Never Even Given a Name
Chapter One
I had just finished applying mascara when I realized I didn’t know where my makeup wipes were. There was no way I could go to school without cleaning underneath my eyes. Frantically, I checked the cabinet in my bathroom. When that search proved unsuccessful, I opened my desk drawer. My first move was to look in my travel makeup bag, but froze when I saw something etched into my drawer. Quizzically, I plopped everything onto the floor so I could read the message. ‘Evergreen Gardens 16:00 7/5’. That definitely wasn’t there yesterday.
At first, I was completely stumped. I had absolutely no semblance of understanding what that meant. When I figured it out, I felt like an idiot. Evergreen Gardens was a hotel; 16:00 a time. And 7/5 was a date, tomorrow’s date to be specific. I had an abundance of questions; but when my mom yelled at me to get my butt downstairs, I knew I didn’t have time to worry about it.
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“So? How about it? Wanna come over after school tomorrow?” Riley said with a wink. His devilish grin made it clear he didn’t want to just hang out. Normally, I’d agree before he even finished asking. Today was different. I had to know what that message was about. “Diana, please?”
I bit my lip before replying, “I’m sorry. I can’t.” I shook my head trying to feel more certain about my decision.
“Come on. You know how rare it is for both my mom and sister to be gone,” he whined.
“I really can’t.”
“Dee,” he pleaded. “I’ll make you dinner.” Riley inched in his chair until our knees were touching.
I shook my head firmly, causing some of my auburn hair to fall out of my purposefully messy bun. I turned back to the worksheet on my desk and continued my progress. I heard his heavy sigh before he shuffled in his seat.
“Sleep on it. Tell me your answer tomorrow,” Riley whispered in my ear as he passed me to sharpen his pencil.
The rest of the school day passed uneventfully as I floated from class to class. I was too preoccupied to focus, so instead I let my mind and heart battle it out. My mystery-loving and curious mind wanted nothing more than to blow off my sorta boyfriend. My heart, however, missed Riley. We used to go over to each other’s houses everyday after school three months ago, but then his mom found out a little fact about me she didn’t like: I’m not religious. Riley himself is an atheist, but his mom didn’t know. She was still under the impression he was looking for a good future Christian wife.
The car ride home was silent, as usual. My car broke down a week ago and my mom has been having to drive me while I earn enough to fix it. She is upset I’m taking time away from her early morning drinking. I asked multiple times if I could just drive her car, but alas, she thinks I’d wreck it.
I rushed upstairs as soon as I got home. I immediately changed into pjs and wiped off my makeup with wipes I stole from my mom this morning. Slowly, I walked to my desk to inspect the message carved into it. Predictably, it was the exact same as when I left it. It was as if I thought it was going to change. Like it was just a weird hallucination. I stared at it for a while before my phone suddenly vibrated on my bed.
Having grabbed my phone, I sat down and looked at the new text message. It was from an unknown number. The message read: Room 214 Key in flower pot to the right. Shocked, I dropped my phone. What the hell was going on?
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Chapter 2
My alarm went off at an annoying volume. And when I looked at my phone to turn it off, the brightness was all the way up practically blinding me. When I finally got the blaring alarm shut off, I saw a text message alert. Thankfully, this time it was from someone I knew; it was from Riley. He was asking, well more like begging me to have changed my mind after a night’s rest.
“Diana Lauren, if you do not get out of bed I’m sending in Roofus!” My mother warned me from the outside of my bedroom door and I could hear my dog panting excitedly. I groaned in response, but got up. Hurriedly, I threw on my favorite sweatpants and t-shirt combo. While I brushed my teeth and then hair, I mentally prepared for the fight that will most definitely ensue in first period.
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I stepped into class mouthing my practiced apologetic and sympathetic denial. Apparently, my face must have said it all because the moment my butt hit the chair, Riley was talking.
“Look. Before you say anything, I have an idea. You said the reason you couldn’t come over was because there were things you needed to do at 4. I have a solution to give us enough time to...” Riley cleared his throat. “You know. Anyway, if we skip our last class that gives us plenty of time.” He smiled triumphantly. As he looked into my ember eyes, I could tell he was going to fight any excuse I could give. So, I gave in and said okay.
The day passed excruciatingly slow. By the time I walked to the office instead of to my last class, I was practically buzzing with excitement. I hadn’t figured out whether it was for hanging out with Riley or for finding out what the hell was going on at the hotel. Thankfully, with me being a senior, none of the school staff really care what I do as long as I pass. So, leaving was incredibly easy.
“Okay. What’s the plan,” I questioned as soon as I got to Riley’s car. Instead of answering, he kissed me. In normal situations I would’ve been all over him, but I couldn’t waste time today.
“Riley,” I warned once I pushed him off of me. He rolled his eyes dramatically and opened the passenger side’s door. I was trying to be mad at him, so I waited until he closed the door for me to smile like an idiot. It’s been three months and I still adore that he opens doors for me.
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I laid on the couch just watching Riley cook like a freaking chef. He was making tacos, but he kept grabbing all different kinds of spices. I knew from past experience that this would be the best tacos I’ve ever had. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he turned around as I was staring. He just smirked and returned to his cooking.
While he was focused, I grabbed my phone to check the time. It was already 3:20. I still had enough time, but I was extremely worried. Worried about being late. Worried about showing up and no one being there. Worried about showing up and someone being there. Worried about showing up. I already knew if I told Riley what it was that I had to do, he would argue with me. So I was as vague as possible about my plans.
By the time we were done eating the most magnificent tacos, it was 3:45. As much as I hated to, I had to leave Riley. I just had to know what was going on. Thankfully, the hotel was within walking distance, because asking him or my mom to take me would’ve caused too many questions.
On the walk there I tried to think of possibilities of what could happen once I arrived. It could be someone finally explaining my heritage, since my mom refuses to answer any question I have about who my biological parents are. It could be a trick and I could get kidnapped, or raped, or both. Of course, by the time I got there I was seriously second-guessing my decision. My heart was racing as if I ran a marathon, hands sweating like it was 100 degrees out, and my knees wobbly like a baby deer.
I walked into the hotel entrance and strolled to the elevator like I do it everyday, not wanting the staff to be suspicious. I got to the second floor and searched for the room number. 220. Not quite. 218. Still not right. 214. Finally, I stopped short of opening the door with the key I quickly grabbed from the flower pot as instructed. I needed to calm my nerves before I could possibly consider opening the door. I counted my breaths. 4 seconds in. Hold for 4. Release for 4. Hold for 4.
When I walked into the room, I realized my panic was for no reason. There wasn’t anyone in here. Or so I thought. Until I heard the closet door open and saw black overcome my vision as I felt a bag cover my head.
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Chapter 3
I didn’t wake up immediately aware and comprehensive. Instead, I could hear before anything else. I heard the wind. But most importantly, I could hear the sounds of a city outside. Which considering when I passed out I was in a rural country town, was not a good sign. Next I was able to feel that I wasn’t injured. Sight came last, but it didn’t matter. The bag was still over my head.
I was suddenly jarred from my thoughts by a shout. “You idiots! I said to get her to talk, not fucking KIDNAP her!” The voice didn’t sound kind at all; it sounded almost animalistic. His voice so menacing, I could picture fangs piercing his own lips as he bellowed. Suddenly, I heard the quick and loud footsteps I assumed to be Mr. Beast himself.
