Aria's Journey Ch. 01: The Warehouse

The sun had just begun to fall from its peak marking the start of the inevitable end of the day. Rays filtered through the trees, continuing to light the walking path open to all visitors of the public park. Aria found herself mindlessly walking the worn path, blissfully enjoying the faint aroma of the freshly manicured landscape that extended for miles around her. Distant laughter ruptured the silence of the forest, followed by childish voices calling out to each other, no doubt coming from the clearing several hundred yards behind her. The forest, however, accompanied her with squirrels and dragonflies during her walk, leaving her mind to wonder the lengths of the trees.

Time passed slowly as if the path she walked were a winding clock that she could never keep pace with. Deciding her journey with the flies lasted long enough, she turned to back-track the trail to the clearing where dogs and children wrestled in the fields, and where they would eventually bid their own goodbyes before the park rangers enforced the "Park Open from Dawn to Dusk" rule. Brittle leaves and twigs rustled as lizards and squirrels bounded from one tree to the other, seeming none too worried about the falling sun, even if the hour was still young. Light was plentiful, but Aria had no desire to be wondering the forest or even the park when light became scarce.

It wasn't until the forests clearing came into view that she heard something larger disturb the fallen leaves. She was under the impression that she was alone on the trail, but joggers moved much faster than her peaceful walk and would have easily outpaced her had they started an hour or so at the other end. Turning to find the source of the movement - and to avoid a collision - the young woman jumped to find a tall man several feet away from her. His skin was bronzed from many days out in the sun, and his form, while not over worked, was well built. This man was either health conscious or worked in labor for some time, perhaps a combination of the two, but his expression held no sympathy.

Fear laced her veins and she willed her heart to slow its pace, but her instincts told her to run. Aria was not an athletic woman, and while she did cardio daily, she was far from ready to hold a steady pace. Her legs propelled her towards the exit, towards the sounds of joyous voices that she hoped would provide a veil of safety. As the clearing grew closer, a terrible scream erupted from her, loud enough to climb the trees and echo across the land, but her plea was cut short by large hands that smelled of fresh dirt. Anyone close enough could have mistaken the noise for an injured bird. He was on top of her, bringing the two of them to the ground with calculated ease. A hand found its way to her throat, the other to her mouth and nose, and while she fought with trained technique, she felt the world around her grow cold, the sky grow dark, and just before the world fully disappeared from her depths, she felt the faint bite of a needle.

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Everything around her was cold. Cold and hard. She willed her eyes to open, but sleep kept them shut. There was a dull ache in her muscles, one typically felt after a workout, but yesterday was filled with relaxation. She moaned as something shook her, pulling her into another cold and hard surface followed by the blare of an angry driver. Moments passed and again, she willed her eyes to open, the fog from her mind to pass, but her head was far too heavy for her to hold, and again, the world disappeared.

Aria didn't rouse again until the sounds of metal moving triggered the flooding of a bright light that blinded her even though her closed lids. And suddenly, she was upright, supported by strong arms that wrapped around her. "Just a little further and you can sleep" the voice teased her mind, it was soft and kind, and spoke of a truth that encouraged her to carry herself just a little further. The terrain underfoot was unstable, either from sleep or from debris, but those arms around her supported her until she was laid down once more and allowed to drift off into sleep.

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This time, when Aria aroused, the air was warm and comforting and she was met with the singing of birds somewhere close by. Had she been so naïve, one might have thought they had fallen asleep at the park, perched up against a tree. Heavy with slumber, Aria forced her lids to open, and with it, the fog rolled clear. Her bright hues were first met with a dark wood that extended beneath her, supporting her. The wood was in poor condition, sun bleached in areas where the warm rays danced and weathered and broken in areas shaded from the sun.

Confusion and horror clenched her heart, begging her to flee from whatever place this was. Her breathing quickened and her heart now raced, but her wrists were bound in place beside her, binding her to a pillar that looked like the only supporting beam left of what might have been an abandoned warehouse or shed. Perhaps it was a house at some point in its life, but that time has long since passed. Aria tugged at her wrists, testing the binds that held her, they were metal, but the gap between either hand meant that her abductor was using something other than standard hand cuffs. The tension left her with little room to move, barely enough to twist her fingers around to feel the metal.

