“Wooooooooo!”

Kathryn let out an elated scream as she soared through the air, feeling the bite of the cold wind on her face as she adjusted her legs, bracing for the impact as she landed in the snow, wobbling a little to stay balanced. Her snowboard sent up a shower of snow as she carved an arc across the hill.

She spared a glance behind her at her friends, Monica and Stephanie who were keeping pace with her. Monica, with her long dark hair streaming behind her, was definitely taking the more cautious approach as she maneuvered her way around the jump that Kathryn had just gone off of. A second later, Stephanie appeared over the edge, arching her legs behind her before landing on the slope and continuing on.

It was the first day of a winter break trip that the three had planned out on the mountain. With her two best friends in tow, Kathryn continued down the mountain enjoying the feeling of freedom that came with boarding. She was really looking forward to a week of just snowboarding, drinking, and generally having a good time with her friends. What she didn’t know is that on day one, someone would be paying them a surprise visit.

- - -

“I can’t believe you actually sprung for those.” Stephanie shook her head in disbelief.

Kathryn laughed as they walked back to the chalet from her car. With darkness now falling, they finally called it a day and got off of the slopes. The things that Stephanie was referring to were Kathryn new boots, a pair of bulky Uggs snow boots. Kathryn normally hated Uggs, but this specific pair was built like heavy duty snow boots and looked cute so she decided to splurge on Black Friday when they went on sale. “You’re just jealous because my feet are a lot warmer than yours.” She said, kicking snow towards Steph who dodged. “At least mine are real winter boots, unlike yours.”

Stephanie looked down at her boots, which were the classic Timberland tan boots. “They do the job perfectly fine.” She defended. “It’s like calling Doc Martens snow boots, we all know they aren’t but it doesn't stop anyone.”

Monica poked both of her friends in the back with her ski poles. “Come on now behave you two.” She laughed.

The three girls walked up the stairs to the door of the chalet, which was owned by Kathryn’s parents and propped their boards and skis and gear up against the wall just inside the door. Shedding their winter gear, Kathryn grabbed the drying racks and set it up beside the heater before stretching out their jackets and pants across it. “That felt great.” She declared as she flopped down onto the couch.

“You’ll probably feel less great in the morning.” Stephanie pointed out.

“Hey, I stretched.” Kathryn shot back. “I know Monica didn’t.”

Monica, who was still hanging up her jacket, shrugged. “I’m usually fine.”

“After a week of this you definitely won’t be.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Speaking of which, we put off what we were doing for dinner, what’s the plan?”

Kathryn stopped where she was, just now remembering that they had pushed that decision off and now her stomach was growling. “Umm...good question, my parents stocked the fridge a few days ago so there’s probably something we can throw together. Or maybe you cook and I help since you’re the resident chef here.”

“I’ll hit the showers first then while you two figure out dinner.” Stephanie volunteered as she got up off of the couch and headed towards the stairs.

“Good thing too, by the time she’s done we’ll have a four course meal ready to go.” Monica snickered.

“I heard that!” Came the response from Stephanie leaning over the railing to give them a middle finger.

The three girls laughed, as they all knew Stephanie had a reputation for long showers. Pushing open the door to the bedroom, she yawned, looking forward to getting her sticky clothes off and being under a hot jet of water. Her plans were abruptly halted as she began pulling her shirt up by a hand clamping down over her mouth and an arm snaking around her body, pinning her arms to her side. “Hello princess.” A voice growled in her ear as she let out a muffled scream. “Welcome back.”

- - -

Downstairs, Kathryn and Monica were going through the fridge. “Crap what happened to the eggs?” Monica asked as she pulled the carton out.

Fluids were leaking from it and she made a disgusted face as she carried it over to the sink and popped it open. Kathryn peeked over her shoulder to look at the carton, which had maybe 3 eggs of the dozen still in good shape. “Maybe they got crushed or something. Not a lot left.”

“We don’t really need eggs for dinner right? There’s other stuff I can cook, your parents stocked this place up pretty nicely.”

Kathryn nodded. “I should probably get another carton though, eggs will be needed at breakfast in the morning and the store won’t be open early enough.”

“Do you need me to come with you?” Monica asked as she pulled the three good eggs out and dropped the carton in the trash.

“Nah, go shower after Stephanie gets out and relax, it’s my family’s place I’m responsible for keeping you guests happy.” Kathryn said as she pulled her coat back on and laced up her boots.

Monica rolled her eyes. “Fine then, drive safe.”

