NATALIE SINGLETARY - KIDNAPPED

Natalie Singletary grew up in and resides in eastern North Carolina. She recently self-published her first book, "The Diamond Trilogy," and is in the midst of pre-producing a film from the work. She also pursues a dance career, currently teaching hip hop at a local performing arts studio,  Act! Dance! Sing! Performing Arts Training Center in Morehead City, NC.

​Kidnapped

​The dripping faucet in the bathroom stirred Carmon awake, her hair matted to her cheek. She wanted to wipe it away, but her hands were tied behind her. The chair she was in was stuck to her back. Her gaze travelled down to her legs, also tied. She glanced around the dingy room and saw Wally in the corner in a similar position, still unconscious. The two beds separated them. There were footsteps out in the hall that faded into the distance. 
“Wally.” She attempted to keep her voice down. “Wally.”
Wally coughed, jolting awake. “Where are we? Carmon?” He squinted. “What happened?” he asked.
Carmon shuffled her way toward Wally, the chair resisting against the carpet. “We’ve been kidnapped,” she said. About halfway across the room, her coat got caught under the chair leg and she fell over.
He cleared his throat. “How can I help?” he asked. 
“Are you able to shuffle your way to me?” 
Wally nodded and trekked his chair over to her. His sweat dripped onto her face. “Now what?” 
“I’m going to roll onto my side and you’re going to fall over behind me so we can untie each other. Do you understand?” 
“What happens if I accidently fall on top of you?” 
Carmon narrowed her eyes. “My knee accidently goes into your crotch.” 
Wally adjusted his chair and fell over following her instructions. “I was thinking more dinner and a movie anyway.” He untied her. “Unless, you want me to hold on to these ropes.”
Carmon rolled her eyes. “How are you making jokes right now? Or did you miss the part where we were kidnapped?” He released her ropes and without delay, she untied her legs, tossing the chair back into its original corner. She replaced her focus on freeing Wally. 
“This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve spent most of my life in hiding due to my father’s reputation. Escaping from him has become somewhat of a game at this point,” said Wally. Carmon released his arms and he rubbed his wrists as she checked for exit points. He smirked, discarding the rest of his bonds and standing. “I imagine you can relate in your field of expertise.” 
Before he could blink, Carmon was at his throat with a knife. “Who the hell are you and how do you know who I am?” 
“You just got even more attractive,” he said, smirking. Carmon applied pressure to his throat. He put his hands up. “Alright, alright. I knew who you were the moment I saw you. Why do you think I asked you out?” 
“That doesn’t make sense.” 
“I’ve had a crush on you since college, in a totally not creepy way. We both went to Penn State. Took Ancient Artifacts with Professor Stanley. I looked you up in my dad’s database. I’m curious on why you went to college in the first place to be honest. The heist in Egypt when you were only seventeen was a three-million-dollar job.”
Carmon rolled her eyes, returning her knife into its holster. “No. That’s completely creepy. And continuing my education is important to my superiors.” She crossed her arms. “Did you set this whole thing up?” she asked.
Wally slipped his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “Kind of.”
“Before or after I agreed to go on a date with you?”
“Before. I was so elated that you said yes, I spaced on calling it off.”
Her eyebrows elevated. “You’re a complete lunatic.”
“I wouldn’t say complete.”
Carmon closed the distance between them. He inhaled. “I would,” she said and nailed her fist into his stomach. Wally crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. “That’s for having me kidnapped.” She opened the door to the balcony.
Wally reached toward her. “We’re on.. the.. fifteenth… floor.”
Carmon smirked down at him, pulling out her grappling hook. “I think I’ll be alright.” She leaned down and kissed Wally on the cheek. “Let’s try that date thing again sometime.” She walked backwards onto the balcony and shot off her grappling hook above her. And then, she was gone.
Wally smiled. “I’m going to marry that woman someday.”