The Village

In the stylishly decorated yet chaotic bedroom, heavy metal music blasted from a stereo.

Celica Braga sat hunched over her vanity table, surrounded by an array of cosmetics with posters of iconic metal bands adorning the walls around her. She was deep in concentration, applying a thick layer of black eyeliner, her skilled fingers apply the dark makeup as they glided over her skin.

"Damn, you look fierce!" she muttered to herself, a slight smirk curling her lips. After taking a dramatic selfie, Celica sent a WhatsApp message to her best friend Bethany, her fingers flying over the screen.

~: Ready Bitch... see you there in twenty minutes:~

She typed hurriedly, pressing send as unbridled excitement burst from her.

The plan was simple, a couple of drinks at the local public house with her best friend Bethany before taking a taxi into the City to visit a club she and her friend had heard so much about.

With a satisfied nod at her reflection, she pressed off the music. Dressed in a black figure-hugging top with fishnet detail sleeves that complimented the fishnet hosiery that clad her legs under a black denim skirt. Looking at herself in a long mirror she adjusted the waistband of her short skirt, hitching it a little before she pulled long black socks over her knees as she stepped into little black ankles boots. Celica strode confidently out of her room on the vicious high heels of her boots as she headed downstairs into the living room.

The living room was cozy, the flickering television casting a glow as her parents watched a news documentary. Their tranquil scene shattered as Celica entered, her presence and appearance immediately causing turbulence.

"Where do you think you're going dressed like that?" Her father's voice cut through the air, his words laced with disapproval.

Celica rolled her eyes, her arms crossed defiantly over her chest. "It's called fashion, Dad... Ever heard of it?"

"Fashion? You look like a street worker.... This is not acceptable," he snapped, anger now spilling from his words at her daring to challenge him over her appearance.

Her indignation flared. "Maybe I don't need your approval on how to look... unless you've forgotten I'm eighteen... I'm not a kid anymore."

Her mother, unable to avoid the escalating tension, attempted to calm her husband. "Juan... calm down.... But Celica, maybe you could tone it down a bit... I don't know, perhaps not so much eye makeup... It's only the Crown Inn."

"What's wrong with a little dark eyeliner.... It's my style," Celica shot back, her defiance unyielding.

Her father's eyes were then drawn to the pentagram pendant dangling from black velvet choker wrapped around her neck, glinting provocatively against the rest of her dark ensemble. "That... That is offensive... Remove it."

Celica blinked in disbelief, her fingers instinctively clutching the pendant. "Seriously? It's just a symbol... I wear it for fashion, not some dark ritual."

As the heat of the exchange swelled, frustration coursed through her. "You know what? I'm done... You two don't get it... you probably never will."

In a heartbeat, she stormed out of the house, her footsteps echoing down the hall. In her haste, she left her mobile phone behind, its screen lighting up with incoming texts from Bethany.

Juan Braga turned to his wife, still fuming as the front door slammed behind their daughter. "What kind of nonsense is this...You saw what she had on, Emma... A fucking pentagram... it's not just a fashion statement around this Village... the connotations are so much more."

"Juan, she's an adult now... She has to make her own choices, even if we disagree.... We can't control everything and if we do we'll only push her away from us," she replied, placing a reassuring hand on his arm.

Juan sank into the couch, running a hand over his forehead, grappling with his thoughts. "No... In this village, that symbol means something so much darker.... It's linked to things we've tried to protect her from... She doesn't understand the dangers."

Emma sat beside him, her expression softening as she took in his worried demeanour. "It's all just local superstition and folklore nonsense Juan... I get it. That symbol is daubed everywhere... Our girl needs to find her own path, even if it's a little rebellious.... What's important is that she knows we love her... even when we don't see eye to eye."

Torn between concern and love, Juan rubbed his temples, the echoes of Celica's defiance haunting him. "Maybe... maybe we just need to talk to her."

Emma simply nodded, understanding that the push and pull of parenting a teenager teetering on the brink of adulthood was a fine line to walk.

Outside, Celica sauntered down the street, her phone forgotten following the confrontation, but a sense of freedom swelled inside of her as she thought of the night ahead of her and her best friend. The cool evening air wrapped around her. Her hand reaching for the pendant hung lightly against her neck, she had known it would provoke her father as a devote Christian, but its significance held no meaning to her.

