“Stay frosty,” Pink said, easing on the brakes and turning the van onto the main street. He wondered if anyone would notice Richard Nixon driving a van through town on a Tuesday and decided it best not to consider such things.
“Shouldn’t we have waited on either the names or the masks?” Orange, wearing a Jimmy Carter mask, asked. “Like, we could’ve been the Ex-Presidents and then the Reservoir Dogs. Plus, it would’ve been cheaper just to get ski masks.”
“How many times do you plan on doing this?” White, wearing a Ronald Reagan mask, chided.
“I mean, it depends on how popular it is, I guess. Although I doubt it’ll count for class credits.”
“You think?” Pink screamed into the back of the van.
The three had met in film class and bonded over a love of heist/crime movies, wishing to make one of their own. Unfortunately, they’d been unable to decide on a suitable crime for their meager budget until White had suggested a kidnapping short. Of course, this led to their following conundrum: Whom to kidnap?
They’d asked multiple girls in each class and received every possible variation of ‘NO’ imaginable. That’s when Orange suggested performing a real-life kidnapping and just filming it. He knew some places on the internet they could upload it and perhaps even make some money. It was a lawless place, and he didn’t look forward to anyone attempting to regulate it.
“Look what I see….” Pink said, pulling the van up along the curb behind a station wagon that could’ve been out of Vacation. He left a good bit of room between them—the last thing he needed was to get boxed in—and pointed out the windshield as White and Orange peered up from the back.
“Little hand says it’s time to Rock and Roll,” Orange said.
***
Melissa had a free day and wasn’t sure how to spend it. Usually, she either studied or tried to catch the latest rerun of Sabrina. If she managed to do both, she considered it a day well spent.
But today, she was determined to get out for a bit. The last bit of summer had finally burned off, and fall had just begun in earnest. Winter was still a distant memory waiting to rear its ugly, frozen head.
She’d picked a blue patterned dress, brown cardigan, grey tights, and brown flats. Stepping out into the cool autumn air, she took a deep breath and swung gently around, allowing the breeze to carry her along the sidewalk with the red and golden leaves cresting alongside her. Her eyes were closed, and she didn’t bother to open them and glance behind as the rented van pulled up along the curb just behind her.
***
“Okay, remember the plan,” Pink said. “Grab her, shut her up, and get her in the van. You get her tied while I’m driving. I’ll try and keep it steady, but we’ve got to go quick.”
“You got the stuff?” White asked, turning on the camcorder and aiming it toward Orange.
Orange smiled behind his mask and overturned a nearby duffel bag. Multiple rolls of Gorilla Tape spilled out onto the van floor. He picked one up and slid it over his wrist before picking at and peeling up the edge. The last thing he needed was to struggle to find the end.
“Anybody around?” Orange called up front, gripping the rear door handle. It vibrated beneath his shaking hand.
“Streets are clear,” Pink said. “I’m going to cruise slowly while you come up behind her. We rolling?”
“You know it,” White called.
All three laughed as Orange pulled open the door and peered out into the street. Numerous parked cars dotted it, but it was the magic hour for a kidnapping: after everyone had commuted to work but before the lunchtime rush.
***
Melissa inhaled deeply, smelling the sweet autumn air, a mix of fallen leaves and pumpkin spice. She paused to do a little window shopping. The mannequin wore a muted pink cardigan, a black dress, brown pantyhose, and black flats with cute bows on the front. Melissa had never considered pink to be a fall color, but she liked it. It was the type that appeared well worn and loved, slightly faded yet still warm and comfy.
Lifting slightly onto her toes, she attempted to see herself in the reflection, an odd way to try on clothes, but it worked. Maybe after coffee, she’d wander back and try on the cardigan for real. She spotted someone in a Halloween mask coming up the sidewalk and dropped back down. She supposed it was never too early to begin celebrating, yet she didn’t want him to come to bother her, thinking she planned to be a ballerina or something.
His reflection slowly crept up behind her, and she wanted to turn and walk off but wondered if perhaps there wasn’t an odd reason behind the mask. Maybe he was disfigured, or Halloween meant something important. She sighed and decided to attempt to engage.
“Getting an early start on trick or treating?” she asked.
“Huh?” he replied, obviously startled. The mask muffled his voice, and she hoped he didn’t plan to attempt flirting with her.
She supposed if he did, she could tell him she was late for class and trot off.
“Sorry, I don’t have any candy. And no costume yet either.” She tried to laugh but the rubber mask staring back at her gave her the creeps.
“I know the perfect costume for you.”
Again, the slightly muffled voice. Melissa really didn’t want to hear how he’d like to see her dressed as a cheerleader or sexy cowgirl.
“Oh?” she nonchalantly asked, turning to leave. He’d probably call it after her, but hopefully, he wouldn’t follow her. A white van cruised slowly past. She saw the driver reflected in the side view mirror, wearing his own mask. Probably some weird fraternity thing, but creepy nonetheless.
“A kidnap victim,” the voice said from behind her.
Suddenly the masks weren’t cute. She glanced around, but the streets were empty. She remembered the number one rule about calling for help: scream FIRE. Nobody responded to help.
She inhaled to scream and dug her feet in to run. Before she could do either, Orange stuffed a wadded cloth into her mouth and grabbed her around the waist, pinning her arms to her sides.
