Steve had never had a girlfriend, he had always
wanted someone special to spend valentines day with, but nobody ever wanted to
spend it with him. He thought
about online dating, so many young girls that he could spend the day with. Many
of which lived alone, and were gullible enough to fall for anything. Perfect, nobody to question them leaving abruptly.
He could get away with it if he had the guts to do it, and he
definitely did. Jack had not lived a luxurious life, he was poor, alone, and didn't really like people. Even though he wasn't overly fond of strangers, he longed for the feeling of being loved by a woman, to have someone to call his own. He'd had enough cold nights spent wishing he had someone to hold, someone to be his. Things would be different, he had already made up his mind.
He started planning a week before valentines day,
first he made his profile on the online dating site. He put in a fake name and
fake information about himself, somethingnhe thought that women would find appealing. He got a picture of another man off of the
internet and set it as his profile picture, it looked kind of like a younger
more athletic version of himself so it would do nicely. He created the most perfect illusion he possibly could, the perfect man just waiting for love. He got a lot of
messages from girls who weren’t what he was looking for, they just sent him
crude messages that he didn’t like. He kept reading through his inbox looking sor something good, it took a while but there was one girl that really stood out.
There was this lovely little thing named Danielle, she was
beautiful, seemingly very intelligent, and had a nice calm way of going about
things while they chatted. She didn't have many friends, and her family lived out of state. She lived alone in a small apartment, no one very close to her. Steve was surprised at how willing she was to give him all of this information, and then he remembered that his illusion was almost flawless. He seemed so perfect that she couldnt help but trust him. She was the perfect target, she had no one to notice she went missing until it was too late. At that point he would be long gone, and he would have exactly what he wanted.
Steve went out and bought a nice suit, it was gray with a white dress shirt underneath. It even had a nice vest that matched the jacket, so handsome he thought. He wore a blue tie because it matched well, and people tend to associate the color blue with calm and trust. He was going to use all the psycological tricks he could think of to get her to love him. He had wanted this for years, he just needed a little push. He hadnt always been like this, Steve used to have a Siamese cat named Jess, she was the most important thing in Steve's life. Jess was a beautiful cat that was calm and kind, she wasn't destructive or messy, and Jess loved Steve as much as he loved her. When Jess was around 12 years old she was not doing well, she was sick and didnt have long left. Steve tried everything to help her but she just wouldnt get any better, eventually Jess passed away and that's when Steve snapped. The thing he loved most in the world, the only thing that he cared about was gone. He was tired of being alone, he would never be alone again.
Steve arrived at Danielle's house right at 6:30 as scheduled, he wanted to be punctual as he was very excited for his date. She walked out of the apartment complex wearing a mid length, elegant red dress with short black heels, she was just as stunning in person as she was in her pictures. They had agreed to meet at the coffee shop next door, Steve said he couldn't find any parking and met her outside of her apartment instead. His plan went perfectly, he stepped out of the car and acted surprised to see her. She asked why he parked there and he explained that he just picked a random parking spot and it just happened to be right outside of her apartment. He explained how didn't want to be late so he parked quickly, not knowing this was where she lived. She believed every word. They greeted each other nicely, then Steve waited for her to turn her back and took out a cloth he had prepared with chloroform from his pocket. He quickly grabbed her and put it up to her mouth and nose, holding her as she struggled to get away.
He held her and like that until she went limp in his arms. He easily carried her tiny body back to his car and drove away, he already made sure that there were no security cameras or witnesses so they were free to go to Steve's house in the middle of nowhere. Steve was crtain that nobody was around for miles, she wouldn't escape, he wouldn't be left all alone. The drive was about an hour long, but she didn't wake up. She barely moved in her sleep but she wouldn't be lucid enough to escape even if she did wake up, but she wouldn't. He took Danielle's limp body out of the car and carried her into the quiet house, the dining room table was set up with candles and flowers, the metal chairs had padded seats and lovely filligrie around the edges. He sat her in the chair and cuffed both of her hands to the strong, decorative, metal armrests. The cuffs were tight, but just to be sure he grabbed some rope and anchored her to the chair even more. He gently brushed her hair out of her face, and observed her closely. Pretty, but dumb as a box of rocks Steve thought. Steve walked to the kitchen adjascent to the dining room, he looked at her to make sure she was still sedated, then continued what he was doing. He prepared a nice vegeterian soup and potato salad, keeping in mind that on Danielle's dating profile she mentioned that she was vegeterian.
