Bullied and Broken

The last time I saw him before everything went to hell, Jake was watching the sunrise with his new squeeze. He said to the kidnappers, like it was no big deal, “Yeah, just leave her tied up. No rush.”“She needs to learn a lesson, stop bugging me. It's for the best, honestly.”To stay alive, I had to strip myself bare, cling to the boss of these goons, and beg him with a shaky voice, “I’ll do whatever you want, just don't kill me.”Later, when Jake finally decided to come rescue me, the boss just laughed, looking down at me, passed out in his arms. “She’s worn out. Doubt she's got the strength to go anywhere with you.”

1

The roar of the ocean, amplified through a cheap speaker, echoed in the rundown warehouse.Jake’s voice was so casual, with this tipsy, lazy vibe, like he was just chilling. “Okay, Jamie, this is a new low in your whole ‘getting my attention’ game.”“First, you get my Mom to try and force my hand into a wedding.”“Now, this kidnapping charade?”“If you want to off yourself, go ahead, just don't ruin my date with my girl to watch the sunrise.”“Jake!”Tears of terror streamed down my face, dripping on the rope binding my wrists and ankles.I shook my head, desperate to make him understand.“I'm not acting! I’m not making this up!”“I didn't know your Mom was gonna call the media and announce our engagement out of nowhere.”“Please, just believe me this time, please come get me?”“Oh, ‘save’ you? Sure, yeah, okay,” Jake scoffed, and said, all drawling and detached, “Five million, is that it? I got it.”The kidnapper on the phone, a gravelly voiced dude, jumped in quick,“Five hours, the old docks by the pier, cash in hand, and we’ll…”“Oh, forget about the ‘release’ part.”“Just leave her tied up, don’t worry about getting her out right now.”Jake was all dismissive and mocking. “She needs to learn a lesson, stop bugging me. It's for the best, honestly.”“Are you serious?” The three guys on the other end were looking at each other, sounding confused.Jake let out this short, hard laugh, that had something nasty under it. "If you even lay a finger on her, I'll pay. Consider that a bonus for your trouble.”The tears kept coming, and I closed my eyes, feeling just plain awful.Jake, you hate me that much?“Jake, ” I cried, still pleading. “I'm really kidnapped!”“I don't need to ‘learn my lesson.’ If you just come save me, I’ll never bother you again, I swear…”“Babe! The sun's up!”A bubbly, bright voice suddenly cut through the speaker.The girl, all happy and sweet, yelled, “It’s so beautiful! Mmmph—oh.”The sounds of kissing, the squish and smack, were crystal clear on the phone.They must be in the middle of an intense make-out session. Gross.Despair washed over me. I gave up, completely done.I sat there on the concrete floor, staring at the ring on my finger. The only damn thing Jake ever gave me. And I actually laughed.Turns out promises made when you're young don’t mean anything, huh?Jake, who, at sixteen, swore he’d marry me, protect me forever.How did he...