Page 5 of The Karma Project
I nod knowing that it’ll be my duty to get as much information as possible. “I’ll start with her phone, see if there are any emails or conversations that lead to her identity. But if nothing comes of that, then I’ll have to track where her phone has pinged over the last year or so. It may take some time but there is no rest for the wicked.” I throw back the rest of my drink and enjoy the burn as it slides down my throat and comfortably settles in my empty stomach.
I go to the stairs to head to my office, “Oh and Max?” I say over my shoulder.
“Hm?”
“Don’t beat yourself up too much. There was only a one in a million chance that The Sparrow could have been a woman.”
I leave him with that as I find myself back in my office with The Sparrows phone in my hands. I settle into my desk chair with a cold energy drink already popped open and a true crime podcast playing in the background, and I begin.
On her phone, I open her photos app first and scroll to the oldest photo.
“Oh Sparrow, what have you been up to?”
4
V/I = R
Zoe
I wake up to a bright light and a mind-splitting headache, “Fuck.”
I hold the back of my head and grimace when I feel dried blood. Slowly I sit up and take in my surroundings, “What the hell?” I growl.
I know it’s the Karma boys that have me, it’s the only thing that makes sense. Them catching me was part of the plan, but themkidnappingme, was not.
I stood from the bed, thoroughly surprised I wasn’t bound to it. However, the raw skin on my wrists and ankles tells me I was bound at some point.Assholes.
I take in my surroundings. A massive room that puts my studio apartment to shame. A king-sized bed, which I hate to admit-- is comfortable as hell. Other than the bed there is a black nightstand that is lacking a lamp as well as a matching dresser on the wall opposite the bed. The walls are bare and a soft heather gray and lack any resemblance of decor let alone comfort. Except one wall is a full window wall that shows a dense forest with a light fog rolling through the trees despite the sun rising above the horizon. I continue rifling through the room to find that the dresser and the nightstand are both empty. Just for the hell of it, I tried the door, and it was locked… as expected.
I tried another door which to my surprise, opened to a bathroom that was easily twice the size of my apartment. A rain shower and a soaking tub sit to the left, and his and her sinks to the right. Further into the bathroom is a toilet that sits behind a door of its own, and then there is one final door I have to go through.
This door swung open to the biggest walk-in closet I’ve ever seen. It alone is a spacious master bedroom. With a lack of options for weapons I’m really at a loss. I’ve been in more threatening kidnapping situations before so I guess I can’t complain at the moment. But I was still kidnapped.
I do a double check on my body to find myself unharmed, other than the thudding in my head. They must have taken all of the weapons from my body which makes me shiver considering where some of those weapons would hide.
“Those mother fuckers.” I sigh. “Come on Z, think.”
I rack my brain for a minute longer, then decide to pull a pillow case from one of the fifty pillows on the bed. “This will have to do, considering they even took my shoelaces.” I mutter to myself.
I roll the pillowcase tight in my hands and wring it into a tight makeshift rope and plant myself to the side of the door.
Now we wait.
I stand like that for what seems like two hours, waiting and listening. Finally, I hear footsteps and the sound of someone humming. The steps come to a stop at the door and after an electronic beep comes the sound of a lock unlatching. The door swings open and one of the men takes a step in, and before registering who it could be; I attack.
I jump from behind him and pull the pillowcase tightly around his neck and tighten. The man quickly releases himself by knocking me on my ass, and it's all a flash of movement before I am once again being straddled.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” He grunts.
“Ah, Brandon.” I laugh humorlessly. “How’s your balls? Didn’t learn your lesson yet?” I slowly move my feet, so they are planted to the ground, ready to buck him off of me like the way I did to Teddy. Before I could act, Brandon flattens my knees back down and plants his heavy boots over them to keep me in place.
“Keep fighting me, princess. I like a challenge.” He pants, clearly out of breath from either me choking him with a pillowcase, or from his counterattack. I’d assume it’s both.
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.” I growl as I continue to writhe underneath him looking for a way that I can get back on top.
“Only when you stop acting like a brat, princess” Brandon has contained his breath now and just continues to hold my wrists tightly.
I let out a frustrated grunt now that I realize there is no way I can counter my opponent. “Fine.” And I lay limp.
