Chapter 84
Maple
@mimilittleponyyy, TikTok
I had a horrible dream last night about Maybe Maple. I’m really scared for her #findMaple
I blink. It’s dark. My heart thuds.
Where am I?
Brandon. I was in his car; we were going to find Ella. It was hot but comfortable. He was nice, gave me water. And I was so tired.
I fell asleep.
But why can’t I remember what happened next? How I got here? Wherever here is.
My body shivers. My hoodie’s gone; I’m just in a T-shirt. My sneakers are off too.
There’s a bed beneath me; I can feel the mattress.
But there’s something hard against my wrists.
I lift my arms. There’s a loud chiming, then my arms stop midair.
I try again, and again, more violently, but I can’t get them past the same point.
Metal digs into my skin. Handcuffs on a chain, attached to the bed.
I try my legs next, but they’re in shackles too, and as I try to move them, I realize they’re even more restricted.
Panic rips at my insides. I twist, roll onto my side. The chain on my right wrist resists, wrenching my shoulder, but I have just enough flex to curl up to sitting. Except I’m too dizzy upright, too nauseous. My head spins, I drop back down, feel my eyes burn. My heart races.
What have I done?
Why the fuck did I think I could trust a stranger?
Why didn’t I listen to Coco?
Tears bubble and burst. I need to get out of here.
‘Help!!’ I scream into the black void. ‘Help me!!’
The door flies open. Bright light floods through the doorway, blinding me. I scrunch my eyes half shut, but I can’t let them close completely because there’s a man walking toward me, a looming black silhouette.
‘Hey, calm down, it’s going to be okay.’
I recognize the voice. Brandon. Soft and friendly like when he picked me up, but it sounds repulsive now. Another scream forms in my belly, then blasts out. Brandon’s hand clamps over my mouth. Hot and sweaty. I want to bite him, but there’s too much pressure for me to move my jaw.
‘I get why you’re mad,’ he whispers, turning on a lamp. ‘But I promise you’ll feel better soon. Once you’ve had time to get used to things.’
I try to shake my head, but I can barely move it. I can’t breathe either, my nose too full of snotty tears.
‘Now, if I take my hand away, will you be nice and calm?’ he asks.
My vision’s blurring; my lungs are burning. I need oxygen. I nod, and as his hand lifts, I gasp for air.
‘No one can hear your screams anyway,’ he says. ‘Or maybe I mean no one would care. But I don’t like to hear them. If you give this a chance, we could be friends.’
His words make me want to vomit. ‘I want to go home,’ I whisper.
‘I don’t think you do though, not really,’ he says, stroking my hair.
I try to pull away, but he just leans further over me, keeps stroking.
‘I mean, I feel bad for you, but your mom is not a good person. And she’s a terrible mom, dollar signs in her eyes instead of love.
And your dad? Why doesn’t he look out for you?
No, you deserve better than them. But it’s okay because I’m going to take care of you now. ’
I twist my head away. Feel tears slide down my temple. He’s a monster. He tricked me into coming to Vegas. He must have drugged me to knock me out. Then he chained me to this bed. How dare he act like my parents are worse than him?
Except Mom does care more about making money than protecting me. And Dad has sat by and let her. Probably because he’s not my real dad.
‘I’m going to take you to the bathroom now,’ he says, pulling something out of his pocket.
I think it’s keys. But no, shit, it’s a gun first. Then keys next.
My body starts to shake. ‘And if you’re a good girl,’ he continues, ‘I’m going to make us your favorite meal.
And don’t worry, I’ve watched all your Maybe Maple videos, so I know exactly what you like. I know everything about you.’
He fumbles with the chains on my legs, and they drop away.
The chains on my hands go next, except he replaces those with regular handcuffs.
I imagine swinging my fists into his face and making a run for it.
But every muscle feels like Jell-O, my vision’s too blurred to see straight, and I need to pee so bad.
So instead, I let him drag me out of the room and lead me into his tiny, dirty, disgusting bathroom.