The Arrangement

Looking

I did not expect to wake up on a nice bed, covered in a nice blanket, surrounded by plush pillows in a grand room. I didn't expect to feel refreshed as though I had just been sleeping. I didn't expect to freely roam the room and be comfortable in these strange surroundings. I didn't expect these things and I did not receive them.

When I woke up I had a splitting headache and couldn't move an inch. I felt cool metal beneath me and straps held down my head, arms, waist, and legs. I was completely rendered useless of all motion. My eyes had been covered by black cloth and my mouth was duct taped shut. The only sense I was left with besides touch was hearing.

My heart race was increasing rapidly with fear. I did not truthfully know who was behind this, all I know is that the men that had so often visited my father found a leak somewhere. I was needed to make up for that leak. My brain was on overload and I tried desperately to think of some good side to my situation but every time I did I just worried about Tyler.

It seemed to be ages, everything was silent except for my own breathing. My heart seemed to want to leap out of my rib cage and I figured someone a mile down the road could hear my heart beat. Yet, the room remained silent, deadly silent.

I could feel my heart beat in my head and the hard metal beneath my head seemed only to make the impact of each heart beat on my head enhanced. I tried to relax my face, hoping that helped my headache but it didn't seem to do anything for me. Groaning in anger and frustration I finally heard another noise.

"Oh my god Jasmine!" It was Jake. I heard his footsteps pound over to me. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? What's going on?" I could feel his eyes looking me over for injuries and I tried to move but I couldn't. The only thing I could do was speak helplessly into the gag. "I'm so glad you're alright." He makes no move to get me out of my binds and that's when my gut sinks. "Because that's going to make this so much easier." His voice changed and I felt betrayal stab through me.

Jake? Good playful Jake? I would have never thought that he- I trusted him. He helped me become more.... Me. Jake wasn't someone that I thought- there was no hint or clues. I-

"You little wretch." Victoria's voice comes off from my right. I feel her nails dig into my skin and I hold in a scream. She chuckles evilly and my fear is only renewed now that I know who my captors are. "It's funny how you're the bad guy." She hisses in my ear.

"You see Jasmine," Jake begins, his hand on my forearm, drawing little circles that raised goosebumps on my skin. "The thing you don't realize, is your little sob story that you told to Tyler and his parents? Well that's recorded by cameras I put it myself." Jake's hand is slowly moving up and I'm fighting back tears at my pain, both internal and external.

"We were the people watching you guys all along." Victoria says with a sneer. Her preppy sass is raised to its full potential and I'm struggling not to scream in rage. "You had a little guy friend when you were younger right? Malcolm? He was your little spy. Then your father kept you in line and you didn't need anyone to watch you after that because you became submissive." She says submissive as though it was a grand thing. "That helped us out a lot."

"When Tyler found out you were abused and had you move in with him, we were ecstatic!" Jake chuckles next to me, his hand touching my face gently, as though he were afraid to break it. "You could be watched and so could Tyler just as easily. Victoria was working her magic with Tyler and I got to play with you. It was almost too simple, no fun really." Jakes hand stops and suddenly he rips the duct tape off. I scream in pain and anger. "Oh, sorry princess, did I hurt you?" He feigns sympathy.

"So, when you spilled your touching story," Victoria pretends to sniffle and I snarl in distaste. "You know the one about how you shouldn't be here, we finally had the lead on you that we wanted. So we did our research..." Her heels click as she moves around the table I was strapped to and I hate it with every fiber of my being. "And it's true, you were born a minute earlier than Jazlynn." Victoria stops next to Jake and I struggle to remain silent.