Kathryn waved and was out the door, causing Monica to shiver as the cold air blasted her. She watched through the front window as Kathryn pulled out before going back to look through the cupboards, humming a Shawn Mendes song to herself. Suddenly a loud thump sound was heard through the ceiling from upstairs, causing her to jump. “Steph? What was that?”

There was no response and Monica had a sudden bad feeling that maybe Steph had fallen in the shower. Sprinting to the stairs, she sprang up them two at a time and skidded to a stop in front of the bathroom. To her surprise, the door was open and there was no sign Steph had gone into the bathroom .Turning towards the end of the hallway she noticed that Stephanie’s room door was closed. “Stephanie?” She called. “Did you finish in the shower already?”

There was still no answer so Monica pushed open the door and entered. “Steph are you ok?”

The light was on in the room and there was a moving bundle underneath the comforter on her bed. “Steph come on, what are you doing under there.”

Monica crossed the room and pulled the comforter back before leaping back in shock. “Stephanie!”

On the bed was Stephanie alright, but she was heavily bound and gagged with bands of duct tape. Tape was wound around her wrists and elbows, with more wraps around her chest pinning her arms against her back. More tape at the ankles, knees and thighs turned her into a squirming worm on the bed. Her blue eyes were wide with fear over the many wraps of duct tape around her head, sealing her mouth. Monica also noticed that her thermal top had been pulled up, exposing her sports bra. “What the-mmmph!”

Stephanie’s gagged screams had not been enough to warn Monica of the large man sneaking up behind her, who easily grabbed the smaller girl and yanked her off her feet. A big hand clamped down over her mouth, preventing her from crying out as she was swept up and tossed onto the bed beside her helpless friend. She tried to rise but a hand grabbed a fistful of her hair and forced her face into the blankets, muffling her yelp of surprise. Stephanie tried to kick out to help her friend, but her blows seemed ineffectual and with his free hand, the man shoved her off of the bed onto the floor. With her body bound, she was helpless to prevent her fall and landed with a thud on her shoulder, wincing in pain as she curled up on the ground with a sob.

Now that he only had one girl to pay much attention to, Monica’s flailing arms were quickly gathered up and the ripping of tape could be heard. She continued to struggle and squirm her body the best she could under his weight, but she was unable to prevent the inevitable as she felt the sticky tape on her wrists and it was wound around several times, pinning her wrists together. He next corralled her kicking legs, crossed her ankles, and taped them together as well. Monica was very thankful in that moment for her leggings protecting her skin from the industrial strength tape, but it also meant she was going absolutely nowhere.

Feeling a hand grab her hair again, Monica yelped as her head was pulled sideways, only for a wadded up cloth to be forced into her mouth as she opened it to breathe. Choking and coughing at the taste, she barely reacted as tape was plastered over her lips and wound around her head multiple times, securely wrapping her jaw and mouth and sealing the cloth inside. Now satisfied with his captive’s gag, the man went to work with the rest of the tape roll in his hands until Monica’s bonds matched Stephanie’s.

“There’s supposed to be a third girl.” He muttered as he looked at the two captives squirming around, one on the bed and one on the floor.

He crossed the room to the door and opened it, poking his head out into the hallway. “No one seems to be home.” He said as he walked back over to Monica. “Guess we just have to wait for her to come back!”

Grabbing Monica and lifting her over his shoulder, he grinned as he smacked her leggings-covered butt. “I’m sure we can find some ways to pass the time in your room as we wait for your friend.”

- - -

Kathryn stomped her boots on the front porch to knock snow off of them before she opened the door and entered the chalet. She’d driven about half an hour to get to the grocery store for eggs and picked up some extra hot chocolate and marshmallows for the girls to kick back with. Unlacing her boots and kicking them off, she dropped the groceries on the counter and hung her coat up. She couldn’t hear the shower going, in fact she heard nothing at all. She put everything away before making her way up the stairs, rolling her shoulders to drive back the stiffness she felt creeping in. A fall earlier had left her butt bruised, so she massaged that as she headed up the stairs. Seeing the other girls’ bedroom doors closed, she rolled her eyes. Must have both passed out, typical.

She turned at the top of the stairs, passing Monica’s door on the way to her own room when muffled sounds from inside caused her to pause. “Monica?”

The sounds continued and she knocked on the door. “Monica, you ok?”

She didn’t hear a response and began turning the handle. “Monica, I’m coming into the room if you’re hurt or something.”

