forum Stockholm Romance

Started November 03, 2019 by @SupernaturalSyGuyIsTIred group

tune

"So you're awake," Estelle murmured, sitting cross-legged at the base of the darkened steps a few feet away. "Took you long enough."

Nadine recoiled back onto the bed. Her breaths were shaky from fear.
"Wh-who are you? What do you want?"

“No need for you to know,” Estelle told her expressionlessly. “All you can do is hope that your bosses aren’t as heartless as the rest of them,” she added, nodding towards a door half hidden in shadows.

Nadine's gaze fell towards the darkened area that her captor had indicated. Had this woman killed her previous hostages? How much was the ransom? Questions whizzed through her head as she contemplated what to do.

"Why are you doing this?", she asks, tears rolling down her cheeks, causing her mascara to run.

Estelle watched the woman for a second before getting to her feet and walking forwards to kneel down inches from the captive’s face. She reached up and gently wiped the mascara tracks away with her thumb.
“What’s your name?” she hissed.

"Nadine," she answers, pulling away from the woman's touch.

((I have returned!))

(Yay!! Sorry for the wait!)
Estelle grabbed the woman by her jaw and pulled her face closer.
« Pretty. »
She gently let go and pulled back, standing up and towering above the woman on the ground.
« Who do you work for? » she demanded.

"I work for a newspaper," Nadine hesitantly answers.

Estelle narrowed her eyes and clicked her tongue. « Elaborate. »

Nadine eyes the woman for a bit before answering. "I'm an advice columnist." I should answer or she might hurt me, she thought, her eyes returning to the door hidden in the shadows.

Estelle clasped her hands together behind her back. « Do you want me to list off the questions? Be warned that questions come with a blade. »
She stared down at the woman, her expression turning from annoyed to completely blank.

Nadine sat silent, curled up in a corner on the mattress, whimpering. Why me? she wondered. What possible use could an advice columnist be of to her?

Estelle bit her lip and shook a strand out of face.
"Jesus christ," she whispered to herself. She hoisted herself up and walked right up to the woman, sitting cross-legged in front of her. She snapped her fingers.
"Just listen to me. What newspaper do you work for? How long have you worked there? Who is your boss? How much do you earn?" she listed, quietly and not unkindly.

Nadine looks up at the woman. "I've worked for the Midford Gazette for two years under the leadership of Marci Black. My salary is $52,810."

“Marci Black,” Estelle murmured. “Are you close to her? Would she recognise your face?” she asked equally quietly.

"W-why are you doing this? Wh-what do you want from me?" Nadine stammered.

Estelle clicked her tongue and turned her back on Nadine. “Not you. I’m after the money Marci will provide me in exchange for your safety.”