Them

Boris and Lauren knew that their only chance of survival was to be as quiet and cooperative as possible—especially after the nut job holding them hostage threatened to pour bleach in their eyes. All they could do was lie there and endure the ramblings of the madwoman. They were aware that there was a chance they might not get out of this alive, but they definitely didn’t want to trigger Stone unnecessarily either. All they could do was hope for the best—maybe they’d find a golden opportunity to overpower the others and escape, or maybe someone would come to the house and discover what was going on. They had at least been able to figure out that Janelle didn’t own the house they were in. She was either house-sitting or renting it from someone on vacation. They wished they knew when the owners would be returning, but they hadn’t been able to gather that much. They watched, they listened, they waited, and they hoped for a miracle. They also cringed every time Janelle took over “babysitting” them, as she loved to call it, and whichever guys had been watching them went upstairs. The guys weren’t that bad as long as they didn’t try to talk to them. They only got nasty when Boris or Laura tried asking questions, activating their shock collars. Otherwise, they sat silently playing on their phones or reading magazines, chatting between themselves while snacking or tossing back beers, and smoking. But whenever it was Janelle’s turn to watch over them—which was on and off throughout most of the day and even part of the night—it was nonstop babble along with some physical taunting as well. The physical aspect got really bad one night. “Are you ready?” they heard her ask a couple of the guys as she turned to face them. “Yes, ma’am,” they said like obedient youngsters obeying authority. “Okay, let’s get to work, then.” Lauren’s heart rate sped up as Stone said, “Let’s start with her.” She leaned over her and said, “Guess what, Detective? I’m going to give you a reason to remember me that goes beyond just memories. Every time you look in the mirror, you’re going to think of me.” Lauren began to moan and struggle against her restraints. “Hold her down,” Janelle ordered one of the guys. Lauren’s head was smacked down against the cot as one guy held it firmly at the sides. Another guy lit a candle. What the hell is going on?Lauren wondered frantically. “I wish my name wasn’t so long,” Janelle said to the guys. All of them chuckled, leaving Lauren none the wiser as to what was happening. Janelle then held a pair of tongs over the flame. Lauren’s heart rate sped up even more. She was confused but knew whatever was about to happen couldn’t be good. The tongs had thin, flat metal bars at the ends of them, about an inch long. Janelle held one above the flame. “Think this is long enough?” she asked one of the guys. He nodded, and then the real terror began as it hit Lauren that she was about to be branded. Literally branded like a cow. If this bitch was hell-bent on “getting even” and “giving her a taste of her own medicine,” as she put it, where the hell did branding fit in? How had Lauren done any such thing to her? Lauren screamed and struggled as loud as she could against her gag and restraints, and against the guy holding her head as well as the one holding her body still, stealing what little wiggle room she had. “If you don’t shut up and stay still, it’s going to take longer!” Janelle shouted at her. A third guy was shocking Boris silent, for he too was trying to scream into his gag. Ignoring Lauren’s rage, pain, and terror, Janelle slowly branded the nameJanelleonto her forehead. “There,” Janelle finally said when she was done. “Can you make out what that says?” The guy nodded. She stepped back to study her handiwork and agreed she could make out her name. Then she leaned over Lauren’s face and said, “There. If I decide to let you go—and that’s a bigif—you’ll always have something to remember me by that won’t just be a memory in your mean little mind. You got yourself into this mess, and you’ll be reminded of that next time you think of playing games with someone’s life and feelings.” They repeated the same process on Boris, only this time she branded her last name on his forehead. The four captors laughed hysterically while their two victims moaned and cried in pain. “Beautiful handiwork,” said one of the guys. Stone laughed hysterically. “It’s so fucking funny seeing my name on them. Never thought I’d see such a beautiful sight. You can go now, guys. Thanks so much for your help.” Once again, like obedient school children determined to please their strict teacher, the boys headed upstairs. Once they were dismissed, it was time for another rambling session. It was hard to pay attention because they were in so much pain that it distracted them—but as much as Janelle Stone was the last person in the world they cared to listen to, it was vital that they did in case any valuable clues or information slipped out that could help them escape or nail the bitch forever. “Okay, you lying deal breakers,” she began. “You know how I always said a deal was a deal and I was going to make sure you guys stuck to it by leaving in the end no matter what? Well, that was true. Had I not gotten off and paid off in the end due to all your misconduct, along with the others, and had I actually fallen into your trap, been arrested, and hauled off to jail, I would’ve escaped in no time. Why? Well, not only because I wouldn’t have deserved to be there, but because, as I said, a deal is a deal. “But look at the example you’ve set, and look what you’ve taught me. You’ve taught me that deals and promises are meant to be broken. So when I tell you I’m going to let you go, do you think that’s for real? Or do you think that’s one big, fat lie?” Boris and Lauren breathed heavily, partly in fear and rage and partly in pain.