"What's going on?" Her voice was hardly audible, even to her. Her mouth was parched from hours without fluids, and no doubt the drug that finally passed pulled with it any water she previously consumed. She took several moments to stand, working the bands around her wrists till they shimmied up the pillar now supporting her until her feet were securely beneath her. To her relief, her cloths were still intact, though her shoes sat several feet away on a distant table. The wood beneath her feet was surprisingly smooth, even for a worn away structure; she didn't feel the need to fear for splinters. Perhaps that was something her abductor had considered? But if so, what was the point of going through all this trouble?

Her breath caught in her throat as her mind worked through the events. The park. The man. The needle. How many are there? Where are they? Did they just leave her here? How did they, or he, or even she, drag her out of the park? Aria wasn't the lightest of women, holding far more weight than she was proud of, let alone willing to admit. Carrying her, even as strong as that man from the forest was, would be an extremely taxing task, and would raise questions from other people in the park. Did he have a car nearby? If so, where could he have kept it, there were no motorized vehicles allowed on the trails? What day was it? Her mind began to swim with questions and the more she questioned, the deeper the fear dug into her. Whoever kidnapped her had planned it for a while to execute it so quickly.

"Hello?" She called out, not sure whether having her kidnapper join her or being left here alone would be the better choice. Several moments ticked by and there was no response. She looked around the room, searching for any clue as to where she was and who might be with her. Everything looked so old and worn that only her shoes stood out as anything new. The place was clear of any webs and dust meaning that someone either lived here, or someone prepped it for their visit. But somehow, this made it worse. Stepping to the side, she moved to circle the pillar in search of something else to study, but a block in the chain prevented her from circling the pillar. She was not meant to see what was behind her. She craned her head to either side, inching herself as far as possible to see what her attacker didn't want her to see. Sadly, either side of her was just as helpful as what was in front of her - bare walls and clean floors.

A noise behind her drew both her breath and her attention. Metal on metal clicked, creaked and clicked once more, and then there was silence. Aria held her breath straining to listen for more signs of life behind her. "Ahh you're finally awake" a voice sang out, deep and lovingly. She sucked in a breath and clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms to keep quiet. A well-built man circled around the room holding a smile typically reserved for close friends and family. He held a glass of water in one hand, the other swung freely at his side. "You were out for quite a while, I began to consider calling in a doctor" His gaze held hers, waiting for her to respond, to tell him that she slept fine, that she was just tired, that she was ok, but anger swelled in the pit of her stomach and kept her mouth firmly shut. When Aria didn't respond, the brute shrugged and took a step towards her "I brought you some water, and you can rest assured that its safe, see?" He took a sip from the glass to prove his point. Aria only nodded her approval and allowed him to lift the water to her lips which she gratefully drank from till only a quarter of water was left. "That's my girl" he cooed, running a finger beneath her chin.

Aria studied him with cold eyes as he pulled the glass away from her and began to disappear behind her. "Wait!" She called out, not wanting to be left alone.

Just beyond her view point, he flashed her a smile, "Yes?" It was as if she were just a guest in his living room, not a hint of worry to his voice.

"...Why am I here? Who are you?" She asked, head craning to watch his expression. A light chuckle filled the air behind her

"You'll find out in due time. I suggest resting a little more though." And with that, the metal clicks sounded, and the door shut, leaving her to speak to the empty room and muddle through her thoughts alone.

Anger burned hot beneath her skin and she began to thrash against her bindings, etching red bands into her wrists "Let me go!" she growled.

