Chapter 15

The morning comes and Dan slowly opens his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunlight filtering through the room. He blinks a few times, feeling a sense of grogginess, as if his mind and body still haven't fully woken up. His mind wanders to the events of the previous night, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He turns to see Warren still asleep beside him.

Warren's arms are wrapped around Dan's waist, pulling him closer, their bodies intertwined. Dan's heart races as he remembers the passion they shared the night before, the feeling of Warren's lips on his skin, the heat of their bodies pressed together. Yet, mixed with the memories of pleasure, there is a lingering sense of fear and uncertainty.

He carefully extracts himself from Warren's hold, making sure not to wake him. As he gets out of bed, he winces slightly, feeling the soreness in his body from last night's activities. His mind is a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and feelings. 

Dan's phone lights up. He slowly approaches it. On the screen, there was an unknown phone number. He feels a weird shiver as he sees the incoming call. He is hesitant, questioning whether to answer it or not.

He gulps as he contemplates the consequences of answering the call. His finger trembles as he hesitates. His mind races with uncertainties and worries. Finally, he takes a deep breath and answers the call. He brings the phone up to his ear and nervously says, "Hello?"

A deep, almost robotic voice responds, "Good morning, Dan. I trust you've had some rest? I know you had 'fun' with Warren."

Dan freezes, his eyes widening with fear and confusion as he hears that familiar voice. He tries to keep his voice steady as he replies, "How... How do you know about that?"

"Oh, Dan... Dan Dan Dan," the voice chuckles, a hint of mockery in its tone. "I thought our conversation last night was clear. You're mine, and I am watching everything you do. I told you I would be keeping a close eye on you. I see and hear everything."

Dan's heart drops into his stomach, his heart racing. He remembers the terrifying encounter from the previous night, the man making disturbing threats to his mother. Fear and anger wash over him, but he tries to maintain his composure.

"I'll give you a choice, Dan," the voice continues, his tone hardening. "You can do everything I say without hesitation, or I'll make sure to pay a special visit to your mother. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

Dan feels a mix of anger, fear, and desperation. He wants to resist, to fight against this unknown person, but the thought of his mother's safety holds him back. Dan remains silent for a moment, his mind racing to find a way out of this situation. "Visit? I thought we made a deal that you're going to take my mom home.."

The voice on the line chuckles darkly. "Oh, Dan. Do you really think I'm a person of my word?" He mockingly laughs again. "I thought I made myself clear. You are mine now. And I won't hesitate to use any means necessary to ensure your compliance. If you don't do exactly as I say, your mother will face the consequences. You don't want to be responsible for that, do you?"

Dan's grip on the phone tightens, his knuckles turning white with frustration. He knows he's trapped, with no obvious escape route. He grits his teeth, anger and fear battling inside him. He doesn't want to be this man's puppet, but he can't risk his mother's safety either.

"Fine," Dan hisses, his voice laced with defiance. "What do you want?"

The man's voice drips with satisfaction. "Good, Dan. That's what I like to hear." There is a brief pause before he continues. "I want you to do a little task for me...something that proves your loyalty."

Dan feels a mix of frustration and curiosity. He waits for the man to continue, trying to steady his breathing. He knew he was walking on a tightrope, one wrong move could plunge his mother into danger.

"What...what is it?" Dan asks, his voice a tense whisper.

The man on the line pauses for a moment, seemingly enjoying the power he holds. "I want you to leave Warren." The words are cold and final, delivered in a matter-of-fact tone.

Dan's breath catches in his throat. Leaving Warren? He felt a mix of surprise and fear at the sudden demand. He glances over to Warren, still asleep in the bed.

"Why?" Dan manages to ask, his voice trembling slightly. The man's demand seemed outrageous, especially after the night he had spent with Warren.

The voice responds with a hint of amusement, as if enjoying Dan's inner turmoil. "Why? Because I said so. You're mine now, Dan. You belong to me. And I don't like sharing. You wouldn't want to make me angry now, would you?" The last words were laced with a subtle threat, reminding Dan of the consequences that could befall his mother.

Dan grits his teeth, trying to steady his emotions. He knew he had no choice but to play along for now. "Alright," he says reluctantly. "I'll leave Warren. But what then? What will you ask for next?"

The voice on the line chuckles, clearly pleased with Dan's compliance. "Good, Dan. That's what I like to hear. As for what I'll ask for next...well, you'll know when the time comes. For now, just focus on leaving Warren. I'll be watching you."

The call ends abruptly, leaving Dan with more questions than answers. He stands there, his heart pounding in his chest, as he glances back at Warren, still asleep on the bed.

Without further hesitation, he grabbed his clothes on the floor and left the bedroom.

He left quietly, so as not to wake Warren, and made his way to the front door. As he opened it, the outside world loomed before him, filled with uncertainty and challenges. He took one last look at the house, feeling a mixture of emotions.

He slowly closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing through the stillness. He walked away from the house and began walking in the cool morning air. He walked with a mix of determination and trepidation, his mind racing with thoughts and plans. He was still coming to terms with the drastic turn his life had taken, and he knew he needed to stay one step ahead of the unknown man who seemed to be pulling the strings. He walked further and further away, not looking back.

The morning air was brisk, and Dan felt the chill on his skin, the coolness a sharp contrast to the warmth of the house he had just left. He walked determinedly, knowing he had no other choice. He had to leave Warren behind, for his own safety and for his mother's.

As he walked, he couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. He occasionally glanced around, but he saw nothing…

He quickened his pace, his breath forming small clouds in the cold air. His thoughts raced as he considered his next steps. He realized he needed to devise a plan to ensure that the man's demands are met while keeping his mother safe. Maybe he could find a way to outmaneuver this unknown person? But the thought was daunting, especially when he had no idea who he was dealing with.

He kept walking, but his eyes darted around nervously, his heart thumping loudly in his chest.

Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind. Before he could react, a piece of cloth was pressed tightly against his nose and mouth, blocking his airway. Panicked noises escaped his lips as he struggled, the scent of chloroform wafting into his nostrils.

He squirmed violently, kicking and flailing, desperately trying to break free, but his attempts were futile. His vision blurred, the world fading into darkness.

He squirmed violently, kicking and flailing, desperately trying to break free, but his attempts were futile. His vision blurred, the world fading into darkness.

Darkness enveloped his vision as he succumbed to the effects of the chloroform. He felt himself being dragged towards a car, the sound of an engine roaring to life the last thing he heard before complete unconsciousness claimed him.