Laura
The night passed in silence around me, save for the quiet hum of the car engine. I sat hunched in the backseat, staring out the window at the blurred city lights, unable to hold back the flood of tears that had been building up inside me. My heart felt heavy, like a stone lodged deep in my chest. I couldn't believe this was happening.
I thought back to the look in Jake's eyes when those pictures went up on the screen, surprise, followed by anger, then the flash of something I dreaded more than anything, doubt. He hadn't said it, but I could feel it. In that one awful moment, I felt as if everything I'd just started to build with Jake, every warm, reassuring word, every laugh, had crumbled. He'd been my anchor, my partner in every sense of the word. And now, I feared he saw me the way everyone else in that room had. A scandal, a mistake.
What we hadn't even started was already crumbling right before me.
And all because of that wicked fool… Jackson. I shuddered as his name crossed my mind. I had been so naïve, so hopelessly in love back then. I believed him, trusted him when he said those photos were deleted. And now, here I was, paying the price for that trust. I was such a fool, how could I even agree to let him take my pictures? I was too careless!
Tears streamed down my face again as I realized that maybe, just maybe, I had lost Jake for good. I'd lost him, and for what? Because I let someone into my life who only wanted to hurt me.
I don't know how long I cried, but eventually, my sobs slowed, leaving me staring hollowly at the seat in front of me. I felt completely alone, like I'd been abandoned on some lonely island where shame and fear were my only companions.
"Here…" the driver handed me a role of tissue which I dabbed on my face.
Finally, I took a deep breath and decided to gather myself. I would go home, deal with my emotions, and then try to make things right with Jake, if he would still listen. If not, then that would be the end. I will leave his life for good. Maybe someday, I will cross path with another true love. If and when that happens, I will make sure to do things right. I can't experience this again.
Wiping the last of my tears, I leaned forward, ready to give my address to the driver. "Please, take me to…"
He didn't respond, didn't even flinch. His eyes remained fixed on the road, his grip steady and unwavering on the wheel.
I felt a prickle of irritation, followed by a creeping unease. "Excuse me," I said louder, my voice wavering slightly. "Can you take me to my address? I can tell you where to go."
Still nothing. He didn't acknowledge me, and the silence in the car grew oppressive, thick with something dark and menacing. My heart began to pound. An icy dread coiled in my stomach as I glanced up, slowly, into the rearview mirror.
My breath caught in my throat. Staring back at me was the face I'd hoped to never see again. Jackson's.
He smirked, his lips curving into that same twisted, triumphant smile he always wore when he knew he had the upper hand. "Long time, Laura," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Jackson," I whispered, my voice barely audible. I pressed myself back against the seat, my mind racing. "Let me out. Let me out right now!" I reached for the door handle, desperately trying to yank it open, but it wouldn't budge. Every door was locked, sealed tight.
"Laura, my darling wife." Jackson drawled, shaking his head. "Calm down. We're just going for a little ride. Make any more noise, and you'll regret it."
My hands shook as I clawed at the door, panic flooding my senses. "Let me go!" I screamed, thrashing against the seat, trying to find any way out.
Jackson's face hardened, the smugness replaced with cold anger. "You need to be quiet. Now." His hand reached back, and before I could react, something struck me sharply on the side of my head. The world spun, my vision blurring as I slumped back, darkness closing in around me.
I woke to the sound of distant dripping, my head throbbing with a dull, relentless pain. Blinking, I tried to make sense of my surroundings, but everything felt disorienting, like I was trapped in a nightmare.
As my eyes adjusted, I realized I was sitting in an old, dimly lit room. The walls were cracked and peeling, and the air smelled damp and stale. I tried to move, but my wrists were bound tightly to the arms of a wooden chair. Panic flared in my chest as I tugged at the restraints, feeling the rough rope bite into my skin.
I wasn't alone.
A figure stepped into view, her silhouette backlit by the flickering light of a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. My heart stuttered as I recognized her. Moira. Jake's ex, the one who had always been cold, calculating, and more than a little bitter. Her lips twisted into a cruel smile as she looked down at me, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"Welcome, Laura," she sneered, crossing her arms. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever wake up."
My mouth went dry. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "What...what is this? Why are you doing this?"
"Oh, honey," she replied, her tone mocking. "You're here because you thought you could just waltz into Jake's life, steal him away, and not pay the price."
Before I could respond, another figure emerged from the shadows, his presence sending a new wave of dread through me. Kurt. He stood beside Moira, arms crossed, watching me with a look of disdain.
"Nice to see you again, Laura," he said, his voice filled with cold amusement.
"See you again? I've never met you before." I muttered while the two shared a knowing glance and laughed.
"Well, you might not have seen me before but I've seen you… more than once even." He let out.
I stared at him, my mind reeling. "What do you want?" I managed to choke out, my voice trembling.
Kurt exchanged a glance with Moira, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, that's the question, isn't it? You've been quite the thorn in our side, Laura. All we want is to make sure you're… dealt with."
My heart hammered against my ribs as I realized the full extent of their plan. I was trapped, completely at their mercy, with no one to help me. I tugged at the ropes again, but they were too tight, cutting into my wrists…