#the regular

You were walking home after your shift and decided to go to the gas station for some snacks and a quick chat with the cute goth cashier who’s been flirting you up. 

He was the first person you met in town, outside of coworkers from previous jobs. He was the one to take you out to live music events happening in local bars, his treat. The more you guys hang out the more you’ve fallen for him. Especially since he has been more open about his sex life and kinks with you after you got hired at the sex store near your apartment. Tonight is the night you’re going to ask him out.

You hear a faint thudding noise as you walk past the pumps and up to the convenience store. Once you reach the doors, you see the store is completely empty. You think the noise is coming from behind the building and you're stupid enough to check. 

When you finally turned the corner, you were met with what remained of your friend and crush, who you had finally worked up the courage to ask for a date. You were too preoccupied with his caved-in face to notice his murderer right behind you. Before you can turn around, you’re knocked out cold.

# # #

You wake up bound to a mattress, blindfolded and gagged. You are hit with the overpowering fumes of bleach, and a stench similar to a grocery store meat room with faulty air conditioning, a smell you remember well from working the back-rooms at a chain grocery store. Your skin feels oddly sticky. The mattress is crusty and wet in some areas and you try your best to not think about it. What you can't see can't hurt you, right? You struggle hard against your binds for a minute, of course, it's to no avail.

“Oh you’re finally awake,” a familiar voice says.

You stop dead in your tracks now aware of the audience you have. Your last memory comes back to you and it takes everything not to scream in horror at your realization. 

“You’ve been out for almost two days, I was starting to get worried about you,”  your captor states as a matter of fact.

“Almost thought you were a lost cause for a second, thought that maybe I hit your head too hard when I was panicking,” you catch him saying under his breath. “I really couldn’t afford to let you get away, I’m sure you understand.”

“I’m really sorry I had to do this to you, I would have preferred to have you willingly move into my house,” he pauses, thinking about his next words carefully, “I wasn’t expecting for you to catch me disposing of the gas station’s trash.”

You can't hold back any longer, your pathetic muffled screams fill up the room you’re bound in.

“Hey, hey, don't scream,” he sighed before proclaiming, “I’m not gonna hurt you like that, I love you!”

“I'm sorry I brought it up, sometimes I forget how disturbing it must be to other people,” he says dismissively. 

Your voice gives out after one more muffled sob. The blindfold is unconformably wet with tears, and your jaw aches to be released from its prison.

“Ah there you go, I knew you were going to scream. They almost always do,” Your captor speaks casually as if this is a regular occurrence, “Though, you're different. I'm sure you picked up on that. . .”

You didn’t know what he meant and it terrified you. You know you recognize his voice from somewhere. But where? Why was this happening to you? 

“Most of my guests come to this very room to die,” he says without emotion. It feels like your heart stopped.

“But I can’t find it in me to kill someone like you, at least not yet,” He pauses for a second, “If you can be good for me then I'll keep you here, okay? Maybe if you behave I can take you upstairs tonight, but I'll have to keep you bound for a while, gotta build up trust” 

“Hmm” He goes silent, and your head is spinning. 

He is really forcing you to be some kind of pet, under the threat of death. You saw his handy work, and you're well aware he can follow up on his promises. 

Fuck.

You will have to comply with him. Unfortunately, you are a prime target for creeps and abusive pricks solely because you just can't reject them. You’re absolutely spineless. You wonder which creep you met had taken a liking to you enough to kidnap you.

“I’m gonna take the gag off,” he tells you softly, “Please be good for me, just don’t scream, I’m sure you have questions baby.”

His hands make quick work of the heavy-duty latch keeping the gag firmly in place. The relief you feel is embarrassing, you almost want to thank him. 

“Good job sweetheart, now what can I answer for you?” he questions in a honeyed tone.

“Who are you, and why are you doing this?” your question comes out weak and raspy.

“Ah, it was stupid of me to think you recognized me just from my voice,” You wince not wanting to upset him, “It's Aiden, I’m your best customer.”

It’s Aiden, the shy guy who you met one day by chance when you took up an extra shift. Aiden who you always found kind of cute, who always got bondage gear. You were almost excited to see him every day, he asked so many questions about toys and BDSM that you loved answering. You don't usually date customers but you would’ve bent the rules for him, you just always assumed he had a partner so you did your best to stay friendly. 

You start crying again despite having previously thought to be drained dry. You try your best not to whimper. It’s all so much to take in.

