Jay by candlelight (MF/MFmf)
Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2025 9:36 pm
“Now, you understand what I am saying?”
Fiona Braxton nodded as she watched the masked woman lead her daughters out of the room. They had arrived half an hour earlier, taking her, Alice and Fay completely by surprise, and when their leader had said who he was she knew this was going to be a very different afternoon, evening and night.
Not that she could complain or say anything – the silver tape over her mouth was keeping the cloth inside there, muffling any sounds she could make, her light brown hair falling over the shoulders of her yellow cowl necked sweater – the bands of white rope holding her wrists together behind her back, her arms firmly against their sides, and her ankles and legs together. She raised her legs to see the white on the brown leather of her boots, and the denim jeans she was wearing, as the man continued “good – now we wait.”
She stared at him through her glasses – the blue boiler suit, black leather gloves, and the black balaclava, and that Northern accent he had spoken in. He hadn’t even had ot say his name, if truth be told – as soon as he had told her to remain calm, she not only believed him.
She knew exactly who he, the woman, and the other masked men were…
“Are we there yet?”
“Not yet,” Tom Braxton said as he looked in the rear-view mirror of his car. His ten-year-old daughter Orla was watching something on her iPad, a blue ribbon tied in a bow in her long brown hair. She was wearing a leather jacket over a floral print dress, dark tights and midcalf tan leather boots. Next to her was her nine-year-old brother Kevin, who was looking out of the window, bored as bored could be. The young boy was wearing a blue and white striped top, loose jeans and brown shoes.
“It won’t be long, and we’ll be at Uncle Jack’s house,” Helen Braxton said with a smile. She was wearing her own black leather jacket over a purple long-sleeved dress, with black tights and burgundy cowboy style boots.
“It will be funs ot see Alice and Fay again – and when your uncle gets home, we can talk business,” Tom said as he turned the wheel. The younger brother, he had close cropped brown hair and was wearing a white fleece over a check shirt and white t-shirt, faded jeans and brown laced shoes.
“Are we there yet?”
Orla shook her head as Tom turned up a driveway and stopped in front of a large, detached house. He noticed the blue transit van parked outside, and said “I wonder what needs repair now?”
“I’m sure Fiona would tell us,” Helen said as Tom stopped the engine and the family got out, walking to the front door as the father locked the car, and then opening the front door before they walked in.
“Hey Fiona,” Helen called out, “are you in the front room?”
There was no reply – the only sound was music from the back of the house, as Tom and Helen walked into the front room, and then stopped dead as Kevin looked by them, and said “Aunt Fiona?”
“RRHHNNHNNNN!”
“No – no don’t run.”
The Geordie accent took them by surprise as they turned round to see a man standing with his gloved hand on Orla’s shoulder. He was wearing a blue boiler suit – and a black balaclava over his head so that only his eyes and mouth were showing. They also saw the gun in his hand, as he continued.
“Hello – as you can see, we are in charge here, and I must ask you all to stand quite still, with your hands where I can see them.”
“Who... Who are you?”
The man looked at Tom, smiling as he said “please, forgive my manners. My name is Jay Edwards – perhaps you have heard of me?”
Tom looked at him, as he put his hand on Kevin’s shoulder and said “No – please, not you?”
“Ah but it is,” Jay said with a smile as two more masked men appeared and pulled Tom and Helen’s hands behind their backs. Both of them felt the ropes rubbing on their bare wrists as a woman, also masked, came out of a door to the rear of the building.
“Och ahn who dae we hae here?”
“Well, I presume this is Orla and Kevin Braxton, Mrs. McPhee. Once we have their wrists secured, why don’t you take them to join their cousins?”
“Mummy…”
Helen looked at Orla and said “just do what they say, dear – don’t be scared. I don’t think they are going to hurt us.”
“Oh, course I winnae,” Mrs. McPhee said with a smile as the two men moved behind the boy and girl and took their hands behind their backs as well. “Ah’ll take them ahn they cahn watch the film wi the gahls.”
“How long are you going to keep us hostage,” Helen asked quietly as she watched the man bind her daughter’s wrists behind their backs.
“Oh, for as long as is necessary,” Jay said with a smile. “Take the children, Mrs. McPhee, and I will make sure their parents are comfortably secured.”
“Cum wi me,” Mrs. McPhee said as she led Kevin and Orla down the corridor, both of them hearing Jay say, “come into the room, and we’ll let you sit down.”
“You talk funny,” Kevin said as he looked at the masked woman.
“Funny – ah fihnk yer the ain tha tahlks funny,” Mrs. McPhee said as she looked at him and smiled, then opened a door and said, “in here.”
