Taken by Laura Vixen

Taken
    Miranda felt a little apprehensive as she sat glancing around the imposing office. Her nerves weren’t helped by the fact that Professor Benson was concentrating on the papers on his desk and making her wait. He finally looked up and smiled, with the nineteen year old girl responding with a hesitant smile of her own. “So I take it you would be happy to get involved with the volunteer program this weekend?” the professor started.
     
    “Sure,” Miranda agreed. “My aunt helped out when she was here and she encouraged me to give it a try. I provide assistance at a children’s home in town and so hopefully have some experience that will be useful.”
     
    “Well the kid’s home is always eager to have people lend a hand and you seem to be a perfect candidate,” Professor Benson went on.
     
    “Who else will be taking part?” Miranda asked.
     
    “Peter Marshal is also due to come this weekend,” the professor answered. “Not sure if you know him. I’ll drive the three of us to the children’s home after college finishes on Friday.”
     
    “OK,” said Miranda. She didn’t recognize the boy’s name, but was still a little relieved that she wouldn’t be going on her own. “Is there anything I need to bring?”
     
    “Just enough clothes to see you through the weekend,” he replied. “We will travel back on the Sunday afternoon.” They chatted a little more about the requirements of the trip and when the professor stood up to signal the end of the conversation Miranda did likewise. She walked to the door of the office and turned back as the professor spoke again. “Just come to my office at five o’clock on Friday,” he said.
     
    “Sure,” Miranda replied with a smile. “I’ll see you then.” She left the office thinking about the volunteer work. The college had been associated with the children’s home for a number of years and her aunt had already filled her in on the type of work that was done so she kind of knew what she was letting herself in for. She put it to the back of her mind as she headed for her next class and it wasn’t until the Friday afternoon that she really started thinking about it again. As the end of the college day finally arrived she went to get her bag from her locker. Looking at her watch, Miranda saw that it was only just after four. With an hour to go before she needed to be at Professor Benson’s office she decided to go to the canteen and have something to eat and drink. When she finished her meal she sat nursing the coffee and thinking about what lay ahead over the weekend. She knew a little about Professor Benson, although was yet to take any of his classes. He was one of the younger professors at the college and the rumor was that he was still single. Not that this particularly concerned Miranda who was happily seeing a boyfriend, but she wondered just how she would get along with the professor on the long drive to the children’s home. Not that she would be on her own. Peter Marshal she didn’t know at all though, but hoped that she would get on with him. It was at least a relief that someone else would be there that who was her age. When she finished the coffee, Miranda looked at her watch and saw the time approaching ten minutes before five. She stood up from the table to make her way to Professor Benson’s office and knocked when she arrived.
     
    “Enter,” the voice said from within and she opened the door and stepped inside. “Hello Miranda,” the professor said as he looked up from the papers on his desk. “All set to go?”
     
    Miranda held up her bag and smiled. “Packed and ready,” she replied. She looked around the office, but saw no one else. “Is Peter not here yet?” she asked.
     
    “Bad news about that,” Professor Benson went on. “He hurt his ankle playing squash last night and needed to cancel.”
     
    “Oh…” Miranda answered. She felt the sudden swelling up of nerves in her body at the prospect of being alone