He set the beautifully painted bowls of food on the table in front of the both of them, she would be waking up soon and might be hungry. Steve moved his chair closer to Danielle and waited for her to wake up. It was only a few minutes before she lifted up her head and began to look around the room, when she realized what was going on she began to scream for help. Steve didn't like that, he screamed back at her causing her to stop and freeze. Her eyes were fixed on him as he shook his head at her, "It's not polite to scream at your host. I suggest you have some manners." he responded. She wimpered and pulled against her restraints. Steve took a bite of food, then picked up her fork and offere some to his date as well. She was still frozen in fear, he shoved the food at her agressively. She hesitated, then opened her mouth and took a bite. Steve smiled at this, things were going well. A tear rolled off of Danielle's cheek, she chewed up her food and swallowed it.
Bite after bite she silently ate the food Steve fed to her, scanning the room in between bites. Steve knew she was looking for a way out, but she wouldnt find one. She might get out of the restraints, maybe even leave the house, but there was nothing but forest outside. He had even hidden the car keys under the porch outside just in case. Steve smiled at her and she shivered under his gaze, she stayed quiet though. He got up to put the dishes in the sink, she struggled against the ropes and cuffs. The metal clanged together as she tried to free her arms, but she couldn't. Steve wasn't pleased, he'd been a good host hadn't he? Yet she still didn't love him. He would try harder, he would make her love him.
Steve drug the heavy chair into the living room with him, Danielle was still in the chair. He wanted to watch a movie with her, to cuddle her and hold her. She wasn't ready for that yet, Steve thought, she was still getting to know him. He turned on the small television set, adjusted the antenna, then went to sit on the couch by her. The program was some old black and white movie that he didn't know, but he was ok watching anything as long as he was next to Danielle. They were watching the movie for a while before Steve started to yawn, he was starting to get tired. The movie wasn't the most interesting one, and the meal that they had was getting to him. Danielle noticed him dozing off and watched carefully until he fell asleep and started snoring. She noticed a small notch in the filligrie and the sharp edge on it, she worked the rope into the notch and started to saw the rope with it. The metal cuff gently clanged against the chair, she was careful not to make too much noise. She couldn't wake him up or she'd lose her chance.
The rope finally broke, she had a little bit more mobility in her arm but she was still handcuffed to the chair. She wiggled as much of her hand out of it as she could, but it kept getting stuck. She kept pulling at it as much as she could until her wrist was bloody. She yanked once, hard, and her hand slid out of the cuff. She was so happy that she didnt even realize that her hand was skinned, a large strip of flesh hanging off of it. When she saw this she had to hold back the urge to scream, the pain wasn't terrible, the adrenaline drowning most of it out. She untied the rope on her other arm, but she didn't want to have to tear her hand from the cuff like she did the other one. She looked to Steve, he was still asleep. Danielle scanned the room for the keys, but didnt see them. There wasnt anything to cut them or pick them with either. Steve rolled a bit in his sleep, startling Danielle. She looked at him in silence for a minute before realizing that the keys were in his pocket. Danielle used all of her strength to pull the chair closer to Steve, as quietly as possible she turned it so she could reach into his pocket.
She cried in frustration as she reached for the keys, they were so close but she still couldn't reach them. She carefully leaned over him more, she quickly maneuvered her hand into his pocket. He rolleda little bit, but didnt wake up. Her wounded hand scraped the fibers of his clothes, causing her to grit her teeth. It hurt, but she wasn't going to be trapped here with him. She pulled the keys out of his pocket quickly, and to her horror, Steve's eyes shot open at the sound of them jingling. Danielle quickly jumped back as Steve slowly pushed himself out of the couch, the cushion was so soft that he had a hard time standing. she took this time to shakily shove the key into the handcuff and unlock herself from the chair. She ran into the dining room, then for the first door she saw. She tried to turn the handle but it was locked, she fumbled trying to turn the lock but unlocked it before Steve clumsily rounded the corner. She opened the door quickly, denting the wall from pulling so hard on it when it swung open. She ran outside, Steve following closely behind shouting something she didn't pay attention to. Danielle kicked her heels off and gained more distance from him, she tore though a hundred feet of forest before stopping behind a tree to catch her breath.
