God, what a horrible dream, I thought. I can’t believe I thought I was kidnapped! I mean, it was a terrible night, but wow.

“Hey,” a familiar voice said. “You up?”

My head was aching and there was something making a lot of noise in the background – whining, whirring noise, like the kind of thing you’d hear on a construction site. As I struggled to open my eyes, I realized that I couldn’t move. Suddenly, my heart began to pound and a cold sweat broke out all over my body. Oh, crap, I thought. Someone really DID kidnap me!

As I opened my eyes, the memory of the previous night came rushing back. The two men in the car, who had grabbed me and given me something to make me pass out. What had they done? And where were they now?

“She’s awake,” Hannah’s voice said quietly. “You really knocked her out!”

“The bitch wouldn’t stop moving,” Andy replied. “I didn’t want to hit her, but she didn’t really give me a choice.” I winced – he didn’t sound like he was sorry at all.

“Well, what are we gonna do now?”

“This is the fun part,” Andy said.

My mouth felt like it was full of cotton and I felt dizzy. Even after I opened my eyes and tried to adjust to the semi-darkness, I still felt like I was spinning around in crazy circles. My head ached and my wrists were bound so tightly that my fingers and hands were numb. I was sitting on a hard wooden chair. My ankles were bound to the chair legs, and my hands were tied snugly behind me with what felt like zip ties.

“Andy?” I whimpered. “What are you doing? Please let me go,” I said softly. “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but please, just let me go and I won’t tell anyone.”

Hannah burst out laughing. She walked closer and my heart sank when I realized that she was made up to look fancy, like she was going out for a night on the town.

“You were out for a few hours,” Hannah said softly. She licked her lips. “I was starting to think that you wouldn’t wake up.”

“My head is killing me,” I mumbled. My heart was thudding slowly in my chest. “Can I have some water?”

“Can I have some water?” Hannah simpered, mimicking my tired, grumpy voice. “Andy, she thinks we’re actually going to help her,” she said. “Isn’t that sweet?”

Andy chuckled. “It’s something, all right,” he said. He stepped forward and I saw that he was sneering. “June, shut up,” he added.

I closed my eyes. The pain in my head was so bad that even closing my eyes didn’t help. My world was a vibrating void of red and black pain, so sharp that I felt like I was going to throw up. Moving hurt. Breathing hurt. Everything on my body hurt – even my hair hurt.

“She woke up too soon,” Andy grumbled. “How much of that shit did have those guys give her, anyway?”

Hannah smirked. “I wasn’t counting,” she said. “I just splashed it on a rag and handed off the bottle.” She shrugged. “I think they were probably a little rough.” She laughed – it was a musical sound, like the tinkling of bells. “I mean, they were hired bodyguards.”

“What?” My voice came out as weak and unsteady as a newborn kitten. “What are you talking about?”

Hannah stepped closer and grinned. “Well, June, I couldn’t exactly grab you myself.” She made a little pouty face. “I’m not very strong, I certainly couldn’t have wrangled a big girl like you down to the pavement alone.”

My eyes stung with tears. “You…you paid someone to kidnap me?”

Hannah ignored me. She turned to Andy, looking annoyed. “She’s stupid,” Hannah said. “I can’t figure out why you like her so much.”

Andy chuckled. “Thanks for getting her,” he said. “Now I just have to wait for that shit to wear off and we can start to play.”

Panic cut through me like a knife through tender meat. I let out a scream. Screaming made my head ache even more than it was already hurting, and I whimpered and whined, closing my eyes as a torrential downpour of red-hot pain washed over me.

“Shut up, June,” Andy said in disgust. “We weren’t talking to you.”

I opened my eyes and tried to stare at him. He was moving around, swaying. That was when I realized that Andy wasn’t moving at all – somehow the drugs were making me think that there was more than one of him.

“You’re gonna be fine, June,” Andy said. “Trust me. I’m used to dealing with little bitches like you.”

I swallowed. My throat ached, too. There was a raw pain between my legs that was telling me that I had to pee, and I shifted uncomfortably on the chair.

“Can I use the bathroom, please?”

Hannah snickered. “Can you walk there?”

I stared at her. “What?”

“Bitch, I asked if you could fucking walk!” Hannah came closer. She shook her head and glared down at me. “You really are stupid,” she said. “I can’t believe Thomas fell for someone like you.” She tossed her blonde hair. “Normally he only goes for smart women.” She paused, laughing. “Although normally, smart women don’t care too much about Thomas. Most girls only like him because he’s so hot.”

Andy laughed. “Yeah, I know.” He eyed Hannah. “You girls are a bunch of right cunts when it comes down to it, aren’t you?”

She snickered. “We can be,” Hannah said. She cocked her head to the side. “What do you think we should do with her first?”

I watched in horror as they studied each other. I still wasn’t sure what the hell I was doing tied up in Hannah’s apartment. Did they want me as some kind of prop for some sick sex game? Or did Hannah have darker plans, plans with Thomas? I shuddered. I should’ve known better than to trust her, but I couldn’t help it. My naivete and trusting personality had gotten me into trouble before.

