Captive

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

“Yes.” Erin watched him quickly get to his feet and she used the moment alone to compose herself. She shifted slightly on the bed, pulling her hands up to wipe her face free of tears and then attempted to get herself into a sitting position. Her stomach protested, gurgling and cramping as she shifted her weight, forced to use her abs to help sit up. She couldn't remember ever feeling like this before. She wondered briefly if he'd done something to her, but she reminded herself that she hadn't accepted anything from him yet. No food or drink, and she felt no pain from an injection anywhere. This was definitely a freak bug she'd picked up. What other explanation was there? Despite the blanket falling off her, she still felt sickeningly hot and her stomach gurgled loudly. She would probably need to use the bathroom soon, and the though upset her more. She didn't want to make another agonizing slow walk to the bathroom stumbling over her own feet. She didn't want to have explosive bowel movements with this man so painfully close and aware. As if her dignity hadn't already been ripped from her enough already. The very thought upset her and she struggled to keep the tears at bay again.

A few minutes later Kurt arrived back in the stifling room with a glass of water in one hand and a fan, something she was surprisingly grateful to see. She didn't return his smile when he handed her the water. She simply took it and drank deeply from it, washing away the sour taste of vomit and hoping the cool water would help ease her sore stomach. It felt good going down into her empty belly, but did little to relieve the cramps or the urge bubbling in her abdomen. “Would you like me to turn the fan on? Sometimes that helps me when I’m not feeling well.” She hesitated for a moment, not liking accepting his generosity, but her desire to feel better outweighed her urge to be the stubborn mule she typically was. "Yes." She said softly, watching him get to work quickly to set the fan up for her.

For someone who was holding her hostage, Kurt was quick to try and please her. He was a complete mystery to Erin, though. He had been afraid that Cal would take her from him, and noted how she disliked him even though he'd never really been around for their arguments. Or had he? Had he been there the night she had defended him, creeping in the shadows as Cal had warned her was? Did he get the wrong idea about her feelings for him from that? What did he even want from her? It was clear he wasn't interested in using her for sexual reasons because he'd been quick to hide the skin she'd been showing and had yet to touch her inappropriately. Did he simply just want her to play house? Be the doting wife he couldn't find on his own without keeping them prisoner first? What sort of warped individual was she working with here? He kept chloroform ready at all times, but he seemed sad about using it. He wanted to untie her but was afraid of what she'd do if he did.

Kurt finished setting up the fan and soon the cool air was blowing right on her, the fan oscillating back and forth. He looked back at her with that same hopeful look in his eyes, and she could tell he was waiting for her to simply accept him, forgive him, care for him. She didn't have it in her, though. Not after everything, even with her freedom at stake. Her stomach lurched again and she shut her eyes and swallowed back the pain, grimacing slightly as she attempted to be strong and power through it. After a deep breath she looked back at Kurt, the glass lowered into her lap. "What do you want with me, Kurt?" Her voice was deflated. She was clearly run down and tired, sick and not her normal self. "Why did you take me away like this? You visited me everyday at the bakery. Why wasn't that enough? Why would you take me away from everything I love?" It was the last tactic she could think of, and if nothing else it could at least shed a little light onto what he wanted. The sooner she could deliver that, the sooner he would maybe trust her enough to untie her, and then she would finally be free.

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

“Yes.” With that soft, simple answer, Kurt went to work setting up the fan to cool Erin down. She deserved to be comfortable when she was sick. He would never tell her why she was sick, though—that would make the whole plan backfire. No, no, to her this just had to be a mystery stomach bug, a pure unfortunate set of circumstances. He turned the fan on to a low setting, setting the oscillation so the air would cool the rest of the room as well. When his back straightened, he looked back at her with a small, hopeful smile, waiting to see the relief on her face. She just stared back at him, almost like she was confused and he found himself slightly disappointed. There wasn’t even so much as a thank you. He wouldn’t hold it against her, though. She had to forgive him at some point, right? He saw her grimace and his brow furrowed, realizing that she probably felt sick again with the new drops he’d put into her water. Moving quickly, he was sitting in his chair soon, ready to hold her hair back again if she needed it. Instead a shaking breath came out and it looked like she was working hard not to throw up again. He hated that he’d had to do this to her.

Erin’s big brown eyes came to his and Kurt felt his own stomach jolt nervously. “What do you want with me, Kurt?” It was like the question left her hopeless and he frowned a little at the way she spoke it. Wasn’t it obvious? “Why did you take me away like this? You visited me every day at the bakery. Why wasn’t that enough? Why would you take me away from everything I love?” He cocked his head to the side, a little confused and definitely dismayed by the question. Wasn’t she relieved to be away from all of the stress in her life? “It was enough. Seeing you every day and hearing your voice, seeing you smiling at me and talking to you even about the littlest things…that was enough, Erin. And then he came in and he ruined it. I watched him from across the street sometimes. I saw him the first day he came in and how he ate that cupcake right at the counter. He always did that and I saw how unhappy it made you. I made sure to come in before him every day so I would get to see you happy. That’s all I wanted.” His voice was soft and genuine and he swallowed hard before going on. He didn’t like thinking about the policeman. “But then he came in and saw me and I knew from the way he looked at me that he would stop me from seeing you. The police have stopped me before. I never hurt anyone, but the police always assume I will. The other women, though…they were the ones who reported me.” He was ashamed to admit he’d been rejected before and he looked sadly down at his hands for a moment. Those women had turned him away like so many other people he’d known in his life.