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What seemed like hours passed before the man reappeared, emerging from the unknown spaces behind her. Something caught her eye as he walked past her, poking out from the jeans of his pocket with the slightest shimmer. He didn't bother acknowledging her as he approached one of the tables on the far wall where her shoes were. Something about his close proximity to her shoes made her uncomfortable, as if it were another reminder that he was in control. "So, Aria, why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?" His tone was different this time. Not so soft or so friendly, more professional, almost as if she were conversing with her doctor. But he knew her name. This man she had never seen before, this man, who so easily calculated her abduction, knew her name.

"Why don't you tell me your name first?" she retorted, shocked to hear the bitterness in her voice.

His lips twisted into a sly smile at the sound of her voice, or perhaps it was the fire in her tone that made him smile. Whatever it was, his smile was unnerving. "You don't need to know my name. Not yet at least." His eyes dropped to the floor as if he was lost in thought. "Hmph." He grunted, lifting himself off the table to walk around the room, circling her. "I know you must be tired in that position and you can rest knowing that you'll soon be set free. There is a bed in here, and I do want to make sure you're comfortable." He reappeared beside her, this time closer than he was before. She could still smell the dirt on his hands from when he abducted her, and when he stepped into the light, she could see the smears of dirt on his cloths from when they wrestled.

"I'll have some cloths for you to change into, by the way. Yours are a bit dirty, I know." Again his tone changed, softer this time, almost fatherly. And with that, he turned to face her with a faint smile. He lifted a hand to caress her check, but the touch of his skin made her cringe and turn away, wishing to avoid contact all together. Silently, he lifted an object from the pocket of his jeans and brought it to her belly. Cold metal rested against her bare skin, just beneath the thin fabric, followed by the subtle threat of a pointed tip that, when combined with added force, could easily separate the bindings of her own skin. Aria's breath caught in her throat, not daring to breath, as if exhaling would trigger this man's reaction.

The young woman's fear seemed to amuse the man that stood before her, deepening the smug smile he wore in her company. Seconds ticked by, and yet he held her gaze, watching as tears filled the brims of her eyes, he read the muted plea of mercy that begged behind those tears, words that would never leave her lips. Fear had overwhelmed her; it stole her voice and tightened around her heart till breathing was a task in it of itself. As if the fear alone was not enough, the man seemed to find pleasure in watching the confusion build up around her, the realization that she was his mouse and he was her owl - skilled at hunting his prey.

He raised a single eyebrow as he studied her reaction while cutting away at the fabric that hugged her. He worked the scissors until they separated the fabric around her torso and twice more at either shoulder till the fabric draped around her toes. "Now that is a lovely site" he cooed, a pleasing smile softening the lines of his lips. The cold metal pressed against her skin, slipping beneath the gore of her bra, and with an audible tear, the cups dropped to either side with the relieved tension.

"Stop!" She cried, feeling the cooler air wisp across her budding chest. Both ends of her bra dipped and finally slipped from her body as the straps too were cut, fully revealing her small breasts that lifted from her chest as little pyramids. Her nipples stood erect both from the adrenaline coursing through her and the cooler air that now wrapped around her. "Please, don't do this" her voice was weaker and trembled beneath the tears that threatened to break her. She bowed her head to hide her embarrassment, both at her indecent exposure and her larger frame that only seemed to please her kidnapper.

The room fell silent except for her unsteady breaths, and after a moment of studying, the man set the scissors on the table next to her shoes and departed from the room, leaving her to recompose herself.

It was time that this man used against her, time that ate away at her confidence. Time was the enemy and this owl used it skillfully as his weapon. The ticking clock was what allowed the fear to develop until it threatened to bubble over the top, and it was this fear that made the pursuit all the more pleasurable for him. Her discomfort and pleas for mercy played flawlessly into his amusement, and it was this very reaction that encouraged him to continue this cat and mouse game. After all, foreplay is everything.

The sun dipped, and before she had time to comprehend it, the world was coming into focus again, the harsh reality greeting her as gracefully as ever. Her arms moved to cover her barren chest, but shackles prevented such movements, keeping her fully exposed to those who wished to pass her by. To her luck though, the only ones to see her thus far was her kidnapper, the brute who was so calculated in abducting her from such a socially populated area. This brute was also skilled in bringing fourth tears that she had no intentions of allowing to be shown. He embedded a fear that wrapped roots around her and whispered a subtle promise that she refused to believe.