Unfortunately, this time it didn’t seem like I’d be able to get myself out of trouble.

“June’s a little slut,” Hannah said. She stamped her foot on the ground in anger, her blonde hair swinging. “I can’t believe Thomas actually wanted her instead of me!”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that now,” Andy replied. “June’s not going to be the apple of any man’s eye for a long time. Except mine, of course.”

My stomach twisted into a thousand knots at the sound of sick satisfaction in Andy’s voice.

“Please,” I whimpered. “What are you going to do with me? Why are you doing this?”

“You’re an ungrateful little slut,” Andy said. He stepped closer, until I could feel his hot breath on my face. “You know that? I wanted to date you, June. I really liked you – I thought you were cool.”

I whimpered. “Andy, please don’t do this,” I said softly. “It’s not my fault that we didn’t work out.” I blushed hotly. My sinuses were still filled with snot from my earlier crying jag and even though I couldn’t reach to touch my face, I somehow knew that my skin was red and sticky.

“Oh yeah?” Andy raised his eyebrow. “Then what was it, June?”

Andy and Hannah threw their heads back and laughed.

“It’s because you’re not rich, Andy,” Hannah said, pretending to pout. “June here only likes wealthy men. Isn’t that right, June?”

Andy frowned. “Yeah, god knows I probably don’t make much more than she does,” he said. Then he shrugged. “At least, I did.” Andy grinned at me and my stomach curdled. “Now I guess it doesn’t really matter who makes the bucks, does it, June?”

Andy looked wounded. For a moment, I thought he was going to cry. Then his lips curled up at the corners into a cruel smile and he threw his head back, laughing loudly.

“You’re an idiot,” Andy said. “And if you keep making so much noise…” He trailed off, grinning nastily. “We’re just gonna have to give you some more of that wine you like so much. In fact, Hannah?”

Hannah stepped forward. She was holding a plastic tumbler in her hands and she grinned as she pushed it towards my face. The smell of wine was enough to make me gag, but Hannah didn’t take it away.

“Please,” I moaned softly. “Please don’t make me drink any more. I feel like I’m gonna be sick.”

“That is a side effect of being a drunken slut,” Hannah said softly. Her eyes twinkled demonically as she pushed the cup towards my lip. I smelled the sickly sweet wine and gagged, pulling my head back and staring at the ceiling as the bile rose in my throat.

“Drink some, June,” Andy ordered. He grinned. “It’s gonna keep you quiet,” he added. “And god knows we need a little quiet around here. Hannah and I have to finish planning.”

“Shit,” Hannah mumbled. “This fucking sucks, Andy.” I thought she was going to put the cup down but in a flash, her free hand was pinching my nose. My lungs burned but I struggled and twisted against her grip. Hannah was stronger, and finally I opened my mouth, sucking in air. As quickly as lightning, Hannah tipped the cup down my throat, sending even more of the drugged wine into my stomach. Tears dripped down my cheeks as the wine burned in my throat.

“That should shut her up,” Andy muttered. “So, is he coming over here?”

“I haven’t called him yet,” Hannah said delicately. “But you fucked everything up! She was with Thomas tonight, and she stormed out!” Hannah laughed. “I bet he’s so upset now that we have his little pet.” Hannah rolled her eyes.

“He seems like an emotional little prick,” Andy said. “Is that true?”

Hannah licked her lips and walked closer. “Oh, yeah,” she said. She glared at me. “He cried every night when Marlene first left. He cried. On my shoulder,” she added. “And I don’t know why, but then he decided to fall for this stupid little cunt instead of me.”

My head was swimming. I felt myself fading in and out of consciousness, like someone was lowering a dark blanket over my face until I couldn’t see. Hannah’s voice buzzed in my ears like a gnat, and I moaned softly as Andy stepped closer.

“Hey, June, give me a kiss,” Andy said. He puckered his lips and leaned down, pressing them to my cheek. I groaned. As Andy moved closer to my mouth, I spat in his face. Outraged, he slapped my cheek hard.

“She’s feisty,” Hannah said. She smirked. “You sure you can handle her, boss?”

“Oh, yeah,” Andy said. He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. “I can handle her,” he said. He turned away from Hannah and faced me, squatting down until we were at eye-level. “I know everything about your little boyfriend,” Andy said. “Hannah told me everything.”

My head was swimming and I was still reeling from the pain of Andy’s slap, but my confusion went deeper than that.

“I don’t understand,” I mumbled. “What’s going on?”

Andy grinned. “You don’t need to worry about that,” he said. “Hannah here did her job well. She handed you over to me with no questions asked. Unlike you,” Andy added, cocking his head to the side and looking down at me. “You can’t do anything well, June.” He grinned. “But I bet I can teach you.”

I let out a loud scream as Andy began to advance on me.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Andy paused, mere inches from where I sat tethered to the chair.

“What the fuck was that?” Andy cocked his head to the side and turned to Hannah. The satisfied, smug look had vanished from her face. Now she looked pale and frightened.

“I don’t know,” Hannah said. She bit her lip. “Just get it over with,” she added, gesturing to me.

