The Stolen Chapters by James Riley

legs somehow.
    She groaned, then took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. There had to be a way out of this. She pulled on the chains, but the chain links bit into her wrists painfully the harder she pulled, and when she tried grabbing the chain itself, she found it was far too slippery to hold on to. Wrapping the chain around her hand was even more painful than just pulling with her wrists.
    After a few minutes of experimenting, she pushed her head into the arm of the chair and screamed as loud as she could.
    â€œYou seem to be having some difficulty,” said a strange voice from somewhere behind her. Bethany instantly looked up, but saw no one.
    â€œWho’s there?” she said, not liking how vulnerable she felt, chained up and about to drown.
    â€œNobody important,” the voice said. “I do think it’s time we had a little chat, if you don’t mind.”
    Bethany wanted to laugh. A little chat? Who was this? “Did Doyle send you?”
    â€œNo,” the voice said. “He has no idea that I’m here.”
    â€œHe does now,” Bethany said. “He’s got cameras all over this place.”
    â€œHe won’t see me ,” the voice said. “I’m here to speak to you. Alone.”
    That sounded promising. Either that, or he was going to kill her. “Could you help me, then? Get these chains off of me?”
    â€œYou can get out yourself. We both know you can.”
    Bethany eyes widened in surprise, and again, she tried to turn to look at whoever was speaking to her. She caught the briefest glimpse of what looked like the top of a bald head before whoever it was pulled back out of sight. “Who are you?” she said, not entirely sure she wanted to know.
    â€œI already told you. Nobody of consequence. But I’m not here to talk about me. We need to discuss your trips into the fictional world, Bethany.”
    Even with the freezing water, somehow that statement made Bethany feel even colder. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied, trying not to show how terrified she was.
    â€œYes, you do,” the voice said. “And the trips need to stop. You’re never going to find what you’re looking for.”
    â€œAnd what’s that?” she asked slowly, her heart racing. “What am I looking for?”
    â€œYour father,” the voice said, and Bethany almost stopped breathing. “What you’re doing is dangerous, girl. Far more dangerous than you realize. There are people in the fictional world who’d do anything to find you, if they learned of your existence. For now, they’re unaware, but every time you enter a story, every time something like this happens, you create ripples.” She heard the person dip what she imagined was a hand into the water, then watched as small waves passed by the chair. “Too many ripples, and people start to notice.”
    â€œWho?” Bethany said quietly. “Who are these people?”
    â€œThe less you know, the better,” the voice said. “For now, just believe me when I tell you that you need to stop.”
    â€œNo!” she shouted, jerking around in the chair and trying to get a better look, even though the chains bit painfully into her skin. “Tell me who they are. Tell me who you are! How do you know me? Do you know where my father is? I need to know! Please!”
    â€œStop trying to find him,” the voice said, almost sounding sympathetic. “Looking will only lead to darkness and pain for both worlds. Let him go, and take solace in what you still have: a mother who loves you.”
    Bethany growled in frustration. “I’m not going to stop!” she screamed. “I will find him, I don’t care what it takes!”
    â€œAnd that attitude is what got you here.”
    Her eyes widened. “How do you know any of this?”
    â€œOh, I know far more than you think,” the voice said.