Chapter 33
Playing My Part
Our favorite Georgia peach has been kidnapped!
And nobody can locate her. Coach won't allow the boys to have phones this year so our poor Jake doesn't know yet!
If you have any information, contact your local law enforcement now.
The FBI has been called, but they are not yet involved. #PrayersForDani
Time is standing still. I don't know how many hours I've been here and I don't know if Sasha and Toby are okay.
Jeffery won't tell me anything. He’s barely come into the room where I'm currently at.
He only brings me a sip of water every so often, and he said he would keep the gag out as long as I don't scream again.
I do as I'm told and wait until it's safe for me to try and escape.
When he does come into the room, it takes all the strength that I have left not to throw up.
His breath is rancorous, and it's turning my already nauseated stomach.
I think he's drugged me because I can't think clearly.
Every time I take a sip of water, I feel even more out of it making me wonder if the water has some sort of sedative in it. I fall into dreamless sleep once more.
I wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside the window.
It's morning again and I must have slept all through the night.
It's hot, and I'm sweaty. My stomach is growling, but I don't think I can eat. I feel awful. Maybe I can talk him into giving me a little of something, though. I have to be able to keep my strength up for my escape. It’s the hope I’m holding onto right now.
I need to make him be my friend. I'm glad it's Jeffrey that's here and not Benji.
Benji is too clever and cunning and he would see my bullshit from a mile away.
He's a natural-born leader. Jeffery, on the other hand, is a follower.
He didn't plan this by himself. He's just doing this for Benji, but why?
I almost feel sorry for him. He doesn't understand that Benji’s a sociopath and not his friend.
It’s been well over 24 hours since he kidnapped me. Someone has to be looking for me by now. I need to earn Jefferys trust so that I can get away, and for me to do that, I'll have to lose these zip ties off my wrist and ankles. I hear him walking down the hall.
What if it's someone else? I brace myself as the door opens—my breathing hitches. I let out a long sigh of relief as I see Jeffery. He's showered, and he looks more rested. "Hey, Dani. I'm sorry I left you alone for so long."
I nod. I don't want to seem too eager to talk to him. I have about five days to escape. I don't like my options once Benji leaves football camp. I don't think Jeffery will harm me, but Benji on the other is an entirely different story.
He comes closer and my heart starts beating out of my chest. Just because I think he won't hurt me doesn't mean he won't. I start moving away from him as best I can and that’s when I scream as loud as I possibly can.
He puts his hand over my mouth and puts the knife against my throat.
"You promised you wouldn't scream, Dani. Do I need to go get the gag?"
I carefully shake my head no. My eyes are pleading for mercy so he finally takes his hand off my mouth, and I'm quiet as a church mouse. He shows me the knife, and while I want to scream and kick at him again, I don't. I wait to see what he is going to do.
“I’ve brought some stuff to make us something to eat.
If I cut off the zip ties, can I trust you to behave?
" I nod my head, yes, but that isn't good enough.
"SAY IT, DANI!" His yelling makes me jump and tears prick my eyes.
He's crazy. I better play my hand right because at this point I don’t put it past him to kill me.
My voice is raspy, sounding foreign to my ears. "I will behave, Jeffery. I promise."
“Good girl.” He takes the knife and cuts through my zip ties, making me cry out in pain.
I didn't realize how much they were cutting into my skin.
I'm not bleeding, but the skin around my ankles and wrists looks awful.
My skin is chaffed and blood red. As much as I try, I can't stop the tear rolling down my cheek.
He looks up, startled. "Don't cry, Dani.
He'll be pissed if he knows I made you cry. Please! Please! Don't tell him."
I wipe my face quickly. Why does Benji care if I cry? "If I promise not to tell him, will you answer two questions for me?"
A look of panic crosses his face. "I don't know, Dani. He said you might try to trick me."
This is my chance to gain a little bit of his trust. "Jeffery, I'm just confused. I don't know why any of this is happening. Please, help me understand. I don't want to trick you."
He sits on the bed. "What's the question?"
"Well, for starters, are my friends okay?"
He smiles. "They're okay, Dani. I kept everyone safe, just like he told me. I injected them both with a sedative that would make them sleep for hours. I needed extra time to cover my tracks and steal you away towards our destination. Next question."
I fake a smile, but I am genuinely relieved. I don't know what I would do if Toby and Sasha had been hurt. "Thank you for not hurting my friends, Jeffery."
"I would have, you know, had he wanted me to. I'm very loyal to him. He's my only friend."
Goosebumps move up and down my entire body. I have to say the right things but all I want to do is yell at him and run as fast as I can away from this nightmare I've found myself in. "I know, Jeffery. Benji is very lucky to have a friend like you."
He puffs out his chest. "I'm the lucky one. I was a major stoner, you know. He cleaned me up and helped me find my purpose."
"One of the most important things in life is to find our purpose. I'm glad you've done that. Can I ask my second question now?"
"Only one more, Dani, that was our deal."
I hastily swallow the bile as it creeps up my throat. "I understand if you can't tell me. I'm pretty flattered, and I can't wait to tell Benji just how good you've taken care of me! But why did he want you to kidnap me?"
He looks at war with himself. I took a big gamble asking him this because I can tell he's very loyal to Benji.
I'm relieved he doesn't appear to be pissed about my question.
In the end, wanting me to brag on him to Benji wins out.
"You're special, Dani. He knew it from the first moment he laid eyes on you during move in day.
He's quite smitten with you. He's going to be king of his dad's business, and you'll be his queen.
You'll never want for anything. Neither one of us will.
Jake can't do for you what Benji can. You'll see, and I'll work for the both of you one day.
Once I know that you won't take advantage of how good Benji is, I'll be very loyal to you also. "
What the hell. I thought the first time he saw me was at the party. Has he been following me all this time? "But why the kidnapping?"
He scoffs. "Isn't it obvious? You wouldn't give him the time of day. He had to do something extravagant to get your attention. He had to separate you from everyone in your life so that you could see that he’s the only one that can truly love you like you need to be loved.
If you get to know him, you'll see that Jake is no good, and you don't need him. "
My stomach growls loudly. I am saved by the growl because I had no clue what to say to that hogwash.
This is wrong on so many levels. Jeffery is being manipulated, but I've overestimated just how loyal he is to Benji.
"Benji, I'm hungry, but I wouldn't be able to enjoy my food right now because I'm disgusting.
I desperately need a hot shower. I also need to use the ladies' room.
Can I shower and use the bathroom before we eat? "
He nods his head. "I took some clothes for you out of your room. I didn't take any shoes, though. If I let you have shoes, you may try to escape. I'll make us some food while you shower and dress. Spaghetti, okay?"
I smile. He must not know I'm from Georgia. We don't wear shoes most of the time anyway. Being barefoot won't stop us! "It's my favorite."
"Good, good. The bathroom is right across the hall, and I'll watch your every move. No escaping, or I'll have to drug you again."
I nod and quickly escape to the bathroom.
I close the door and put my clean clothes on the sink.
I sit on the floor and hug my knees, crying silently, silencing the moans in my hand.
I'm so scared and not sure if or when I'll be able to escape.
Now is not the time to leave, though. Now I must make Jeffery trust me.
I wipe my tears and jump into the shower.
I can do this. My very life may depend upon my success.