Chapter 15

Pembroke’s school had broken up early for the summer, earlier, that is, than Sophie’s school. He had a busy week planned. The smooth voice of Stanley had not betrayed how nervous he had been, and how thrilled he was at the effect on Sophie. He had some tracking enabled on her computer, and from what he could see she had not used it to alert anyone.

He had hired out a van under his usual name, relieved at how easy it still was from his first attempt. Fake number plates had also been relatively straightforward, and he had spent his days driving around Rosevale-on-Sea, and taking several train trips to and from London. As he drove around in his rough disguise, he laughed at the fact that he could have spent weeks in Thailand enjoying debauchery with the money had spent on his plan.

Luke had been available online for Sophie, but she had not been willing to share much with him as to how her week had gone. It was therefore with great trepidation that Stanley reached out to Sophie again, knowing that confidence and assertion were vital to get Sophie to do what needed to be done.

“Sophie, darling, we need to talk immediately” was the text sent.

Sophie had hoped this had been a prank, a terrible dream, and the text was a dagger into her heart. She nearly doubled up as she read it. She was still at school, and the relative normality of the day had gradually brought her the false hope everything might be OK.

A series of calls followed. Sophie answered just after final class.

“Hello Sophie, I hope you are not too frightened. Like I say I will release your material, but only if you are a bad girl and you don’t do what I say.”

“Please, look, I’m only fourteen, this is illegal, you can’t do anything with that stuff.”

“I can and I will, I think we both know this. You may wish to ask your school friend Anna Gao? And any number of girls online. Believe me, this could change your life forever. But all you have to do is follow simple instructions, for a one off deal, just one time, then you can forget this unfortunate thing ever happened.”

Sophie tensed and checked no one was watching her. She was in the corner of the playground, no one was paying attention.

“I want you to meet me this Friday. In a hotel room, in London. For two hours maximum, are you a virgin?”

Sophie had not expected this. The shock did not register, and in fact she almost welcomed the fact there was some chance to get out of this.

“I am a virgin, I’m too young for sex. I’m too young for you to threaten me...”

“Now, Sophie, you’re not too young, otherwise I wouldn’t have targeted you.”

“How did you get my photos and my video?”

“I will tell you that at the meeting, it’s most ingenious actually, but let me assure you, it will be fun. I like young girls, and you are so beautiful, Sophie, if those videos and pictures get out, all the boys in your school will love them.”

Sophie felt sick. What was she to do? “I am a handsome man, Sophie, don’t worry. I’m thirty five years old, and a professional. This is just something I do for fun, oh and I’m married as well. I have to be sure my wife doenst find out. This will all be over quickly trust me.”

“If you’re married and good looking why are you picking on me?” Sophie felt confused and angry. ‘Stanley’ felt a bit alarmed, where was this defiance coming from?

“Your age, and the thrill I get from spying on girls. Men are pigs, Sophie, I’m sorry, let me be your life lesson eh? In years to come, you won’t have to worry about these photos and that video following you around. I might even give you a present as well, maybe a few hundred pounds? But mainly, it’s a threat. You WILL meet me Sophie, and we will have a good time, a one off, otherwise, well, your life will be ... if not ruined ... then changed forever. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Sophie swallowed. “Sophie darling, give me a yes or a no.”

Sophie thought about what to do. Stall him? “Yes, ... yes ok” Sophie said quietly.

“Excellent. I will shortly let you know the time and place. Oh, and of course, you won’t be telling anyone about this. I must warn you, if I think you’ve told anyone, especially the police, then they will never find me, but those pictures and that video will be all over your friends’ Facebook before you can say “Sophie Yildiz.”

“OK” Sophie said almost to herself... “when?”

“Friday. You will take the day off school and come into central London and then meet me. You will be back home afterwards in your school uniform and your mum and your school and your friends won’t suspect a thing.”

“Friday? But... “ Sophie thought about her options. The idea of having sex with anyone terrified her. The thought of this creep terrified her.

“Yes, Sophie, is there a problem?”

“No ... no ... OK”

The call ended shortly afterward. Sophie felt her head spinning. What a choice?

