No Way out

rt

was so quiet that I could only hear

y eyes, but

e, but my limbs were

which darted around in panic, trying to find th

from my feet to my legs, th

s caused by

, brazenly exploring

am in terror, bu

ld I hear my own desperate cries f

and closer, and I cou

rprisingly warm,

its tongue, doing

y called for help in my mind, but no one coul

rt

pulled me out o

riend's worried face and the wa

m... I let out a long sigh of rel

into his arms, comforting me like a child, "It's okay, don't be afraid, it'

he woke me up, he always treated me thi

comfort to me who had

nightmares for a

nvading my mind every night, pulling me back to those unspeakable things that ha

was, I didn't even know w

by someone and held in a pitch-

life. But soon I would realize, this w

rt

ng in an office in a desert of concrete every day, tak

ally the long-lost daughter of some big shot, then being welcomed back home, instant

ief in my boring life. After all, I knew

y something truly extraordi

sn't a go

xplicably

plete darkness, my limbs tightly boun

stood my situation-

lying on a bed at least one and a half meters wide

rching for any rea

ffended

od project to a female colleague bef

as me, and we were at similar positions, but there was only one

r conflicts, always

eemed to be sligh

g like this to me out of hostility. Who would k

ossibility, I tried to

k; I couldn't think

, where would I have the

by a psychopath, a psychopath who hid

rt

een when I heard the door crea

my nerves on edge, not

htly, sounding particula

side me, then there was

t left y

ng its prey, admiring the fear ema

e, not knowing what this perve

teps soun

back in the direct

d sounds, trying to attra

nt, then it continued walking towar

turned to s

groaned, there

eath, or waiting for the right ti

ternity had passe

uncontrollably slid down my fac

uldn't control

ter how much I struggled, no one came. In the

ing or drinking, unable to move or commu

weeks without food, but onl

o give up, the pervert

you a bit

or I'll leav

here, so scream

ing a voice changer, making it impossible

ed gro

e from my mouth, then used a cotton s

uched water, the source of life, I instinctiv

e a cup of water?

y own voice, hoarse

eeding me water drop by drop. Befo

tape on my mouth

oaned behind them,

ack into

ame in the n

e up, it would appear, using

erson, but no matter how much I begged

ting, even feeling a b

a god, who could decid

erstood the per

to submit, both phy

rt

ut dignity, surrounded by damp and sticky excrement.

ld, rough floor, my hands cuffed behind my

dry, and I had change

longer sm

e pervert changing my clot

and you can eat an

feeding me porridg

mitting the fragrance of oats, meat, and v

ad a few bites, it tasted better and bette

slow and methodical, al

e like a child who couldn't take care of herself. I actually even felt

ong the wall, I could see the toil

ame room, but I ha

within the confi

ing obediently and following the

I might as well cooperate sin

an opportunity,

ould one wait

ay came, I would have alrea

awakened by a s

leg, touching my calf and m

ted to scream loudly but couldn't make any sou

ught in headlights,

ven feel its breath, distur

even viler t

days that I couldn't

l asleep, the pe

ave inhaled some gas, and eventuall

eling the abductor's abu

parate; my body was mine,

ground, being trampled o

ody was utt

of inferiority after being rape

painful, heartbrea

old then, and I had

uld never fall

breakdown, and then one day, the abductor would lose patience and kill

rt

e was light in

was removed, and I was exposed to the glare of an

ngs clearly, I saw a

lieve in the person in front of me. Who kn

forted me, softly telling me not to b

found some tools, but the thick

might both die when

police and seek help, telling me to pretend nothing had

t to leave, not to leave

will come ba

avin's voice was like that of an angel, his

ce, as if we had known e

o be glowin

at moment that I fel

denly appeared, taking me aw

ept his

han expected, and the abduc

that b

at I had been missi

to my boss, saying that I needed some time off

replied to them that I was busy with work, never us

a drop in the vast ocean,

urbs at that time and

aving a nearby abandoned warehouse, but it

d into the warehouse, discovering the basement an

urled up in the corner, almos

ong sense of insecurity, like a wounded cat, skittis

became

ped, I, who had been single for 24 years, found

of a soap opera, making me almost suspect that being k

ather it had

basement, I had nig

I was helplessly tied to the bed, my

ly was a shapeless monster, sometimes with col

me wantonly, and

had to experi

a fugitive criminal. The fugitive had been wanted by the police for

ve criminal, who had secretly returned to Asciuria a

aud," the pol

eling it wasn

ut for some perverted hobby, which I could

agine a fraudster

the investigating officer added, "We'll keep an eye on that area for any suspicious ind

rt

raid to go out alone, always fe

alone, fearing the abductor wou

in every hidden corner, ready to

the curtains... I frantically check

the doctor said it was pos

weather, "Insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, constant alertness are symptoms of post-traumatic

ay something, but my throat fel

ugh his glasses, "You don't seem to be inj

he police is alrea

need mor

n is also

over..." The doctor's mouth kept moving, but the voice became dista

d from the consulta

meone in a white coat. I jumped back in fright, "I'm s

ed, he had visite

t of sympathy, it see

he abductor, orchestrating the kidnapping a

d conducted a thorough investigation of Davin

did I feel

Why are you a

ked with

seemed to have lost the ability to communicate

usly, and under their gazes, I

usness and smiled gently, "Do y

ess was har

ctor, working in the dental

ed at the psychiatric depar

elationship gradu

d me out to spe

go out with him, but he

th wide, innocent eyes and said, "You haven't been eating properly, have you? Look, I saw you