When he looked up again, it was with hope. “And then I saw you arguing with him last week. I knew it was about me, I could hear from where I was standing. You defended me and I knew you were different. You weren’t like the other women who got scared of me. But that policeman was insistent and I knew if I was going to get to keep seeing you then I’d have to take you away from him.” Again his face was sad, his eyes almost mournful and definitely apologetic. “I know that meant taking you away from your daughter and Cora. But now you don’t have to worry about work or any other responsibilities. And I’ll…” His pale, pasty cheeks turned a strange ruddy color as he looked down at his hands again. “I’ll love you, Erin. And I’ll take care of you. No one’s ever been so kind to me before. Mother always told me women were evil, but you’re not like that. You’re a good person and I just couldn’t bear not being able to see you again.” He looked back up at her with uncertainty, seeing she was still watching him. “I’m sorry for upsetting you…” he said softly.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

“It was enough. Seeing you every day and hearing your voice, seeing you smiling at me and talking to you even about the littlest things…that was enough, Erin." She gulped and looked at him curiously. If it was enough, why had he taken her? "And then he came in and he ruined it. I watched him from across the street sometimes. I saw him the first day he came in and how he ate that cupcake right at the counter. He always did that and I saw how unhappy it made you. I made sure to come in before him every day so I would get to see you happy. That’s all I wanted.” Her throat clenched. This really was all Cal's fault! If he'd stayed out of her business like she'd told him to, she would be nestled in her bed right now. Or rather she would be at Cora's working probably. Then again with this bug she'd probably actually be home and in bed. Either way she wouldn't be tied up in Kurt's bed. “But then he came in and saw me and I knew from the way he looked at me that he would stop me from seeing you. The police have stopped me before. I never hurt anyone, but the police always assume I will." Erin actually felt a little bad for the guy. She'd always been nice to him, and he'd let himself get close because of it. It proved you always be kind to strangers. "The other women, though…they were the ones who reported me.” She watched him carefully. He was deranged and pathetic and had obviously been hurt before. No wonder he'd been driven to such a desperate level when he'd felt threatened the one person who was kind to him would be taken away.

“And then I saw you arguing with him last week." Her heart pounded, hating that he'd heard that. "I knew it was about me, I could hear from where I was standing. You defended me and I knew you were different. You weren’t like the other women who got scared of me. But that policeman was insistent and I knew if I was going to get to keep seeing you then I’d have to take you away from him.” She was shaking her head, but he wasn't looking. How could she convince him now to let her go? “I know that meant taking you away from your daughter and Cora. But now you don’t have to worry about work or any other responsibilities. And I’ll…” He paused, bashful. She saw the color fill his cheeks and her heart pounded. He would what? “I’ll love you, Erin. And I’ll take care of you. No one’s ever been so kind to me before. Mother always told me women were evil, but you’re not like that. You’re a good person and I just couldn’t bear not being able to see you again.” He looked back up at her with uncertainty in his eyes and all she could do was stare blankly back. Love her? He wanted to love her, and again he brought up his mother. What sort of woman had raised this guy? “I’m sorry for upsetting you…”

Erin's stomach lurched and she grimaced, her face screwing up at the pain. She waited for it to pass, feeling sickeningly ill, but she had to keep her wits about her now. She had to figure this all out! "I like working. I like responsibilities, especially taking care of my daughter." She told him firmly as though she were speaking to Molly. "I'm not your mother, Kurt. I like being around Molly. I love her, and I miss her. I like working with Cora.. she's my family, and my family is very important to me." She tried to explain. "And if you saw me with Cal that day, and you knew that I was defending you, that I was different, then you should have given me the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn't heed Cal's warnings then, and I wouldn't ever. He's a fool, but by taking me do you know what you've done? You've proved him right. You've made every man like you a suspect to him. You had the opportunity to prove him wrong, and if you'd only trusted me you would have seen I would have defended you to the end, but I can't now, Kurt. I can't take back what you've done. I can't tell him you're not the criminal he thought you were because you've become what he feared you were." She bit her lip as another wave of nausea slipped past her and she gagged, suddenly dropping the glass onto the bed and leaning forward over the can as the water she'd just swallowed came back up, splashing violently into the receptacle at Kurt's feet. Again she let him move her hair out of the way, grateful this time. Slowly the vomiting subsided and she rolled onto her side, grateful for the fan blowing on her face. "I wish you would have trusted me, Kurt. I trusted you." Her tone was hurt, and she genuinely meant what she said. Things could have been different.

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

Kurt saw Erin’s face twist in pain again and his brow furrowed with worry. Would she get sick again? That second dash of solution would be kicking in about now. “I like working. I like responsibilities, especially taking care of my daughter. I’m not your mother, Kurt. I like being around Molly. I love her and I miss her. I like working with Cora…she’s family, and family is very important to me.” Family was more important than anything, that’s what Mother had always told him. But Kurt had no family anymore…he wanted Erin to be his family. Not her aunt and not her child—he couldn’t handle all of that. Just Erin. “And if you saw me with Cal that day, and you knew that I was defending you, that I was different, then you should have given me the benefit of the doubt. I wouldn’t heed Cal’s warnings then, and I wouldn’t ever. He’s a fool, but by taking me do you know what you’ve done? You’ve proved him right. You’ve made every man like you a suspect to him. You had the opportunity to prove him wrong, and if you’d only trusted me you would have seen I would have defended you to the end, but I can’t now, Kurt. I can’t take back what you’ve done. I can’t tell him you’re not the criminal he thought you were because you’ve become what he feared you were.” Yes, but he’d also proved what he would do to be with her! She didn’t understand how the police worked…he did. And now he had risked his own freedom to be with the woman he loved. Didn’t that mean something? It didn’t matter that the policeman (Cal was it?) was right; he’d done what he felt was necessary.

One thing that did matter was her promise that she would have defended him. She would have defended him to the end, she said…but did she mean it? He’d never had anyone to defend him before. No one wanted him. But could she really want him to keep coming around? Would she have fought for him? She did…that’s why he’d resolved to take her. If she cared enough to fight for him, she could love him too, and then he would finally know what it felt like to be loved by a pretty woman. The fact that she would ignore the policeman and allow him to keep coming around in spite of him…it was enough to make him want to cry. But he didn’t get the chance as Erin leaned over the side of the bed again, dropping the empty glass of water on the bed as she hurled the water into the trash can. He quickly jumped to his feet and reached for her long, soft brown hair, pulling it away from her face before any of the regurgitated water could taint the lovely stands. It took several minutes for her to recover and for her stomach to stop heaving. When she did she rolled onto her side and he let her hair slip through his fingers. Even if he was caught, even if the policeman found them and took Erin away from him, locked him in a cage for the rest of his life…at least he would know what it felt like to run his fingers through Erin’s hair. At least he would know what it was like to really talk to her.

