Chapter 10

“Charlie,” Gabrielle called to him even though he stood only a few feet away. It took her a while to adjust her vision to the darkness. The curtains let in very little moonlight but she could make out Charlie’s form standing in front of her. She gulped nervously as her kidnapper led her into the center of the room. Her feet stumbled over an edge of a carpet making her fall into Charlie’s chest. “I can’t see. I want to see now,” she asked fearfully.

“Of course you may see,” the man replied, kissing the top of her head. Gabrielle was shaking now. She could feel Charlie reach up to what she guessed was the ceiling fan. As his hands wrapped around the cord, she shut her eyes. Never had she felt so afraid in her life. Charlie pulled the string until the click and its light filled the room. Taking a step back, he let go of his Annabel Lee’s hand an let her gradually open her eyes for herself. “The new place for you to be.”

The cream colored walls were lined with lavender wood trimming and charcoal swirls were painted just below the ceiling. It was very feminine for his bedroom. She figured it would be much more extravagant or at least older feeling. She also imagined his bed to be much bigger than a measly twin size. But her shaking subsided as she realized what this was.

This was her room.

“The cracked walls below us are hardly fitting,” Charlie explained. “Though this serves a purpose more than I’ll be admitting.”

“What?”

Her kidnapper shook his head and placed a finger to Gabrielle’s lips. It was clear to her that her plan had started working. That little bit of accomplishment was the only thing to keep her from spilling out the meal they had just eaten. But there was still something he wasn’t telling her which made her worry.

Pushing her nerves down, the girl floated around her new room. There was a large wardrobe next to the doorway along with a laundry basket and a nightstand. It was actually quite lovely. Everything matched the scheme of charcoal, lavender and cream. Even the floor was carpeted in the off white color.

“A cupboard for personal things, I need not see,” Charlie’s cheeks blushed slightly. Gabrielle was sure he was talking of the female products she needed to ask for. That was an embarrassing memory she never wanted to relive. “I do this in the name of love for my darling Annabel Lee.”

“This is amazing, Charlie,” she whispered almost meaning it herself. The girl turned to her kidnapper and ran to his arms. Though she felt like she was at child’s height in his arm, she felt him embrace her back. She tightened her grip before letting go. But she dared not place a kiss on his lips. Things were becoming too personal and she was starting to regret her choices. Not because they weren’t working —it was working exactly to her plans— but for the fact if things went too far, she was afraid she would start to like it.

“Then I will leave you to your surprise,” he murmured into her hair. “I’ll see you awaken as the sun will rise.”

Charlie placed a gentle kiss to her cheek and left the room. The lock clicked into place on the door and Gabrielle was alone. She took this time to examine her new room. Though she didn’t plan on staying long, she had to find out if there was anything useful to help her escape.

The first thing she checked was the windows. Through the glass she could see the beautiful sight of the moonlit waves. They twinkled brighter than the stars in the sky above. She paused for a moment to admire the beauty and was mesmerized by the flowing of the tide. Oh, how much she would truly like to live here if she could just watch this every evening. But she had to escape and the bars she was looking through prevented her from doing that.

The wardrobe was next to be inspected. She marveled at the clothing which was hung there; knit sweaters, tshirts and jeans which were amazingly enough her size. The ripped jeans she first wore here were folded neatly on the bottom. She guessed Charlie took her pants size from them. Looking down at the loose shirt and sweatpants she was wearing now, she was glad of the choices she could now make.

But there was one article of clothing that seemed out of place. Hidden behind sweaters, there was a simple white gown hanging on a thing wire hanger. Her hand reached out and pinched the dress between her fingers. It was nice to Gabrielle; soft and see-through fabric. The girl had always had more of a grungy, bringing-the-nineties-back kind of style but the dress was gorgeous to her. Feeling the small shred of joy made her shake her head and slam the wardrobe’s doors shut.

This isn’t my room, the girl thought to herself. She chanted the words that she tried to remember every day. My kidnapper is a monster. My name is Gabby not Annabel Lee. I am not giving up. I will escape!

The young woman climbed into the bed which was much more comfortable than the flimsy mattress downstairs and pulled the covers to her chin. She almost felt happy. It was something she never wanted to feel here. Her lungs started heaving from the overwhelming emotions. It didn’t help as she started smelling it. A wash of dread blows over her as she nuzzles her cheek in the pillow. It has a smell of belonging to it. Gabrielle got off the bed and cowered in a corner.

How many girls before me have slept on this bed?

After a while to get her emotions to keep steady, Gabrielle went to the center of the room and turned the ceiling light off. Slowly and reluctantly she went back to her covers. She dared not cry but one tear did spill down her cheek onto her new satiny sheets.

And how long until I am where they are now?

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AUTHOR’S NOTE: What do you think of her new room?? Gabrielle got her wish of being trusted enough to get to the first floor. So what should she do now? Remember she is more patient than any of you are… Keep that in mind ;) But I am trying to wrap up the story soon so I can keep it under 30 pages which means it can remain in the short story category. Let me know what you think! :D