From The View of A Nerd

Well, I want to publish a book by the time I graduate so here are the very first drafts.

Chapter 1

It started out like any usual rainy Sunday. I semi-watched the news, as they jumbled on about a look out for serial killers. There were no pictures, but they gave a warning:

“We have identified the killers as a duo, one male and one female. We would like to issue a warning to anybody in the Madison District. The last killing took place there. Please, ladies and gents, lock your doors and be safe.”

As my stomach growled, I looked through the cabinets, realizing I had to go the grocery store for some bacon and eggs. Knowing my boyfriend, Niall, he would be grumpy for the rest of the day if breakfast wasn’t ready by the time he woke up. I grabbed my keys, put on my Dolce & Gabbana raincoat and boots over my pajamas and slippers. I got the groceries, and picked up a couple of coffees (one extra splash of caffeine and soy, light foam and one black) on the way back home. When I got home, Niall’s car was gone. Great, I thought. He must have gone to the studio with the guys. I made breakfast, and left some in the oven for when he got home. As I sat there, sulking, and ate, I heard a faint knock at the door. I got up and walked towards the door.

Who would be here at 9am on a Sunday? April was at church, Niall had a key, and if he was at the studio, so were the boys.

I opened the door and there stood the most drab-looking, sad little family. The man looked about 35ish, had a dark 5 o’clock shadow, and dirty denim cut offs. The woman looked about 5 years younger, dirty with scraggly hair, and a baby that only had a diaper on and was bawling their eyes out, on her hip. I stood there and gaped as the man spoke up,

“Hello. My name is Jeffrey and this is my wife Belinda, and my daughter, Katy. We have no home and it is cold. May we sit on your porch until the rain clears?”

“Of course! Actually, I just made breakfast, why don’t you come in?”

He looked surprised. “Are you sure?”

I nodded and led them to the kitchen. I set up the table, and split up Niall’s plate into 3 parts.

This time, Belinda spoke up. “We want to thank you. Nobody is ever this generous.”

I nodded as I started to make some coffee.

I took out three cups and offered some, “would you like some?”

As they ate and I sipped on my coffee, they told about what happened.

“We lost our home because Jeffrey lost his job as a meat inspector. I had started to work as a small time dress maker, but Jeffrey was gone a lot, and Katy was still a baby, so I had to stay home because we couldn’t afford a nanny,” Belinda explained.

I could feel the tears in my eyes well up.

“I’m so sorry. It must be rough living that way.”

I’m over here complaining about my boyfriend being grumpy and ruining my day, but this little family. They had disappointment ten times mine, every day.

As I stood up to go get a tissue, Jeffrey got up quick, took my hands, put them behind my back and slammed me to the ground, knocking the breath out of me.

Then everything went black.

Chapter 2

As I opened my eyes, I noticed I was in the basement, where I make most of my videos and music. Must have been a dream, I must have fallen sleep. As I got up, my head felt like it was going to explode. I must have just hit my head when I fell. I walked up the stairs, opened the door and saw the family sitting at the table.

The baby was crying off in a distance, and Belinda was wearing my very expensive Gucci azalea-pink-washed-silk dress and my Jimmy Choo Tan Leather and Snakeskin Ember Cutout Heeled Sandals. Oh was I going to rip her a new one.

How could they take advantage of me like this, even when I took them in? I thought. I snuck to the arch entering the kitchen. They had all of our savings on the table. Stacks of hundreds. Belinda was counting and Jeffrey looked as though he was going to snap.

“Will you shut that baby up?!? I’m going to go up there myself, if you don’t!”

Belinda rolled her eyes, “Fine.”

She got up and walked upstairs. Jeffrey stood up and walked to the bathroom. Now was my chance, I grabbed a steak knife and about $100. Right as I turned around, Jeffrey was there.

“So you think you can escape? You never will. We are just waiting for you to get ripe enough to surrender you, my dear.”

After his little speech, he grabbed my arm. I swung round and caught a little bit of his arm with the steak knife. He took my wrist, grabbed the knife, and pushed me on the ground. Once I was there, he held the knife against my throat.

“Do you want to live?” he said hoarsely.

I nodded my head. Just then, Belinda walked in.

“What are you doing?!? We don’t want to kill her yet! Are you crazy?”

I nodded my head, and he put the knife closer to my neck.

Jeffrey had me up, standing with my hands behind my back, and had a grip on my hair.

“Bell, take her to the basement.”

Belinda took my hair and hands, and took me back. As soon as we were out of Jeffery’s earshot, I spoke up.

“Belinda, please take me to the baby. I will take care of her. You won’t have to worry about him and his complaining. Please I won’t try to escape. Just let me be with the baby.”

Belinda sighed and looked straight into my eyes, “Okay. Fine but be quiet and I will bring both our meals at noon. One meal a day. And there are diapers in the bag on the bed. Put your phone in my hand.”

I gave her my work one, and hid my real one in my bust. She took me upstairs and took me to my room.