“I wish you would have trusted me, Kurt. I trusted you.” The hurt tone of her voice brought him to his knees beside the bed, his hands resting on the mattress. His eyes were pleading, looking into her large brown ones with despair. She had trusted him…who had ever trusted him? Even Mother didn’t trust him not to screw things up…But Erin had trusted him. That meant more than she could possibly imagine. He wanted to prove to her that she could still trust him. It was why he’d made her sick, after all…“Oh no, Erin, it’s not you I didn’t trust. Of course I trusted you. It was that policeman. Maybe you would have let me keep coming to the shop, but I know how the police work. He would have found some reason not to let me continue coming. He would have threatened me, done anything it took to keep me away from you. Not just because he thought I was a criminal but because he wanted to keep you for himself.” His eyes looked down to the bedspread, almost bitter. “It was obvious why he came there every day, why he liked to bother you and felt the need to protect you from someone like me. And who wouldn’t care for you when they got to know you? I could see it in the way he smiled at you and kept smiling when he walked away from the shop…” He lifted his gaze to hers again, sad and lonely. “And what if you’d cared for him too? Maybe then you would want me to go just so he would be happy…I trusted you, Erin, but I didn’t trust him.” He paused, feeling guiltier and guiltier by the second. “But thank you for trusting me…even if it was only for a little bit. I’m sorry I betrayed that trust.” The words were spoken in a voice just above a whisper.

He took a deep breath, feeling heavy as he pushed himself to his feet again. His fingers wrapped around the glass on the bed, taking it nervously in both hands. “You should rest now. Maybe some sleep will help you feel better. Would you like me to go? Or…or maybe read to you? Mother used to fall asleep to me reading to her all the time.” It had been one of the few nice things they’d shared when Mother was alive. It started when he was a boy and she was helping him practice reading, but it became a regular occurrence in the middle of the afternoon. As she aged, Mother would slip off into a light sleep, and even then he would continue to read to her. He liked to read aloud and he liked that there was something he could do to ease his mother’s unquenchable anger.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

She flinched as he dropped to his knees by the bed, getting closer. "Oh no, Erin, it's not you I didn't trust. Of course I trusted you. It was that policeman. Maybe you would have let me keep coming to the shop, but I know how the police work. He would have found some reason not to let me continue coming. He would have threatened me, done anything it took to keep me away from you. Not just because he thought I was a criminal but because he wanted to keep you for himself.". Maybe it was because she didn't feel well, or maybe because she was overtired and not quite in her right mind, but she thought Kurt had a point. Cal would had found a way to keep Kurt from coming in, unlawful as that was. Worse, he would have done so selfishly. Cora had mentioned she thought Cal had feelings for her, and she could see how the men both felt possessive of her if they were equally vying for her attention, even if she wasn't interested in either. "It was obvious why he came there every day, why he liked to bother you and felt the need to protect you from someone like me. And who wouldn't care for you when they got to know you? I could see it in the way he smiled at you and kept smiling when he walked away from the shop." her heart pounded. Kurt saw it all. He had been stalking her, and in a way so had Cal. Why was she suddenly so popular? There was nothing special about Erin. Not according to herself, anyway.

Kurt looked back at her and he looked so terribly sad. It left her feeling uncertain and confused. He genuinely cared about her. He wanted her for himself and had felt threatened, a bad combination when someone is clearly unstable. Cal had created Kurts perfect storm. "And what if you'd cared for him too? Maybe then you would want me to go just so he would be happy.. I trusted you, Erin, but I didn't trust him." She felt ill again, but this wasn't causedby the stomach bug. She had to figure this all out if she ever wanted to get out of here. "But thank you for trusting me...even if it was only for a little bit. I'm sorry I betrayed that trust.". She felt tears swimming in her eyes but held them at bay. She wondered what had happened to Kurt to make him like this. Or maybe he was just nuts naturally.. or perhaps a combination. She nodded slightly, acknowledging she heard him.

Kurt pushed himself up and her eys trailed after him, not moving herself. "You should rest now. Maybe some sleep will help you feel better. Would you like me to go? Or.." Erin gulped looking up at him, unsure about his or. "Or maybe read to you? Mother used to fall asleep to me reading to her all the time.". Again he brought up his mother and Erin had th strange feeling she really was the root of all of this. What kind of woman had she been? What had she done to her son? Erin licked her lips but slowly shook her head. "Thank you, but I sleep better when it's quiet." She said softly, being kinder now. She had a lot to consider without him standing over her. "Perhaps later." She offered, surprising herself with her ow kindness towards the man who was keeping her as a locked up prisoner.

She was grateful when he did finally leave, and Erin did her best to get comfortable considering her arms were stiff and uncomfortable. Also her stomach kept cramping, causng her to feel hot and damp all over. The fan helped and soon her body gave out to the weariness, her eyes growing too heavy to keep open.

Sleep wasn't easy. Her stomach twisting woke her now and hen, and occasionally her arms or hands fell asleep, causing a cold prickly sensation to shoot through the dead limb, forcing her to shift. Then there was the strangeness of the bed and room, and the grief at being trapped.. despite it all she managed to rest on and off. She had no idea how long it had been when the creaking of a floorboard made her stir. She turned her head and looked up to see Kurt standing there. How long had he been there? A few seconds? An hour? More? Her heart immediately began to race but she was calmed by the fact that she knew he wouldn't hurt her. "Hi." She greeted softly, speaking irst and seeing the relief on his face. Her stomach seemed a little better and she turned her body to face him more. "I feel a little better." She offered, biting her lower lip, "but I need the bathroom again. Can I have my hands for that? Please?" She asked hopefully. "I promise you an tie them again after. I'll behave..just.. please? Can you trust me?" Her heart raced wondering if he could give her an inch. If he would..

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

Erin shook her head and Kurt nodded his in return, respecting her wish not to be read to while she fell asleep. “Thank you, but I sleep better when it’s quiet. Perhaps later.” He’d do anything she asked of him. A small, awkward smile tugged at his lips as he moved towards the door. Her voice was soft and kind again, easing him once more. He hated to see or hear her upset. “Okay. I’ll just leave then. Call if you need me.” Again he nodded and stepped backward, almost bumping into the door when he reached it but stopping just in time to avoid collision. He stepped out into the hallway and pulled the door to behind him, leaving Erin to rest as the mild poison worked its way through her system. Once more he found his chair not far from the door and waited patiently, reading his book as the sun slowly filled the apartment with another day.

