Stefan glances down at his watch and frowns. Camelia had been inside the boutique for a little over an hour.
How long does it take to buy underwear? He thought.
The beautiful blonde smiles up at him from beneath, heavily, coated eyelashes. He provides her with a small lift of his lips. They had been flirting for the last hour since Camelia dismissed him and he admitted to be thoroughly enjoying the girl's company. She was certainly open and not the timid type.
Exactly the typeâhe didn't easily fall for.
However, he felt like himself, sitting there with her and talking openly. It was better than what he and Camelia were going through for the past couple weeks. The girl was like a little breath of fresh air after being suffocated by recycled air.
Yet....finding a woman who wasn't easily swayed was welcoming in some ways. The chase sometimes is greater than the reward.
His Camelia, was not the easy type. She was a hard shell to crack. She was difficult to read at times and she was exactly what he wants in a woman.
It was just a few days ago when he moved his belongings into one of the guest rooms across the hallway from her room due to her parent's absence. While they were half-way across the world on business, they were stuck with each other's company twenty-four hours a day. The static forming between them was only getting worse.
She stayed distant, aloof and casual. Stefan was sure not even explosives could bring down the rock, solid, impenetrable walls she set in place. Her emotions were fueled by his ignorance to her feelings. He knew she was lashing out but at the same time he never attempted do anything to make it better.
Now he understood what Clark Kent felt when he couldn't tell Louis Lane he was Superman. All he wanted to do was rip his plain simple clothes off, crush the irritating glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, shave off the irritating facial hair and reveal his true self.
He was sick and tired of pretendingâof lying to her.
He wanted his Camelia back. She was certainly testing his limits like no other. It was more difficult figuring her out more than any of the many missions he's had to overcome over the years as a Navy S.E.A.L.
Secretly, It irritated him more than anything when she ignored him. Acting like he didn't exist was driving him near the brink of insanity. She couldn't stand the sight of him and it was killing him, frustrating him, and tearing him apart.
He complicated everything. He could place that beautiful smile on her lips once again instead of push her away. He could do many things, yet....
Stefan never meant to insult and hurt her. If only he could go back and rewind that entire conversation.
Nearly every night after making sure Camelia was safely tucked away in her room sleeping, Stefan ended up in the lower level of their house and took advantage of the in-home gym to work off the steam. Despite lifting weights and running until his body ached, it still was never enough. The static, the discomfort stressed his limits. It was boiling over like a volcano ready to erupt where the lava was barely contained.
He was ready to explode.
But that's what you wanted remember? You pushed her away. You encouraged the attraction and then lied, severing the positive energy growing between you two. You take your frustrations out on her when you're tense and angered. You verbally hurt her. You got what you wanted. She stayed away from you so you could do your job.
His overwhelming thoughts stacked several more degrees of tension to his taunt shoulders. He released a burdening sigh, looking down at his watch again.
Time to investigate what was taking Camelia so long.
"Well, it was very nice meeting and talking to you Giselle, but I need to go see if my girlfriend is finished shopping."Â He lied smoothly, letting her down easily knowing what to expect nextâthe disbelief skidding across her flawless face.
He's seen it hundreds of times before.
It made him miss Camelia's blush whenever he spoke to her. Most women he's come across lacked that charming ability, or lost it. It only proved just how special and what a very rare breed of woman she really was.
Abruptly he rose, watching the disappointed blonde and smiled briefly. Giselle blinked away her expression of shock and gave him a forced smile. "It was nice to meet you too, Kent. Your girlfriend is one lucky girl." She said.
I wish she were more than my girlfriend.
Stefan only nods politely, says his goodbyes and walks back to Victoria's Secret. After searching every corner of the establishment, he could not find her. Maybe she was in the fitting rooms...
He quickly stops the lady that first approached them earlierâChelsea, and asked about Camelia's whereabouts.
"Oh yes, the girl you came in with finished her shopping. She got some very good findings!" She informed him enthusiastically.
The muscles through his shirt tensed.
"She left? How long ago?" He didn't mean for his voice to sound threatening and harsh but it took all his will power not to grab the girl and shake her senseless.
Keeping his fists closed to his sides, the muscle in his jaw twitched.
Chelsea took a step back at his menacing stance and gulped heavily. "I-uhh...she left a-about half an hour ago." She stuttered nervously.
How the hell did she slip through without him noticing?
Damn, damn, damn, damn....He was completely engrossed in his conversation with Giselle.
He warned her never to leave him. And now he lost her. Anything could happen. This was when an opportunity to strike arose for whoever was watching and waiting to get her alone. A shudder of near rage courses through him. His laser sharp gaze shot fire as he scanned the many faces in the boutique.
