way for me to escape.
The other girl sees me as I piece all of this together. She is quiet as I take all my new surroundings in. Completely in shock of what’s happening. I’ve always been careful. I’ve always been safe. How did this happen? How could I have let myself be tricked by that stupid fake cowboy? I’m lying on a dirty mattress, half naked, in a dark room, chained to the wall. I snap my eyes back to the other girl.
“Someone kidnapped me.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement and it scared me so much I cringed after I said it.
The girl looked at me completely defeated. She just nods her head
“Yes, unfortunately you have. I’m Zoe, welcome to your new home.” It was said with all the sadness in the world. I pulled myself up into a ball. Feeling the tug of the chain around my wrist as I hugged my legs tight. I just started crying.
