Mya stirred. Not because her body awoke naturally. Not because sunlight from the outside had forced it, or because she had to pee, or any other number of reasons why nature might interrupt one's slumber.
No, Mya awoke because of the knife point she felt digging into her side.
"Wake up, Mya," he said. She opened her eyes, the lids dry and crusty. Her hands were still bound, her wrists hurt like hell. She hadn't been able to wipe the moisture or makeup away. The last thing she remembered was following this man back to his hotel room, having a drink, feeling his lips on hers, and then nothing. There was no other pain, and besides her bonds she was otherwise unharmed.
She was lying on the floor of some dingy hotel room. The bed was unmade. Ugly orange curtains dangled above her.
The rusty air conditioner rattled, spewing a warm breeze.
Under the bed she could see a small blue duffel bag, underwear and socks spilling out of it.
By the foot of the bed, Mya saw what appeared to be a gun. Not like the kind she saw in the movies. This one was long. The barrel seemed to have some kind of wood finish.
The boy noticed her staring and said, agreeing, "She's a true thing of beauty."
Mya tried to squirm but it was no use. Her energy was gone. And a blade was ticking her ribs. If she bucked in the wrong direction, it could…
"How you feeling?" he asked. Mya blinked. What was his name? He'd told it to her at the bar. Where he'd been charming, funny, handsome and sweet. Of course all of this was before he kidnapped her. "Nod once for okay, nod twice for not okay."
Mya nodded twice, vigorously. She remembered his hands on her, her whole body tingling, feeling alive. She remembered his hands, strong and gentle, but then all of a sudden perfunctory, like they were only waiting to…
And here she was.
"You're not getting me, Miss Loverne. Nod once if you're okay, as in not hurt. Nod twice if you are hurt. Forget about your hands. Can you walk?" Mya felt the blade dig in. She tried to cry out, but the tape prevented her from emitting anything but a pathetic whimper. She felt saliva coating the tape sealing her mouth.
She nodded once. That was all.
"You had me worried," the boy said with a grin.
William. His name was William.
"We have a busy night ahead of us," William said. "Are you up for it?"
Her first instinct was to try and scream. Or at least nod twice. But the knife made its horrible presence felt once again and she tilted her chin down once. A single tear streaked down Mya's cheek. The boy wiped it away.