Kidnapped

VIOLET

A splitting headache hit me like a hammer as I struggled to open my eyes. The world around me was blurry at first,ahaze of darkness pierced only by faint rays of light seeping through the cracks in what looked like an old, decrepit wall. The air smelled of damp wood and rust, and the faint drip of water echoed somewhere nearby.

I blinked hard, forcing my vision to adjust, and when it finally did, dread settled in my chest.

I was tied to a chair, my arms pinned painfully behind me with rough, scratchy ropes that bit into my skin. I tried to move, but every tug on the ropes only made them dig deeper into my wrists.

“You’re awake.”

The voice was calm, almost casual, but it hit me like a punch to the gut. Slowly, I turned my head toward the source of the voice.

There, leaning against the wall stood Luke.

Luke.

The sight of him should’ve brought relief, comfort even. But instead, my blood ran cold.

This couldn’t be real.

“Luke?” I mumbled,my voice shaky. My heart raced, fighting against what my eyes were seeing. He wouldn’t do this. He couldn’t.

Unless…

“Well, well, look who’s finally awake,” a familiar, feminine voice said, light and mocking.

Evelyn stepped into the room,her perfectly styled hair glinting in the dim room. She looked down at me with an expression that was almost pitying, but the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her satisfaction.

“How are you feeling, Violet?” she asked sweetly, her tone dripping with false concern. She crouched slightly, her face inches from mine as her manicured nails traced the edge of the chair. “Not too comfortable, I imagine.”

I stared at her, my chest tightening. My gaze darted to Luke, who stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the floor.

“What’s going on?” I asked

“Oh, don’t strain yourself, darling,” she cooed, patting my cheek mockingly. “We’ll get to that.”

She stood back up, pacing leisurely around the room. “You know, I really tried to let this go,” she continued, her voice calm but with an underlying edge. “But you just couldn’t take a hint, could you? I mean, I warned you—told you to stay away from Ryan. But here we are.”

Ryan.

The mention of his name hit me like a punch to the chest.

Was he looking for me? Did he even know I was gone?

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing.

If this was about Ryan, it was worse than I thought. Evelyn was dangerous, and I had no idea how far she was willing to go.

I winced, shrinking back instinctively.My eyes darted to Luke, silently pleading with him for answers, for anything.

“What’s happening?” I managed to say. “Luke, what…what are you doing?”

He didn’t respond. He didn’t even look at me. His gaze was cast downward, his jaw clenched tightly as if he couldn’t bear to meet my eyes.

“Luke, talk to me!” I tried again, my desperation breaking through the fear.

But before he could say anything, Evelyn stepped forward, cutting me off with a harsh laugh.

“I’m the one talking to you, bitch,” she spat. “You made yourself my enemy,” she hissed, crouching down so her face was level with mine. “And this... this is what happens when you mess with me.”

Her words were laced with venom, but it wasn’t just anger I saw in her eyes. It was satisfaction, a deep, twisted joy in watching me squirm.

“You think you’re so special, don’t you?” she continued, circling me like a predator. “All those doe-eyed stares and innocent smiles... You thought you could just waltz in and steal him from me?”

Before I could speak, the sound of new footsteps interrupted us. The air grew tense, and I instinctively froze as another figure entered the room.

Max Caldwell.

I didn't know much about him except that he's a basketball player as well as Ryan's biggest rival.

“Hi, Violet,” he said casually

My breath hitched.

“Relax, I've got nothing against you” He crouched slightly, bringing his face closer to mine. “But your step brother? Or maybe your boyfriend?” He raised an eyebrow, his smirk wider

Well..damn

“What are you talking about?” I whispered, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound strong.

Max chuckled, standing upright again. He adjusted his jacket . “This,” he said, motioning to Evelyn and then to Luke, “is just my little way of making Ryan pay.”

I gasped..

“Oh, don’t look so surprised,” he said, his tone almost teasing. “Ryan’s made his fair share of enemies, Violet. You’re just the unfortunate collateral damage.”

“He didn’t do anything!" I snapped, the words spilling out before I could stop myself. My gaze darted to Evelyn, anger burning through my fear.

