Warning: This story features non-consensual bondage.

Context: This is a short story written for Day 15 of Kinktober 2024 using the prompt words Message and Threat.

“Morning Sandra. Hi Jeremy. Hey Bonnie.”

I gave cheery greetings to my work colleagues as I passed by. Everyone was in a good mood since it was the end of the work week, and I was no exception. Just a few easy assignments to close out and then a weekend of leisure to look forward to.

As I sat down in my corner cubicle at the back of the room, I noticed a white piece of paper half tucked under my keyboard. It was a small A6-sized page. Lifting it out and turning it over I saw a few lines of text. Black, Arial font, in all-caps.

NINA

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE OFFICE TODAY

YOU WILL BE TIGHTLY BOUND AND GAGGED

TGIF

My blood ran cold. What kind of message was this?

I looked up, expecting to see someone peering over a cubicle divider, watching for my reaction. Maybe a group of the more rambunctious salesmen pointing and guffawing. I was hoping for it honestly. As annoyed as I would be at a prank in such poor taste, at least then I could relax, knowing it was no more than a joke.

I didn’t see anyone, and there weren’t many lines-of-sight into my corner. No-one with a half-turned head or guilty air about them. Just the office’s usual quiet focus, keyboard clacking and background phone conversations.

I sat in fearful silence for a while. I wasn’t sure what to do about it. Ask friends what they thought? Tell my boss? Go straight to HR? Every option felt like I’d be laughed at or belittled for taking something so ridiculous so seriously.

I almost wanted to just run out of the office altogether, but missing my deadlines would have unwanted repercussions come Monday. Pretending I felt ill probably wouldn’t fly after the energetic hello I just gave to everyone, my boss included.

Maybe my best bet was to just ignore it. It was almost certainly just some spiteful attempt to scare me. As long as I kept my wits about me, and stayed near other people for good measure, what could actually happen?

The morning was one of the most stressful I’d ever had. I jumped every time someone got close to me without me seeing them coming first. I initially tried to stay in my corner cubicle to maintain a good vantage point, but became paranoid about how tucked away it was. What if someone somehow gagged me so thoroughly that I literally couldn’t be heard a few metres away?

I started moving around the open spaces, looking for any little excuses I could to stay around people. I wandered to their desks, asking for help in their area of expertise despite having no actual work requiring it. One or two people offered to chat in an empty meeting room, and then I had to come up with an awkward excuse on the spot for why we didn’t need to talk any more. I even timed my bathroom breaks to wait until there was more than one other person inside, which was difficult with how many trips to the water cooler I was making.

I spent lunchtime in the break room with a sandwich from a vending machine, a change from my usual routine. Both this and my nervous behaviour drew curious questions from my colleagues. Once I managed to change the subject, that lunch surrounded by people was easily the most relaxed part of my day yet.

I became too relaxed in fact. Too content to hide out in the break room as long as I could. It was only when the final two at my table departed that I realised everyone else had already gone. It was only me left in the room.

I hastily binned my rubbish and headed for the door, when it swung inwards. I flinched back as two burly men in overalls entered. I backed up against the wall, watching in terror as they approached me. The second one was pushing a cart of supplies, carrying plenty of rolls of tape.

“Stay back! I... I’ll scream!”

“Huh? Lady, what are you talking about?”

“Eh?” 

“Would you please mind moving so we can reach the air conditioner?”

I stepped cautiously to the side, and they walked past me. The second one handed a screwdriver to the first and they got to work opening the air vent that had a rattle coming from within.

I hurried out of the room with my heart pounding in my chest, trying to hide my mortification.

The rest of the day was thankfully uneventful. I was still distracted enough that my work was sloppy at best. It did seem like the threat was an empty one after all, though I wouldn’t feel totally comfortable until I was out.

The clock was at 4:40 PM. So close to freedom. I had just clicked send on my final report for the day. Paranoia was starting to creep back in as the now-or-never time was approaching. Maybe I could just slip out quietly and avoid any potential last-minute plots.

I walked out to the other cubicles.

“Hey Sandra? Bonnie? Would you two be able to do me a huge favour and come with me?”

Despite their understandable confusion, the two women followed me towards the elevators.

“I’m sorry, I can’t really explain. I just need you two to accompany me to my car. It’ll only take like three minutes, and I’ll owe you both big time.”

"Sure Nina, we're always here to help out. You do know you can trust us if there’s something troubling you right?”

Despite Sandra’s kind reassurance, I didn’t think admitting I was afraid of a simple note would be helpful or necessary right now. I just needed them to stay with me another minute.

The elevator dinged as the doors opened onto the office building’s basement car park. I could already even see my car as we stepped out. Nonetheless I made sure the two girls were sticking close by as I proceeded, scanning around for any assailants hiding in wait. It appeared to be empty.

I touched my car door.

“Phewww. Made it. Thanks girls. I’m good from here o—mmmhhhh?!”

A rag with an overwhelmingly sweet scent was pressed over my nose and mouth. Bonnie held my arms back while Sandra kept the rag in place. The world was starting to spin and my energy was fading fast. I heard Sandra’s voice speaking as if very far away.

“Told you Bonnie. She’s so predictable. As long as we stayed waiting nearby, she’d come to u....”

I passed out.

“Mmmggh...”

I woke with my head still spinning. It was dark so that I couldn’t tell where I was. I knew I was sitting down at least, but I couldn’t move. I assumed it was just my body slowly waking up, some sort of sleep paralysis. But then I noticed I could twitch my fingers and toes and realised it was something else.

I was stuck to the chair. Almost my entire body had been covered with tape, winding around both me and the chair. My legs were stuck together and taped to the base, and my arms were taped behind the back rest.

My mouth ached. It was filled to the brim with something soft and unpleasant tasting. More tape was wrapped around my mouth to hold it all in.

“Hmmmmmm!!”

The space around me was quiet. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I recognised it. I was back in the office! This was in fact my own chair, at my own cubicle. All the lights were off and I could see through the windows that it was nighttime. Everyone had long gone home.

“MMMHHHH!!”

I kicked and screamed, but thanks to the plentiful amounts of tape, the kick only slightly rattled the chair and the scream was no louder than a hushed spoken word.

After lasting the entire day, after being so very close to leaving, I really did end up bound and gagged. I didn’t even know why Sandra and Bonnie would do this to me.

The reality of the situation was starting to hit home. The fear from the day returned with new realisations. Nobody was around. I was so extensively bound to the chair that even if I could somehow shake the chair enough to move around, and even if I could find something sharp, I wouldn’t be able to use it. I was going to be stuck here like this for the next two days.

Then I noticed it. A new piece of paper stuck over my monitor, the large letters barely readable in the darkness.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND NINA

TGIF

TIED GIRL IS FUCKED