Kidnapped
by Sean Dunne
U there? I'm in trouble.
Pls answer me…
PLEASE!
I'm here. What’s up? Are you ok?
No. I'm in serious trouble.
Why? Where are you?
I think I've been kidnapped.
What?!?
Call the cops!
I tried. No answer.
That doesn’t make any sense. Keep trying!
I’ve tried so many times!
Calling you now –
No!!!
I can't make any noise. I hear people. Strange sounds.
I'm scared Jacob.
Are you hurt?
There’s blood in my hair. My head hurts. But I’m ok.
I'll call 911. Tell me where you are.
I don't know. I just woke up here.
How did you get there?
I don't know! I was knocked out.
By who?
I have no idea.
What's the last thing you remember?
Driving in my car.
Did you stop somewhere?
I can’t remember…
All I remember is someone screaming.
Were you in a car accident?
Jacob, I'm telling you I don't know!
You may have a concussion.
How can you tell?
You’re not making any sense.
OMG!!! I hear someone screaming. Pls help me!
Describe where you are.
Some kind of basement. Bare walls. Smells like chemicals.
Any windows?
No.
Maybe a chemical plant. Nearest one is on the edge of town.
I'm going to die here, aren't I?
No you are not. Don't say that!
Someone’s coming!
Can you hide?
Ella – what’s going on?
Ella??!
I’m calling 911.
I'm here.
What happened?
Had to run. Safe now. Something chased me. Couldn't see it. Only heard it.
Where are you now?
Don't know. These walls look like stone. Rough. And it's hot as hell.
Are there tanks? Vats? Anything with symbols or a logo on them?
No.
I called 911 but they can't send anyone unless they know where you are.
Jesus, Ella. Please give me something to work with here?
It's darker here. Chemical smell is stronger. Gross - like rotten eggs.
Screams coming from below.
There must be a sub-basement. Do you see stairs?
No. I'll look.
Careful.
There is so much screaming! What is this place?! So scared.
You’re going to be ok.
Something's rumbling. Getting louder. Ground is vibrating.
Do you SEE anything like a kiln or a furnace?
No but it's getting hotter…
Look for a way out.
But be careful.
I’m sorry about last night.
Don't worry about that now.
I want to tell you something.
Just look for a way out.
If I'm going to die I want to explain.
Stop. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DIE.
I wanted you to kiss me last night but I was scared.
Scared of me?
No. Of me.
Tell me later. LOOK FOR A WAY OUT!!!
I liked you for a long time. REALLY liked you.
Me too.
But I didn't want you to get too close.
What are you talking about?
I'm not a good person.
Not true. You are awesome.
You don't know me.
Please stop. Figure out where you are so you can get out!
At my old school…I did something terrible. It's hard to talk about.
Then don't.
Some girls and I used to pick on a kid named Lisa.
She didn't have any friends or family. She came from no money. She had nothing.
One day we shut her in a locker and pulled the fire alarm.
It was an hour before they found her screaming.
Stupid prank. You aren’t the first to do something like that.
No, you don’t understand.
She was claustrophobic.
When they got her out…
Her hands were ripped and bleeding from where she tried to claw her way out.
But it was her mind we really damaged.
Wow… I mean - that's pretty messed up but it's not like you killed her.
I did.
What do you mean?
Two weeks later, they found her dead in bed.
She died in her sleep, of a heart attack.
You can't blame yourself for that.
But I can. And, I do – blame myself.
I killed her with meanness.
You didn't.
The saddest part is we were best friends as kids. We used to play Barbies every weekend.
And I killed her.
You didn't.
Maybe I deserve whatever is happening to me.
Ella, stop. You are not being punished.
My parents made me switch schools. You were nice to me my first day.
I wanted to tell you about what happened but was scared you would hate me.
I could never hate you.
I'm going to hell for this.
STOP. PLEASE STOP. You are not going to hell.
I’m glad I told you at least.
I'm going to find you. Ok?
I don't think you can.
Wait.
Your picture is on news.
It says you were in a car accident…
Oh no.
What?
They said you’re...
Jake, please? Christ, it feels like the building is on fire now!
JAKE?!!
OH GOD, PLEASE! IT’S SO HOT. IT HURTS SO BAD!
I FEEL LIKE I’M BURNING ALIVE!!
PLEASE, JAKE. HELP ME! IT’S COMING FOR ME!!!
But there was nothing Jake could do to save Ella.
As soon as she confessed her sin, the devil came for her.
And Ella went straight to hell.
What was her sin?
Meanness.
App