Asorla walked in, she looked at the two girls on the bean bags and said, “oh wow.”
Alice and Fay Braxton were, like their mother, wearing a mustard-coloured cowl necked jumper and jeans with the legs tucked into boots. Nine year old Alice looked at them through her glasses, the white band of rope visibly over the black leather of her knee length boots and said “hllththhrrh.” The muffled words were because of the silver tape over her mouth, and the folded cloth that sat in her mouth behind the tape.
As for eight-year-old Fay, she had a white ribbon tied in a bow in her hair and was wearing mid-calf brown leather boots. She looked at Keith and smiled under the tape, as she wriggled round in her bonds and said “chmmhdnjhnhs.”
“Are you going to do that to us as well,” Keith said quietly.
“Aye - wehl, ah’ll take care of yer sister, ahn ma friend here will take care of you.” Keith saw the masked man with the long rope in his hands, which he passed round him and pulled tight to force his arms against this sides while Mrs. McPhee fetched a second rope, doubled it over and passed it round Orla, forming two bands as her arms were held firmly against their sides.
As she felt the ropes being tied off, Orla said “what are you watching?”
“Whllhhlwhnhkh. Fhlmjhstshthrhrd.”
“Well, we can watch as well.”
“Aye,” the Scots woman said as the man took two more beanbags and put them on the floor, Keith and Orla sitting down and watching as the two masked intruders first bound their ankles tightly together, and then their legs below their knees, Alice and Fay watching as they twisted their legs, Orla joining in as Keith heard the rubbing leather.
“Open wide, young man,”
Keith opened his mouth and tasted the cotton on his tongue as the cloth was pushed in, then heard the ripping sound before the silver tape was pressed down over his mouth. He watched as his sister was gagged in the same way, before Mrs. McPhee re-started the film and they watched the boat sailing into the harbour…
“Hmmshshrree….” Fiona said as she looked at her brother and sister-in-law.
“Htssnhtihrfhlt,” Helen said as she looked at Fiona. All three were enow tightly bound and gagged in the same way, as Jay said “now we wait for your husband to get back. Hopefully it will be before dark, and then you can prepare some food for the family.”
“Hnddhthn.”
“And then,” Jay said as he looked at Tom, “we enjoy a candlelit evening. I know the plan was for both families ot go out for the night and stay here – my friend has already brought your bags in – and I see no reason to make things any different. We just need to make sure nobody realizes you are still at home.”
He looked at Jay, then at the woman, before he shook his head….
Jack Braxton pulled up outside the house and got out, seeing the red line on the sunset as he locked the car. He was wearing a blue checked shirt, jeans and brown shoes. Walking to the front door, he waked in and called out “hey Helen, what needs fixing now?”
“Nothing at all, Jack – just so long as you do what we tell you to do.”
Jack looked at the masked man standing there, the gun in his gloved hand as he said, “what’s going on?”
“What is going on, Jack, is I have some business I wish you to conduct at your office – but we can discuss that later. For now, come and join your wife, your brother, your sister-in-law – they are anxious ot see you.”
Jack was surprised at how the Geordie voice was calming him as he slowly walked in, and whispered “oh no,” as he saw Helen, Fiona and Tom sitting there, tightly bound and with silver tape over their mouths. They looked at him as the masked man said, “please put your hands behind your back – my colleague here is going to secure you and then we can bring the children in to join you while your wives cook some supper for all of you.”
As he felt one of the intruders pulling his hands behind his back, he looked at Fiona and said, “How long?”
“Mhhddmhrhnhn”
“And the kids?”
“Hdhnnttknh, hffnhthrdthm.”
“Be assured, Mrs. McPhee takes vary good care of the children,” Jay said as Jack felt the ropes forcing his arms against this sides.
“So, what is going to happen?”
“Well, Jack – may I call you Jack? You and your families will have supper, and then we will make sure they are comfortable, secure, quiet, while you go with one of my colleagues ot your office. Once you are at the table, we will be setting out candles for the remainder of the evening. It should prove – relaxing for all.”
He then indicated Jack should sit next to his wife, Fiona putting her head on his shoulder as one of the masked men knelt down and started to bind his ankles and legs, while Jay folded a cloth and said, “open wide now.”
As the silver tape was smoothed down over Jack’s mouth, he looked at Tom and Helen, both of them nodding as he tape kissed Fiona’s head, and they heard the sound of someone jumping in. Looking to the door, he saw a masked man and woman walk in, and then his daughters jumping in, the ropes holding their arms as against their sides, as well as his niece and nephew as the woman helped them to sit on the floor.
