Entrapped: https://storymagazine.home.blog, #1

By Anton Pan

Chloe, and Isaac, the man who has become the most important in her life, is powerless in the hands of a sadistic devil. Are they going to survive? Chloe must go back in time and try to unravel whoever behind the scenes is destroying their family lives. Experience with Chloe the total disruption of her life during the few past weeks. She meets interesting people, overcomes desperate situations and tries to explain the inexplicable. She doesn't trust her senses anymore and is looking for lost answers before she came into the hands of the phantoms that sit behind everything. She is now captured and will soon discover whether her special private detective, Hunter, will save them and explain everything.

It reads like a mixture of a thrilling detective story with supernatural turns and a psychological thriller all in one.

 

51 chapters 94150 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Story Magazine
• Release date: May 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393059776

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Book 1

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Copyright © Anton Pansegrouw. No part of this work may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, or places is purely coincidental.

First edition 2020

Paperback ISBN: 9781660616275

Photo by Valeriy Andrushko @voodushevlyonniy

01 - Powerless

Chloe is slowly emerging from the deep, black abyss of unconsciousness. With effort she forces herself to open her eyes. She is uncomfortable and is feeling awkward. What is gripping her arms and ankles? There is a light in the room but she struggles to comprehend and focus. All seems blurry and indistinct as if her empty head just simply refuse to register. Helplessly she moans and winks her eyes while she ineffectively tries to fight her entrapment. It firmly binds her arms and ankles. 

She eventually starts to notice her surroundings.  She looks and observes that her arms are tied with duct tape to a dining room chair. Her ankles are tied to the legs of the chair. She is pinned down in the chair. It must have been this uncomfortable, upright position that causes the severe pain throughout her body. Bewildered she looks around and tries to remember what the last thing was that happened to her before she dizzyingly came to her senses in this room.

She suddenly jerks and avoids yelling out loud when she sees Isaac nearby also strapped to a dining room chair. They are in his kitchen. Unconscious, with his head hanging down, he sits motionless. She must contain herself not to try and shout trying to wake him. She is afraid to even make any noise. The person that overwhelmed them and entrapped them is probably still around. Anxiously she sits and listens attentively to any noise that may give away someone’s presence.

It is eerily quiet in Isaac’s home. Maybe they are alone. Maybe burglars tied them up and ransacked the house and left. Maybe they have already left this lonely island in the middle of the blue gum forest with their loot. How did it happen? She looks up and studies the clock on the kitchen wall. It is three o’ clock in the morning. She listens to the ticks as the clock counts down the seconds in this ominous quietness.

Without moving she listens anxiously, fearing that someone might find her awake. She is terrified of what might follow. The strange history of this place in the middle of the forest spooks her. Everyone warned her to avoid this place for different reasons. The inexplicable incidents that chased all the previous inhabitants away; the horrendous family murder; the desolateness of the place; Mrs Kennedy that tried her utmost but could not find a tenant to hire the place.

She closes her eyes and silently listens and tries to recall what she did before she awoke in this situation. If no one turns up and she is sure that they are alone, she will try to call Isaac to awaken him. Now she is going to concentrate on wherever they were before this incident. Maybe some persons might come along and talk to one another and this will give her an opportunity to spy and listen. She might then be able to ascertain the motive for this weird circumstance.

How were they entrapped? Where were they when this happened? Slowly she starts to remember. They were on their way back from the hospital. Memories are now flooding her brain as she recollects that she had been in her room but couldn’t get to sleep. Her mind was in turmoil, full of difficult questions. She had been pondering as to how the life of her family had changed so drastically and fatally during the past few weeks. She tried to figure out who it is that deceived her family. Still thinking about this her ears started ringing like cicadas. Everything around her started to turn like a merry-go-round. She instantly realizes that something is terribly wrong. She desperately wants to get up to get Isaac’s help, but she can’t move or scream. Surely, someone had sedated them, but how did he accomplish it?

And then certainty dawns upon her. It is because of her routine. Usually, she makes supper beforehand. She stows it in the microwave and heats it when they return late in the evening from the hospital. This routine gave the intruders the opportunity to tamper with their food. Someone must have broken in, doctored their food and when they were unconscious and helpless, they were tied up. Are these the same devils that operate like phantoms behind the scenes that terrorize her family covertly or are they simple thugs and robbers?