Bright eyes bounced from wall to wall till every crevice was understood, every corner had a purpose, and every wall brought forth a new light. The morning dew settled on the outside promises of life, and even teased the inner workings of the wood, slowly rotting out the outer edges of the property line. How long had this place sat, fully in the hands of nature? Surly it was long enough to scare away any potential neighbors, for the surrounding houses and structures were now held together with worn away rust. Whoever left the last house made sure that their occupancy was the last thing to make it to their 'to-do list'. Surly they were comfortably stowed away in a little cottage, lost to the world as they would have been had they stayed in the rotting houses that now lined the inner workings of the forest.

Thankfully, time was on Aria's side as the sun rose with the same intensity as it did every morning. Scattered trees tried to block the falling rays, but the extended branches failed to catch most of the glistening light, casting shadows across the young woman's body. Surly the discontinuous roof would add to the darker tan that would soon follow in the woman's path, but this was the least of her worries. With the rise of the birds sing-song voices, the brute from her dreams quickly joined her harsh reality. Was he watching her? Did he enjoy watching her discomfort? Suddenly she was all too aware of her movements, every breath she took and every glance around the room. He was there. He had to have been. Somewhere in the distant rooms behind her, he lurked.

Metal clicked and creaked followed by the muted scuffs of a heavy object being dragged across the wooden surface. "Rise and shine, my lovely!" his voice was upbeat and friendly, chasing away any comforts left in the room. The door fell shut and the man moved more easily, carrying a metal formed chair with a cushion adorned to its top. The chair was large and bulky, squarish in shape with rounded corners but it had beautiful metal workings that encased the legs. It was delicate to look at, but Aria was certain it wasn't built to be a piece of art.

"Who are you?" She demanded, shaking a fallen strand of hair from her eyes. She spoke with an air of authority, a tone she used when she intended to receive answers or to relay her disappointment with someone. Steely eyes bore daggers into him, but he met her with smiling eyes of his own.

"You can call me Sir."

"How about Bastard?" she retorted, not at all concerned with her situation.

Bemused, he approached her in 3 long strides, leaving two or three inches between them and held her gaze for several moments. He lifted a hand to her cheek; gently cupping it in his hand "I would watch that tongue of yours if I were you..." his voice was soft and flirtatious, almost teasingly tender despite his warning. His second hand lowered to her hips, tracing a finger just above the brim of her jeans. "After all, you are my toy, Aria" Her name twisted on his tongue and filled her with bile. He had no right to speak her name.

"Fuck you!" she thrashed against her bindings and thrust a shoulder at him, but the distance between them kept him safe from impact.

"No need to act like a child, Love" again, his voice mocked her "after all, that's why I chose you." Both hands now found their way to her waist and slowly began to work at the button that held her jeans in place.

"Is this the only way you can have a woman? Chained up and under your control?" She spat at him, desperate to buy back any time that she could. "That's just pathetic!" And with that, her jeans slid to the floor, revealing a blue pair of panties that exposed the checks of her rump. Instantly, Aria's cheeks deepened in pigment, further feeding into her captures excitement. Fingers wrapped around the sides of her panties, dangerously close to her nether. "Please..." She whispered, head bowed. But her whisper went unheard. The brute tore either side of the blue fabric that hid her nether lips from view, fully revealing Aria's body to the wind.

"Not to worry love" he cooed, "you look dashing!" His words were meant to comfort her, but who could be comforted whilst chained to pillar, fully nude at their captures disposal?

The cooler air made her fidget, making her fully aware of her barren nipples that stood erect and her exposed butt that remained hidden only by pillar she was bound to. "Don't do this...please don't do this!" Fear took over her words; fear prevented her from thinking rationally. What was she to say to this? What could she say to free herself? But all she could think of was to beg, to plead with him in hopes of a guilty conscious setting her free.