“Mrs. McPhee,” Jay said, “kindly release Fiona and Helen’s legs and accompany them to the kitchen so that supper can be prepared.”
The woman nodded as he turned the television on, Helen and Fiona slowly standing and then walking with her and one of the masked men to the kitchen.
“Ghrlss?”
“Alice and Fay looked over at their father as Jack said “hrruhhlkrht?”
“Whrfhnndhd,” Amy said as he nodded and then tried ot relax…
Jack and Tim walked into the dining room, looking at their wives and children as they sat at the table. The ropes had been removed from their arms and wrists, but the tape still covered their mouths as the two men sat at opposite ends of the table. Jack let out a muffled sigh as his arms were released and then felt the rope round his waist as he was pulled against the chair back.
“Very well,” Jay said, “you may remove the tape from the mouth, and place the strips and the cloths in the plastic bag as we come round. We will then give you your supper.”
As one of their captors held a plastic bag out, Jack peeled the tape from his mouth and removed the soaking wet cloth, coughing slightly as he said “Well – seems we’ve had a very different afternoon.”
“You think,” Fiona said as she worked her jaw.
“So – what happened?”
“We had been into town and were watching a film when I heard a knock on the front door, I went ot open it, and – well, Jay and his crew came in. They told em they were in charge, tied me and the girls up, gagged us, and then ‘Mrs. McPhee took the girls into the back room while I was left in the front room. Then Tom and the family arrived, the kids went there, Tom and Helenin the front room and then you came in.”
“So, what did you watch?”
“Wonka,” Fay said as she swallowed some spaghetti and meat, “and then we watched the cartoons with you Dad. This is lovely Mum.”
Fiona nodded as she said “Well, your Aunt Helen and Mrs. McPhee helped.” She then looked at the masked woman and said, “I know you’re going to tie us all up and gag us again – where will we be?”
“Weahl,” Mrs. McPhee said, “Alice ahnd Fay chan go intae one o their rooms, Tom and Kevin in another, Helen ahn Orla in a third, ahn then ye’ll be in yer room.”
“Okay – and this is by candlelight?”
“Aye – mah friends ahr setting them uhp noo.”
“Yoru husband will be safe so long as you do what we tell you – and you will be safe so long as he does what my colleague says,” Jay said with a smile as they continued to eat and drink.
“Look,” Jack said, “I am so proud of all of you, for not being scared. How do you manage that anyway?”
“Practice,” Jay said with a smile. “Practice…”
As they went into the front room, their wrists secured behind their backs with tape, Jack and Fiona sat with their daughters on one couch, while Orla sat with Helen and put her head on her shoulder.
“So, why don’t you have a quiet conversation,” Jay said as the candle flames flickered, casting shadows over the room. “In the meantime, Mrs. McPhee will keep you company. Tom, Kevin – come with em and my friend please.”
The father and son looked at each other as one of the masked men picked up a canvas bag, and then the four of them walked up the stairs. “We opened your bags and took out your pajamas,” Jay said as they reached the top of the stairs and he cut the tape from their wrists, “go into the bathroom, get cleaned up and changed, then come out.”
As they walked into the bathroom, they saw the green pajamas with white trim, then looked at each other before Tom said, “go to the toilet and wash, then put on the pajamas.”
“Dad,” Kevin said as he removed his shirt and then washed his face, “I wasn’t scared.”
“Funnily enough, I don’t think any of us were,” Tom said as he looked at his son. “So, we’ll be brave together all right?”
“So, we’ll be together, Dad?”
“That’s what they said,” Tom replied as Kevin fastened the pajama jacket, and he removed his own fleece, shirt and clothing before washing his face. As he removed his shoes and trousers, Kevin said “Dad?”
“Yes?”
“I was watching the girls when we watched the film – does Mum look different when she is tied up as well?”
Tom stopped for a moment, then pulled his pants on as he said “yes, she does – but let’s keep that to ourselves, all right?”
Kevin nodded as they both left the bathroom and saw Jay and the second masked man standing with lengths of rope.
“Very good – now, face each other, and put your hands behind your back.”
“Here we go,” Tom said as he felt the rope forcing his wrists together, Kevin nodding and biting his lower lip as he felt the rope rubbing on his wrists as well, their band tightening as he felt the gloved fingers on his arms before the rope was tied off. It was then taken round his waist to keep his wrists against his back, as he looked at the same thing happening to his father.
Longer ropes were then passed round both of them to force their arms against their sides, one band round their shoulders and one their stomachs, before the rope was taken under one arm, up and round the back of their necks, and then under their other arms before it was tied off behind them.