‘Stanley’ emerged from the booth in the internet café, and thanked the owner and went on his way. Edward Pembroke had already been in both Rosevale-on-Sea and on the train that day, and had decided to make the crucial blackmail call as close to Sophie’s school as possible. He was grateful for the rainy weather as the jacket, hat and umbrella and fake glasses, now with hidden camera on the rim, enabled another disguise so that Sophie would not recognise her stalker.

Sophie walked, slumped shoulders, out of the school. Pembroke followed from a distance, watching the wet red hair as it caught droplets of rain. They both got on the same packed bus, and Pembroke struggled to find a proper seat with a view of Sophie. He could see that she was despondent, but was interested to see a pretty Asian girl get on and sit next to her. Pembroke pretended to find something wrong with his seat so he could change seats to sit closer and listen.

“Hi Sophie, you coming to my party still? Saturday?”

“Hi Dilan, oh thanks for inviting me, mmm yeah I think so.”

The pretty Asian girl had beautiful long dark skinned legs, she was graceful and moved like a dancer to get to besides Sophie’s seat. Her dark eyes and skin contrasted nicely with Sophie’s celtic goddess looks. Pembroke wished there was a way he could fuck both of them, then checked and controlled himself.

“Sophie, you OK? You look really depressed about something? Some of those girls are horrible to you I think...” Dilan appeared genuinely sympathetic to Sophie.

The conversation continued. Dilan seemed really nice and a natural leader. Pembroke smiled, the invitation to her party must have meant a lot to Sophie. She was starting to get more attractive and grown up in the months he had “known” her and soon would have the self confidence more befitting of a girl of her looks. A party to look forward to on Saturday! After the ugliness of Friday, surely that would motivate her to do the horrible deed and get it out of her system. No more revenge porn threats.

Pembroke was glad, it was good that Sophie had something to lose, she was not totally lost. The prospect of a new respectable group of friends within reach? That would make Sophie do something desperate to get out of her situation. Pembroke felt a little guilty as he heard them talk about the party and sensed the hope in Sophie’s voice, she seemed to believe that this was her ‘making it’ finally after years of being an outcast. If Pembroke’s plan went well, then she would never get to go to that party. Dilan hugged her and got off at her stop, and Sophie watched her from the window as she walked off. Pembroke supposed that this could be the last time she would ever see or speak to Dilan; how would she remember all these final goodbyes? If only she could guess that in a few days’ time, the anonymous wet middle aged man sat near to her would be the only human being she would ever see again.

Sophie walked home with Pembroke following at a respectful distance. Pembroke did not hear it, but Sophie had overhead some other girls chatting and their boasts about having sex with their boyfriends. The talk had been disgusting and normally would have made Sophie want to run away, but now she was a little interested. She wondered;

how normal was it to have sex at her age? If it solved this issue, then maybe she could do it...

The week continued, and Pembroke worked furiously on his dungeon door. Security was the main issue, he realised, the fancy stuff could come later. More money was spent, on train tickets, and some ‘kit’ comprising of zip ties, gags and a special modified wardrobe. Pembroke also continued to practise boxing, and how to wrestle. He had lost some weight and hoped he would be in enough shape to do what was necessary.

Sophie sat in her room and mulled endless possibilities. Should she tell anyone? She did not want to share with her mum about the pictures and video. Her sister seemed to be enjoying Australia. If she was going to do this, she couldn’t tell anyone. If she told someone, then they would stop her doing it and the material would go online! Googling about revenge porn had sent shivers down her spine. The consensus was that there was no way to get this stuff off. She read about girls who spoke about how they dealt with it. Changing names, moving cities, dropping out of careers. Others couldn’t do it and said they had to live with being porn stars. She also read on forums about girls who had sex with blackmailers and how disgusting it was., but how it had worked and their stuff had stayed offline.

Sophie started crying again. This was all so unfair and overbearing. She wished she could share with someone. It was such a horrible thing to do to a girl her age. She was so humiliated and self conscious, she could not reach out to anyone. And no one could help her unless they stopped this ‘Stanley’ but how could they?

She tried to take her mind off it, and noticed ‘Luke’ online. She remembered their chats, and how innocent they had been, though even he had talked before about revenge porn. She sighed, how simple life had been a few days ago!

She messaged Luke, hoping to take her mind off things. On the other end, Pembroke was putting the finishing touches to his burner phone with a map of the relevant train route in front of him. As he surveyed the zip ties on his desk, he wished he could ask her what width her ankles and wrists were but desisted.