The Dollhouse — Jessica N. Lane

All Taylor wanted was a little freedom. With finals behind her, she hits the open road in search of the adventure and fun she'd been denied while living her life under the watchful eye of her Army veteran dad. Her walk on the wild side soon turns into a vacation from hell when she's abducted by a vampire who gives her two options: comply or die. Welcome to the dollhouse.



-Excerpt-



“You passed the hotel I told you I was staying at ten minutes ago,” I said in a calm tone. I knew that if I panicked, he would, and a panicked kidnapper usually spelled disaster for the kidnapped.

“I know,” was all he said, and we continued on in silence.

My thoughts were wild with gruesome images I'd seen on the news too many times to count. Would I be one of those girls? One of those faces on TV screens across the country? One of those bodies violated or dismembered?

When we did stop, it was in front of a rundown ranch-style house. Clark wordlessly exited the car and walked around to my door. I momentarily toyed with the idea of locking the door, but thought better of it. Maybe if I played along he'd let his guard down. I'd escape then.

Placing his hand against the small of my back, he led me up the porch steps and to the open front door.

“I was born in this house,” he said as he moved around the dark room, never bumping into anything, lighting candles.

“Really,” I remarked absently. I watched the dusty room come to life as the candles illuminated furniture that appeared antique and had definitely seen its better days. He was suddenly behind me, locking the front door with a deafening click. “W-why am I h-here?” I asked, hating the way my voice shook and half afraid of his answer.

“You're here because you're beautiful.”



-End of Excerpt-