| Chapter Four |
| Mandy fell back against the seat. Where's Nikki when I need her? she thought. She glanced upward to control her tears. Kyle wasn't dangerous, at least she hoped he wasn't. Either way she did not want to be there, and she knew he could sense it. "Come on Manny, what's your problem? What would you do if this was some stranger, and not me?" He tried to play with a few loose strands of her hair, but she pulled away violently, and her head banged against the window. She clutched at her forehead, and kept silent. "Mandy? You have to trust me." He paused a few more moments, and when there was still no answer, he sighed angrily and started the car. "Fine. I'll take you home, then." She couldn't have had a better idea if she tried. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mandy breathed a sigh of relief as she bolted her room's door shut. The safety of this sanctuary was consuming her. She threw her key on the bed, and walked slowly into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her and locking it as well. She turned the knobs in the bathtub, and closed her eyes as the tub filled with swirling hot water. Slipping into the comforting water, she let herself relax as the radio belted out an old Beatles song. Mandy sang along until her mind was consumed in the music, and she was reminded of why she was doing this. Why this was her dream. But it wasn't her only dream. Stepping out of the tub, she pulled a robe around herself, and stepped infront of the large vanity. Her heart rate picked up when she realized that the necklace Matt had given her for her 21st birthday was gone. "Oh my God, where.... oh noooooo." She dropped to the floor. It could only be with one person. She had only been with one person. This was turning into a nightmare. Only it was far worse than anything she could have ever dreamed. If he had it, which she seriously hoped he didn't, her life could turn to hell at any moment. And that was the last thing she needed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ His hands turned the diamond over and over in his palm. It shined under the intense light. "This cost big bucks." he muttered. "Mandy Mandy, don't you know you should be more careful with your prized possessions? I thought, after today of all days, you would know that." His grin was evil, and it suited him well. He slipped the chain into his coat pocket, and hung the coat on the door. "I'll take care of that later. Right now, I'm quite tired." His fingers traced over a picture of her in a gold frame, "Get some rest, sweetie. You never know what tomorrow might bring." |