Captive

Selena

 I stared up at him with my heart pounding violently in my chest. His face was cold, unreadable.

 What sins? My parents were... they were good people... the sweetest. They were rich, but not rich enough or powerful enough to make enemies. They were kind to everyone including their employees.

 Besides Daddy's mall, we also made money from the wine we made from our vineyard. Just that. Nothing that warrants them dying such gruesome deaths.

 And Luke... I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the tears that burned behind them. Luke was just a kid, sweet, nerdy, a mix of quiet and funny in ways that made everyone love him.

 He didn't deserve this... none of us did.

 The tears broke through, spilling over. I couldn't hold them back anymore, couldn't stop the way my chest heaved.

 It hurt to breathe, it even hurt to think... to feel. Everything ached. It was unbearable.

 The man's eyes got darker and his frown grew deeper. His fingers reached for my hair and grabbed a handful, yanking.

 "Shut up!" He growled, pulling me up by my hair.

 My hands flew to his, trying to get his fingers out of my hair. He wasn't letting go, rather it became even tighter. 

 Something inside me snapped. The fear, the grief... they turned into anger, hot and blinding. I kicked him with all the strength I had, and somehow, he went tumbling back.

 He lost his balance and fell down the stairs, hitting the last step with a heavy thud. I paused, worried that I'd just killed someone, but when he stirred, I was snapped out of my trance.

 I didn't wait. I tore down the steps, racing for the front door. I had almost made it, the door was just a few steps away when something wrapped around my ankle and pulled me down hard.

 I fell on my face, hitting my nose so hard that I could taste the blood.

 But I didn't want to lose that chance, it was probably the only one I was going to get. I kicked out frantically, catching him in the face.

 I heard him grunt and saw the blood trickle from his nose. That made me feel really good, now he'd know what it felt like.

 His grip around my ankle weakened and I scrambled to my feet, sprinting for the door. My eyes were set on the vineyard, the only cover that might give me a chance.

 I ran with my heart hammering and the wind cold and sharp against my face. It would have been more reasonable to run for the gates, but we lived on a sprawling estate, surrounded by acres of lush vineyards... the gates were kilometres away.

 There was no way I could reach them on foot. The vineyard was my only option, my only hope. If the man tries shooting, the rows of vines would at least hide me, giving me a fighting chance.

 I tucked between the vines, zig-zagging deeper into the rows. I couldn't hear anything over the rush of blood in my ears and the pounding of my feet against the earth.

 I ran and kept running, hoping... praying he was far behind me.

 That is until something jerked me back so violently that I screamed, feeling as if my hair was ripped off my scalp.

 His hand twisted in my hair, pulling me backward until I was forced to face him with tears streaming down my face as I tried to fight him off.

 But when I felt the cool object press against the side of my head... I froze.

 He was glaring down at me, pressing the gun deeper into the side of my head. Those eyes were cold, dark and empty... there was nothing human left in them.

 "Try running away again..." He told me with his voice in a low menacing growl. "...and I'll put a bullet through your brain."

 I stared up at him, swallowing hard, unable to look away. He meant it. I could see it in his eyes, the ruthless calm of someone who wouldn't hesitate.

 I didn't move. I couldn't. My body was paralysed with terror as he dragged me by my hair, my scalp burned with each step.

 I screamed, tried to pull free, tried to tell him that I won't fight him anymore, I'll follow him if he'd just let go of my hair. But his grip only tightened.

 He kept hauling me toward his waiting car like I was nothing more than a small box of package he had to pick up.

 When we got next to the car, he let go of my hair and before I could even catch my breath, he pulled his belt free and bound my hands tightly behind me.

 Then he shoved me into the back seat, slamming the door before coming round to the other side and sliding in next to me.

 "Move." He ordered, and I wondered if he was talking to me.

 The car started and I looked up, seeing a driver behind the wheel. We're not alone? I felt hopeful and leaned forward, desperate.

 "Please, help me." I pleaded in a shaky voice. "Get me out of here, please..."

 The gunshot was deafening. My eyes squeezed shut, my heart stopped... sure that he'd shot me.

 But then I opened my eyes and saw the shattered glass of the window next to me.

 "Make another sound..." He murmured in a low, threatening voice. "...and the next bullet won't miss."

 The fear locked me in place. I pressed my lips together and stared down, trembling. Silent.

 Nothing made any sense... Not the pure rage and hatred in the man's eyes. Not my family being dead. Not me getting kidnapped and threatened by a stranger.

 That nightmare couldn't be my reality. No. Why did I hide? Why did I run? I should have been downstairs with them, I should have died with them. Why didn't I?

 How was I supposed to live the rest of my life without my family? With this horrid memory replaying in my head every second?

 I looked sideways at the man beside me. Was I left alive for a reason? So that I could at least avenge my family? Yeah... that's right.

 The fear started to shift... to twist into something sharper... hatred. The greatest mistake he's made tonight was not murdering my family, it's leaving me alive.

 I wanted to survive, yes, but more than that, I wanted him to suffer. Somehow, I'd make him pay for what he'd taken from me.

 No matter what awaited me wherever he was taking me, I was sure of one thing; I'd survive and I'd have my revenge on him.