Victoria's POV
Just finished celebrating Jennifer's seventeenth birthday at the Rinky Dink Roller Rink in town. It was amazing and super fun to see all the girls again before school starts for the year, even though we see each other almost every day.
We are all meeting at Candice's house to go back to school shopping tomorrow at the Flairville Shopping Mall. I also have babysitting tomorrow night for the Cunningham family, whose six-year-old is one of the easiest children to babysit ever; she is so sweet and kind. She would make sure you are okay and make sure you are looking after yourself, too, and not just her.
I turn down Mulberry Street, and I am not far from home now, so I am excited to tell my mom about the party. She's my best friend, and I can tell her anything, and I mean anything. For example, I told her when I lost my virginity and who it was with, which she was happy about.
I have this strange feeling all of a sudden, it's like I am being watched or followed, but I know I am just being paranoid ... right? I look around the street and there is nothing out of the ordinary, Mrs Van De Belt is out on her porch drinking sweet tea in the summer afternoon sun, children are playing in the street which is sweet to see, Mr Gardiner is walking his two golden Labrador dogs Misty and Bucky who are absolute sweethearts and adorable and there is Mr and Mrs Kirkbride are tending to their gorgeous rose garden which is in full bloom with an array of red, white, pink, yellow and purple roses.
Wait
There is something that is out of the ordinary; there is an ash grey AMC Eagle station wagon a few houses down from where I am walking, and I have never seen it in this neighborhood before, but I have seen the car before. However, I can't recall where.
Just keep walking Tori
The present I got Jennifer is a gold charm bracelet which she was admiring when we went to the mall a few weeks ago and she almost cried when she saw it because she said it reminded her of a bracelet her deceased grandmother got her for her tenth birthday but someone stole it a few years ago so I had to get it for her.
I start to feel the hair on my neck start to stand up, and something feels wrong, but what, then I feel something press against my lower back, and I try to turn around and see what it is, but all I hear is.
"Just keep walking Victoria," I hear a soft voice from behind me
Where have I heard this voice before
"Who ..." I ask before he cuts me off
"Never mind that, just keep walking," he commands me with more anger this time
I do as he commands, he is seven inches taller than me, but I won't risk fighting him because he may just kill me here and now. I feel his other hand wrap around my waist to keep me walking at his pace, and then I realize we are heading towards the parked station wagon.
He's kidnapping me, what do I do?!
Then the smell of him hits me with the coming breeze, the smell of Drakkar Noir cologne and Old Spice aftershave, which makes me realize who this is.
Why him?
We get to the car, and he removes his hand from my waist to reach into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief, then pulls it over my mouth
"Sleep well, sweet Tori," he whispered in his ear, and I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.
Please, God, don't let him kill me
Don't make me number seven