“Now,” Jay said, “shall we go down? Put the next set of pajamas in and wait for Mrs. McPhee to come up.”
The masked man nodded as Jay led Tom and Kevin down the stairs, and then Mrs. McPhee came up with Helen and Orla. “Go ahn – go ahn get changed,” she said as the mother and daughter walked into the bathroom.
“Is it as tight as before,” Alice said as she looked at Kevin.
“Tighter – but it’s not too bad,” Kevin said – and then he saw the way both Alice and Fay were looking at him. “What?”
“You look kinda cute like that,” Alice said with a smile, “doesn’t he Fay?”
“Yeah, he does…”
Kevin blushed as Tom shook his head and looked at Jack and Fiona.
“They grow up so quickly,” Jack said as he smiled. They then looked ot the door as Mrs. McPhee brought Helen and Orla back into the room, both of them now wearing green silk pajamas with white trim, three bands of rope securing them around their waists, stomachs and shoulders.
“Hae a seat,” Mrs. McPhee said as they both sat down, and then looked at Fiona. “Ye three – cum wi me.”
“Come on girls,” Fiona said as she stood up, Alice and Fay walking out with her as Jay looked at Jack.
“When they come down, it will be time for you to leave.”
As he put his jacket on, Jack looked at his family sat on the couch. They were wearing identical pajamas – grey tops with red sleeves and collar, a white polar bear on the front, with grey, pink and white checked pants. Like the others, their upper bodies were secured with three bands of rope, their hands behind their backs.
“Please, stay safe” he said as he came over and kissed each of them on the forehead. “Tom, Helen, I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
“We’ll survive,” Tom said from the shadows as the masked man put his hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“Do what he says, we will be well,” Jay said as Jack walked out, the others looking to the window as the car lights went off.
“All right,” Jay said quietly, “watch them while Mrs. McPhee and I make Tom and Kevin comfortable. You two, come with us.”
The others watched as Tom and Kevin left the room, Tom waving his fingers as they walked up the stairs, and then into one of the bedrooms.
“Sit on the edge of the bed,” Jay said as Mrs. McPhee took more ropes from a bag. She then knelt down and secured Kevin’s ankles together while Jay made sure Tom’s ankles were bound tightly, and then they both tied a second length of rope around and between their legs below their knees.
“Nice ahn whide,” Mrs. McPhee said as she pushed a compressed sponge ball into Kevin’s mouth and then wound the white tape tightly round his head to cover his mouth. Passing the roll to Jay, she helped the young boy to lie on the bed on his side, his head on a pillow, and then bent his ankles back and secured them to the rope round his chest.
He watched Jay as he helped his father to lei down, the tape covering Tom’s mouth as he was hogtied as well, and then he said, “we’ll check every fifteen minutes.” They nodded as Jay blew out the candles in the bedroom, the darkness enveloping them as the door was closed.
“You wanted them to come up now,” the man said as he stood with Helen and Orla.
“Aye – in here…”
“Do you think we’ll be all right,” Fay said as she looked at her mother.
“I think so,” Fiona said quietly, “do what they tell you, and we’ll all talk about it in the morning.”
“Mum,” Alice said as she wriggled round, “dad…”
“Your father loves you both and he wants ot see you safe tomorrow, all right?”
Both girls nodded as Jay and Mrs. McPhee came into the room. “Richt,” she said, “ye gahls cum wi me.”
“Stay safe girls,” Fiona said as they left the room, and then she looked at Jay. “I want to see them before you tie me on the bed.”
“Of course. Of course…”
As the room door opened, Fiona looked into see her daughters asleep on the bed, their chests rising and falling as they lay on their sides. Their ankles and legs were bound together tightly, and ropes secured their ankles ot the foot of the bed, the band of white tape covering their mouths and holding their hair against the back of their necks.
She had also seen the others, hogtied and sleeping on the beds, as Jay led her to the bedroom and invited her to sit on the bed, watching as he knelt down and bound her ankles together.
“Your husband is doing very well,” he said as he took the rope between her ankles.
“Good. I ask a favour, let the candles burn down for me. It will help me relax.”
“Of course - and thank you for your hospitality,” Jay said as he secured her legs together below her knees and then compressed a red sponge ball as she opened her mouth. She felt tit expand and press her tongue down on the floor of her mouth, as the white tape was wound tightly round her head, she then pushed herself onto the bed and lay on her side, feeling her legs as they were bent and the tension of the rope holding her ankles ot her chest, before the door was closed. She looked at the candle as it slowly burned, before her eyes slowly closed and she slept the deep sleep of exhaustion…
Fiona Braxton nodded as she watched the masked woman lead her daughters out of the room. They had arrived half an hour earlier, taking her, Alice and Fay completely by surprise, and when their leader had said who he was she knew this was going to be a very different afternoon, evening and night.
