Page 6 of Blue Velvet

“Sure,” I agree, still bewildered at all of this.

This is not at all how I expected things to go down. I thought he’d grab me off the street, maybe even strike me unconscious somehow. I was told to struggle, at least a little bit.

But what am I supposed to struggle against if this is how he’s playing the game? He may have appeared out of the blue and grabbed me roughly, but now he’s acting like a hero helping out a girl in need, not like a kidnapper.

At least so far.

Maybe the struggle is yet to come. Maybe he’ll become sinister any moment now, turn the car down a dark alley, tie me down and tell me to shut up, as I realize that his alleged help only masks his true violent intentions.

I take a deep sigh, preparing myself for whatever is to come. Acting is an essential part of my job, but I’ve never done role-play like this. I feel like I should have practiced lines or something.

He seems nervous, too. I notice him casting me quick glances from the side, as if to make sure that I’m not trying to jump out of the car. Is he expecting me to do something like that? Should I?

I eye him from the side, and our gazes meet for a split second before we each turn away. It’s almost cute.

The longer and farther we drive, the more I realize that we’re not actually following anyone. Whoever this woman was, he has no intention of finding her and getting my coat back. Was that woman even part of the plan? If she was, I’ll most likely get my coat back after the thirty-nine days are up. If she was simply a thief, I’ll probably never see that coat again.

He’s steering the car toward the freeway, and it becomes apparent that we’re about to leave the city. If I’m going to play my part to his satisfaction, this would be a good time to begin acting suspicious and scared.

“Where are we going?” I ask, underlining my voice with fear. “The woman was surely not running toward the freeway?”

I’m breathing heavily now, my eyes wide with concern when I turn to face him. Not all of this is an act.

He doesn’t look at me, but keeps his eyes focused straight ahead on the road.

“We’re not following her,” he says, a dark smile forming on his handsome face. “I have other plans.”

I don’t know how to reply. I’m supposed to struggle, fight him and act as if this was a real kidnapping. My acting skills have never been put to a test like this before.

I take a deep, cleansing breath. All right.

It’s show time.

4

Loran

This was easy.

Too easy.

I can’t wrap my head around how naive this girl is. The way she just followed me to my car was strange on its own, but when I steer the car out of the city and she realizes this is not about finding her precious ugly coat, she doesn’t freak out the way I expected. Acting on impulse was a risky move. I jumped out of the car, set aside my former plan, and decided to just... go for it.

I didn’t think this through, none of it. I’m driving with her in the passenger seat, fully conscious and not bound. She could easily jump across the steering wheel, risking both our lives in an attempt to save herself. She could scream to deafen and distract me, she could hit me, she could run as soon as I park the car, or try to overpower me when I have to stop for a red light.

That’s what a normal person would do. That’s what I have to be prepared for.

But she’s not doing any of it. I can tell that she’s unsettled and worried, but she’s nowhere close to panicking, and she should be. In fact, it’s almost as if she’s trying to figure out what sheshouldsay in this situation.

“Where are we going? What are you going to do to me? Let me go!”

The words spill out of her, but there’s no conviction behind them. Maybe she’s in a state of shock? Her hands are clenching the black purse in her lap, and her eyes scuttle around aimlessly. She tries to open the door at one point when I have to slow down to navigate a sharp curve, but she only does it once, confirming that the door is in fact locked.

“Let me go!” she repeats, now yelling at me. “I’m scared! Let me out!”

I ignore her pleas and continue driving. If she ends up going crazy, I might have to use the injection on her after all. It’s hidden in the inside pocket of my jacket, easily accessible and ready to be used if needed.

We still have about half an hour of driving ahead of us. A lot can happen in those thirty minutes. Every moment brings her closer to my house, closer to the basement that will become her cage, closer to her becoming mine. And she has no idea.

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