A Short Story

A Short Story

I’ve never really been afraid of anything. I never had a night-light, never ran from bugs, never shied away from the edge. I wasn’t brave I just wasn’t afraid. Not even now.

He showed up in my house the day after my twenty-fourth birthday. I asked him politely to leave, but he didn’t. I went to call the police, but he knocked me out with a cloth dosed in chloroform. I woke up in a building I had never been in before.

I wasn’t the only person there. Altogether there were five of us. We had all been kidnapped. They of course weren’t “keeping their cool” as well as I was, but that’s to be expected.

We were placed in an apartment much like my parents’. Our kidnapper didn’t come to see us very often. When he did, we had to be on our very best behavior. However as I said before, he didn’t visit often.

I’m not certain how long we’ve been here, but I’m fairly certain it’s been four-ish months. The others are not settling down as well as I am, but I’m not worried. We’re well cared for and have entertainment. We are safe.

My four housemates are as following: Mari, Louisa, Caroline, and Elise. They are good housemates, and their fears are well founded, but so far, not harm has come. So far, we are safe.

I believe we have been here for a year. Louisa fell ill. Our captor had to take her to the hospital. Now we are four. The other three have distanced themselves from me. It’s alright though. I’m still not afraid.

My parents, teachers, doctors, and therapists never understood me. In some ways I never understood myself. It didn’t trouble me though. It was alright. I didn’t expect them to understand me. The other three just don’t understand me. It’s alright. I am safe.

We have been here three years. Louisa died. Mari got to go home. Caroline and Elise rarely speak to me. Our kidnapper visits even less frequently now. Last time he came Elise spoke up to him. She was taken away, but came back the next day bruised. I am becoming to feel distress.

I never really had friends. I grew up by myself. Lonely. People assumed because I wasn’t scared I had no emotions. They were wrong. Even my parents distanced themselves from me.

Today marks our five year anniversary of being here. Three weeks ago Caroline was released. It is just Elise and I. She talks to me. Try to understand me. She is the only one. I know she doesn’t understand, but she trys. That is what is important. With her I feel happy.

When I was fourteen my mother left me. My father had passed away four years the prior. I lived on my own. I still was not afraid. I continued to go to school as if nothing had changed. No one saw the pain behind my smile.

Yesterday Elise called me her friend. I will try to be her friend also. I listen to her, try to understand her. She is kind. Even when it’s hard I try to comfort her. Try to feel her fear.

I never went to college. I finished highschool and started to work a full time job at BurgerHut. I paid rent. My mother never tried to find me. I knew she wouldn’t, but I hoped. I always hoped.

Our kidnapper came today. He said today I would leave with him. For a second, I saw the same pain I tried to hide for years, flash through her eyes. And for one second I felt something entirely strange, and not at all pleasurable. The moment after it was replaced by anger, fueled by adrenaline. I would not go. I would not leave Elise.

I was brutally punished. I did not feel the strange feeling again, but I have a suspicion it could have been fear. However I will not leave Elise. She tried to be my friend so I will try to be hers. I will not leave. Not without her.