Not that she could complain or say anything – the silver tape over her mouth was keeping the cloth inside there, muffling any sounds she could make, her light brown hair falling over the shoulders of her yellow cowl necked sweater – the bands of white rope holding her wrists together behind her back, her arms firmly against their sides, and her ankles and legs together. She raised her legs to see the white on the brown leather of her boots, and the denim jeans she was wearing, as the man continued “good – now we wait.”
She stared at him through her glasses – the blue boiler suit, black leather gloves, and the black balaclava, and that Northern accent he had spoken in. He hadn’t even had ot say his name, if truth be told – as soon as he had told her to remain calm, she not only believed him.
She knew exactly who he, the woman, and the other masked men were…
“Are we there yet?”
“Not yet,” Tom Braxton said as he looked in the rear-view mirror of his car. His ten-year-old daughter Orla was watching something on her iPad, a blue ribbon tied in a bow in her long brown hair. She was wearing a leather jacket over a floral print dress, dark tights and midcalf tan leather boots. Next to her was her nine-year-old brother Kevin, who was looking out of the window, bored as bored could be. The young boy was wearing a blue and white striped top, loose jeans and brown shoes.
“It won’t be long, and we’ll be at Uncle Jack’s house,” Helen Braxton said with a smile. She was wearing her own black leather jacket over a purple long-sleeved dress, with black tights and burgundy cowboy style boots.
“It will be funs ot see Alice and Fay again – and when your uncle gets home, we can talk business,” Tom said as he turned the wheel. The younger brother, he had close cropped brown hair and was wearing a white fleece over a check shirt and white t-shirt, faded jeans and brown laced shoes.
“Are we there yet?”
Orla shook her head as Tom turned up a driveway and stopped in front of a large, detached house. He noticed the blue transit van parked outside, and said “I wonder what needs repair now?”
“I’m sure Fiona would tell us,” Helen said as Tom stopped the engine and the family got out, walking to the front door as the father locked the car, and then opening the front door before they walked in.
“Hey Fiona,” Helen called out, “are you in the front room?”
There was no reply – the only sound was music from the back of the house, as Tom and Helen walked into the front room, and then stopped dead as Kevin looked by them, and said “Aunt Fiona?”
“RRHHNNHNNNN!”
“No – no don’t run.”
The Geordie accent took them by surprise as they turned round to see a man standing with his gloved hand on Orla’s shoulder. He was wearing a blue boiler suit – and a black balaclava over his head so that only his eyes and mouth were showing. They also saw the gun in his hand, as he continued.
“Hello – as you can see, we are in charge here, and I must ask you all to stand quite still, with your hands where I can see them.”
“Who... Who are you?”
The man looked at Tom, smiling as he said “please, forgive my manners. My name is Jay Edwards – perhaps you have heard of me?”
Tom looked at him, as he put his hand on Kevin’s shoulder and said “No – please, not you?”
“Ah but it is,” Jay said with a smile as two more masked men appeared and pulled Tom and Helen’s hands behind their backs. Both of them felt the ropes rubbing on their bare wrists as a woman, also masked, came out of a door to the rear of the building.
“Och ahn who dae we hae here?”
“Well, I presume this is Orla and Kevin Braxton, Mrs. McPhee. Once we have their wrists secured, why don’t you take them to join their cousins?”
“Mummy…”
Helen looked at Orla and said “just do what they say, dear – don’t be scared. I don’t think they are going to hurt us.”
“Oh, course I winnae,” Mrs. McPhee said with a smile as the two men moved behind the boy and girl and took their hands behind their backs as well. “Ah’ll take them ahn they cahn watch the film wi the gahls.”
“How long are you going to keep us hostage,” Helen asked quietly as she watched the man bind her daughter’s wrists behind their backs.
“Oh, for as long as is necessary,” Jay said with a smile. “Take the children, Mrs. McPhee, and I will make sure their parents are comfortably secured.”
“Cum wi me,” Mrs. McPhee said as she led Kevin and Orla down the corridor, both of them hearing Jay say, “come into the room, and we’ll let you sit down.”
“You talk funny,” Kevin said as he looked at the masked woman.
“Funny – ah fihnk yer the ain tha tahlks funny,” Mrs. McPhee said as she looked at him and smiled, then opened a door and said, “in here.”