She dearly hopes that it is only burglars and that they vanished along with the loot. But she knows instinctively that this is a slim possibility. They surely have credit cards with PIN’s. Maybe there is a secret safe and what about her small place opposite Isaac’s dwelling? No, burglars would have made sure whether there were valuables in her place too. They would have made sure that they profited fully on this occasion. Nothing was chasing them. The place is totally desolate.

Fear grips her heart like a vice when she ponders what might happen. Are they going to be tortured for PIN’s or assaulted to reveal the place of the secret safe? Are they in the brutal hands of rapists and murderers? And then she mulls over the professional way in which they entered the house and entrapped them, and that these people are the same as those devils that terrorize her family. 

Will she be able to finally find out who these phantoms are in her life and what they are hideously planning?

She again listens attentively. Everything is quiet. No sound whatsoever. Only the tick of the clock against the wall. She feels as if the clock is mocking her. It sounds as if it is ticking away the last seconds of their lives. She wants to scream out of frustration. She starts to believe they are alone. Then, somewhere from within, a flicker like of a candle of hope. Maybe she should gather the courage to scream Isaac to life so that they could help each other to free themselves of the bondage to the chairs. Maybe the chairs would break if they succeed to topple them.

I see you are awake, Chloe ... She is shocked out of her wits by the sudden voice in her right ear. Panic rips through her like an electric current; she shudders and gets goosebumps all over her body. It’s a creepy, hoarse voice in her right ear. He knows her name! This is probably one of the devils that terrorize them. He must have been behind her all the time. The sadistic manner in which he has observed her quietly must have been hugely satisfying?

Cautiously with a trembling voice from her dry throat, she asks: Who are you? What do you want ...?

She has never experienced this horrid voice before. It’s deep and masculine, rough but also a little hoarse. It’s a strange and stomach-churning voice that again whispers in her ear.

Nothing, Chloe.  I want nothing from you except obedience.

While her brain frantically tries to make sense of the devil’s words, she asks: Obedience ...?

You are going to do precisely what I order you to do, then there will be no troubles, darling, and I will vanish into thin air.

Again there is a flicker of hope inside her. The man is behind her and she cannot see his face and this could mean that he does not intend to harm them. Yes, that can be the reason why he is hiding.

What is it that you want from me? Do you want my credit card and PIN? If you don’t show your face to us we will give you all the information.

He suddenly bursts out in a sarcastic laugh. When his voice comes it is uncompromising, hard and self-assured. No, I don’t want anything from you!

Again she is confused. What does the devil want from her? I don’t understand. What on earth do you want?

02 - The beginning

It was only a few weeks ago that Chloe’s life changed drastically. It all started on the evening of her coming of age party on their farm, the Eastwood Estate. Since then her life had become a torrid mess of intrigues. She was oblivious of the fact that dark phantoms in the background silently switched their plans into second gear.

The evening of her birthday is a beautiful Friday evening. The sky is clear with hardly a breeze. Her family and bosom buddies are in attendance. The beautiful, slender Chloe smiles, slightly embarrassed, where she stands in front of the round table while all sing the ‘happy birthday’ song. She is dressed neatly in black with a close-fitting top and denim trousers that accentuate her beautiful curves; the thin sexy waist against her full breasts and round, alluring buttocks. Her hair hangs femininely over her shoulders. Her face with the striking, blue eyes sparkle as always, full of vitality. Confidently she stands in her sturdy farm boots; the typical, beautiful farm girl, maybe with more beauty than the average. She is quite oblivious about her Miss World class beauty and is ready and able to take on any man’s competition on the farm.

Two longshanks stand at her sides. On her right side is the young, handsome Leo, cleanly shaven and with neat, short hair. He could easily pass as a lock in any rugby team. He lightly touches her right shoulder and smiles towards her as soon as the singing and clapping end.

Congrats Chloe, you are now an independent lady. May I ask the lady for a little kiss of congratulation, please?

She turns her cheek for his peck. Instead, he suddenly grabs her in his arms and kisses her shamelessly and pulls her body passionately towards him in front of all the people. Surprised she pushes him away. No, Leo. Give you the little finger and you simply grab the whole hand. Sis, you audacious pig!