“Hm, how do I explain to you why this is happening. Think of it like a twist of fate. I was destined to meet you the day I was going to ask out your coworker,” Aiden confessed, affection in his voice, “God, you were so gorgeous, so innocent looking, I could hardly believe you worked in a place like that.” 

“Shit, I’m getting hard thinking about it,” he mutters. You wish you didn't just hear that but you can’t seem to interrupt Aiden’s obsessive rant.

“Let's just say I became a little fixated on you. Started shopping more, asking questions about rope and leather that I already knew. I just wanted to hear you talk, to see you smile at me while you explain the use for the new gear and toys that you just got in stock,” You can hear his sick desire through his words.

“I was finally getting up the courage to ask you on a date, of course then I learned you had your eyes on someone else, so I was gonna make him disappear like all the other creeps I disposed of. I just didn’t expect you to throw a wrench in my plan like that, so I had to improvise,” he sounds relieved to admit this to you.

 “As I said earlier, I would’ve preferred to do this the “right” way, get to know you, and let you fall in love with me,” His inflection has a hint of remorse, “I guess it doesn't really matter now that you're trapped here. Oh, you’re crying, did I upset you?”

You can only sob, his sick ramblings only solidified how dire your position is.

“Hey, it's okay. you’ll be so good for me, so you’re gonna be safe here, alright?” Was this his attempt at comforting you?

You hear the rustling of clothes, and then his hand is on your face. You yelp and recoil hard. Fuck, you weren’t expecting to get so spooked.

“I'm so sorry, please I didn’t mean to react like that!” You plead through pitiful sobs, “Sorry, I’m sorry, please don't hurt me!” 

“Shh, it's okay sweetheart. I know you're scared and you can't see. Just couldn’t stop myself,” Aiden whispers to you. It's about as soothing as cough medicine tastes.

 You just want to be able to see the threat that's so sweetly caressing your tear-stained face. After a moment like this, you get the courage to ask.

“Can you take the blindfold off?” your voice barely comes out.

“I have to think about it for a minute, I should be a little delicate with this, shouldn't I?” His response leaves you puzzled, and you begin to doubt whether seeing is actually better.

He moves away from you and out of the room. Your mind drifts off, and you wonder why he was so cagey about it. Before you linger on it too long, Aiden returns.

“So, I've come to a conclusion. In order for you to come upstairs, I'm gonna show you the room you are in right now. This is where you'll stay if you don't behave,” you hear a metallic jingling, like a belt buckle, “Now, I'm going to have to gag you for this, trust me the blindfold was a courtesy for you. I know you’re going to scream baby, but it'll be okay I won't leave you here!”

You tiredly comply with Aiden’s ministrations. The gag is back on no problem.

“You’re doing so good for me baby, I’m gonna take the blindfold off of you,” he praises you. You feel sick

It takes him a minute to undo what seems like multiple latches. You feel it loosen up and lift off your face. You’re scared to open your eyes, wishing to remain unaware of the source of the room’s peculiar scent. 

As soon as you do open them, you’re met with pure gore. Bits of skin, hair, and viscera litter the red-coated floor. The walls are smeared with blood at various states of drying. You dare yourself to look down. The mattress you’re bound to is caked in blood. It's on your skin.

You scream long and hard, keeping your eyes shut. You wish you were dead. Your throat hurts so much, but you can't stop screaming. Fuck. you can't stay in this room any longer. 

“It's okay baby, once your vocal cords give out I'll take you upstairs,” he was almost mocking you. He strokes your face as you cry and wail. 

“I don't want to scare you into submission, but I'm not stupid sweetheart. I know seeing that trash wasn't enough for you to freely comply with your new life. I had to show you the consequences of bad behavior”

Your screams have died down to a soft whimper. You almost wish Aiden would kill you, but that's maybe only marginally better than your current predicament.

“Oh how good you are for me, God you're so fucking cute when you tremble in fear!”

He quickly puts the blindfold back on you. You're too numbed out to process it happening, the sudden darkness only disorienting you further. 

You feel him fiddling with the restraints freeing your limbs one by one. You resent your pathetic nature. you have no will to fight back, nor the physical and mental capability to do so. The opportunity to fight is rotting like an old carcass in the sun.

You grieve your freedom for a moment before strong arms lift you up. You're limp and silent, not wanting to sleep in what's essentially a torture chamber.

“I think we should get cleaned up, I'm sorry for the mess down there. I really didn't anticipate having a guest so soon,” he tells you apologetically.