Asorla walked in, she looked at the two girls on the bean bags and said, “oh wow.”
Alice and Fay Braxton were, like their mother, wearing a mustard-coloured cowl necked jumper and jeans with the legs tucked into boots. Nine year old Alice looked at them through her glasses, the white band of rope visibly over the black leather of her knee length boots and said “hllththhrrh.” The muffled words were because of the silver tape over her mouth, and the folded cloth that sat in her mouth behind the tape.
As for eight-year-old Fay, she had a white ribbon tied in a bow in her hair and was wearing mid-calf brown leather boots. She looked at Keith and smiled under the tape, as she wriggled round in her bonds and said “chmmhdnjhnhs.”
“Are you going to do that to us as well,” Keith said quietly.
“Aye - wehl, ah’ll take care of yer sister, ahn ma friend here will take care of you.” Keith saw the masked man with the long rope in his hands, which he passed round him and pulled tight to force his arms against this sides while Mrs. McPhee fetched a second rope, doubled it over and passed it round Orla, forming two bands as her arms were held firmly against their sides.
As she felt the ropes being tied off, Orla said “what are you watching?”
“Whllhhlwhnhkh. Fhlmjhstshthrhrd.”
“Well, we can watch as well.”
“Aye,” the Scots woman said as the man took two more beanbags and put them on the floor, Keith and Orla sitting down and watching as the two masked intruders first bound their ankles tightly together, and then their legs below their knees, Alice and Fay watching as they twisted their legs, Orla joining in as Keith heard the rubbing leather.
“Open wide, young man,”
Keith opened his mouth and tasted the cotton on his tongue as the cloth was pushed in, then heard the ripping sound before the silver tape was pressed down over his mouth. He watched as his sister was gagged in the same way, before Mrs. McPhee re-started the film and they watched the boat sailing into the harbour…
“Hmmshshrree….” Fiona said as she looked at her brother and sister-in-law.
“Htssnhtihrfhlt,” Helen said as she looked at Fiona. All three were enow tightly bound and gagged in the same way, as Jay said “now we wait for your husband to get back. Hopefully it will be before dark, and then you can prepare some food for the family.”
“Hnddhthn.”
“And then,” Jay said as he looked at Tom, “we enjoy a candlelit evening. I know the plan was for both families ot go out for the night and stay here – my friend has already brought your bags in – and I see no reason to make things any different. We just need to make sure nobody realizes you are still at home.”
He looked at Jay, then at the woman, before he shook his head….
Jack Braxton pulled up outside the house and got out, seeing the red line on the sunset as he locked the car. He was wearing a blue checked shirt, jeans and brown shoes. Walking to the front door, he waked in and called out “hey Helen, what needs fixing now?”
“Nothing at all, Jack – just so long as you do what we tell you to do.”
Jack looked at the masked man standing there, the gun in his gloved hand as he said, “what’s going on?”
“What is going on, Jack, is I have some business I wish you to conduct at your office – but we can discuss that later. For now, come and join your wife, your brother, your sister-in-law – they are anxious ot see you.”
Jack was surprised at how the Geordie voice was calming him as he slowly walked in, and whispered “oh no,” as he saw Helen, Fiona and Tom sitting there, tightly bound and with silver tape over their mouths. They looked at him as the masked man said, “please put your hands behind your back – my colleague here is going to secure you and then we can bring the children in to join you while your wives cook some supper for all of you.”
As he felt one of the intruders pulling his hands behind his back, he looked at Fiona and said, “How long?”
“Mhhddmhrhnhn”
“And the kids?”
“Hdhnnttknh, hffnhthrdthm.”
“Be assured, Mrs. McPhee takes vary good care of the children,” Jay said as Jack felt the ropes forcing his arms against this sides.
“So, what is going to happen?”
“Well, Jack – may I call you Jack? You and your families will have supper, and then we will make sure they are comfortable, secure, quiet, while you go with one of my colleagues ot your office. Once you are at the table, we will be setting out candles for the remainder of the evening. It should prove – relaxing for all.”
He then indicated Jack should sit next to his wife, Fiona putting her head on his shoulder as one of the masked men knelt down and started to bind his ankles and legs, while Jay folded a cloth and said, “open wide now.”
As the silver tape was smoothed down over Jack’s mouth, he looked at Tom and Helen, both of them nodding as he tape kissed Fiona’s head, and they heard the sound of someone jumping in. Looking to the door, he saw a masked man and woman walk in, and then his daughters jumping in, the ropes holding their arms as against their sides, as well as his niece and nephew as the woman helped them to sit on the floor.
