Unwritten Rules (Rules 1)

“I’m sorry. I can’t let you do this,” a familiar voice said from behind him. Before Haze could turn around to identify the person who’d come bursting through the door, he collapsed heavily onto the hardwood floor with a thunk.

He thought it was the end.

But the needle entering his skin told him otherwise.

There was no blood, no pain.

Just darkness.

N I N E T E E N

Found

WINTER

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to freeze to death. Some say it’s like falling asleep or slowly slipping out of consciousness. Now that I’m cradling my knees against my chest and rocking back and forth in a pathetic attempt to warm myself up, I’m afraid I won’t have to wonder for much longer.

In a way, this might be God doing me a favor. Taking me away before Ian decides what he wants to do to me.

I’ve been crying in silence for the past five minutes, my stomach grumbling painfully. All hope is gone.

Dead.

Just like I will be… sooner or later.

Slightly less awful kidnapper aka Man Number Two came back down alone shortly after Owen laid his disgusting hands on me. He removed my blindfold and disappeared back up the stairs in a hurry. I don’t know why he did it.

My money is on guilt.

I’m not even anywhere near figuring out where I am, the only source of light in the gloom of the basement coming from the small gap under the door at the top of the wooden staircase.

One door.

That’s the only thing standing between me and my freedom.

“Drop him here,” a voice I believe belongs to the monster named Owen screeches.

They’re back. I haven’t heard them talk or walk for the past thirty minutes. Where did they go?

“What do we do with him?”

“Tie him up before he wakes up. You have a couple minutes,” a slightly deeper voice replies.

That’s a new one. There are three of them now. That voice… I’ve heard it before. But where?

“What about the plan?” Owen asks.

“We stick to it. He wasn’t supposed to figure it out this fast, but it’ll have to do. Make sure he stays quiet. We don’t need to draw attention to ourselves. I have to go. Don’t mess this up,” he threatens. “Oh, and one last thing, no blindfold. I want him to see everything.”

Not long after, I hear a door closing.

“Make sure he stays quiet.’ Like it’s that easy,” Owen says.

Minutes pass.

Man Number Two sighs. “There, he’s tied up.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s going to wake up and lose his mind. I don’t want to deal with this shit.”