They all burst out in laughter. Tony, to her left, the grey-haired man quite of age, pulls lightly on her left hand. She turns with a smile and looks up to him. He smiles through all the wrinkles that pucker his whole face and looks at her with big soft eyes. Congratulations, my lovely, youngest daughter with your 21st birthday. Come and show us how you can blow out all the candles with one blow. He bends over and softly kisses her forehead as if she still is a teenager.

She smiles and looks up to him in awe. Thanks, Dad. There are too many things to mention. I don’t have words. You are simply the best dad in the whole wide world.

She turns and studies the birthday cake, decorated with a big key and twenty-one small candles. The key symbolizes her coming of age. She inhales deeply and with one mighty blow, she extinguishes all the candles. Then she jumps up and down like a small, naughty girl while she makes silly waves with her arms. Yippee, now I am eventually my own boss. I’m not my father’s apple of the eye girl anymore that he wants to protect and look after every minute and every turn I make anymore! Yippee ...!

They all explode in laughter at her antics and shout remarks of support. Extremely happy she starts to address them all, looking each one straight in the eye when she speaks to him or her. Thank you, all your beautiful people. I’m so happy that you all are here on the farm this weekend. Zoey, my sister, her husband Quinn and Lyle, your son, which ventured over the dangerous mountain pass to get here, I’m so glad you are safe here with us. We certainly don’t see you often enough. You are as scarce as chicken’s teeth. Lyle, it’s always a great pleasure to have you on the farm for a while before you must go back to the hostel of your school on the other side at the foot of the mountain. Ronnie and Hayley, my partners and bosom pals from our school days, we went through many hardships but survived with our furniture shop and workshop. Thank you for being here.

She hears Leo cleaning his throat. She pushes him playfully away from her and berates him: Yes, Leo. I haven’t forgotten you. In any case, you are always circling me like a shithouse blowfly.

All of them are splitting their sides with laughter. Tony then ensures that every one dish up and is seated around the table. After an enjoyable dinner, they all jump into the heated swimming pool and frolic in the water. The farmhouse is built like a big rondavel. In the middle, it surrounds a big round area where Clea, Chloe’s late mother, made a unique garden. The garden hides the inner walls of the house all around the swimming pool in the centre. The dining room looks out on the swimming pool and can be reached through glass sliding doors that are now wide open.

After a while, Chloe climbs out of the swimming pool and in her bikini walks to the veranda at the front end of the building. The cool breeze softly caresses her while she admires the starry sky. She always feels so minuscule beneath the myriads of stars; so lovely without the pollution of light from the city.

The garden once again reminds her of her mother that passed away in her sleep one year ago. The garden was Clea’s passion. She imported seeds of rare species and indigenous and foreign, exotic plants still adorn the garden with their breath-taking colors. She now acutely misses her mother! She is now alone on the farm with the three giant men and it doesn’t help much that she is slender. They treat her as a small girl that needs to be protected every minute.

These days she notices that Ronnie and Leo are looking strangely at her. She is getting the feeling that for them their friendship isn’t enough. The silly men! Leo usually tries to isolate her while Ronnie stares occupied into a dream world of his own. They are like brothers to her instead of friends. Ronnie, that lost his father as a teenage boy and his mother via cancer and later his brother in jail, grew up with her and is like a stepbrother to her. On the other hand, she and Leo clicked and enjoy many hours together in their free time. He quickly became like a brother to her. Although both are attractive, strong men, she looks upon them as brothers and not as potential boyfriends.

Everything started to change when Clea passed away. From then on it was as if they were competing for her attention as if they became jealous of each other. Nowadays she feels uncomfortable in their presence and she feels lonely amongst them. A little tear runs over her cheek.

She feels warm hands on her shoulders and hears Leo’s voice: Chloe, what are you thinking? Are you pining? Is it Clea?

Chloe turns slowly, look up and wonders how it is that he reads her thoughts so well. She would have been glad to be here. I’ve got this empty feeling here where my heart is that nothing can fill.

Leo places his hand full of compassion on her heart and with his left hand he takes her under the chin and lifts her head so that she has to look straight into his green eyes. Softly and lovingly he wipes the tear from her cheek.

