Call It a Dare

Avril's POV

The party clamoured behind me champagne glasses clinking and the soft chatter of voice heard over the soft strains of music. The cool breeze felt good against my burning skin. I had told my mother that I was too sick to come tonight but she had insisted. Stifling a cough I peered out across the London skyline. Sometimes being up here just felt odd. Like I was detached from the world.

“Hey.” The rumbling voice startled me from my thoughts.
Turning I saw Terence standing against the balcony doors. A look of concern was written clear as day across his features.

“Hi.” I said with a slight smile before letting out a string of coughs into my elbow. Terence took large striding steps towards me. He wrapped his coat around my bare shoulders and I took it gratefully. I will admit standing outside in a sleeveless dress in the middle of February was probably not the best idea.

“You’re going to catch your death out here.” He stated planting a kiss to my forehead.
I leaned against his shoulder.
“Besides it’s your engagement party.” He said and I heard more than saw the smirk on his face. I gazed up into his face and there was the telltale smirk.
“It’s yours too Mr. Groom to be.” I teased eliciting a chuckle.
Giving up I let him lead me inside.

Terence and I had alway been expected. Both of exceptional family heritages people had kind of willed us together. I’ll admit that he was cute but I still thought of him as the boy who would sneak around parties and cause chaos with me not as the gentleman of high society people expected him to be. To everyone else he was Terence William Huntington III but to me he was just Trip.

I’ll admit the proposal was a bit of a surprise. It had been something our parents had talked about for years but Terence and I had always objected. Arranged marriages were not uncommon in our kind of society though. I’d just hoped to get married for love and while Terence and I admitted that we will be happy and love will come part of it just still seemed weird.

People kept smiling and telling us how happy there were and my job was to just smile back and thank them. I kept my head on Terence’s shoulder and he didn’t seem to mind. I felt my energy level drain. I usually didn’t mind these kind of parties but I was just ready for some NyQuil and my bed.

“I think I’m going to head home.” I said giving Terence a kiss on the cheek.
He gave me a look.
“Do you want me to take you home?”
I shook my head bobby pins sticking into my scalp.
“You sure?” He asked questioningly.
“I’ll be fine.” I stated.

Leaving his arm I headed over to my mother. Seeing me she started tearing up. “My baby’s getting married.” She cooed. I had to refrain from rolling my eyes. I was pretty sure she’d been planning my wedding since before I could speak.
“I have to go mom.” I stated giving her a slight hug.
“But it’s your party.” She said. I gave her a tight lipped smile. “I don’t want to get everyone sick. I’m leaving Trip here.”

Before she could protest I grabbed a chocolate covered strawberry and headed back towards the door. Terence met me at the door. I could see his expression before I even reached him. “I’ll be fine.” I stated giving him a hug. “Can I kiss you?” He asked looking down at me a dopey smile on my face.
“I’ll get you sick.” I stated. “Don’t care.” He whispered before brushing his lips against mine.

I will admit Terence is a good kisser but I felt nothing. There were no sparks, no fireworks nothing like I’d always imagined as a little girl. I felt him smile into the kiss and I felt my stomach twist. Whether it was because I was sick or because this just wasn’t right I didn’t know. I pulled away slightly. “I’ve got to get home.” I stated my voice weak.

Terence gave me another smile and I all but fled from the room. Getting in and slamming the door of my car I felt the tears start to stream down my face. I’d always been told my life was easy. Growing up in the lap of luxury and never having to worry about things like money. People never considered the expectations and pressures that came with it.

Starting the car I pulled out of the parking lot. The weather had taken a turn for the worse and the rain was beating steadily on the windshield. I peered out the window trying to make out the way. The roads on this side of London were usually dark apparently we can’t stand the light or something like that. I glanced at the passenger seat. I cursed slightly. I’d forgotten what else I had supposed to have done. Terence had been bugging me to tell my parents for weeks that I was heading off to university in the fall. He knew they would be pissed and had decided to step in and demand that he pay for it stating we should already be married by then anyways.

Brushing the papers off the chair I turned my attention back to the road. The street looked dark and unfamiliar. I’d missed my turn. Stupid…….Stupid……..Stupid…..
Pulling the car over I turned the engine off and grabbed the map out of the glove box. I peered around looking for landmarks but in the dark I just couldn’t tell. My headlights glinted off of a street sign but I just couldn’t make it out. Pulling my heels back on I slipped out of the door and started the trek towards it. The sign didn’t end up being anything other than an advert for food. I spotted a small intersection. Clambering through the dirt my heels sticking in the grass I glanced quickly back at my car before continuing on the road. I stopped at the corner peering up at the signs. I was on the corner of Honeycomb and Whitby wherever that was.

The ground lit up around as another car approached. “Hey are you lost?” A thick Irish accent called out. Turning I saw a large white van next to me advertising plumbing or something of the sort.

“Do you know how to get to the interstate?” I asked.
The man gestured me around to his side of the car.
“You’re a little overdressed aren’t you?” He asked referring to my dress.
I just gave him a slight smile not wanting to explain myself. I headed up to his window and he rolled it down giving me a smile.
“So you go right down Whitby and then you take a left on Calvary and…”

A strong pair of arms wrapped themselves around me. I struggled and went to scream but a hand was pressed over my mouth stifling me. The self defense training my mother made me take kicked in and I stomped on the inside of the attacker’s foot feeling it give way slightly. Letting out a scream I used the lax tension of his arms I ducked out and faced towards him. I heard a ripping sound coming from the bottom of my dress but I couldn’t bring myself to care. The large man was cursing loudly grabbing at his foot. I raised my heel to hit him again when I felt an immense pain in the back of my head and I pitched forwards towards the ground.


I came to a while later. Disoriented I went to put my hand to the back of my head to find that I couldn’t move. I stared wildly my eyes not quite coming into focus yet. The memories started coming back the party, Trip, the van. I started thrashing my limited vision telling me they hit me pretty hard.

“It’s no use.” I heard stated from beside me.
Turning my head slightly I saw another girl stretched out beside me tied up as well.
“I’ve been tryin’ for over an hour.” She stated. Her accent was foreign but with my boggled mind I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“If they tied us up why didn’t they gag us?” I asked looking towards the front of the van. There was a partition between us and them but I could still hear mumbling.
“The Irish one said somethin’ about it bein’ soundproof.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath resting my head against the side of the van. It indeed had the soft soundproofing material over it. The Irish one…….. The words clicked and I felt stupid and sick to my stomach. He must have hit me while my back was turned.

“Did they say where they were taking us?” I asked.
The other girl shook her head.
“Somethin’ about a house or another but I’m not sure. Got somewhere to be?” She asked.
I shook my head.
“I was supposed to be home for the night. Hopefully Trip will notice something’s wrong.” I stated hoping it was true. Terence would probably text me asking if I got home okay he was that kind of guy.
“Boyfriend?” She asked. “Fiance.” I stated with a sigh. “At least you have someone lookin’ for ya.” She said mournfully.

I rolled towards my side to see if I could grab my phone before realizing it wasn’t where it was supposed to be. I thought hard wondering where it would be. It had been in my purse……
“Fuckin’ perfect.” I stated I’d left my purse on the center console of my car. I let out a long line of coughs trying to direct them away from the other girl.
“You okay?” She asked. I nodded weakly resting against the side of the van.
Come on Terence realize something’s wrong………
“I’m Trayne by the way.” She stated.
“Avril……” I said trailing off as I felt my consciousness slipping again.

Notes

So here's chapter 4 :) Excited to be working on this :)
Let us know what you think
-Abby