The hours ticked by and Kurt busied himself with his book, falling into a nap for about an hour and waking up with a crick in his neck. A little rubbing and cracking and the discomfort was minimal. He slipped into the kitchen and ate breakfast before moving around to do his morning chores of dishes and washing up for the day. There was even time to go down to the bottom floor and check with the manager of the rental office to see how things were running. The older woman handed him his mail, citing a few e-mails he would have to check up on when he went upstairs. She must have sensed he was nervous because she asked if he was okay, but he brushed it off with a smile and a small shake of his head. “I’m fine,” he promised, though he didn’t think it was very convincing with how tense he was. He scurried back up to his apartment with a short and hurried goodbye. For a moment he just listened, waiting to hear any noise from Erin—all was quiet. He placed the mail on his desk in the living room where he did most of his work, and moved back to the bedroom. He had to be sure Erin was still there.

Carefully he pushed the door open and poked his head in. She was fast asleep on the bed and he couldn’t help but notice once again how peaceful she looked sleeping. He could watch her sleeping all day and night. The way her chest rose and fell with soft, slow breathing, her hands bound and riding on the slow up and down waves of her breath, her skin dewy with sweat and the small hairs on her forehead twitching in the breeze from the fan…it was beautiful. Kurt was drawn slowly to her bedside, taking in every curve of her face and small movement as if it were a miracle lying there before him. In a way, it was a miracle—Kurt had never had such a beautiful woman in his home, much less lying in his bed. And when she was sleeping, he could truly appreciate the miracle before him, something he couldn’t do when she was awake and alert.

A sudden creaking called him back to attention and when he looked down he found he’d stepped on a loose floorboard. When he looked back up at her nervously, he found her eyes open and blinking as she gazed at him, dazed and confused. All he could do was smile awkwardly in return, feeling strange for having been caught watching her sleep. “Hi.” “Hello,” he replied with a soft sigh, relieved she wouldn’t call him out for this faux pas. “I feel a little better…but I need the bathroom again. Can I have my hands for that? Please?” He hesitated, his brow wrinkling in consternation. If he let her hands go, what would she do? Would she try to attack him? It would be hard to do if her ankles were still bound… “I promise you can tie them again after. I’ll behave…just…please? Can you trust me?” She had trusted him, so it was only fair that he return the favor.

He nodded gently and stepped forward, standing beside the bed so he could release her wrists. “Just…please don’t try to attack me. I’d hate to have to hurt you in order to subdue you.” With that verbal warning and an agreement from her, Kurt’s surprisingly long fingers, thin from his years of playing the piano, found the knots he’d bound her wrists tightly with. They worked quickly, loosening the knots methodically and before long the rope fell limp from her wrists. He unraveled it from her wrists and then tossed the rope aside. His hands found hers as he pulled her to her feet and carefully he offered his arm for her to balance herself with as she shuffled from the room. “I could make you some chicken noodle soup if you’re hungry. I know your stomach is upset, but that should be something you can hold down since it’s mostly liquid.” If she didn’t want to risk eating yet, he would understand. Her wish was his command as they moved slowly for the bathroom.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

When Kurt nodded Erin felt relief run through her. Her shoulders were sore and so were her wrists. She desperately wanted to stretch her arms, and she was grateful for the opportunity, even if she was still being held against her will. “Just…please don’t try to attack me. I’d hate to have to hurt you in order to subdue you.” The comment irked her but she remained quiet, and promised herself she would behave. As fiercely as she wanted to fight, she knew Kurt had the higher ground in every way. It would take nothing for him to subdue her, especially in her current condition, and she wanted this freedom again in the future, which meant gaining his trust. The more freedom she was entrusted with, the sooner she could safely escape.

Erin looked between Kurt's face and his long fingers as they untied the complicated knot holding her binds in place. Soon he was pulling them away and she slowly moved her arms apart, letting out a sigh of relief. It felt incredible! He reached for her hands and helped her up, something Erin forced herself to allow. She didn't want him touching her, and though part of her felt bad for him, she was still angry and upset about the situation. She didn't know when she would see her daughter again, if ever, and that was a scary thought. There was nothing more she could say to Kurt to try and convince him, so she would simply have to bide her time and either wait for Cal to find her or wait until she could free herself.

Erin felt weak on her feet. She was still a little tired, hungry and sick to her stomach all at the same time. It made her feel a little light headed and she found herself leaning on Kurt more than she would have liked to in order to keep from falling to the ground. “I could make you some chicken noodle soup if you’re hungry. I know your stomach is upset, but that should be something you can hold down since it’s mostly liquid.” She considered his offer, not wanting to accept anything from him, but knowing her stubbornness might actually kill her if she didn't let it go. He would sooner treat her there than bring her to a hospital for dehydration and risk losing her forever. "I could try a little I guess." She said softly, hating herself, but reminding herself that she had to fight for Molly's sake. She didn't matter, it was Molly who mattered and Molly needed her mother.

Kurt brought her the rest of the way and Erin made her way into the bathroom alone, shutting the door behind her as Kurt let her know once more he would come when she called. She moved to the sink and looked at herself before turning the water on. She splashed some of the cold water onto her face and then brought a handful to her lips. She swished it around and gargled it before spitting it out, then made her way to the toilet to do her business. Erin sat there for a long time, even after she'd finished, enjoying her solitude and the freedom her hands had. She stretched her arms over her head, rubbed her wrists and did some other stretches while she still had the use of her limbs, certain he wouldn't allow her to keep this small freedom for long once she left the bathroom.

When she finally had enough, she got up and fixed her clothes more appropriately this time before slowly scooting to the sink again. She washed her hands thoroughly, moving her hands up her entire arms. She found a cotton ball in the drawer and dampened it before gliding it over her teeth to attempt to clean them some since she had no toothbrush. When she could stall no longer she moved slowly to the door and opened it, stepping outside. She put her hand on the wall, steadying herself when she noticed Kurt watching her. She jumped a little, startled to see him there when she wasn't expecting to. Disappointment filled her and she bit her lower lip, extending her hands out to him in the position they had been bound, allowing him the opportunity to take her prisoner once more.