She had begun turning the door handle when the door was suddenly wrenched open. Caught by surprise and with her hand still on the handle, she stumbled forward from the force of the door pulling her arm. Before she could regain her balance, a hand grabbed her slim wrist, pulling her against a hard figure while his other hand clamped down over her mouth, muffling her startled cry. “Finally, I thought you were never going to get back.” The man’s voice growled in her ear. “Had more than enough time to wrap up your friends.”

Kathryn began struggling with all her might, trying to shake her mouth free or squirm her way free of his grip. “Enough of that.” He sounded more annoyed than angry as he twisted her arm up behind her.

The pain caused tears to well up in her eyes as her arm was wrenched behind and she stopped her struggles, not wanting to dislocate something from the way it was being held. “Good girl. Now don’t make a sound.”

She nodded and his hand left her mouth to flick the light switch on. Blinking from the bright light, she finally spotted the source of the noise that had drawn her to the room to begin with: a tightly taped and gagged Monica. Kathryn’s eyes popped open as she saw her friend. “Moni-mmmmph!”

Her exclamation was cut off by the man, who she now suspected was a robber, stuffing a cloth inside of her mouth. Gagging on the taste, she tried to force it out with her tongue, but he took full advantage of the distraction as he gathered her wrists behind her back and using another roll of tape, quickly taped them together. Her elbows were then pressed together, causing Kathryn to cry out as they were wrapped in more tape, immediately causing her shoulders to ache. She had just about forced the cloth out of her mouth, which she now recognized as a pair of her panties before the robber used two fingers to push it right back into her open mouth.

She wondered if they were a clean pair as he took his seemingly never ending roll of tape and began wrapping it around her head and over her hair. The tight turns compressed her cheeks and pulled at her skin, making it very uncomfortable as it held her head in a vice-like grip. After about eight turns, he seemed satisfied that the gag was sufficient enough and tore the tape, smoothing it down before he went to work with the rest of her body. Tape was wound around her ankles, above and below the knees, and thighs, welding her legs together and more was wrapped above and below her breasts.

Now in a matching predicament with Monica, who was watching with wide eyes from on top of her bed, the robber took a step back to admire his handiwork. “Wish every place I robbed had a set of hot girls like this place.” He mused, seemingly to himself. “Well don’t go anywhere, I’ve got a place to look through.”

He left the room and as he closed the door behind him, Kathryn immediately sprang into action. Or she would have if she could move at all. In the tape binds, she had been turned into a worm on the ground, squirming and struggling and not doing much except sweating, getting her clothes dirty and making no progress on her tape bonds. Monica inched herself off of the bed onto the floor to join her and the two girls positioned themselves back to back to try and help but their fluttering fingers found nothing to grab onto with the tape.

After about half an hour of frustrated grunting, the door opened and the man returned. “Trying to escape I see, let’s see how much progress you made.”

Monica let out a yelp as he rolled her away from Kathryn and inspected her bonds. “Nothing. I figured you girls would have longer nails to pick at this tape but not a problem.”

He sounded almost disappointed, but it didn't change how smoothly he worked. He picked up Monica, who screamed as she was slung over his shoulder and carried out the door. Kathryn watched in horror as her friend disappeared around the corner, wondering if they were being kidnapped along with being robbed. Her parents had money, but not enough to buy the ransom of three girls that this man would probably be expecting. A whole range of terrible scenarios ran through her head before the robber reappeared, causing her to flinch. “Let’s go girlie. Time to join your friends.”

He swept her up in his arms and carried her out of the room. In the main room, she could now see both Monica and Stephanie writhing on the couches before she was deposited on the end of the second couch. Seeing Stephanie for the first time, she realized she must have been lucky, as her top had been pulled up and Kathryn couldn’t imagine what else this brute may have done to her. She noticed a pair of bulging duffle bags by the door and whimpered, wondering if there was anything left in the chalet of value or if he had cleaned them out. The TV that was normally in front of the couches was missing, along with their skis and snowboards which infuriated Kathryn when she saw it was not propped against the wall where she had left it. The robber seemed to notice what she was mad about and chuckled. “Your gear does have some resale value, so I figured I could make some easy cash off of that.”

Kathryn glared, knowing in her current position she was in no shape to do anything about it as she tugged at the strands of duct tape. The man disappeared back into the kitchen before returning with a pair of scissors that he placed on the dining table. “I’ll leave these here for you lovely ladies to eventually free yourselves with. It’ll take some time, more than enough time for me to get away. Thank you for your hospitality and good luck.”

With that he left the chalet and closed the door behind him. The three girls looked helplessly at one another as they squirmed and shuffled their bodies off of the couches and started to make their way towards the scissors on the table. It was going to be a very long night.