Lina's wrists ached from the tight ropes binding her to the wooden chair. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a single, grimy bulb hanging from the ceiling. She struggled against her restraints, the rough rope cutting into her skin, but her efforts were in vain. Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the peeling wallpaper, the dusty floor, and the single window that was barred and shuttered.
"Who the hell are you people? Let me go!" she screamed, her voice hoarse from hours of shouting.
The door creaked open, and a huge man stepped inside. He was a towering figure, his face obscured by a dark baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. His presence filled the small room, making the air feel thick and oppressive. He moved with a deliberate slowness, crossing the space between them in a few strides.
Lina's heart pounded in her chest as the man approached. She continued to shout, her voice rising in panic. "What do you want with me? Let me go! Please!"
Without a word, the man produced a roll of duct tape. Lina's eyes widened in terror as he tore off a strip and advanced towards her. She thrashed in her chair, trying to avoid him, but he was too strong. He grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to be still, and slapped the tape over her mouth. The adhesive pulled painfully at her skin, silencing her cries.
Tears streamed down Lina's face, her muffled sobs filling the silence of the room. The man stepped back, his eyes cold and impassive as he watched her. Then, without another glance, he turned and left the room, the door closing behind him with a heavy thud.
Lina was left alone, the oppressive silence closing in around her. She felt utterly devastated, the reality of her situation crashing down on her like a tidal wave. Her mind raced with questions and fears. Why had they taken her? What did they want? And most haunting of all: Would anyone come to save her?
She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Memories of happier times flickered through her mind – moments with her friends, laughter, and freedom. She clung to those memories, using them as a shield against the fear threatening to overwhelm her.
But as the minutes turned into hours, her hope began to wane. The room was silent except for the distant hum of traffic, a reminder of the world outside that she was now so painfully cut off from. She prayed silently, her thoughts a desperate plea for rescue. "Please, someone, anyone, find me. Help me."
Her mind drifted to Daniel. Would he notice she was gone? Would he care enough to search for her? Doubts gnawed at her, and she felt a deep, crushing loneliness. What if no one even realized she was missing? What if she was left here, forgotten and alone?
She forced herself to push those thoughts away, but they kept creeping back, insidious and relentless. Her tears continued to fall, soaking the duct tape that covered her mouth. She was terrified, more scared than she had ever been in her life. Her body shook with silent sobs, and she felt a deep, aching helplessness.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Lina's thoughts became a jumbled mix of fear, hope, and despair. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant sound made her flinch, her heart lurching in her chest. She was trapped in a nightmare with no end in sight.
As the hours dragged on, Lina's exhaustion began to take its toll. Her body slumped in the chair, her muscles aching from the constant strain. She felt herself drifting in and out of a restless, troubled sleep, her dreams filled with dark shadows and faceless figures.
But even in her darkest moments, a tiny spark of hope remained. She held onto it with all her strength, refusing to let it be extinguished. Somewhere out there, someone had to be looking for her. She had to believe that rescue would come, that she would be saved from this nightmare.
In the oppressive darkness of the room, Lina clung to that hope, her silent prayers a reflection to her will to survive. She would not give up. She would not let her captors break her spirit. She would endure, and somehow, some way, she would be free again.