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

“I could try a little I guess.” Erin’s softly spoken answer made Kurt smile gently, eager to please her by making her a bowl of chicken noodle soup. He helped her the rest of the way to the bathroom and smiled before he shut the door. “Just call out when you’re done.” With that he shut the door and left her in peace to do her business. In the meantime he scrambled off to the kitchen to put the soup on the stove. He had a few cans in a cupboard and pulled out the can of Campbell’s soup, knowing the Progresso kind with the big chunks of chicken and egg noodles might be a little too much for Erin at the moment. The pots were stored below the counter in a tidy cubby and he pulled out a small one and turned the stove on to a medium high heat. His quick fingers fished a can opener out of a drawer and worked swiftly to slide the wheeled blade across the tin surface. Within moments the lid popped off and he carefully pulled it back and dumped the contents into the waiting pot. Before he left the soup to heat up, he dropped the tin can into the recycling can he kept hidden beneath the sink. It had only taken him a few minutes to prepare the small meal, so he moved back to the bathroom to await Erin’s call. He was surprised how long it took for her to use the restroom, but he could hear her moving around and he wondered if she wasn’t just working out her kinks.

Standing tall against the wall, Kurt held his hands in front of him as he waited patiently for the sound of her voice or maybe her hand on the knob. His eyes shot up when he did hear the soft jiggling of the handle and a second later the door opened to reveal a weak looking Erin. She had her hand on the wall to steady her and Kurt watched her with a worrisome gaze. He’d made her this way…and he felt so guilty for it. But she was coming to trust him again and that was most important. The more she trusted him, the happier she would be with staying there with him. Finally her large brown eyes came to his and he gave an anxious smile even as she jumped in surprise. Why did she look so sad? She stretched her arms out the way they’d been bound and extended them toward him. Even then it took him a moment to realize why she was upset, but then it hit him and he remembered the rope he’d left in his room. He could tie Erin back up, make sure she was secure, but with how disappointed she looked…no, he couldn’t do that to her. Mother would probably call him a fool, but then she wouldn’t approve of having a girl in their house either. Kurt stepped forward and shook his head gently. “No, I won’t bind you again. As long as the bindings are still on your ankles I think I can trust you.” At least until she went to bed. He would keep his eyes on her so she wouldn’t have a chance to tug at her ankle restraints.

“I’ll show you the kitchen.” He reached out a hand to take Erin’s, as hopeful as a little boy reaching out to the little girl on the playground. It didn’t even cross his mind that Erin’s look was one of hesitation and annoyance. When her hand was in his, he smiled wider and slowly walked with her down the hallway while she felt her way along with the other hand. She would get used to the ankle restraints, he told himself. Before long they came to a medium sized, open kitchen, the counters wrapping around a small half wall that connected with the hallway. The cabinets were dark ebony wood with old, yellowed ivory handles. An outdated floral print bordered the walls up along the ceiling, peeling and faded in places. All of the appliances were old too, but still clean, and it was obvious the apartment hadn’t been changed in many, many years. In fact, Kurt had not changed one detail from the last time his mother decorated in the mid-eighties. The stove and refrigerator were slightly newer, from about the late-nineties, but only because the old ones had given out. Even as they were breaking down and their luster was long lost, he was reluctant to buy new ones. Mother hated change.

The rest of the tidy apartment was visible from the kitchen as well. It was dark, both in lighting and color scheme, and much of the furniture dated from the late thirties, pieces that had been in his family for generations. They were well taken care of, but chipped in a couple places, the upholstery wearing down. More floral prints were embroidered in the upholstery, dark green, plum, and gold being the overwhelming theme. It still looked like an old woman lived there, eking out the last of her years among the comforts of a childhood home. Kurt kept it well-preserved. The most magnificent piece in the home was a large ebony grand piano, the ivory keys obviously well-loved by the fingers of an avid pianist. Sheet music rested on the upper panel, the lid propped up above the perfectly tune strings and hammers within the beautiful instrument. Open on the music stand was a book of Mozart compilations, the sheets yellowing and curling at the corners.

Kurt set Erin down at the old, round mahogany kitchen table and then moved over to the stove and stirred the contents of the pot. The heat was slow to sink into the broth and noodles, so he allowed himself to glance over at Erin in the gentle light coming through the kitchen window. A storm was threatening in the sky and Kurt was glad to see it. He liked rainy days. He would like this rainy day even more with Erin there with him. What could he say to her? Ask her? There was so much he wanted to know but hadn’t been able to ask her before now. “So…what are your hobbies, Erin? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you before.” At least light conversation could break the overwhelming silence.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

Erin watched in surprise as Kurt shook his head, her own cocking slightly to the side. “No, I won’t bind you again. As long as the bindings are still on your ankles I think I can trust you.” Her arms lowered a little hesitantly, unsure if he meant it. He wouldn't trick her, would he? “I’ll show you the kitchen.” Erin pursed her lips gently at his hopefulness, hesitating to take the outstretched hand. She wasn't keen on touching him, but she knew she must. She couldn't walk well with her ankle restraints on, even with free hands, and she was still dizzy from lack of food and water. Finally she allowed her hand to slip into his, letting him take her to the kitchen.

As they walker her hand slid along the wall, using it for support so she wouldn't need to lean on Kurt any more than she already had. She took the time to really look at the home he had as they slowly made their journey to the other side of the apartment. Everything was old. It looked like she'd stepped back in time to when she was a child, some of the furnishings reminding her vaguely of what was in style when she was a very young girl. Of course everything was faded considering how incredibly old it was, but despite its age it was all in decent condition. Kurt took care of this come and she wondered if he kept it this way in honor of his mother. He'd mentioned her several times already, and considering how much he cared for her, she imagined he would be the type to keep things as she preferred them out of respect. It was a noble quality if that was the case, but there was really nothing noble about the man leading her into the worn old kitchen.