As she ventured into the night, the juxtaposition of her home life and her personal identity swirled in her mind.

She regretted the altercation with her father and vowed to apologise in the morning, she hated falling out with him.

**********

In the intimate surroundings of the Crown Inn, Sam Delacourt sat at a small table tucked into a snug corner, the warm glow of lamps cast a hue over the surrounding wooden surfaces. The atmosphere was tranquil, only interrupted by the soft hum of quiet conversations and the clinking of glasses. From his seat, he could clearly overhear two locals stood at the bar. Two men he identified from there conversation as Jake and Steven, as they stood discussing a budding romance.

"I'm happy for you, buddy... I hope it works out for you," Jake said, his voice filled with genuine warmth as he clapped Steven on the back of his left shoulder.

"Thanks..." Steven replied, a smile spreading across his face. "Hopefully, I can introduce you to Rosie very soon."

"Good... Then I'll know she's not a figment of your imagination," Jake offered in jest.

Sam grinned to himself. His smile held as he glanced over at the opposite table, his attention shifted to a striking dark-haired girl dressed entirely in black. Her fingers absentmindedly wrapped around her drink as she periodically checked her watch, a hint of impatience starting to flash across her features.

When their eyes met, she blushed, a delightful sheepishness washing over her features. Sam cleared his throat, his heart racing slightly as he leant forward.

"Hey there..." he offered, trying to sound calm despite the nerves that tainted his stomach.

"Hi," she replied, a shy smile gracing her lips.

"Sam" he offered by response to introduce himself.

"I'm Celica..." she responded, "...but everyone calls me Cee Cee."

Encouraged by the warmth of her response and her undeniable beauty, he leaned closer to her resting his forearms on the table he sat at. "I'm assuming someone like you hasn't been stood up ...so you must be waiting for a friend?"

Celica shook her head, her expression shifting from hopeful to slightly deflated. "A friend yes... and even for her she's running very late."

"Well... since we're both alone, would you mind if I bought you a drink and joined you?" he suggested with a smile.

"Sure," she said, a relief appeared to wash over her as despite what he had inferred she stood and confidently slid into the booth opposite of him. His eyes could not help but glance to the pendant that hung around her neck.

"What are you drinking?" Sam asked, pulling out his wallet.

"Disaronno and Diet Coke," she said, her personality blossoming as she warmed to the conversation.

Rising from the table, he threw her a playful grin. "You promise to wait for me?"

"Only if you promise to come back," she shot back, a teasing lilt in her voice.

As he approached the bar, and ordered drinks, he noticed the male he had identified as Jake standing alone now, a cocky grin decorating his face as he leaned against the counter. He had obviously been watching what had just played out or been keeping an eye on the lone girl.

"Bit early for Halloween to be dressed up like that isn't it?," Jake said, glancing back toward Celica, his tone dripping with a presumptive bravado. "Pretty looking girl though... not seen her in here before."

Sam felt an anger rise in his chest, instantly offended by Jake's intrusive behaviour.

"You've a dark aura around you..." he retorted curtly, annoyance threading through his words. "...I sense your motives can rarely be trusted."

The barmaid, a pretty brunette with an approachable smile, snickered at Sam's appraisal, as she completed the transaction. Jake, momentarily taken aback, stood silently stunned as Sam turned away, leaving the simmering tension behind him. He walked back to the table feeling a mix of pride and indignation, unsure why he has been so determined to protect the young girl who sat at the table waiting for him.

"Here you are," he said, handing her the drink. "So, Celica... is that name Spanish?"

"Portuguese," she replied, her dusky skin glowing under the lights. "My father is originally from Lisbon."

"Lisbon, huh? Must be beautiful there," Sam mused, captivated by the vibrant passion sparkling in her eyes.

"It is..." she replied, her voice growing animated, "...We still have relatives there that we visit sometimes... They have the best food... and the culture there is just so rich."

Their conversation began to flow effortlessly as they shared stories laughter punctuated the night. With each round of drinks, time slipped away, the world around them fading into insignificance. Celica's earlier worries about her absent friend melted away, replaced by the budding connection sparking between her and Sam.

