Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 8

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 8**

**Mava**

The chill of the earth beneath me was the first sensation that pierced through the fog of unconsciousness. I felt the dampness of the leaves pressing against my cheek, the gritty taste of dirt clinging to my teeth as I swallowed reflexively.

As I attempted to move, the roughness of the rope binding my wrists burned against my skin, a harsh reminder of my situation. I felt a jolt at my ankles, and in a disorienting moment, I was dragged forward like a piece of unwanted luggage through the underbrush.

Voices surrounded me—three deep, male voices that echoed ominously in the dark.

I squinted against the shadows, slowly adjusting my vision, and my heart sank as the reality of my predicament became clearer. One man was pulling me, half-conscious, through the forest, a rope slung over his shoulder. Another walked ahead, pushing aside branches, while the third lingered to the side, keeping a watchful eye on the perimeter.

With great effort, I lifted my head, blinking to clear the haze from my sight.

For a fleeting, dreadful moment, my mind conjured names I wished it hadn’t—Tylon, Caden, and Leo. Who else could be here at this hour? But I quickly dismissed the thought; I barely knew them, having only shared one night together.

Yet, as my vision sharpened, I instinctively recognized that these men were not the ones I had encountered before. They were leaner, their movements less confident, and even from behind, I could sense that they were different.

No, these men were not familiar.

It struck me then, a chilling realization: I was unmistakably being kidnapped.

The first rule of survival—don’t appear vulnerable—felt utterly impossible in this moment.

Instinctively, I pulled against the rope, the surge of self-preservation kicking in, and my actions caught their attention.

They halted, their gazes piercing through me, assessing me like I was nothing more than an object to be discarded.

“Get up,” the man dragging me ordered, annoyance lacing his voice as if he were the one inconvenienced by the mud.

With trembling legs, I managed to get my knees under me and pushed myself upright, swaying slightly as I regained my balance.

The forest stretched endlessly around us, devoid of any comforting campus lights. The ground sloped beneath me, indicating we were far from any path I recognized. Panic clawed at my insides as I grappled with the uncertainty of where they were taking me, who they were, and what fate awaited me.

“What do you want with me?” I managed to ask, my voice thin and shaky, barely above a whisper. I coughed to clear my throat and tried again, “Why me?”

The bearded man glanced back at me, his expression unreadable, but he offered no answer.

“Orders,” the one pulling me replied dismissively, as if that was an adequate explanation.

A wave of anger surged through me, and I tested the ropes binding my wrists, feeling them dig painfully into my skin.

“Let me go!” I shouted, my voice gaining strength as I dug my heels into the ground, refusing to be dragged any further. “This is illegal!”

“Careful, sweetheart,” the scouter mocked, a smirk curling his lips. “I’d hate to scuff the product.”

I stood my ground, defiance bubbling up within me. “I’m not anyone’s product, you jerk! If you don’t let me go, you’ll regret it. My boyfriend won’t take this lightly.”

The threat was a bluff, of course, and deep down, I knew they saw right through it.

“Shut up,” the scouter retorted, his tone dripping with disdain, before he yanked me forward again. I stumbled, my feet catching awkwardly beneath me, and I fell once more.

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