“Mrs. McPhee,” Jay said, “kindly release Fiona and Helen’s legs and accompany them to the kitchen so that supper can be prepared.”
The woman nodded as he turned the television on, Helen and Fiona slowly standing and then walking with her and one of the masked men to the kitchen.
“Ghrlss?”
“Alice and Fay looked over at their father as Jack said “hrruhhlkrht?”
“Whrfhnndhd,” Amy said as he nodded and then tried ot relax…
Jack and Tim walked into the dining room, looking at their wives and children as they sat at the table. The ropes had been removed from their arms and wrists, but the tape still covered their mouths as the two men sat at opposite ends of the table. Jack let out a muffled sigh as his arms were released and then felt the rope round his waist as he was pulled against the chair back.
“Very well,” Jay said, “you may remove the tape from the mouth, and place the strips and the cloths in the plastic bag as we come round. We will then give you your supper.”
As one of their captors held a plastic bag out, Jack peeled the tape from his mouth and removed the soaking wet cloth, coughing slightly as he said “Well – seems we’ve had a very different afternoon.”
“You think,” Fiona said as she worked her jaw.
“So – what happened?”
“We had been into town and were watching a film when I heard a knock on the front door, I went ot open it, and – well, Jay and his crew came in. They told em they were in charge, tied me and the girls up, gagged us, and then ‘Mrs. McPhee took the girls into the back room while I was left in the front room. Then Tom and the family arrived, the kids went there, Tom and Helenin the front room and then you came in.”
“So, what did you watch?”
“Wonka,” Fay said as she swallowed some spaghetti and meat, “and then we watched the cartoons with you Dad. This is lovely Mum.”
Fiona nodded as she said “Well, your Aunt Helen and Mrs. McPhee helped.” She then looked at the masked woman and said, “I know you’re going to tie us all up and gag us again – where will we be?”
“Weahl,” Mrs. McPhee said, “Alice ahnd Fay chan go intae one o their rooms, Tom and Kevin in another, Helen ahn Orla in a third, ahn then ye’ll be in yer room.”
“Okay – and this is by candlelight?”
“Aye – mah friends ahr setting them uhp noo.”
“Yoru husband will be safe so long as you do what we tell you – and you will be safe so long as he does what my colleague says,” Jay said with a smile as they continued to eat and drink.
“Look,” Jack said, “I am so proud of all of you, for not being scared. How do you manage that anyway?”
“Practice,” Jay said with a smile. “Practice…”
As they went into the front room, their wrists secured behind their backs with tape, Jack and Fiona sat with their daughters on one couch, while Orla sat with Helen and put her head on her shoulder.
“So, why don’t you have a quiet conversation,” Jay said as the candle flames flickered, casting shadows over the room. “In the meantime, Mrs. McPhee will keep you company. Tom, Kevin – come with em and my friend please.”
The father and son looked at each other as one of the masked men picked up a canvas bag, and then the four of them walked up the stairs. “We opened your bags and took out your pajamas,” Jay said as they reached the top of the stairs and he cut the tape from their wrists, “go into the bathroom, get cleaned up and changed, then come out.”
As they walked into the bathroom, they saw the green pajamas with white trim, then looked at each other before Tom said, “go to the toilet and wash, then put on the pajamas.”
“Dad,” Kevin said as he removed his shirt and then washed his face, “I wasn’t scared.”
“Funnily enough, I don’t think any of us were,” Tom said as he looked at his son. “So, we’ll be brave together all right?”
“So, we’ll be together, Dad?”
“That’s what they said,” Tom replied as Kevin fastened the pajama jacket, and he removed his own fleece, shirt and clothing before washing his face. As he removed his shoes and trousers, Kevin said “Dad?”
“Yes?”
“I was watching the girls when we watched the film – does Mum look different when she is tied up as well?”
Tom stopped for a moment, then pulled his pants on as he said “yes, she does – but let’s keep that to ourselves, all right?”
Kevin nodded as they both left the bathroom and saw Jay and the second masked man standing with lengths of rope.
“Very good – now, face each other, and put your hands behind your back.”
“Here we go,” Tom said as he felt the rope forcing his wrists together, Kevin nodding and biting his lower lip as he felt the rope rubbing on his wrists as well, their band tightening as he felt the gloved fingers on his arms before the rope was tied off. It was then taken round his waist to keep his wrists against his back, as he looked at the same thing happening to his father.
Longer ropes were then passed round both of them to force their arms against their sides, one band round their shoulders and one their stomachs, before the rope was taken under one arm, up and round the back of their necks, and then under their other arms before it was tied off behind them.