"So... Do you like heavy metal?" Celica asked, her curiosity apparent.

"Love it," he replied, his enthusiasm false but he wanted to keep the conversation flowing. "It's the best way to release frustrations and embrace energy.... So, I'm guessing you do too?"

"I'm perhaps a little more of a goth rock girl..." she honestly offered, "...But I do appreciate a good metal track now and then."

Sam noticed the infectious and mischievous look cross her beautiful features as in the intimate corner of the Crown Inn, surrounded by laughter and shared secrets, the two of them found themselves caught up in one another's company.

Sam hung on her every word feeling as if fate had conspired to bring them together. As the night deepened, they leaned into each other's stories, their energy pulsing through the space between, promising what he hoped was the beginning of something special.

**********

The night air was crisp as Sam and Celica stepped into the dimly lit car park of the Crown Inn.

The glow from the venues exterior lights flickered against the inky darkness, casting shadows on the tarmac as they walked side by side, their laughter still echoing from the evening they had just shared.

"Well... Thank you for an unexpected night, Cee Cee," Sam stated, running a hand through his hair, a smile lingering on his lips. "Can I give you a lift home?"

Celica hesitated, glancing at him.

"You've had far too much to drink to be driving," she pointed out, concern creasing her brow.

"Oh, don't worry about that," he replied, waving a dismissive hand. "I've a friend picking me up."

As he spoke, with almost uncanny timing a sleek black Range Rover rolled silently into the car park, the thrum of its engine a low growl. The driver, a man she placed to easily be in his late fifties, with dark hair and a sharp jawline glanced out of the window with a nod.

"Ready to go?" the driver offered with a casual smile on his face as he lowered the passenger window.

"See?" Sam grinned at Celica. "Perfectly safe... So, our night doesn't have to end here at the local inn."

Uncertainty washed over Celica like a cold wave. She took a step back, biting her lip. "I really should go home,"

Sam noticed her features torn between the impulse of adventure and the reality of responsibility. Then, in a moment of hesitation, she revealed, "I was supposed to be staying with my friend Bethany though..."

"Sounds like you've got the ideal cover story then," Sam teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

As she looked from him to the waiting vehicle, Celica felt a magnetic pull. Adventure whispered in her ear, urging her to take a leap. The connection they had shared danced in her mind, tempting her with the promise of more moments like the ones they just had. Eventually, she sighed, sensing that life was calling her to be bold.

"Okay... I'll go with you." she impulsively offered.

"Great" Sam beamed, ushering her towards the car.

As they slid into the plush leathered upholstered back seat of the Range Rover, the interior felt warm and inviting. Sam settled beside her as the driver pulled away from the Crown Inn, easing eventually onto the country lanes that wound through the darkness out of the Village. The vehicle soon picking up speed as they passed trees and hedgerows as the road unfurled ahead of them.

"So... where exactly are we headed?" Celica said as she turned to Sam, curiosity lighting her face.

"To your destiny," he replied, the words slipping from his lips with a taint of darkness.

An unexpected shiver lanced down Celica's spine at his response, a chill that was unnerving. Outside the windows the scenery transformed into a blur of shadows and flickering lights, as a panic began to creep into her mind. She was being driven into the unknown in a direction out of the Village she had never taken before and for the first time that night, a flicker of doubt ignited within her.

"Are we... are we just going for a drive?" Celica asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"A little adventure under the stars," Sam said, leaning back with an uneasy smile. "Trust me."

Celica could not shake the growing unease. She was with two strangers, speeding away from the comfort of the village she knew so well, bound for a place that remained shrouded in mystery. What if this was a mistake? What if what was supposed to be fun turned into something else entirely?

She caught a glimpse of the driver's eyes in the rear-view mirror, dark and inscrutable. The tension in the air shifted, adding to the layer of growing unease. An instinctive wave of caution washed over her, and she clenched her hands in her lap.

"Sam?" she offered, her voice wavering slightly. "Can you take me home?"

"Don't worry," he assured her, though she could not miss the flicker of darkness in his gaze.

As they continued into the night, the landscape outside morphing into the darkness, Celica felt the weight of her impulsive decision. The winding road stretched endlessly ahead, leading them deeper into the unknown.