The bad feeling inside of him intensified, sensing an impending danger. Raking a hand through his hair in frustration he clenched his fist desperate to unleash his aggression and punch through a wall.
Once he found her he's going to give her a piece of his mind whether she liked it or not. Even if she never spoke to him, she was going to pay for being so foolish.
He barely spared the girl another glance, and strode out of the boutique searching the crowd for Camelia. He whipped his head right, then left, turning around in a circle, searching and scanning the heads trying to pinpoint if she was nearby.
I shouldn't have let her out of my sight.
Reaching for his cellular phone he dialed her number. It rang and rang until her voicemail answered. Stefan clutched his phone so hard it let out a creak of protest.  Releasing his pressure he dialed her number again.
Nothing.
Where the hell would he start?
She could be anywhere.
*******
Camelia ordered a latte while Jason orders a black coffee. After finding a place to sit, she watches him skeptically as he sipped his drink and casually looks around the crowded coffee shop, hoping he did not notice her staring.
So far, she hadn't seen a sign of Kent thankfully but it didn't mean he stopped searching for her. The phone inside her purse stayed slung over her body kept vibrating. Every few minutes she could feel it against her thigh. And every time, the anxiety increased causing her heart to thump dangerously fast.
Every call was like a warning a storm was coming.
The stress kept her on the edge of her seat. And now, sitting with a complete stranger, using him to hide out of sight, made it all the more worse.
"I've never done this with someone I just met, you know...but so far I like it. Spontaneous and unplanned events makes things that more enjoyable."  Jason told her with a small smile.
"I agree...you're British, Do you live here or are you visiting?"Â She asked him while running her sweaty palms over her jeans.
"I'm visiting my father actually. I live in England, and I'm also here for some business. You know the old saying 'never mix business with pleasure?' Well I'm known to bend the rules a bit to my advantage."
Her father's English accent was faint but still audible. Hearing the man speak made her miss his soothing voice.  Her mother and father were forced to leave the country for a week to conduct business and handle a situation her brother and sister could not resolve in England.  Camelia stayed behind due to school.
And now she was all alone. Without any sort of supervision.
The excitement of doing something unplanned was surprisingly refreshing. Having this opportunity to have some free time without Kent's hovering presence felt like she was breathing fresh air for the first time in weeks.
"That's nice, he must be excited. It doesn't seem like you see him often." Camelia observed.
"I don't actually. I haven't seen him in years. I scarcely saw him as I grew up but as he got older we became closer. Life is funny that way..." He quirked a fine eyebrow, raising his eyes from his cup of coffee. "Enough about me, what about you? What is a pretty little thing like yourself doing here, shopping alone, I might add." Nodding his head toward her bags waiting on the floor.
"I-uh, um, not alone. I'm supposed to be meeting my friend later." She lied through her teeth, grasping her cup and taking another sip of her latte to hide behind.
Jason only studies her.
His look was hard yet curious at the same time. Making small talk with a complete stranger felt dangerous all of a sudden. He could be anybody. He could be someone that was out to hurt her for all she knew. Or he could be someone with good intentions.
It must be the paranoia talking, she reasoned.
"A friend as in boyfriend or...?"
Camelia blushes. "No. I don't have a boyfriend."
Jason's eyebrows raise in slight surprise. "No boyfriend? Are you telling me that no man owns that innocent heart of yours?" Camelia's blush travels down her neck and she shakes her head. Taken aback, he burst out laughing softly. "I'd wager my fortune you capture more attention than a limited edition Ferrari, love. You are too achingly beautiful to be single."
The pleasure his words warmed her from the inside out. "Thank you, Jason.  You are too kind."
"I only state the truth, love. What are you...? About eighteen? Twenty?"
Camelia raised her eyes from her cup shyly. Internally glad he dropped the topic of her beauty.
"I just turned twenty-one."
"Ahhh....". Jason replied nodding to himself. "The age one becomes an adult. Well, Happy Birthday dear Mia." He reaches for his cup and salutes her.
Camelia murmurs her thanks and sips her drink.
"When will your friend be joining you? The only reason I ask, is so I know how much more of your company I may enjoy."
He liked her. The interest reflected in his eyes. Too bad her feelings weren't mutual. She wasn't sure if what he said was a actual pick-up line. Her experience with men was close to nothing. Time to let him down easily and time for her to be on the move again.
"I didn't realize what time it was! I'm so sorry! I need to get going." She tells him feigning shock. "My friend should be here by now!" Camelia places her palms on the surface of the table ready to stand.
