Chapter Two
A Kidnapping
“Sam, I need to run to the
drugstore to pick up my allergy prescription. Want to come along for the ride?”
“No, not really, honey.”
“Oh, come on. I’m not
comfortable leaving you alone yet.”
“Jaks, I’m fine.”
“What if you don’t feel
good while I’m gone? What if you get a bad headache? Or one of those blinding
migraines Dr. Reynolds mentioned?”
“I feel great. You’re
over-reacting to what the doctor said.”
“Come with me. You love to
walk up and down the aisles of the drugstore and look at all that female do-dad
stuff. And I’ll buy you whatever you want! We won’t be long. It’s a great day
for a ride to the drugstore. Come on.”
“Oh, okay. I guess I must
really love all that female do-dad stuff.”
We drive to a small
drugstore far off the main highway. The parking lot was almost empty. Once
inside, I walk around while he picks up his medication and I meet him at the
cash register.
“What? No female do-dads
caught your eye?”
“Nope, not a one. I must be sick.”
“There’s a concert in the
park tonight,” says Jaks as we walk to the car. “Those acapella guys you like
from Linton University. Feel like a little outdoors music?”
“Sure. I remember those
guys! They remind me of...”
Somebody grabs me from
behind, pulls something over my head, and throws me into a nearby vehicle.
“Jaks! Jaks!” I scream and
kick and fight as hard as I can.
“Shut the hell up, bitch,
or we’ll kill him,” a man growls in my ear. I freeze. I hear roaring in my
head. Everything starts to spin. I feel pounding in my head and my throat. Breathing
is difficult. I gasp. Blackness.
“Sam! Samantha? Where are
you?” I hear Jaks whisper. “Sam?”
“Jaks?” I whisper back. “I’m
right here. Jaks, are you hurt?”
“No, I don’t think so,” he
says. “Somebody knocked me out at the car. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I think. But there’s
something over my head and my hands and feet are tied.”
“Yes, me, too.”
“Where are we?”
“I don’t know.”
“Jaks, what do they want
from us?”
“I have no idea, baby. What
could they want with us? It can’t be ransom if they took us both. Are you all
right? Does your head hurt? I heard you scream.”
“I’m okay, Jaks.”
“Can you... can you try to
scoot toward me? I’ll do the same. Come on, Sam, come to me.”
I wiggle toward the sound
of his voice. I bump into him, recognizing his scent.
“Okay, turn around and try
to untie my hands. Good, good. You’re getting it.” His hands are free now. He
removes a pillowcase from my head and unties my hands and feet.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
I grab him and hug him
tightly. “I am now.” I cry like a big baby. I can’t help it.
“Sh, sh, my darling. Please
don’t cry. It’ll be okay. We’ll get out of this, I promise you.”
He holds me close to him
and kisses my head, calming my fears. I think maybe I hear him crying, too.
The
back doors of the van swing open.