efore he walked into my apartment, skillfully putting

hen and started washing

r all, we weren't that fam

idn't se

ht, we had a war

visited many places together, such as squares and amusement parks... I had al

suddenly, yet

one like me living in pain, and since this girl

ent more time together

ting Davin, we m

ed with camphor trees, giving off a pleasant, f

Asciuria. I thought maybe a change of

w hospital and moving house, doing everythi

s ha

night, having a comforting embrace

y head a bit groggy, but at least I didn't have any m

the room. I walked out to find Davin had

e, planting a sticky kiss on my ch

one breakfast

ou eating

t meeting at the hospita

I'll come back early ton

me as if I

forget to take

ng that, D

was a bottle of medicine with

ing post-traumatic stress disorder

rt

washed the dishes, and started lying on the sofa watching TV. At noon, I hea

rything including watching movies, playing games and exer

but when I truly had nothing to do,

for a while, but my condition wasn't good. Ev

tains, fearing that a pair of pathological e

e places where outsiders coul

ny was su

ble memories haunted me, sometimes flashing

uddenly be overwhelmed by fear, leaving me trembling

comfort me, but soon most of t

ader stopped me from leaving and had a

bad state after what you've been

so it's better to take

before, but I didn't know what

is a collective, and everyone need

d need to go home and rest... Yo

our resignation letter, and I'll approve it as soon as possible..." The problem was, I had only been workin

s tough, but for an wage slave, h

omething to rever

, a hand gra

er and saw

I leaned into his embrace, c

mly but gently eno

a stern expression, "As a boss, it's inappropriate

leader's face imm

She will quit this job. Working fo

but firm, and the lead

a chance to scold us,

men and women wearing work badges on their chests, and fin

ng? How can I wor

ngrily ques

ak, but just

er the streetlights, and his

?" Davin's voice wa

I shouldn'

o work anymore. I think it's

ank you. Now I don't have to spend time writing the resignation letter..." As

pulled int

nd I cried on Davin's shoulder for

t officially formalize

t, I quit my job a

oyfriend and the most im

rt

mbs. There had been six months since the kidnapping incident happened. Recen

eturn to society and b

for dinner that night, I eagerly bro

today. Did you dre

o good, I don't want other

blue dress and had put

portant day to show my apprec

ently, I've been feeling much better. Staying at home all the

changed, becoming cold-somet

in an instant, so quickly that

worry about work. I said I would support you. A

t staying at home

ter now. Meeting new peo

covered yet. Rest at

l having nightm

ate, your condition will wor

ut

e, I'm a doc

iatry just for you. Don't doubt a doctor's ex

me, he learned a lot about psychiatry

the food gets cold," he said, placin

d that for my own good, I st

unable to w

e last? How long could Davin tolerat

ll, Davin was thinking of me, an

e some amusing stories from th

avin went to pay the bill w

chat, making some small talk and e

friend, but he confidently said it didn

adays really

bit take

I dressed up nicely, I

departing figure, his voice a bit unhappy,

ed me. But I told him I

ll be friends..." I said animate

s wrong, I quickly sto

expression softening a bit

ly when you go out. Remember,

tle expression, I fe

rt

dissuaded me each time. Finally, I got a bit annoyed, "Whether I work

me, his beautifu

ized, "I'm sorry... You know I didn't mean it t

e all day is re

uggesting I can rest for another two week

ending out resumes and found a job as

Davin specially drove m

feel? Are yo

ebrow and a light smile, hel

fist in determination, and wal

ould be stressfu

felt like a basin of cold water p

dozens of revisions. Even when it wasn't busy, everyone had to

stion, but my previous symptoms of palpita

ntinue my medication to prevent a relapse,

arshly criticized by my boss without any four-letter wo

should come to pick me up. I r

avin was already waiting

long he had

ecame a couple when he saw my boss forcing

n had been just as

nto his arms, cr

e, but seeing him there made m

ned, Davin was alway

this, I crie

y back, gently

my current state wasn't su

unwilling, my healt

a more cozier job

ying that family companionship wo

he stage of meeting our paren

hesi

s a prospective son-in-law. They always wanted me to

revious kidnapping. I didn't tell the

y had always pushed me to study and build my career, caring

ure, but their response was always, "Everything is tiring," or "T

t to listen to them talk about what they had heard, like how much mon

t I had moderate depression due to w

and didn't mention t

ned a qualification certificate about it for me, my parents

lose to that yet. Don't pu

d who knows what will

u silly child. Isn't it inappropriate

nning on it, would Dav

ading towards marr

hless, my h

Davin went to work during the day, and I had not

trange. They would complain about work when they ha

ecided to find

y that dealt with painting exhibitions and sales. The job was from ten a.m

ied for the job wi

ined to work well and n

ocated in the Cul

le and cozy, and I got to s

t of a newly exhibited p

re mottled and intertwined, e

truck my heart, making it impossib

artist's madness, pain, sadness, repression, and hel

ike this

ale voice

saw a man I had

and eyes, a delicate nose, but pale lips tha

special thing

ir of ink-black eyes, so clear

gant face! I was taken

eak, I realized that he