What he starts to say next stops her.
"I don't believe yâ". He got interrupted by the phone ringing in his suit pocket.
Jason reaches for it without taking his narrowed eyes off of her.
Camelia watched him cautiouslyâfrozen, unable to move. Before she was too flustered, too worried Kent might catch her, but now she suddenly sensed a underlying, dangerous, vibe coming from him and it put Camelia's nerves on edge in the next instant.
The fear started to crawl it's way inside her and involuntarily her skin turned cold rising goosebumps all over her body.
He was going so say, I don't believe you...and his tone changed. It was harsh and impolite.
Rewarding her with a tight smile that looked forced, he glanced down at the screen of his phone in a frown. "Excuse me, I need to take this. Don't go anywhere I will be right back, love." Turning his back to her he moved a few feet away to talk privately.
Something was not right.
All her instincts kicked in. However innocent and unexperienced she may be, she possessed an uncanny ability and insight into a person and she never missed a thing, until now.
Feeling it in every fiber of her bones, she knew she was in danger.
Who would accidentally bump into someone and automatically ask them out?
He emphasized the word little thing. Camelia remembered the threatening note say little one.
He was here to visit his father that he hadn't seen in years.
He was here for business and pleasure.
His eyes.
They lied.
Her mother always taught her, the eyes never lie.  She always said: 'If you want to know if a person is speaking the truth watch the eyes, they are the mirrors to the soul...'
He was being fake. His kindness was forced. It was all a lie. Nothing he said reached his eyes. It made her whole body turn into a block of ice as the horror of the situation sunk.
She was fooled by the enemy. How could she be so careless...so naive?
She fell right into the palm of his hands. She fell into his trap without any effort on his part. He caught her in a weak moment, where it allowed him to sweep in and manipulate her with his proper English charm.
He didn't even use threats. He didn't have to do anything. He had her right where he wanted.
She fought the urge to scream and panic.
Swallowing heavily, her mouth felt parched and dry as she tried to get rid of the lump that formed in her throat. Deciding not stay a minute longer, Camelia grabbed her bags quietly, watching Jason's turned back and looked for a easy exit. He was facing the main entrance, looking around in panic she noticed a single door that exited to the outside of the mall.
Scooting her chair back ever so slowly as to not make a sound, she stands and scurries towards the door. In her haste her shoulder bumps a woman holding a overflowing cup of coffee. Before spilling on to the floor and making a mess it ended up burning Camelia's hand in the process.
She hisses in pain, clutching her scalding hand, cradling it against her chest. "Damn it!" Camelia whispers looking back like a crazed, wild deer, getting caught in the headlights.
Camelia expected the lady to apologize and make sure she was okay but instead the woman yells, "Hey! Watch where you're going! You stupid teenagers are so reckless and careless!"
The ranting and curses that soon followed caught the attention of every single person in the small cafe. All the voices stopped at the same time.  A uncomfortable silence resounded through out except for the barista machines.
Camelia froze.
The only person she noticed is Jason who turned back to investigate all the commotion like everyone else, still holding his phone to his ear. Once he noticed her and quickly configured she was making a haste exit, he lowers his arm, puts the phone in his pocket and stood with legs spread apart and fists clenched at his sides.
The twitch in his eye was her only clue he was getting very angry and it was more then obvious from his stance he was not going to let her get away easily.
The customers who were waiting for their coffee and the others seated casually sent her pitying glances. Camelia's surroundings slowly commenced back to normal, like a paused movie returned to playâsmall talk flooded the establishment once more as baristas continued making drinks.
The only ones who did not resume their stances were Camelia and Jason. She couldn't move a muscle, forgetting her burnt skin. And Jason was watching and waiting like a predator to it's prey.
What am I going to do now? She thought in despair crushing her shopping bags against her chest. Her hope of rescue was drowning along with her hopes of escaping.
The vibrating against her hip brought her back to reality.
Kent!
"There's no escape now little Mia, or should I say Camelia..."Â His evil, thick, English voice muttered in disdain.
Camelia paled. She was right. Confirming her earlier suspicion. This man was associated with the monster that was after her, sending his son to do his dirty work.
Jason took a menacing step forward. Camelia looked frantically around searching for help but everybody was preoccupied. She couldn't scream if she tried. A knot lodged in her throat. Every limb in her body was in shock. The silence between them lengthened as Camelia nervously waited to see what he would do.
What should she do? If she was a character in one of her books, what would they do?
Turn and run like she was planning?