“Now,” Jay said, “shall we go down? Put the next set of pajamas in and wait for Mrs. McPhee to come up.”
The masked man nodded as Jay led Tom and Kevin down the stairs, and then Mrs. McPhee came up with Helen and Orla. “Go ahn – go ahn get changed,” she said as the mother and daughter walked into the bathroom.
“Is it as tight as before,” Alice said as she looked at Kevin.
“Tighter – but it’s not too bad,” Kevin said – and then he saw the way both Alice and Fay were looking at him. “What?”
“You look kinda cute like that,” Alice said with a smile, “doesn’t he Fay?”
“Yeah, he does…”
Kevin blushed as Tom shook his head and looked at Jack and Fiona.
“They grow up so quickly,” Jack said as he smiled. They then looked ot the door as Mrs. McPhee brought Helen and Orla back into the room, both of them now wearing green silk pajamas with white trim, three bands of rope securing them around their waists, stomachs and shoulders.
“Hae a seat,” Mrs. McPhee said as they both sat down, and then looked at Fiona. “Ye three – cum wi me.”
“Come on girls,” Fiona said as she stood up, Alice and Fay walking out with her as Jay looked at Jack.
“When they come down, it will be time for you to leave.”
As he put his jacket on, Jack looked at his family sat on the couch. They were wearing identical pajamas – grey tops with red sleeves and collar, a white polar bear on the front, with grey, pink and white checked pants. Like the others, their upper bodies were secured with three bands of rope, their hands behind their backs.
“Please, stay safe” he said as he came over and kissed each of them on the forehead. “Tom, Helen, I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
“We’ll survive,” Tom said from the shadows as the masked man put his hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“Do what he says, we will be well,” Jay said as Jack walked out, the others looking to the window as the car lights went off.
“All right,” Jay said quietly, “watch them while Mrs. McPhee and I make Tom and Kevin comfortable. You two, come with us.”
The others watched as Tom and Kevin left the room, Tom waving his fingers as they walked up the stairs, and then into one of the bedrooms.
“Sit on the edge of the bed,” Jay said as Mrs. McPhee took more ropes from a bag. She then knelt down and secured Kevin’s ankles together while Jay made sure Tom’s ankles were bound tightly, and then they both tied a second length of rope around and between their legs below their knees.
“Nice ahn whide,” Mrs. McPhee said as she pushed a compressed sponge ball into Kevin’s mouth and then wound the white tape tightly round his head to cover his mouth. Passing the roll to Jay, she helped the young boy to lie on the bed on his side, his head on a pillow, and then bent his ankles back and secured them to the rope round his chest.
He watched Jay as he helped his father to lei down, the tape covering Tom’s mouth as he was hogtied as well, and then he said, “we’ll check every fifteen minutes.” They nodded as Jay blew out the candles in the bedroom, the darkness enveloping them as the door was closed.
“You wanted them to come up now,” the man said as he stood with Helen and Orla.
“Aye – in here…”
“Do you think we’ll be all right,” Fay said as she looked at her mother.
“I think so,” Fiona said quietly, “do what they tell you, and we’ll all talk about it in the morning.”
“Mum,” Alice said as she wriggled round, “dad…”
“Your father loves you both and he wants ot see you safe tomorrow, all right?”
Both girls nodded as Jay and Mrs. McPhee came into the room. “Richt,” she said, “ye gahls cum wi me.”
“Stay safe girls,” Fiona said as they left the room, and then she looked at Jay. “I want to see them before you tie me on the bed.”
“Of course. Of course…”
As the room door opened, Fiona looked into see her daughters asleep on the bed, their chests rising and falling as they lay on their sides. Their ankles and legs were bound together tightly, and ropes secured their ankles ot the foot of the bed, the band of white tape covering their mouths and holding their hair against the back of their necks.
She had also seen the others, hogtied and sleeping on the beds, as Jay led her to the bedroom and invited her to sit on the bed, watching as he knelt down and bound her ankles together.
“Your husband is doing very well,” he said as he took the rope between her ankles.
“Good. I ask a favour, let the candles burn down for me. It will help me relax.”
“Of course - and thank you for your hospitality,” Jay said as he secured her legs together below her knees and then compressed a red sponge ball as she opened her mouth. She felt tit expand and press her tongue down on the floor of her mouth, as the white tape was wound tightly round her head, she then pushed herself onto the bed and lay on her side, feeling her legs as they were bent and the tension of the rope holding her ankles ot her chest, before the door was closed. She looked at the candle as it slowly burned, before her eyes slowly closed and she slept the deep sleep of exhaustion…