Kurt helped Erin into a chair at the old mahogany table. Her eyes followed him as he moved to the stove, sitting quietly and looking around at the decor in that room. It was the same as the rest of the house; worn, very outdated and immaculately clean. She took in the dark cabinets with the yellowed handles and the floral border that was faded with age. Something about it all unnerved her a little, like a creepy horror movie. “So…what are your hobbies, Erin? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you before.” Brown eyes moved to the tall, slender man at the stove and for a moment she seemed to be staring right through him, her eyes glassed over in thought. Her overall demeanor was one of melancholy, and it was obvious she was unhappy and broken already to some degree. Her fingers curled gently in her lap, finding them being placed together was somehow comforting even though they'd been stuck together for so long. Her eyes moved down the meet her hands, but she didn't feel much like making small talk. Or any talk. Still, she was playing a game, his game, and like it or not she had to keep going in order to win. "Baking." She answered softly, finally looking up at him, forcing herself to watch him though he was the last thing she wanted to stare at. "And photography. I like to read sometimes." She told him, the smile she was trying to force failing miserably, never bothering to grace her plump lips though she begged it to. "I read with my daughter every night. I think she'll miss that.." She swallowed the tears that threatened to well. "I know I will." She added much more softly, mostly to herself as her fingers fidgeted restlessly in her lap. Erin bit her lips, her cheeks growing flush with the desire to cry, but she forbid herself to do it. Not again. "What sort of hobbies are we going to have?" She asked, desperate to keep the bitterness from her tone, but knowing it was underlying in her statement. Her eyes pierced his, almost challenging, and when she realized what she was doing she dropped them humbly, chastising herself for being bold when she needed to be strong for Molly. "Since we'll be spending so much time together now.." She added her voice calmer and softer, bordering on apologetic, though she was anything but.

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

Kurt looked over at Erin when she didn’t answer him right away, finding her looking at him but unfocused. His brow furrowed to see how melancholy she looked. She had to adjust…he had to remember that. If only he could make her forget her old life. Her eyes finally fell to her hands and he sighed gently. She was so unhappy… “Baking. And photography. I like to read sometimes.” The sound of her soft voice answer brought a small, relieved smile to his lips, watching her hopefully. “I read with my daughter every night. I think she’ll miss that…I know I will.” It was a nice picture, Erin reading with her daughter before the girl went to bed. Mother used to do that with him too, though night time reading was always from the Bible. It was better to go to bed with holy thoughts in your head, Mother used to say. Sometimes he would dream about those stories from the Bible, but they were never good dreams; like when he dreamed he was at the destruction of Sodom, people screaming all around him as he watched angels pouring vengeance on him and the rest of the city. In another he was swallowed whole by a whale and forced to survive the pit of its stomach. There were so many, though…It was Erin’s voice that pulled him from those frightening memories.

“What sort of hobbies are we going to have?” His stomach flipped at the word “we,” looking up at her with surprise. He could have sworn there was anger and bitterness in her eyes, but they dropped too quickly for him to really know. “Since we’ll be spending so much time together now…” The man swallowed hard, considering her question. They could have hobbies together…but what would they do? “I’m not sure…” he answered nervously, his smile awkward as he switched the stove off. The soup was steaming well now and he moved to another cupboard to grab a bowl. “I like to read too. I have multiple copies of some books…perhaps we could read together in the evening. You could teach me how to bake, if you’d like to. I’m not very good at baking, just cooking. Mother always did the baking. I’d like to learn.” He threw an awkward smile over at her before he ladled some soup into the plain white bowl. “I could play piano for you too if you wanted some music. I know when I get really anxious or upset music helps me calm. I could even teach you a little if you were interested. And…well Mother loved puzzles, so I have a lot of them. I like to do puzzles too to pass the time. But I know some people think puzzles are boring.” He picked up the bowl, dipping a spoon into the noodles and broth. It was mostly broth since she might not be ready for a lot of noodles, but he’d put some into the bowl. He carried it to her and placed it in front of her on the table, taking his seat caddy corner to her.

Erin was hesitant to eat the soup, but she eventually did. He smiled, glad she was at least trying it. The man hadn’t put anything into the soup, so she should be able to hold it down. “Mother used to give me chicken noodle soup every time I felt sick. First she would let me sweat it out and said I should think about what I’d done to deserve to be so sick. She used to tell me people only got sick when God was punishing them for sinning. But then when I took a turn for the better she would make me soup. Within a day or so I always felt better.” To him, Mother’s treatment was completely normal. All mothers had to be hard on their kids for their children to grow up strong. Kurt rarely got sick now because he followed Mother’s advice to only do good and avoid temptations. He might get really, really sick for bringing Erin here, but that was for a good cause. There were very few things he allowed himself to want in life and he felt God had blessed him with Erin—he couldn’t let God’s blessing slip through his fingers. He realized his talking of sin and punishment could be seen as fanatical and he gave a bashful shrug of his shoulders and a half smile. “I’m not as devote as Mother was, though. I know it’s just germs that make you sick.” And poison…but he would leave that part off. It was unnecessary. “What did your mother do to help you feel better?” Perhaps he could learn a thing or two about making Erin feel better by finding out what her mother did! It couldn’t hurt the situation any.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

"I'm not sure.." somehow his answer annoyed her even more. She still had no idea what he intended to do with her other than keep her there. He clearly wanted a relationship of sorts but he was relatively respectful of boundaries. It was like he expected her to simply fall in love with him. Didn't kidnappers usually have grander plans? Kurt could find a nice mail order bride if he wanted! Erin kept her eyes away from him, hearing him moving around the kitchen once more. "I like to read too. I have multiple copies of some books..perhaps we could read together in the evening." but what about during the day? "You could teach me how to bake, if you'd like to. I'm not very good at baking, just cooking. Mother always did the baking. I'd like to learn." she never looked up to see the smile he threw at her. She knew she should try a little harder, tell him she'd like to teach him to bake, but it was pobably the farthest thing from the truth and she wasn't feeling up to pretending at the moment. Her stomach still felt bad and she was still tired and depressed. Where was Cal?

"I could play piano for you too if you wanted some music. I know when I get really anxious or upset music helps me calm. I could even teach you a little if you were interested." she finally forced a small smil up at him, but it wasn't genuine, pretending as though the thought was appealing when it wasn't. "And..well Mother loved puzzles, so I have a lot of them. I like to do puzzles too to pass the time. But I know some people think puzzles are boring." puzzles were a little boring but sometimes she and Molly would do one together. Erin noted how much Kurt spoke about his mother, and it somehow unsettled her. Grown men shouldn't talk about their mothers the way Kurt did.