Chloe, I’ve been trying for a long time to get you alone because I must tell you something very important. Now is the right time. You are twenty-one, an independent woman. We have enjoyed such nice times together riding horses, swimming in the dam, racing with cars and motorbikes and what more. For me, it is marvelous to be with you. You are so full of life and competitive. Your smile, your laugh, the way in which you talk with your whole body and those beautiful eyes! I can’t sleep at night, because you are occupying my whole existence. You are the driving force behind my success as farm manager on your farm. I can’t think of living without you and no girl will be good enough to take your place in my heart. I love you so much it pains.

Chloe is flabbergasted. She gets the feeling that this man has funny plans for her future and all she can think of today is her freedom and independence. Now he inundates her out of the blue and she must face it.

She is trapped!

03 The shock

Chloe is at a loss of words. She wants to speak but the words don’t come to her mind. She feels she must stop him before he goes any further, but almost instinctively realize that it’s too late. Leo’s right-hand leaves her breast and reaches into his pocket. The next moment he shows her a beautiful Golden Cushion engagement ring. 

Her knees become weak of shock as she realizes that he has already made the step and that he will not easily be convinced that she is not ready for this. 

Leo looks deep into her eyes and displays the ring in front of her eyes like a trump card; a cherry on a cake. "Chloe, your father made it abundantly clear before all at the dinner table that he wishes for his youngest daughter to marry someone that can look well after her and the farm. I took over the farm as manager three years ago when he had a heart attack and became ill and was forced to appoint a manager. You know he was talking about me because I made a success of everything. The farm is now highly profitable with different nest eggs and he knows I can make it even better. Your dad and I understand each other and furthermore, he is not blind to how well we are clicking.

"Your father has only you, Zoey and Lyle. Zoely is no farm girl at all and will never be. You told me how she ran away from the farm with her worthless, playboy husband. Lyle is only fourteen now and can’t take over the farm. You’ve helped me tremendously with the administration but your first love is the furniture shop.

Marry me, Chloe, and everything falls in place. You focus on your furniture ventures and me on the farm and when Lyle is ready one day, we make a success together with Eastwood Estate as a family enterprise.

Leo gets down on one knee and offers the ring to her while he makes his final point. Chloe, I ask you formally here on this veranda of the Eastwood Estate, I love you dearly and will never disappoint you; marry me!

She finally finds her voice.

Leo, you and Ronnie are like my two brothers. I’ve never thought of you in this way, although I love you both to bits, but like brothers. How much did this expensive ring cost you? Are you now going to pay it off? You are placing me in a very difficult situation because I do not want to disappoint you, but tonight I am just thinking about freedom and independence, and now I must answer a difficult question here on my coming of age party. 

She shakes her head despondently from side to side. No, Leo. This is out of the blue and I am not ready for such a drastic change in my life. You will have to give me time to ponder and process your question. 

To her surprise, he smiles while he stands up. I understand it is unexpected, Chloe, and that you need time. I hope in future you will look through new eyes towards me and that you will consider my proposal carefully.

He puts the ring back in his pocket. Does my proposal make any sense to you?

She speaks slowly and carefully. It makes complete sense in any many instances, Leo, but I haven’t even slightly contemplated taking a husband with all the consequences thereof. You know, I don’t even feel comfortable in a dress, you know me well! 

Leo smiles and winks naughtily at her. I can’t wait for the day the woman in you awakes, Chloe!

Leo. Let’s go in now. Soon they will be looking for us.

Chloe, you go now. I am going to stay here and lick my wounds and think about what could have been.

She steps forward and gives him a little peck on the cheek. Shame, I’m sorry, Leo. Don’t let this spoil our friendship, please.

Leo put his hand over her little kiss as if he wants to catch and save it. You know me better than this, Chloe. Doesn’t matter what you do; you will always be my angel.

~*~*~

The next morning Chloe is up just after five o’ clock and in her pajamas knocks on the door of the bathroom. The door opens suddenly and Leo stands in front of her. Leo, why the swelling on your face! What happened to you?

Oh, it’s nothing. I tripped and fell in the dark over the steps and injured my face, Chloe.

That doesn’t make sense, Leo. You have a nasty swelling all around your left eye and even your cheek is swollen badly. That must have been more than one nasty bump that ravaged you; it rather looks as if someone assaulted you!

Leo shows irritation with her questions. I don’t know how I did it, Chloe, but it was dark. Why are you awake? Usually, you surface much later?

I’m going to surprise dad in bed with a wonderful breakfast just to say thank you for everything. He usually gets up at six promptly when his alarm goes off and I want to surprise him before that.