Steve yelled after her,"You won't get far without driving, and these woods have mountain lions. You might as well come back to me now." He was met with silence. He angrily stormed over to the porch and grabbed the keys from underneath," I have the keys to my car right here, why don't you come get them?" Steve jingled them in his hand, taunting Danielle. She saw him from the woods, she wanted so badly to run and get the keys but he was easily 100 pounds heavier and would overpower her in a second. She couldn't go deeper into the woods, he was right theres nobody out there. She could see the mountains from the small hill she was on, no people though. No houses or signs of any other humans as far as she could see. She turned to look back at Steve walking back into the house, she didn't know how to survive in the woods with no food, water, or shelter. She slid down the side of the tree and sat on the cold ground, she had no choice but to go back. Or she'd die out in the woods, alone and cold. Danielle heard the door shut and turned back again, she hadn't noticed the small shed outside before.
The shed probably had supplies, or at least something to help her. She stayed in the brush, slowly making her way around the back of the house. Looking for a blind spot, she circled the perimiter of the house. There were windows on each outside wall, he would see her if he looked out any of them. The main rooms all connected, so she would be visible from all at once. The bedroom and bathroom however, were sectioned off from the rest of the house. She could wait until he was there, and run to the shed as fast as she could. Maybe he would fall asleep again, but it would be a while.
A few hours later Steve was pacing around the living room, looking impatient and nervous. Something was wrong, he turned and walked into the bedroom. Danielle sprinted through the trees and brush as quickly as she could, she felt sharp stones stab the bottom of her feet but ignored the pain. She reached the shed and hid against the outside, facing away from the house. She carefully looked around the corner, scanning the house for any signs of Steve in the windows. He wasnt there, she ran around to the door and pulled on the small handle. The door was locked. She pulled harder, again and again but it wouldnt open. She tried puching it open but still nothing. She hit the door in desperation and anger, then screamed as she felt large hands wrap around her again. The farmiliar scent of chlorophorm flooded her senses, then everything went black.
Steve carried her to the house again, this time dropping her on the dining room table. He saw her hand, the dry blood crusted and smudged all over it. The piece of skin torn off, just hanging from the back of her hand. He thought about going to get the first aid kit, it needed cleaned up and wrapped. Just as he was thinking about it, he looked back at the flap of skin. He had a great idea, this time she wouldnt be able to leave. She would never leave. She would have to love him, she would need him.
It was a bloody mess by the time he was done, he had used a towel to sop up the crimson liquid. He wasnt very good at sewing, but he did a fine job of stitching her up. He sat her in the chair once again, this time without any restraints. He stood back and observed her, she looked so peaceful. She would wake up soon but for now, she was so calm and perfect. He took the towel and rinsed it in the sink, then took it back out to clean up some of the blood left on her skin. He dabbed the blood off of her wrist, and then wiped the table once more. He heard her moving, she was waking up. He turned to her and watched as she groggily looked around again, a look of terror quickly told him that she realized where she was. He smiled at her again as she tried to use her hands to get out of the chair, then she froze.
Danielle slowly looked down at her hands... or lack thereof. She wailed in horror, Steve had cut them off. There was stitches on the end of her wrist, but nothing more. She screamed and cried, Steve let her this time. He understood that it would take some getting used to, but he was pleased with his work. Danielle then looked at her feet, they were the same. She couldn't even walk. She cried more, she couldn't beleive that this was real. She looked to Steve in disbeleif, he was standing there with a smile on his face. "You're all mine now, we will be together forever."
~ Nobody ever found the bodies, but when Steve had a heart attack years later Danielle couldnt call for help. She starved to death, trapped in that house with his wretched, rotting corpse staring at her from across the room.~
Original Work by P.H.
