Page 28 of Our Little Dove

Why is her voice so high and shaky? Did she just fucking lie to us?

Joel and I share a look, and our eyes widen as we turn back to Alex. The air is filled with nervous, terrified energy so strong; I can hardly breathe. Joel looks like he is about to lose his mind with anger as he breathes heavily with his fists clenched at his sides.

No words are spoken. Time seems to move slower, and my imagination of the wild night my best friend had is shrouded with uncertainty and horror.

I have so many questions. Who took her? What did they do? What happened?

Saturday, 12:10 PM

I feel my phone vibrate, and I pull it from my bag. It’s a message from an unknown number. The body of the text contains a link to a video file. Molly and Joel observe with worried eyes as my brows knit together and I nervously open the message, making sure the phone is muted.

Unknown:

?VID_2048748283_2647281.mp4

“What’s wrong, Alex?” Molly asks, moving closer. I instinctively step back, already overwhelmed by the video as it starts playing.

I don’t remember this. Oh my God! They filmed us. I was drugged. They fucked me, violated my body, and cut me while I was unconscious!

Fintan’s once-white mask is stained red as he paints himself in my blood.

Oh God, I feel nauseous.

My breathing becomes labored, caught in my throat as the camera zooms in. Kieran is carving their names into my lower back while Fintan holds the camera and forces himself into my mouth, his other hand gripping my hair to hold my head up.

I remember him having a row of piercings. Perhaps that is what caused the raw sensation.

As I watch the video, my stomach starts to churn, overwhelmed by the disturbing content that unfolds before me.

I feel a growing sense of unease and discomfort as the scene becomes more intense. Before I throw up, I decide to quickly exit the video before witnessing any more. I just can’t.

I scroll past the video, and a wave of dread washes over me as I read the incoming messages one by one as they flood the small screen.

Unknown:

Do you like our little movie?

You were such an obedient plaything last night, little Dove. Such an eager captive…

We went easy on you, but next time, put up more of a fight. Don’t let us catch you so easily, or your attempts to play our game will be in vain. We love the thrill of the chase. If you make it so incredibly unchallenging next time, it will be your final game.

Once again, they’re typing. I brace myself for what’s about to come - a barrage of words that will surely send shivers down my spine. The fear and anxiety well up inside me, threatening to consume my every thought. My heart pounds as I anticipate another wave of terrifying messages to fill my phone.

Unknown:

Typing…

With each passing second, the anticipation gnaws at me. I can almost hear the sound of their fingers tapping away on the digital keys, crafting their next message.

Everything… All of this. It’s a constant reminder of the power they hold over me, even from behind the safety of their now digital masks.

Are these texts coming from Fintan or Kieran? Should I respond?

Unknown:

Consider this our last communication until we come for you again.

Wait. What? Are you fucking kidding me?

---