But he would just run after her and eventually catch her and do God knows what. In the next moment a thought comes to her. It was a awful thing to do but she had no other choice.
"That man has a gun! Please someone help!" She yells above the voices frantically pointing to Jason.
A deafening silence spread and the room stills. Every set of eyes landed on Camelia, transferring quickly to Jason. In the next instant, a explosion of uncontrolled panic broke free.
Screams pierced the air, people started to duck and hide under tables, others began running as though someone waved a red flag and took off like raging bulls. Camelia was pushed and shoved, nearly trampled over by the chaos around her.
It was time to take flight. Tripping once and nearly falling she leaned against a table and rightened herself looking back to see if Jason was following.
He was pushing people away as he tried to advance on her. In the corner of her eye, Camelia caught sight of one the baristas stepping in between the distance separating Jason and her. The bold woman stepped away from the counter holding a steaming cup of coffee and faced Jason. She pulled her hand back and splashed the contents in his face.
"Agggghhhhhhh!" He roars in pain as the scalding coffee burnt his skin, covering his face in agony, staggering and losing his balance only to slip and fall on his back with a heavy thump.
Next, A burly, overly large man with a baseball cap kicks Jason in the gut, takes a chair and brings down on Jason, trapping him within the confines of the chair's four legs, forcing him to lay flat on his back. The obese male then sits on the chair, pulls his cap up, wipes the sweat accumulating on this forehead, pulls his cap back on and nods his head at the barista holding the empty paper cup in her hand.
"Call the police, this scum bag isn't going anywhere."Â He says, crossing his thick arms over his chest and waits with a smug expression.
Camelia couldn't believe her luck watching the scene unfold before her eyes. Knowing she wouldn't have another chanceâ like a injection of nitrous oxide into a engine, the boost of power, the adrenaline, shoots through her veins. Camelia took the opportunity and made a run for it like the hounds of hell were on her tail.
She was sure more of his goons were stationed all around the mall, where one is surly others will follow. Once she made it out the coffee shop she ran and ran until she had no breath, hiding and taking cover behind a wide concrete column in the parking lot.
Camelia felt eyes watching her and she paused for a second to catch her breath, glancing frantically over her shoulder. She could still hear screaming in the background as many ran for their lives full of fear of getting shot.
It was cruel to install such a dangerous accusation in the minds of so many but Jason was likely carrying a gun and from what she sensed he wouldn't be afraid to use it. Besides, it was the only way she could make it out alive.  She had no doubt whatever they had planned for her was not good, their intent was to hurt her by any means necessary.
Ripping off her hoodie jacket, Camelia stuffed it in along with her bags then reached for her cell phone to dial Kent. Standing upright once again she never heard the footsteps creeping up behind her until strong arms circled her waist and pulled her back against a hard chest.
The phone falls from her hands.
The pressure of the arms increased so painfully tight she felt as though her ribs would crack. A small high pitched cry left her lips but her assailants other hand shot across her mouth roughly, firm, and constricting in order to silence her.
Camelia's eyes widened, her first impulse was to struggle.
She kicked wildly and tried to pull her head away but whoever caught her had his large palm placed under her jaw and lips, sealing her mouth shut and muffled her mouth and jaw like they did to dogs. She was breathing heavily from her nose, barely getting enough air into her lungs as she kept struggling.
The man pulls her head back into the crook of his neck and brings her body flush against his torso. Camelia felt every hard inch of her assailant's hard body.
The harder she fought, the harder the man, knowing from the strength he used to restrain her until she was sure he meant to crush the life out of her. Camelia struggled with every shred of energy to evade his grasp.
She should have never let her guard down, she thought, disappointment making her go limp. Her legs collapsed from beneath her, feeling whatever fight she had in her dwindle down to nothing. She was caught with no means of escape.
If she had stayed close to Kent, none of this would have happened.
If only she didn't let her pride get in the way.
If only she was wiser and hadn't allowed her anger and jealously cloud her judgement.
"Shhhh..." The assailant's hot breath whispered in her ear, hauling her hard against his body and carrying her weight. He buries his face into the curve of her neck, breathing in the sweet scent emitting off her skin like a perverted serial killer who sexually tortured his victims before he killed them.
A new wave of fear blasted through her.
She didn't know how much more stress her body could take in one day, her heart was galloping and pounding too fast, too dangerously. Camelia's eyelids threatened to drop.
This was the end.
They caught her.
________________________________________________________________________
You've been kidnapped.
You can call on one fictional character to make a rescue attempt.
Who do you pick??? It could be anybody popular that we all know. Tell me your thoughts!
Mine is....
Thanks for reading!
-Shaz