Page 12 of Our Little Dove

Strange. She always answers my calls. Wait, what time is it?

Checking the time on my phone, I notice that it’s almost two in the morning.She should still be up.

Disappointed but undeterred, I resign myself to the fact that my news will have to wait.Maybe she’s busy?The line inches forward at an agonizing pace, teasing me with the tantalizing proximity of sweet relief. It feels like hours pass as I shuffle forward, my desperation growing with every passing second.

Finally—after what feels like an eternity—I make it inside the restroom. The air is thick with a mix of floral-scented perfume and fragrant hand soap. The dull roar of drunken conversations and laughter echoes off the tiled walls, creating a symphony of sound that reverberates through the space.

Stepping into a cubicle, I quickly handle my business, momentarily forgetting about the unanswered phone call. But asI exit the stall, my mind jolts back to reality, and sudden unease coils in my gut. With renewed determination, I dig out my phone from the depths of my purse once more.

I swipe across the screen to unlock it, only to see that dreaded symbol—the battery icon glowing red in its last gasps of life.Fuck! Ugh, guess it’ll have to wait.

Saturday, 1:45 AM

I’m not sure how much time passes before the door creaks open again, and Fintan appears in the doorway. “Ready to play?” he rumbles ominously, advancing toward me. He loosens the ropes binding my numb limbs. I attempt to stand, but my arms and legs resist, stiffened from prolonged restraint on the frigid floor.

My heart pounds as I stare wide-eyed at the two masked men. Their calm demeanors chill me to the bone while panic courses through my veins.

“Let me explain our game,” Fintan purrs, sending a shudder down my spine. He rolls up the rope with practiced ease. “If you’re good, we’ll give you a head start. Find the key hidden somewhere in the building and we’ll let you go; But if we catch you…” He trails off, letting the implication hang in the air.

I gulp. My mouth is impossibly dry. Kieran leans casually against the wall as if this is all perfectly normal.

“Cat got your tongue, little Dove?” Fintan chuckles. I jerk my head toward him, unable to mask the raw terror in my eyes. My legs tremble as I force myself to stand. These men could do anything to me, and I’m utterly at their mercy.

Fuck, how am I supposed to run when I can barely stand?

My heart pounds as Fintan and Kieran circle me, their eyes practically glowing with predatory excitement. “Don’t worry,” Kieran purrs, his voice dripping with malice. “Don’t worry. We’ll go slow—at first,” he growls. “But if you make it too easy for us, we’ll have to make it more interesting, won’t we?”

I swallow hard, summoning every ounce of courage I possess. Their gaze rakes over me, assessing my every move like lions sizing up helpless prey. “Where’s the key?” I try my luck, batting my eyelashes, hoping they might show me some mercy. My voice comes out as a shaky whisper in my attempt to gain some control in this fucking terrifying situation.

Yeah… That doesn’t sound pathetic at all.

Fintan laughs cruelly, tossing aside the rope coiled in his hands. “Nice try, little Dove. You’ll have to play our game to find it.” He steps closer, stroking my cheek. I flinch at his touch but he just chuckles. “We’re not going to justletyou win our fun little game. The clock is ticking, doll. You better start running,” he says, grabbing my shoulders and pushing me towards the basement door.

“Run, baby. Run!” Kieran growls as I stumble past him toward the dark hallway. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and focus on the task at hand.

I must find that key.

. With a deep breath, I force myself to steady my nerves and focus on the terrifying task ahead. I try every door, drawer, nook, and cranny I can find. Nothing. The key is nowhere to be seen.

This place is fucking huge! What if I don’t find it? What if I find it, but they catch me before I get to the door?

I turn the corner and freeze. There’s a glint of metal wedged between the wall and door. My heart pounds as I rush over and pry it free with trembling fingers. Footsteps echo down the hall, growing louder. They are closing in on me as I turn to run to the main entrance. This doesn’t feel like a game anymore. There is no longer a doubt in my mind that I am in real danger.

I bolt for the door, key clenched in my fist. A hand shoots out and seizes my wrist in an iron grip. “Gotcha,” Kieran says, probably smirking beneath his mask and I cry out as he squeezes, a predatory growl vibrating from his throat as he forces me to my knees. Fintan looms over me, eyes dark with disappointment.

Terror seizes me. I’m trapped, at their mercy.

Will I make it out of this twisted game alive?

I hold up the key with my free hand, hoping it might buy me some mercy. But they only laugh.

“Oh, sweet, naïve little Dove,” Kieran tsks.

“You didn’t make it outside, even with the head start wesokindly gave you. You made it too easy for us,” Fintan adds, winking before he grabs the key and dangles it before me mockingly. “Now, we’re going to have somerealfun.”

Before I can react, he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder. “No! Please, please, put me down! Let me go! Fuck, I-I promise I won’t tell anyone if you let me leave!” I scream and struggle as he carries me out of the dim hallway and up a flight of stairs.

“I think not, baby. You lost. Now the real fun can begin. Why don’t you be a good girl and shut the fuck up, or I will give you a new meaning tosore loser! Your pitiful screams and cries for help won’t stop us; we’ll just be more determined tobreakyou,” he growls, his heated voice ghosting over my thigh as it brushes against his mask.

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