Why can’t anything go right?

Seriously, all I wanted was to explore the city, safe and sound. But noooo, I just have to get kidnapped. And stripped. God, this is like a bad horror movie. I begin to hear footsteps in the distance. And it just went from bad to worse. I experience some feeling of panic

A shadowy figure came into view at the end of the room, staying just out of sight; out of the dying sunlight. I feel a new wave of panic wash over me. Now I’ve been kidnapped, stripped, and am being watched. Creepy. I think I’m starting to hyperventilate. Either that or it’s my frantic heartbeat I’m hearing. Who cares, I’m freaking the fuck out!

“Ni hao, foreign girl, you good?” Where have I heard that voice before?

Haha, funny, no I’m not good, I’ve been kidnapped, for goodness’ sake! And she has the audacity to ask if… ok, calm down. I shake my head and scowl. The unknown woman laughs. “Maybe soon, then?” The figure disappears, and I hear more footsteps, away this time.

When they die away, my breathe hitches. I’m going to cry. How could I not? This is the worst experience of my life. God, I just want to go home. I shiver as tears hit my bare skin. I don’t want whatever that woman has got in store for me, whatever scheme has been cooked up at my expense. Tears are flowing freely now; a steady stream of water, caused by my growing hysteria and chilling me to the bone.

I groggily blink myself awake, moments later or hours later, I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t aware I had fallen asleep. Crying always exhausts me. I’m still tied up, in the same building, except my hair is loose around my shoulders. This fact makes me tense up, scares me more than my kidnapping alone. Someone, someone has touched me. While I was unconscious. I need to get out of here.

I struggle at the bonds on my wrists, ankles, waist, only to discover a new bond, at my neck. Dear god, what have I gotten myself into? And why am I only starting to struggle now? It seems like a good chance I was drugged.

Shit.

I cry out when I try to loosen the ropes on my wrists again. I test the ropes on my ankles, and then neck and torso. I don’t budge. And I just know they’re going to bruise, too. How on earth do I get out of here? I need to calm down first, be rational. I intake a shaky breath. By now my eyes have adjusted.

First, I should survey my surroundings. Well, as much as I can without strangling myself. I crane my neck to look behind me, and spot my clothes lying on a cardboard box to my right. Maybe if I can move closer, I can get a hold of them. Right now I need something to ground myself.

I scoot the chair closer, almost tipping over twice. I was close to freezing by now. I thought it was meant to be summer! Now that I’m here, what do I do now? My clothes are here, but it’s not like I can put them on. I didn’t think this through. I feel sluggish, like I haven’t had enough sleep. Though I guess I haven’t.

I need something to cut the ropes. Something sharp. Maybe metal, or broken glass. Should I break a window?

Ok, let’s start with that. This is going to be painful. I line myself with the nearest window, and push the edge of the chair against it. All’s going pretty well, considering my movement‘s limited. I take a deep breath, and launch my body against it (well as much as I can when I’m strapped to a chair). It does nothing. So I keep slamming against the chair until my wrists are bleeding and a spider web crack has appeared. I’m getting dizzy, and the dripping blood is beginning to irritate me.

One more. One more hit, and I can… I can get free. And go home. To my… nice… warm… bed. Where I am not currently a captive. My eyelids droop closed. Ugh. No. Gotta stay awake. Gotta look around for a way to escape… my house?

I’m back. In my house. On my bed. In my house. I look down at myself. Still naked. Still bleeding. I let out a sigh. At least I don’t have to hit my hand this time. I’m going to have to go back for my clothes. But first, I’m going to take care of my wrists. Surely we have some gauze somewhere.

Apparently not. Now I’m naked, in pain and freezing. Coming back home means coming to winter.

Ok, before I go back there, I need to get some things. First some clothes. I’ll just grab some from the laundry basket, so they won’t be missed. Except it appears Mum has done the washing; great. In my frustration, I don’t even notice the breeze indicative of transformation. Then, I’m going to have to some type of weapon… that I won’t know how to use. What can I do to defend myself? I don’t know anything, have any skills.

Except… magic. The book has spells I can use!

I don’t even make it out the bedroom door before I spot the book on my bed. Perfect. A bit weird, if I’m being honest, but perfect. I don’t know what I’m looking at, but something – ooh. Perhaps something like a shield spell! And this one’s perfect, ‘cause you manipulate as you please! (Not that I know how to do that). Ok, got clothes, got defence, I’m ready to go. Though I do wish I could fix myself somehow. Maybe there’s something in the bathroom.

Except I’m stopped by my ghastly reflection. My eyes are bloodshot, jumping out against my pale, pallid skin. And my hair is stringy, sticking to my forehead and neck. God, I look a right mess. A throbbing pain reminds me of the rope burns on my body. I’ll just have to deal with those later, I guess. For now, I just run my wrists under warm water, wincing at the sting.

Now how do I get back? It has to be teleportation or something. Last time, I focused on a place, and I went there. The first time too. I picture the building, the concrete walls, only light coming through the windows. One second, I’m staring at my reflection, next, at the cracked window. The chair is on pieces on the ground, and a different window is broken. Someone had a temper tantrum. My clothes are nowhere to be seen. Great.

Let’s get started.