Sam leaned closer, his voice softening. "You're going to be fine Cee Cee."

As inky darkness surrounded them, Celica could not shake the feeling that this journey was much more than she had bargained for. Taking a deep breath, trying to steady herself, she glanced to the full moon above them out of the window, a hint of red creeping into its base.

As faint moonlight reflected from the pendant around her neck the eighteen-year-old was blissfully unaware of the darkness that was about to unfold.

**********

Panic clawed at Celica's insides as the reality of the situation sank in.

She thrashed her body wildly, the commotion around her faded as adrenaline surged through her veins, sharpening her senses.

She was no longer seated in the plush interior of the Range Rover with Sam and the driver, any feeling of security had slipped away, replaced by a cold grip of terror that wrapped around her throat.

Her wrists were bound tightly behind her back, as she was held pressed against the damp smelling ground at the side of the Range Rover. The roughness of the rope biting into her skin. With every jolt, the damp, hard floor beneath her pressed against her body. Celica continued to thrash in desperation, her pulse racing as she felt hands grip her ankles, securing them together in the darkness that fell around them.

"Let me go... please let me go " she begged, her voice trembling with fear and indignation. "What are you doing.... What are you going to do to me?"

Sam Delacourt and his associate exchanged a glance as they crouched over her, a look that sparked a further chill down her spine. The calmness of their demeanour only fuelled her escalating dread. They did not respond, they only gripped her tighter, before lifting her off the ground as she squirmed helplessly.

"Stop struggling, Cee Cee.... don't make this harder on yourself," Sam said, his voice eerily soothing, almost condescending, as they started to carry her into dense woodland.

The chilly air hit her face, mingling with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Panic gripped her further, each step they took echoing in her mind like a countdown.

"Help me... somebody help me" she hollered, desperation creeping into her tone.

"She wears a pentagram..." Sam's assailant offers calmly as he grips her legs at his side, "...that doesn't make her a suitable sacrifice."

"A what?...." Celica exclaimed, "...A ...Let me go.,. Please just let me go."

Neither of them replied, the only answer she received was the harsh rustling of branches as they moved deeper into the woods. The darkness of the forest enveloped her like a thick fog that swallowed her screams and muffled her pleas as she protested. Celica's heart raced, matching the rhythm of their hurrying footsteps that reverberated through the silence.

With every breath, her senses heightened; she strained to catch any clues about her location. The towering trees stood like sentinels around them, dark silhouettes clawing at the starlit sky. The moon's light cast eerie shadows, amplifying the sinister feeling that clung to her.

As they pressed on, Celica's thoughts frantically raced. She had been so caught up in the excitement of the evening with Sam, drawn in by his charm, that she had not considered the potential consequences of accompanying him. Her gut had whispered warnings that she had ignored.

"What do you want from me?" She tried once more, her voice stronger despite the quiver of fear underneath. "My Father has money... He... He'll pay you to let me go!"

"Money?" Sam scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "This is about far more than money Celica."

The response sent chills through her body, unravelling any glimmers of hope. The realization that she was being dragged into something she could not comprehend struck her like ice. The shadows around her grew darker, and the woodland beckoned with an ominous presence.

"Let me go..." she pleaded once more, anxiety seizing her heart. "Let me go... please... please... just let me go."

But all she received in response was silence and the sharp crunch of twigs underfoot. Celica's instincts kicked in; she could not let panic overcome her. She needed to think, needed to find a way to escape. With every ounce of determination she could muster, she began to gather her strength, looking for opportunities even in her dire situation, raising her head as they neared a clearing.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she wailed once more, a fresh layer of desperation creeping into her voice, hoping to manipulate their emotions or sow seeds of doubt. "You don't have to do this... You don't have to do this... Please."

For a heartbeat, their grip faltered, the hesitation creating a spark of hope in Celica's heart. She flexed her wrists further, the ropes starting to give slightly, perhaps the rope would not hold for long, and offer her an opportunity to escape. The urgency of the moment weighed heavy on her as she gathered her thoughts. As they carried her into the moonlit clearing, they set her down on the damp ground, rolling her onto her back as she pulled viscously at the rope that bound her wrists behind her back.