BOOK ONE – CHICAGO 1956
CHAPTER 1 ”A door slamming makes one jump, but it doesn’t make one afraid. What one fears is the serpent that crawls underneath it.”--- Collette, Cheri
The images flickered through my head like the pictures in a flip book. You know, the ones that make things seem like they’re moving. My throat felt dry. One more day like all the rest. Might as well get up.
As I forced my eyes open, the bright sunlight shining through the open draperies practically blinded me. I tried to sit up, but nothing happened. Breathe…breathe…
Crazy thoughts tumbled through my mind, like this must be how Miss Mermaid, the goldfish I had when I was five, felt every time I scooped her out to the water to “play”. I drew a few shaky breaths and began to calm down a bit, but then I panicked. My fingers moved, but why were my hands behind my back? It was like taking a slow inventory. Legs…can’t move. Head hurts. What was cutting into my ankles and wrists? An icy sweat slicked over me, saturating the thin fabric of my nightgown.
I’m a dancer. I know how to control my breathing, so I stared straight up at the ceiling, waiting for it to level out. I tried to focus on the little depressions in the pressed plaster design where wooly bits of dust hung like furry caterpillars ready to spin cocoons. That’s not my ceiling! When I tried to call out, only muffled sounds escaped through the gag pressing against the corners of my mouth.
Street noises invaded the silence, becoming louder and louder by the moment. My heart pounded as hot tears streamed down my face. I must be dreaming. But I wasn’t dreaming, was I? The pain was real, and I couldn’t move.
The image of the strange room became sharper by the minute. I turned my head ever so slowly to the right and that set off a pounding in my temples I could hardly bear. I tried to concentrate on the stark white veins winding a crazy path across the green marble top of a bedside table. I was terrified.
As I collapsed against the pillow drained of energy, little black specs blinked furiously on a field of red. Then everything faded to black. I didn’t know it then, but I’d been drugged.
<<<>>>
A grating metallic sound shattered the stillness of the strange room. Hollow footsteps echoed across what sounded like a wooden floor and the faint scent of gardenias blending with the rancid tobacco smell in the room gagged me. The effect of the drugs had started to wear off and my heart was beating faster than Fred Astaire tapping his way through a dance routine.
I tensed. I had the feeling that eyes were boring into my back. Someone was very close to the bed now. The noises in the street sounded like the roar of the cars on the huge roller coaster at Riverview Park. A tall woman moved into view and simply stood still for a moment, looking down at me.
“Well, Sandra, you’re up. Good. Aw, what’s the matter? Can’t you figure out what’s going on?”
I squinted as she bent toward me, her blond hair spilling over her shoulders in a glimmering shawl. Ang…Angie? What…? Her familiar widespread hazel eyes dotted with flecks of gold highlighted a thin slightly crooked nose. Her full lips, painted a brilliant scarlet, were drawn into a sneer.
She said, “For God’s sake, you idiot… you look scared to death.” Her face twisted into a cruel smile. “Well, that’s good. You should be afraid!”
She stroked my hair, long fingers playing with the black waves, and then she cupped my chin in a viselike grip. “Ya know, you’re really naïve for a kid of seventeen.” She straightened and put her hands on her hips. “I guess there’s no harm in telling you. Remember you said the Coke tasted funny when we were having lunch yesterday. Well, I slipped you something to knock you out. I’ll bet you don’t even remember losing your cherry last night.”
My eyes glistened like a trapped animal as the tears spilled out and slid down my cheeks. Last night? Cherries? What cherries?
Angie gripped my shoulders and shook me. I felt my eyes fill with tears again. “Don’t go crying now. Stop crying, hear me? From now on, you’re going to do as I say or…” her voice trailed off. She pointed at the tray she carried. ”I brought you some toast and juice. Damn you, quit wiggling around. If you calm down, maybe I’ll take that thing out of your mouth for a while. After all, I am your best friend, aren’t I?” Her eyes narrowed to an evil slit as she stroked my cheek. “If you promise to drink this juice, I may even untie you.” I nodded. Angie loosened the knot of fabric and it fell away.
When I tried to speak, the words were raspy, just above a whisper. “Anything, Angie. I’ll do anything. Just get me out of here.”
My jaw ached and my mouth felt like it was full of cotton balls. There was something else I couldn’t figure out, either. I really hurt down there, know where I mean? Finally I managed to croak out, “Why are you doing this? I want to go home. Now.”
There was no answer.
“Angie…” My voice was cracking as it rose higher and higher, “I’m scared… Why am I tied up?” Angie stared at me without saying a word, her hazel eyes as cold as a winter wind blowing off Lake Michigan.
“An…Angie, stop frightening me.”
She inhaled sharply and replied in flat cruel tone. “You’re a pain in the ass, Pavlova. Quit bawling and drink the damn juice. Want to know why you’re here?” She moved her face very close to mine. “Because Danny Boy and I kidnapped you, that’s why.”
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