Kurt slipped th soup in front of her and then took a seat by hear. She stared at the yellowish broth for a long momnt, not etirely trusting the food, but knowing she needed to try and hold something down. Finally she reached for the spoon and brought some of the liquid to her lips, sipping it silently from the spoon, all the while keeping her eyes averted from his. "Mother used to give me chicken noodle soup every time I felt sick.. Again with Mother. Erin peaked up at him feeling uneasy about the way he talked about her. "First she would let me sweat it out and said I should think about what I'd done to deserve to be so sick. She used to tell me people only got sick when God was punishing them for sinning. But then when I took a turn for the better she would make me soup. Within a day or so I always felt better." she stared at him. He talked wih ease as though it were common practice to do his but Erin was beginning to pick up on the fact that things were not okay in this home. Making a child feel guilty for being sick was cruel, telling them they must deserve it for doing something wrong or sinful. Again she felt bad for Kurt but also angry bcause deep down she knew somehow this Mother was responsible for making Kurtwho h was now; a man who could take a woman with no hesitation from her family and justify it.

"I'm not as devote as Mother was, though. I know it's just germs that make you sick." at least he wasn't a complete idiot. Erin sipped slowly from the spoon, finding the broth eased the cramps some. "What did your mother do to help you feel better?" Erin didn't feel like talking about her mother with Kurt. She barely spoke to her mother anymore, though there had been a time when they were relatively close. Of course that ended when Erin started following her own heart and not her mothers. She wondered if her parents knew of her absence yet, and if they were doing anything about it. Not that they could do much.. Cora would have told them, though. Cora had to know, because Cora was the person Molly would call if she found herself alone in the morning. "She would let me watch television and make me toast and tea. Sometimes she would make Jell-o, too." She offered. To that day Erin had a hard time eating Jell-o when she wasn't sick, but craved it when she wasn't feeling well. Strangely, she didn't want any then. "My dad would stay with me in the evenings to make sure I was okay." Her eyes moved to his again, her fingers on the spoon though it stayed nestled in her bowl. "You speak a lot about your mother." She noted aloud, her eyes intent on his. "What about your father?"

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

It took Erin a long moment to answer his question but Kurt’s eyes remained fixed on hers attentively. Some people had a hard time talking about their mothers. Maybe she didn’t have a good relationship with her? The only people he’d ever seen her with regularly were Cora, Cora’s daughter, her daughter, and the policeman. It was a pity when people didn’t have good relationships with their mothers. “She would let me watch television and make me toast and tea. Sometimes she would make Jell-o, too.” He gave a small smile and decided that would be a great thing to make her later—some toast and tea. It would help her stomach feel normal again and it would be comforting at the same time. “My dad would stay with me in the evenings to make sure I was okay.” Oh, her dad…fathers weren’t something he could speak to with any certainty. He’d never even seen his father, but his mother told him often how much he looked like the man. Everything bad about him was blamed on the man that otherwise didn’t exist.

“You speak a lot about your mother.” He had trailed off mentally, gazing down at the table as he briefly wondered about the man who’d fathered him. Now his eyes came back to hers. “What about your father?” Kurt gave an anxious sort of smile, looking back down at the table as he considered his answer. “There isn’t much to say, really. Mother told me he was a soldier. He went off to Vietnam and never returned. Their relationship ended as quickly as it started and she was left with me. I don’t even have a picture of him. I know I must look like him, though, because I didn’t look very much like Mother.” Another anxious sort of smile creased his lips and he glanced back at Erin before looking around his apartment a little. “This building runs in our family. It’s a good thing too, since Mother didn’t have to raise me on scraps. She always made sure I was grateful for what I had. That’s why I didn’t really miss having a father when I was young, because at least I still had Mother. Mother and I were very close.” He nodded vaguely, his smile humble. Overall he knew he had drawn a pretty good hand when he was born. It wasn’t perfect and it was lonely, but there were much worse things to be. Now with Erin here, he wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.

Finally he looked up at her again, smiling gently still, though it was obvious his smiles were always anxious, like he might be struck at any moment. That was thanks to his Mother, but then all mothers were tough on their kids if they wanted what was best for their children. “What about you, Erin? Are you close to your mother and father? It sounds like they’re nice people from the way they cared for you when you were young.” If they raised Erin, they had to be nice people. He was willing to bet she looked more like her mother, too. With her feminine bearing, it had to be—he was suddenly very curious about how Erin had grown into who she was.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

"There isn’t much to say, really. Mother told me he was a soldier. He went off to Vietnam and never returned. Their relationship ended as quickly as it started and she was left with me. I don’t even have a picture of him. I know I must look like him, though, because I didn’t look very much like Mother.” He smiled anxiously at her, but Erin only watched silently, sipping the soup slowly from the spoon. She wondered about the sincerity behind his story. Could his mother have just told him that? Was she really his mother? It wasn't her business to ask and she honestly didn't care enough to try and press the subject. “This building runs in our family. It’s a good thing too, since Mother didn’t have to raise me on scraps. She always made sure I was grateful for what I had. That’s why I didn’t really miss having a father when I was young, because at least I still had Mother. Mother and I were very close.” The way he spoke about her still made Erin very uneasy. When Erin talked about her mom she said my mom because everyone, in theory, had a mother. Kurt used the word Mother like it was her name, someone Erin should know about already and it simply didn't sit right with her. She nodded slowly so he would know she was listening though she didn't care much about what he was saying. She felt bad for Kurt, but her loyalty to him ended there.

“What about you, Erin? Are you close to your mother and father? It sounds like they’re nice people from the way they cared for you when you were young.” The story of her parents was a complicated one. She cared for them, and they cared for her, but they often butted heads when they were together. She hated how her parents pitied the person she had become, openly telling her how much potential she had wasted, when Erin knew she had reached a significant amount of potential. Being the person they wanted her to have been would mean Molly would not exist, and the sheer thought was a sickening one. Erin couldn't picture her life without Molly, and somehow the thought of telling Kurt the whole back story made her feel ill. It wasn't his business, and she didn't have to answer anything she didn't want to. If she didn't set up clear boundaries now, then she would never be able to.