“Frm!” Melissa screamed into the cloth. She began to push it free with her tongue, but Orange covered her mouth with his hand, dragging her towards the van. She dug her feet in, but he twisted her around and dragged her towards the van. She struggled and watched her own kidnapping in the storefront glass reflection.
She felt his grip release, but before she could react, he shoved her, and she pitched forward into the van’s rear compartment.
“Hurry up!” she heard another muffled voice yell.
“Hlm!” she screamed, all thoughts of ‘fire’ long forgotten.
“Come on, shut her up.”
“Get the door!”
His hand no longer holding her or the cloth in place, Melissa turned, hoping to escape but instead saw the van doors slam shut and felt it lurch forward. She reached up to pull the material from her mouth, but both presidents—she’d realized they were all ex-presidents, like in that movie from a couple of years ago—turned to face her.
The one that had grabbed her lunged and tackled her, pulling her hand down and behind her back. She continued attempting to push the cloth free with her tongue; even if nobody heard her, she could still make this difficult for them.
His free hand shoved the cloth back in, burying it in her throat. She gagged and felt as if she might retch.
“Give me a zip tie,” Orange said.
One hand attempting to hold the camera steady as the van jerked and swerved, White reached into the bag and felt around for the zip ties. His fingers brushed the thin plastic, and he gripped it tightly, revealing it to the camera like he was the main character in a first-person shooter. He passed it to Orange, who yanked it between Melissa’s teeth and zipped it tight.
*ZIP*
“Mmph!” Melissa cried. The zip tie pulled her lips back and held the rag deep within her mouth. She kicked her legs wildly and tried desperately to squeeze her hands free from beneath Orange’s vice-like legs.
She felt him slide down, but before her hands managed to get free, he grabbed each wrist and crossed them behind her back. She twisted her head, struggling and moaning into the gag, and saw Ronald Regan focusing on her behind a camcorder. She heard tape being unrolled before it wrapped around her wrists, binding them tightly.
“Umph…grmph…”
Orange wrapped the Gorilla tape around and through her wrists, pulling her palm forward to slide it around. He felt the heels of her flats kicking into his back and heard White laugh and turn the camera to focus on them. He tore the tape free and spun around, pulling it wide and wrapping it around and through her ankles.
“Hmph…phmph…”
Melissa kicked her flats wildly, unable to do little else as he wrapped more Gorilla tape beneath her knees. He flipped her onto her back, keeping her legs tented in order to tape above her knees.
She saw the one with the camera moving in for a better shot and twisted her knees to knock Orange backwards into him. He ripped the tape free and she merely toppled onto her side while they laughed.
“You get that?” Orange said.
“I’ve got it all,” White replied.
“She tied?” Pink called from up front.
“Mmph…hrmph…” Melissa grunted, chewing on the rag and attempting to push it from her mouth. The zip tie refused to budge.
“More?” Orange said.
“More,” White agreed.
Orange grabbed Melissa by the shoulders and pulled her into a sitting position. She heard the peel of tape just before he pressed it against her cheek. He tightly wrapped the tape, pressing her pursed lips against her teeth. It stuck in her hair as he wrapped it around the back of her head, plastering it again over her lips.
“Hmph…phmph…” she moaned.
“Ooh, get her chest,” White said.
“Mn mm,” Melissa shook her head.
“Shut up,” Orange replied. He yanked the tape beneath her chest and wrapped it around her back, pinning her arms against her side. On the second pass, he went above, emphasizing her chest and holding her shoulders so she could barely shrug. Her breaths came in gasps. The tape’s grip refused to budge.
“Mmph…grmph…”
Melissa looked up to find White leaning down to whisper in Orange’s ear. The van bumped but neither seemed to notice. Somehow the smile on their masks seemed to widen.
Orange peeled the tape. She saw it coming and began to struggle wildly.
“Hold still,” he said as he pulled it over her eyes. Blackness enveloped her. The sound of the tape unspooling just above her ears felt deafening. There was a final *RIP* and a rough hand pushed her over.
“Hmph…phmph…” Melissa grunted, struggling against the tape. The van’s bare floor continued vibrating beneath her. She twisted her fingers to pick at the tape but couldn’t find the edge.
“Mmph…hmmm…” She rolled onto her belly and kicked her legs into the air, waggling her flats before dropping them back down. Digging her knees into the floor, she began to slide her bottom up. A sharp turn made her crash back down.
“Mmmm…grmph…” She bent her knees and pulled her feet towards her bottom, reaching with her fingers. The tape securing her chest refused to let her lift her arms back. Only her bound wrists flexed.
“We’re here,” a voice said.
“Aw. Already?”
“I think we’ve got enough.”
The van slowed to a halt and Melissa remained still, fearful of what they planned next. Someone grabbed her legs, she felt their sturdy hands through her tights. Before she could kick, another grabbed her arms.
They hoisted her into the air and carried her like a couch from the van’s rear. She protested into her gag but they paid her no mind. Without the blindfold, she’d have seen White enthusiastically filming his partners manhandling her.
She felt dirt beneath her bottom. It quickly wormed its way beneath her skirt as she struggled. “Hmph…mmph…”
Then she heard the slamming of doors and smelled the exhaust as the van sped off. Where had they left her? Would someone find her? And would they let her go?
She struggled harder.
“Hmph…mmph…”
Short Film Kidnapping M/F
This is a GREAT story! I hope you'll continue it soon!!!
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DuckStewStories
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