"And you," I said, my voice biting, "it’s not my fault Ryan didn’t choose you. You’re just a sore loser who resorts to kidnapping because the guy you like doesn’t feel the same way.Bitter because Ryan didn’t choose you. He doesn’t even see you. Your actions reek of desperation."

Evelyn’s smile froze, her carefully composed façade cracking for a brief moment.

Antagonizing my captors was probably the dumbest thing I could have done, but I wasn’t going to let them see how terrified I was. I couldn’t give them that satisfaction.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke shift uncomfortably, his expression a mix of guilt and silent pleading. The sight of him—my once-sweet best friend, now complicit in this nightmare—twisted something deep inside me. The Luke I knew would never have done this. This man standing here was a stranger.

Max clicked his tongue, drawing my attention back to him. "Ryan’s little princess," he said with a sneer. "How about we take a little trip down memory lane?"

I tilted my chin up, refusing to let him intimidate me, even as my heart pounded against my ribs. My stupid bravery only seemed to amuse him more.

“You see, Ryan isn’t the saint you think he is,” Max continued.He has a habit of taking things that don’t belong to him. Including other people’s spouses.”

My breath hitched as the pieces began to fall into place. Max’s involvement suddenly made sense.

During junior year, rumors had swirled that Ryan had slept with Max’s girlfriend. There had been no proof—just whispers in the hallways

“This is about that stupid rumor?” I demanded, my voice louder than I intended.

Max’s smirk darkened, his eyes narrowing. “Oh, it’s more than just a rumor, princess. Ryan ruined something that was mine, and now I’m going to return the favor.”

The weight of his words settled over me like a suffocating blanket.

“No,” I whispered, the single word barely audible. Panic clawed at my chest, drowning the courage I’d been clinging to.

Max leaned in again, his smirk turning cruel. "Now, I’m going to give Ryan a taste of his own medicine."

“No, please don’t,” I choked out, the words tumbling from my lips before I could stop them.

"Now, what do you think Ryan will do when he finds out you're here, Violet?" Max mused, crouching down in front of me again. He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch making my skin crawl.

"Get your hands off me," I hissed, trying to yank my head away, but the ropes kept me bound.

Max only laughed. “Feisty. I like that. Who else is interested in seeing what Ryan adores so much?”

Panic shot through me like ice in my veins. I thrashed against the ropes, desperate to free myself. “Don’t you dare!” I spat, my voice trembling.

Max reached for the rope binding me. But before he could do more, Luke stepped forward, grabbing his arm.

“That’s enough,” Luke said, his voice firmer than I’d expected. His grip on Max’s arm tightened. “We didn’t agree to this.”

Max turned his head, his expression darkening as he straightened to his full height. “And what exactly are you going to do about it, Luke? You think you can stop me?”

Luke’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, I saw the boy I once knew—the boy who would have done anything to protect me. But that flicker of hope was quickly extinguished when Evelyn stepped in.

“Oh, Luke,” Evelyn purred, her voice sweet but laced with venom. She walked over to him. “You’re going to ruin all the fun? Again?”

Luke didn’t respond, but the tension in his shoulders was visible.

Evelyn’s smile widened. “You remember what happened the last time you tried to grow a conscience, don’t you? How I found out about your little… extracurricular activities?”

Luke’s face paled.

My breath caught as I watched the scene unfold. Evelyn’s voice turned icy. “Do you think the school would appreciate knowing how you helped half the class cheat on their exams? How you sold answers because you were too poor to make ends meet?”

Luke’s hand dropped from Max’s arm, his fists clenched at his sides.

“Stop it,” he muttered, his voice low.

Evelyn tilted her head, her smile turning cruel. “What was it, Luke? Desperation? Or greed? Either way, I own you now.”

Luke’s shoulders slumped in defeat. He took a step back, his gaze darting toward me for a split second before he turned and walked toward the door.

"Luke," I called out, my voice trembling with desperation.

He paused, his back to me, but he didn’t turn around.

“Sorry, Violet,” he muttered before stepping out and slamming the door shut behind him.

The sound echoed in the room, leaving me alone with Evelyn and Max.

“Well,” Max said, clapping his hands together as if he hadn’t just witnessed the exchange. “So where were we?”