"I don't want to talk about my relationship with my parents." Her voice was stern but even, the same authoritative tone she took with Molly when she wanted to make it clear that she meant what she was saying. She figured he would come up with his own assumptions, but she didn't care about that. Kurt hadn't earned to know her just because he'd stolen her away and locked her in his little ivory tower. She'd eaten about a quarter of her soup and her spoon lay in the bowl, her eyes staring at the deep golden liquid. "Do you work?" She asked, wanting to know the important things, like if he was going to be leaving at all. "Does anyone ever come here to visit?"

[KURT STEUBENFELD]

“I don’t want to talk about my relationship with my parents.” Kurt could hear the hard tone of Erin’s voice, giving her statement an air of finality. It wasn’t as simple as she didn’t want to talk about her parents—she wouldn’t talk about them. Kurt had to remember she didn’t trust him completely or like him yet. His stomach fell at the realization. He knew it was going to take a long time for her to come around to him, but it was still disappointing to see the proof that these things never went as quickly as one wanted it to. She was closing herself off again and he knew he would have to give her another dose of his mild poison. It made his heart heavy, but there was no other choice. “Do you work? Does anyone ever come here to visit?” The questions woke him from his reverie slightly and his eyes were sad when they came to hers. Now she was finding ways out again. Any happiness he’d felt at her warming up disappeared and he sighed gently, looking toward a window at the rain-filled clouds ready to burst any moment. “No. This building is my work and I handle most of it from home. The only one that visits is my office manager, but those visits are few and far between.” He looked back to her and glanced at her soup, noticing she had managed to down at least half the bowl. A forced and strained smile came to his thin lips. “Would you like a glass of water when you go back to your room?”


The last six days had been the happiest of Kurt life. For six whole days he had Erin with him and it was such a relief not to be alone anymore. True, it had taken her quite some time to warm up to him, but Kurt had been patient. Now she smiled at him and once when they were watching a film he heard her laugh. They’d watched a couple movies, finished a couple puzzles and even started the Great Gatsby together. Kurt had played piano for her a few times, very shy about it the first time. Erin seemed to like it and complimented him on his playing. She even made cookies with him once. He only put the bindings on her wrists when he took a shower, tying her to the bed post to make sure she wouldn’t get away. Other than that, she now had free reign of the apartment. Granted, he spent every night out in the living room, ready for Erin if she tried to leave. Every morning he had woken up relieved to find her safely in her room. He kept her ankles bound as an extra precaution, but he suspected she was starting to enjoy her time here.

She was still evasive about her story and didn’t tell him much about her background. Sometimes she would talk about it a little bit, but mostly when she talked about herself in was in relation to her daughter. It was a pity Erin had to miss her daughter so much, but Kurt had to separate her from her old life as much as possible. He wanted nothing to come between him and Erin growing to love each other. A couple times while she was still sick for those first few days he’d tried to admit his feelings for her, but he always came up short in the end. Watching her sleep those sick days, though, he realized he really did love her. He would do anything to keep her there. That’s why he’d made her sick. She was better now, though, and able to eat normally again. She would never know what he’d done to make her trust him. That secret would go with him to the grave.

Now he sat at the breakfast table, reading a book over cereal while he waited for Erin to wake and emerge from her room. Since she was only bound at the ankles, she was able to get out of bed on her own now without having to shout for him. He hadn’t heard sounds from her room yet, so he enjoyed the quiet of the morning, a couple of finches singing in the eaves outside the window of his kitchen. It was nice to know he wasn’t really alone.

[ERIN O'BRIEN]

She could see the disappointment in his eyes as she asked, and she knew he was onto her. She swallowed and watched him carefully, afraid he might tie her up again. “No. This building is my work and I handle most of it from home. The only one that visits is my office manager, but those visits are few and far between.” He looked back at her and she held his gaze for a second before lowering her eyes. No one would run into her there, and he didn't leave often, if at all. She knew he had to leave to buy groceries at least! Either way she was stuck until she figured something out. “Would you like a glass of water when you go back to your room?” She looked at him uncertainly, unsure why he would ask that now. Was she going back to her room? Out of politeness she nodded.


That afternoon Erin got sick again. In fact, she remained ill for the rest of the day and the entire next. It wasn't until that following morning that she was able to keep anything down. Kurt stayed loyally by her side, pulling her hair from her face and soothing her as best he could given the circumstance. He made her tea and even Jell-o. He never tried anything funny, either. The man helped her move from room to room as she needed, considered the stomach bug left her feeling weak and a little tired. She learned more about his life, but mostly they found light conversation in the activities they were doing, like watching movies or doing puzzles. They weren't necessarily things Erin enjoyed doing, not with Kurt at least, but they passed the time and helped her relax a little. Escape was still the first thing on her mind, but she still had no clue how to do so. He was always home, and when he was in the shower he tied her to the bed. If she screamed he would hear, so she kept her mouth shut, desperately trying to wriggle free from her confines, but never succeeding.

Slowly she was accepting her fate. She did things with Kurt to keep herself from getting bored and to please him. The happier he was with her, the more freedom she might gain. She was beginning to give up on the dream that Cal would find her, and it would be up to her to get out of this mess, but how? She played nice as she thought, though. She baked with him, read with him, even allowed herself to laugh openly in front of him once or twice, but at the end of the day she usually cried herself to sleep, feeling hopeless despite the facade she put on during the day. The first night she'd felt better she'd tried sneaking from her room, but one look out the door and she knew it would be impossible to get around him. He was asleep in the living room and she knew the floorboards creaked, and she hadn't learned which ones just yet. Not all of them, anyway. Sneaking out at night was impossible. But every morning, religiously, she got up and made her way to the kitchen and forced a pleasant expression on her face. Erin didn't necessarily despise him, but she didn't really care much for him either. She wanted no harm to come to him, she only wanted her freedom. She felt bad for the man, gathering his life had been a strange one, and certainly an abused one, so she did her best to be kind despite it all, but she wanted to go home. She wanted her daughter back.

Judging by her count she had been there nearly a week. How much longer would she be forced to play house with Kurt before she got the hell out of there? She got up and made her way to the kitchen, unsurprised to see the book in his hands. "Good morning." She said gently as she sat down across from him. He always looked so happy to see her, and it somehow made her feel almost guilty, knowing she was plotting to leave him the second she got the opportunity. But he had to know it wouldn't last forever.. right?