“Make sure that baby doesn’t cry or I will finish you myself,” she said threateningly.

As she closed the door, I noticed the door knobs were turned around, so the lock was on the outside. Great, I thought.

I talked to the baby, kept her happy. She finally fell asleep in my lap. Sure I wanted children, but not this way. I turned the T.V. on and put the captions on so I could mute it. The news was on and they had an urgent update:

“This just in: A baby girl, April, has been taken from her foster home this morning around 4:30. Authorities ask that the child is returned immediately.”

They then showed a picture of the exact same baby, I had in my lap. I began to cry. How could they be so heartless? A poor little baby who will never be with her parents. I set her on the bed and laid down. My eyes got heavy and I went into a deep sleep. I was woken up by a loud crash, like people were wrestling. I jiggled the doorknob.

It was unlocked. I opened the door slowly and peeked down the stairs. There was Niall and Jeffrey fighting. And Jeffrey was about to win. I kept quiet as they fought; only prayer could help Niall.

As I was about to close the door, I saw Jeffrey slam Niall into the ground, and Niall was knocked out. I closed the door and cried a silent cry as I heard Jeffrey order Belinda to take him to the basement. Then I fell asleep.

Chapter 3

I woke up crying. As I wiped my tears with my sleeve, I got up and checked on the baby. She was sound asleep. I looked around. I am now regretting putting the balcony in the guest bedroom and not in my room. I looked for a way to get down to the basement. I had to get Niall, make sure he was alright, and figure out how to escape. I opened the door as slowly as possible, snuck down the stairs, stopping at the end. I looked around. Nobody was in sight. I snuck to the basement door. As I began to open it, I heard Jeffrey.

“Belinda, just think. We will be the favorites in Master’s eyes. We will be awarded with riches. Our obedience is just half of the step there. Once we sacrifice her, he will make a delicious dinner.”

I shuttered silently. I waited until he turned the T.V. on. I opened and closed the door as quietly as possible and ran down the stairs. There, Niall was knocked out, with a busted lip and a gash on his eyebrow.

“Niall,” I whispered.

He made a loud grunt.

I covered his mouth, “Shush. They will hear you. We need to get up to our room. Just be quiet. That is the only way we are going to be able to escape.”

I sat him up. He looked at me, a tear going down his check.

“I thought they killed you. What the hell happened?”

So I told him about how I thought I was being kind, giving them food and drink, and them turning on me. I told him that there was a baby upstairs and that she was kidnapped. I told him how I watched the whole fight, struggling to be silent. I told him that Belinda was helping us out.

He looked confused, “How the hell is she helping? She does all his bidding.”

“I don’t know, Niall,” I replied, “but she took me up to watch the baby and she is feeding us. It’s like he brainwashed her or something.”

I helped him up and untied the cloth wrapped around his wrists. We slowly went up the stairs and I went first to check for Jeffrey or Belinda.

The coast was clear. We snuck to the stairs and back up to the room. I sat Niall on the bed, then closed the door.

April was wiggling on the bed, almost turning over. I went to her and picked her up. She gave me the most precious smile. Niall walked up behind me.

“She’s beautiful,” he said, holding her little hand, “what’s her name?”

“April.”

“Well, let’s get out of here for April,” he said.

I could see a look of determination on his face. He wanted to get of here. So did I, but there was no way to get past Jeffrey without some kind of weapon. I put April on the bed and looked at the clock. Almost noon. I could hear Belinda walking up the stairs, so I pushed Niall into the closet and told him to be quiet. She opened the door right as I got to the bed. She was wearing my new denim romper and my very expensive bright yellow heels.

“Look Belinda. You look cute and everything, but you can’t keep wearing my designer stuff. Why don’t you try let me pick out your outfits.”

She looked at me sternly then nodded.

“Tomorrow.”

Then she set the food on the table beside the bed then gave me a warm bottle and left.

I listened for her footsteps to disappear before I brought Niall out. I opened the closet door and helped him up.

“See, it’s like she’s brainwashed. When she talks to me, it’s like she is afraid of something,” I paused, “or someone.”

Niall and I split the plate.

“You have to save it to last through the day. We only get one meal a day.”

She brought up some broccoli and 2 hot dogs in buns. I gave him half the broccoli and one hot dog. We ate our first meal and I could see the cogs turning in his head.

Before I could ask what was wrong , he spoke up, “what did the parents say? How do you know the baby was kidnapped?”

“I put the T.V. on and muted it. The news was already on and that’s when the story came up about her being kidnapped,” I looked at him, “Niall, she’s a foster child. She has no parents.”

He went to the bed, picked her up and gave her the bottle. Soon, she was asleep in his arms. I started tearing up.

He put the baby down, looked at me and asked, “what’s wrong, love?”

I was blubbering now, “it’s just you and the baby and now we have to get out of here. For her. For us and our future.”

He pulled my head up, held me hand, kissed me and said, “I have a plan.”