Chapter 39

My heart pounded in my chest as Jessica and her followers forcefully carried me down the chaotic hallway.

Their triumphant laughter rang in my ears, mingling with my muffled protests, silenced by the tape tightly pressed against my mouth. I struggled against their grip, desperate to break free and escape their clutches.

They finally seemed to reach their destination—the school's training room. They dropped me onto the cold, unforgiving floor, leaving me helpless and vulnerable.

"What do we do with her now?" one of Jessica's followers whispered, their voice echoing across the room.

"Let's just lock her up here all weekend," Jessica said, turning to face me. "I think that should be enough time for her to think about what she's done."

"What have I done? I haven't done anything!" I tried to scream through the tape, but my words made no sense. It was just garbled nonsense.

Jessica leaned over me, a sinister smirk playing on her lips. "What? Sorry, I can't understand you," she mocked, tilting her head in feigned confusion.

"You should write “Sorry” on her face with a marker and take photos for the school’s group chat!" A follower of Jessica suggested.

Jessica immediately happily agreed.

"You have a little something..." She pointed to my mouth.

Laughter erupted from the group, their cruel amusement intensifying my anguish.

Before I could muster any resistance, they swiftly bound my hands with rough, biting ropes.

The tight knots restricted my movements, ensuring my escape would be a formidable challenge.

A surge of frustration coursed through me, mingling with a renewed sense of vulnerability.

As if the ropes weren't enough, they proceeded to chain my foot to one of the training weight stands, further diminishing any hope of breaking free.

The metallic links clinked ominously, serving as a constant reminder of my captivity.

They used markers to write on my face and took a few pictures.

I kept my eyes closed the whole time.

I couldn’t understand what I did to deserve this humiliation.

My heart sank as the weight of my predicament settled upon me, the realization of their meticulous plan sinking in.

The room seemed to close in around me, the shadows growing deeper, amplifying my sense of confinement.

Each constraining element, from the ropes binding my hands to the chain anchoring me to the stand, only served to fuel my determination.

I refused to succumb to despair. I had to find a way out, no matter the obstacles before me.

With my hands bound and my foot shackled, I knew that every movement—every attempt at escape—would require focus and resourcefulness.

I began to assess my surroundings, searching for any glimmer of hope, any potential weakness in their carefully orchestrated confinement.

My gaze darted across the room, seeking any means of leverage, any object that could aid in my struggle for freedom. But there was nothing there.

I was completely hopeless.

Tears welled up, blurring my vision as I gazed at their distorted figures, blending with the cold, indifferent walls.

I couldn't hold back the flood of despair any longer. Silent sobs wracked my body, each tear a testament to the hopelessness I was feeling.

"Let's get out of here before someone sees us!" one of her followers shouted, suddenly looking nervous. She was twisting her fingers around in agitation.

"Let's go," Jessica ordered, starting to move towards the door.

She looked back at me with what I thought was hesitation. Just when I thought she might change her mind, she extinguished all the lights, leaving me in the suffocating darkness.

The echoes of their laughter reverberated through the room, piercing my mind.

Alone and trapped, a heavy sense of dread settled over me, weighing me down like an anchor. The silence in the room became suffocating, amplifying my fears and echoing my deepest insecurities.

It was Friday, and as the realization dawned on me, a wave of apprehension washed over my trembling form.

Would I really be trapped in this empty, dark room for the entire weekend?

The thought spiked my anxiety, filling me with a chilling sense of despair.

Straining my ears, I desperately sought any sign of life, any sort of hope. But all that I heard was an unsettling stillness. I was completely and utterly alone. No one could save me now.

I struggled to breathe as the tape pressed relentlessly against my mouth, stifling any attempt at crying out. Panic coursed through my veins, and I fought against the rising tide of fear.

Each gasp for air felt like a desperate battle against the claustrophobic grip of my captivity.

As I moved against the ropes binding my hands and the chains anchoring my foot, frustration mingled with fear.

The weight of isolation settled heavily upon my shoulders, as the realization of being trapped in this desolate room for the entire weekend sank in.

It was a chilling thought that pierced my heart, filling me with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.

In the midst of the suffocating darkness, tears welled up, blurring my vision and adding to my despair.

How could I ever find a way out of this situation?

The lack of visibility only deepened my sense of helplessness, leaving me to wonder if escape was even possible. Right now, it seemed like an unattainable dream.

Come on, Shana, think! I urged myself, desperately seeking a way to free myself from this grim predicament. There had to be something, some small opportunity hidden within the darkness that could lead to my escape.

I refused to surrender to despair.

The thought of Lucas, his unwavering support, and the promise I made to be there for the end of his hockey game gnawed at my conscience.

I groaned against the suffocating tape that sealed my mouth, the frustration welling up within me.

I couldn't bear the thought of breaking my promise to him, but at this moment, it seemed almost impossible to keep.

There's no way I can get out of this situation on my own. I would need someone's assistance.

But I knew deep down that Lucas wouldn't abandon me.

We never lied to each other, never made promises we couldn't keep.

He would know that something would be wrong--that something wasn't right.

If he couldn't come to my aid now, I had to trust that he would come later--Possibly after his game.

With a shaky breath, I reminded myself to stay calm, to hold on to the hope that Lucas would come for me. I couldn't allow myself to spiral into fear and overthink my circumstances.

Panic would only cloud my judgment and hinder my ability to find a way out.

I focused on the strength of our connection and the unbreakable bond we shared. Lucas would move heaven and earth to find me, I was certain of it.

I had to trust in his determination, his resourcefulness. If I could endure this ordeal until his arrival, I knew he would bring the light back into my life.

I blinked slowly, realizing that there was a small source of light in the room after all.

My eyes followed the source, landing on the window above me.

The light cast an eerie glow that painted the surroundings in haunting shades.

I squinted, my gaze drawn to the unsettling sight outside.

It was a Blood Moon, its ominous crimson hue intensifying the foreboding atmosphere within the room.

A Blood Moon... that was never a good sign.

They symbolized the coming of a bad omen—and in some cases, even death.

The sight of the moon, stark and captivating, stirred a primal instinct deep within me—a lingering unease that sent a subtle shiver down my spine.