My matric year has been full of stress, but whose isn’t? The pressure on all of us at school is overwhelming and unfortunately, home isn’t any better. The tension between my parents is palpable but no one will tell me what is wrong.
I finally make it through the first chapter of biology and then there is a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I say, trying to keep the tone of annoyance out of my voice. Mom and dad often tell me that somewhere along the line I became a petulant teenager so I am trying to be better. Dad walks in with his big beaming smile plastered on his face.
“Hi beautiful. How’s the work going?”
“It’s OK, thanks Dad. I’m a bit anxious but whatever.”
“Well, I’ve got a surprise for you,” he beams. I look at him and wait expectantly. “You, Amber and I are going camping this weekend.” I start to giggle.
We haven’t been camping since I was twelve and I know that he must be joking. The booming laughter that I expected to meet my giggles is replaced instead with a rather confused, bewildered expression.
“Liz, I’m not joking. We really are going. I have seen how tense you are at the moment and I think you need to get a way for a bit.” After a minute of deliberation, I know that he is right. I get off the bed, give him a kiss on the cheek and abandon my biology for packing. I am genuinely excited.
*****
The apple is fluffy and powdery but The Girl is so ravenous that she forces it down, taking her time to chew each bite. She strains her ears, trying to hear the voices downstairs. She can hear shouting but has never seen the rest of the house so she does not know where they are coming from. She has a sinking feeling in my stomach as a familiar voice makes its way upstairs. She shakes her head violently. It can’t be.
*****
We arrive in the forest that I remember so clearly from my childhood. The day is spent filled with a never ending harmony of giggles and daddy’s booming laughter. We are sitting around the fire, laughing about memories from the last time that we were here. Dad suddenly goes very quiet and takes on a demeanour that I have never seen before. His eyes glaze over and he seems to be somewhere else entirely.
Suddenly he snaps his head up and with an unusual smile he exclaims, “Let’s play hide and seek!” Amber and I exchange looks and burst out laughing.
“Dad, we haven’t played that forever!” He stands up and just like that I know that we have no choice in the matter. He stands really close to us and does the strangest thing. He leans in and gives me a hug and says, “Play well baby. See you soon.”
The woods are terribly dark and in my teen wisdom, I realise that this isn’t the safest or most intelligent game to play in a South African forest at night. I conjure up images of dad and as always, I am immediately comforted. I take a deep breath and spin around to look behind me. My stomach is in knots and I suddenly feel as if I am being watched.
I come to a clearing in the trees and I am overwhelmed by the beauty and serenity of my surroundings. I have forgotten about any of my previous fears as I stand there transfixed by the world. Two arms suddenly encircle me around my waist. I feel my stomach drop a million kilometres a second. I open my mouth to start screaming. I feel a strong hand clasp over it. I can’t breathe. All that I can think of is my scream that is aching to be released.
My heart is racing. I am kicking and swinging my arms and legs trying to get free of this iron clad grip. I can’t breathe. My whole world is a mess of colours, smells and sounds. I feel myself blacking out. I force my eyes open. I can’t. They are closing. Stay awake Liza. I beg with myself. I can’t breathe. I implore my body to be stronger. I can hear the leaves crunching under foot but I am floating. I can hear the animals in the distance but they are leaving. I am alone. My body goes limp as the sound of booming laughter fills my ears. Daddy. Help me.
*****
The Girl suddenly shudders violently as the memory fills her mind. She is feeling particularly unnerved today because of the familiar voice that keeps drifting into her ears. She stands up and starts pacing the room. She listens harder to try and make out the voices. She stops in her tracks. An unmistakable booming laughter is filling her ears. She shakes her head but hears it again. She knows that laughter better than anything else in the world. She is shaking. It can’t be. “Daddy?”
***
Do you think Elizabeth will ever escape? What do you think her dad’s involvement is in her kidnapping?