Chloe hears footsteps on the wooden floor of someone coming up to her and when she looks behind her, she is just in time to see how Ronnie glares at Leo. Leo answers Ronnie’s look trying to outdo his own dirty one. Ronnie pecks her in the neck and walks away and vanishes through the front door at the end of the corridor. 

Leo quickly pecks her on her forehead. See you later, Chloe. Sam and the guys are waiting for me. We have lots to do this Saturday.

~*~*~

After finishing her make-up and clothed in her usual farm outfit, she silently stalks Hayley that is helping Susan in the kitchen. She wonders whether Hayley ever wears trousers because even in front of the stove she is dressed in a smart, red dress with high heels on her feet like a lost city girl. Chloe hugs her lovingly from behind. She whispers in her ear and gives her neck a peck. "Why is my soul mate up so early?

Susan told me about your plan to surprise Tony and I keep myself busy trying to help her a little.

Chloe smiles en winks mischievously at Susan. Good morning, Susan. Is she helping or is she merely in your way?

Susan quips back. I am enjoying her little visit very much because we gossip about your naughty school days. She should have visited us long ago. I am now finding out of all your little secrets, my child.

Why! You naughty girls, busy with mischief, hey?

But now Hayley explains her early appearance. I usually don’t sleep more than four hours each night and I can’t sit still. Chloe, you know me, man. What on earth am I going to do with myself here? This farm is going to drive crazy this weekend! 

You, Zoey, Lyle and I are going to ride horses and the jump in the dam.

"What! Never! You are joking, right? You’ll never get me on one of those creature’s backs. Not for all the money in the world! Just imagine me and my lovely dress on a moving horse high in the air. And, in a farm dam, I won’t even put my toe... Never, my dear. Are you out of your mind, perhaps?

Chloe laughs happily. I can lend you one of Ronnie’s trousers. By the way, I can’t believe that this is your first visit to the farm. I only see you at our furniture shop in the city.

You don’t have a choice, my dear, because you are the link between Ronnie at the workshop here on the farm and me at our clients in the shop. Let’s keep it that way, thanks. The farm is hopelessly too quiet for a chic, city girl like me.

Changing the subject, Chloe asks: Hayley, what did I miss last night? Why is Leo’s face swollen like that?

"Oh no, Chloe! I hoped that you wouldn’t ask me, because I can never lie to you, but Tony made us promise not to tell you as to not upset you and spoil your day.  

What are you hiding from me? Tell me!

I came out on the veranda just to see Ronnie on top of Leo hitting him with his fists. I shouted at them but to no avail. You know how strong Ronnie is. I ran inside and grabbed Tony. We returned and found Ronnie with a deadly stranglehold on Leo. Tony scolded them harshly and they separated. 

What on earth! From our school days on I’ve never seen Ronnie in a fight. He is such a gentle giant. What came over him?

I don’t know, Chloe, I could barely believe my eyes but it happened right in front of me and Leo had blood all over while Ronnie was unharmed. Tony asked them what was going on and then the whole story came out. Ronnie said he had been at the dark side of the veranda when you and Leo spoke to each other. He said Leo is taking advantage of you and Leo said Ronnie must be mad for he only told you how much he loves you. Chloe, what did Ronnie imply when he said Leo is taking advantage of you?

Leo asked me to marry him with an exquisite, expensive ring and all. 

"My goodness! And what was your answer, sweetie?

You know I want to be a free birdie and here he proposed at my coming of age party! You of all people should know it well, you are also still independent. That nonsense my father uttered at the table last night and tried to advertise Leo to me also didn’t help much.

Yes, I winked at you and had to hold my laughter because you looked very funny at that moment.

It’s not funny at all, I suspected that these two guys have wrong plans for my life and that jealousy between them burn hot, but I didn’t realize how hot. These two are going to seriously harm each other if it goes on like this and the fact that Tony likes Leo so much is oil on the fire. Ronnie knows that Tony prefers Leo and his feelings for me make the situation even more difficult after Tony voiced his preference so clearly last night. Hayley, what am I going to do? My presence here is surely not healthy for the two of them.

Chloe, you don’t realize how special you are. Any man will lose his head over you and these two hunks and you are every day isolated on the farm. It’s strange that the fat hasn’t yet been in the fire.

"Speaking of fires, I