Lies! Why would they take care if they didn’t mean to harmher?! Faster and faster her breathing increased again until her chest heavedeven through the thick sleeping bag. The black edges around her visionreappeared, this time encroaching even further.
“You must calm down,” the deep warning tone combined withhis tightening grip around her. “You’re going into shock, which is why you arehyperventilating. If you don’t slow down your breathing Everly, you’ll passout.” He informed her roughly.
She couldn’t. Everly couldn’t step out of the storm of panicthat surrounded her, it was as if she was drowning.
“Listen to me,” his voice grew louder as he adjusted herhigher on his lap until his mask was all but pressed to the side of her face,allowing her to feel the puffs of warm breath against her neck. “I will not letyou put this type of stress on your body Everly, you will do as I say. Now takea deep breath and hold it.”
Stress on her body. The words repeated themselves over andover like a mantra in her head. No, she couldn’t do that, not to her baby. Shehad to find her way out of the storm.
“That’s it, good Everly,” the puffs of warm air raspedroughly at her neck as he continued his instructions. “Breathe out slowly andslowly back in again sweetheart.”
Gradually the frenzied panic abated as she followed hisvoice through the torrent of her emotions. Exhausted she laid limply againsthis bulky frame trying to get her thoughts in order, absently focusing on therepetitive motion of his chest rising and falling.
Another voice from above where she could see a thin curtainblocking off the pilots’ seats called out. Without saying anything, he placedher back down on the bench and strapped her back in before walking back up tothe front. The change in pressure and the slight change in altitude signaledtheir descent. With a few bumps, the small plane landed rather smoothly.Rolling to a stop, Everly could hear both men jump out of the plane and theircrunching steps as they walked around to the back towards the cargo door. Unlatchingthe heavy metal doors, Everly watched silently as one of them walked up theramp towards her. It was the other one this time, the one who initially tookher from her bed. Although they were dressed the same, there were subtledifferences that set them apart. The gait in their step, the width in theirbuild, and the most noticeable how they approached her. This one always pausedand stood still when he looked at her as if he was thinking of something. Theother one, the one who forced her to breathe properly was much more animated inhis movements and not so reserved like this one.
Stopping beside her, the masked man looked down at herbefore grumbling something in French over his shoulder towards the other manoutside. Receiving a short reply, the man continued to reach down and unsnapthe straps around the sleeping bag. Stiffening at his touch, Everly let out asmall whimper when he quickly picked her up carrying her high in his arms andout of the plane.
Despite having no tape over her lips, her voice felt as ifit was still trapped in her mind. Inside she wanted to scream and shout, but asshe looked at the utterly barren airstrip that led to a single metal barn-likeshed, she realized there was no use. The homemade airstrip was only a cut of landsurrounded by a thick, dense tree line. Looking over his shoulder as he walked,she watched the other man close and lock up the plane in the building. A coldgust of wind whipped around them just as he reached the parked truck. Inminutes they were all in the front seat of the large black expensive lookingtruck. Keeping her in his lap, Everly was forced to lay her back against thepassenger door and window. Silently, both masked men looked at her making herstomach feel as if it dropped to her toes. What were they thinking? Shrinkingin his hold, Everly tried to bury herself deeper in the cocoon-like bag.
Not saying anything they started up the vehicle. Drivingthrough the trees on a narrow dirt road, Everly could feel her panic rise backup. There was forest everywhere. Not the thin piney woods she grew up with inTennessee, but thick ranging forest that dipped in some areas and climbed inothers. Looking up to the windshield she could tell they were traveling throughthe mountains. Winding and turning, the road they were on took them deeper intothe forested mountains. The road itself looked old and narrow, as if it wasnever used by anyone else but them. No other cars, no outlets that led to anysigns of life, just them and nothing else. Trembling, Everly shut her eyes, shehad to think. What could she do to get out of this?
The grip around her shoulders tightened, pulling her closerto his chest. Why!? Why were they doing this? Why do they keep trying tocomfort her, after they caused all of this? And why do they keep calling hersweetheart?
Tears welling back into her eyes, Everly buried her faceinto his black sweater, feeling the hard planes of his chest beneath. “Why areyou doing this?” She asked, loud enough for them both to hear in the quietvehicle.
They didn’t say anything. The shift of light through thewindshield caught her attention. Breaking through the trees they drove alongwhat looked to be a narrow sandy beach. The water beyond looked calm andendless, were they at the ocean?
Turning onto a paved bridge with a large solid metal gate,the masked man driving hit a button and they all silently watched as it opened.Driving through and shutting the gate, Everly watched stiffly as a largetwo-story A-frame cabin came into view as they pulled down the long drive.Stopping the truck, the driver finally spoke. “We’re here.”
Terror crept back up her spine as she realized the buffertime, the travel time, that lay between her capture and whatever they plannedto do with her was over. Stepping out of the car with her in his arms still,the sound of gravel beneath the man’s boots brought reality home and her lostvoice back.
Renewing her struggle, Everly screamed. “No!”
She heard a curse in English though she wasn’t sure whichone it came from. Moving faster, the man took the steps to the cabin two at atime. In minutes, they were inside and carrying her into a room. Images of alarge foyer and kitchen whizzed by her but she didn’t focus on that, she onlyfocused on fighting out of the man’s hold.
The sudden pressure of softness beneath her silenced herscreams as she realized he just sat her on a bed. Panicking, even more, shebegan to kick violently at the bag around her.
Ignoring her thrashing, one man turned her encased body asthe other unzipped the zipper along the sides. The cool air met her hot trappedbody giving her a taste of freedom. Stepping back in unison the masked manwatched her scoot away from the bag that was her prison until she was stumblingto stand on the other side of the bed.
This was her chance. Looking around frantically Everlygrabbed the first thing she could find, a silver bedside lamp sitting next toher on the nightstand. Knocking off the lamp shade to the floor Everly clutchedthe metal lamp close to her as she stared accusingly at the two-silent men.
“There is no need for that Everly,” the stiffer of the twomen, the silent one spoke. “We told you we wouldn’t hurt you.”
Trembling all over, she clutched the lamp tighter, shakingher head vehemently to dispel their lies. “You…” She stuttered, her voice tightwith fear and anger. “You abducted me.”
“Yes, we did,” he answered matter-of-factly.
“You put me in a plane and stole me from my home!” Sheshouted. How could they act like everything was fine? What kind of monsterswere they?
“Yes.” The other one answered this time.
Hate so pure surged up through her she knew it gleamed inher eyes. Tightening her grip she narrowed her gaze towards them. “I will notlet you touch me.” She hissed at them.
Looking to one another silently as if confirming something,both men reached up and peeled off their masks.
The strength and her legs nearly gave out as she let out agasp. Covering her mouth in horror, Everly backed up until she shakily bumpedinto the wall behind her.
“Wha…Dr. Black?” Looking to the other familiar face. “Zane?What are you… What’s going on?”