My heart skipped a nervous beat and fresh tears welled up in my eyes. The combination of the drugs and the alcohol was making me feel like I wouldn’t be able to stay conscious for much longer, but sheer panic and terror were the only things keeping me away.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Someone’s coming,” Andy said nervously. His forehead glistened with a fine layer of sweat and he bit his lip until blood trickled down his chin.

“Well, I don’t give a shit,” Hannah snarled. “After all, this isn’t my apartment!”

A loud thudding on the door made Andy jump.

“Fuck,” Andy muttered under his breath. His glance darted nervously around the room. “Hide her,” he snapped, pointing to me.

Hannah rolled her eyes. “She’s too heavy,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to carry her and the chair by myself!”

“Open the goddamned door!”

The sound of Thomas’s voice filled me with hope. Oh my god, I thought. Somehow, he found me. He’s coming here to save me! I’m going to be fine!

“No,” Andy said nervously. He leaned against the door, his thin frame straining to keep it closed as Thomas beat on the other side.

“Move,” Hannah snapped. She walked over to me and snapped my fingers.

“I can’t,” I whispered hoarsely. My throat was still burning from the wine.

Hannah glared at me, as if she’d somehow forgotten that I was trussed to the chair.

“Open the fucking door!” Thomas screamed.

Andy had his back to the door. His feet were sliding along the floor as he desperately attempted to keep it bolted and shut. But his weak muscles were no match for Thomas’s strong body, and the door popped open. Thomas burst inside. His silvery hair was a wild mess of tangles and his face was bright red with anger.

“Thomas!” I screamed. “Help me, they’ve got me tied!”

Thomas pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at Andy. “Untie her,” he said in a low voice.

Andy began to move and Thomas pushed the gun closer. “I wasn’t talking to you, fuckface,” Thomas growled to Andy. “I was talking to Hannah.”

Hannah sniffed. “I don’t know why you’re angry at me,” she said. “I didn’t have anything to do with this.”

“I’m not taking the gun away from this fuck,” Thomas growled. “But Hannah, I swear to god. If you don’t move and untie June right now, it’ll be the last thing you never do.”

Hannah’s face paled and finally she stepped towards me with a pair of scissors. Hannah twisted the chair around and squatted behind me, slicing the plastic ties from my wrists. I yelped in pain as the scissors grazed my delicate wrists, but I knew deep down that it was nothing compared to the pain I would have endured if Thomas hadn’t shown up to save me.

“Fucking cunt,” Hannah snarled. She untied my ankles and I sagged, sliding off the pain and colliding painfully hard with the wooden floor.

“June, get behind me,” Thomas ordered.

Whimpering in pain, I crawled across the floor and flung myself in a corner of the room.

“You ruin everything,” Andy hissed to Thomas. “It’s not fucking fair. I had her first!”

Thomas narrowed his eyes and laughed dryly. “No, you didn’t,” he said. “You don’t know the first thing about June.”

“I’ve had a crush on her for a year!” Andy roared. “And just as she was starting to show some interest, you had to show up and ruin everything, you fucking bastard!”

Thomas shook his head and snorted. “You really are pathetic,” he said. “It’s pretty fucking sad how you went apeshit because June here didn’t want anything to do with you.” He pushed the barrel of the gun against Andy’s chest.

Andy let out a yelp of fear. “Don’t hurt me,” he said. “I didn’t do anything to her, I swear!”

Without turning away from Andy, Thomas asked: “June, is that true?”

Hannah glared at me but I licked my lips and spoke anyway. “No,” I said in a soft, shaky voice. “Andy and Hannah paid two men to kidnap me off the street and drug me. When I woke up, I was here, tied to the chair.”

“Oh, you sorry bastard,” Thomas said. “You’re so pathetic you had to hire someone to kidnap June?”

Andy nodded and stammered. “I…I couldn’t do it myself,” he said.

Thomas shook his head and laughed dryly. “You’re a sick fuck, and you’re going away for a long time,” he said. He jerked his head to the side. “Go sit,” he told Andy. “I need to keep my eye on you while I deal with Hannah.”

Andy gulped. After a few moments and another prod from Thomas’s gun, he walked slowly across the room and sat down in the chair.

“Hannah,” Thomas said coldly.

“What?” Hannah batted her lashes. I felt sick to my stomach as she walked over to Thomas and stroked her hand down the center of his chest.

“Why the fuck would you do something like this,” Thomas growled.

“For you, baby,” Hannah said. She licked her lips. “I thought that as soon as June was out of the picture, I could have you once and for all.”

“So you could destroy my company?”

“What?” Hannah narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Cut the innocent bullshit,” Thomas said. “I know what you’ve been doing.”

“Thomas, I’d never—“

“Shut up, Hannah,” Thomas said. “Or should I say, Megan?”

Hannah looked startled. For once, she opened and closed her lips with nothing to say.

Just as Thomas was about to speak again, uniformed men darted into the room.

“New York City Police!” One of them shouted. “Everybody freeze!”

I couldn’t take it any longer. I passed out.