Excerpt: Left For Dead

 Cassie was now lying on the floor, her ankles were tied to a post in the corner of the room. 
She was fazing in and out, probably from lack of food or drink. 
She was thinking of everything as if she'd never see it again.
"I never went on that date with Jansen."
Jansen's face filled her mind. His soft brown eyes were filled with worry.
"Cassie, don't give up." His voice rang through her head. "Do it for me. Do it for Izzie. Do it for Alyssa." 
Jansen's words caught her off guard. Alyssa had been her little sister.
She'd only known her a month before she died of SIDS. 
Jansen knew everything about her. On the thirteenth year mark of Alyssa's death, Cassie was completely depressed. 
Jansen knew that something was up, and wouldn't leave her alone until she confided in him.
And she did.
Cassie forced herself into a sitting position. She tried to look around, but it was impossible to see anything. 
She could faintly make out the figure of something on the opposite wall, but she couldn't figure out what it was.
She gave up trying to see in the darkness and sat thinking about her family and friends
"I'll never get to see Mom again." She thought glumly. The last time she'd seen her mother was over the summer.
Four months ago.
And what about Izzie? Izzie had been her best friend since their first year of college almost two and a half years ago. Izzie was her best friend; her only friend she'd ever had.
Her thoughts then traveled to her father. The chances of her ever getting to see him again were down the drain now.
"Stop thinking that way!"
Once again, Jansen's voice penetrated her thoughts, startling her.
Was she going crazy? Hearing voices in her own head through her thoughts....Yes, she concluded, she was going crazy. It wasn't until the door burst open and her kidnapper, red-faced, came stalking in, did she realize that she'd been talking out loud.
"Shut up!" He yelled, standing no more than a foot away from her. He seemed so much bigger now, standing above her.
He didn't seem to have any weapon on him. No gun, no knives.
Now was her chance.
She pulled her legs together, scissoring them onto his ankles. He fell backward, his head slamming into the concrete. But, unfortunately for Cassie, it didn't knock him unconscious. 
"You little-" He staggered to his knees, trying to shake away the blur that had settled in his eyes.
He suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Cassie's wrists. She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he was much stronger than she was.
She leaned forward and bit hard into his hand. He yelped, pulling just that hand away. Cassie took that chance and hauled her fist at his chin. She made contact, full force, and he fell backward. Cassie didn't know what she could do with her legs still tied, but she was most definitely fighting.
"You wanna play, do ya?" He growled, lunging at her for the second time. He pulled a rag out of his large coat pocket while he held her hands together with his free one.
He held the rag to Cassie's face. Almost immediately, her body grew limp. 
She was barely conscious as she saw him stand up and walk to the door. 
He paused in the doorway and grinned slightly.
"We're gonna have some fun, aren't we?" He said as he slowly shut the door.
"You'll be...Sorry." Cassie whispered. 
As her world began fading, she suddenly realized who he was.
The Pomona Woods Killer.