It might be a case of mistaken identity. Some criminals thought she was someone else who had wronged them, and they took this extreme action. They chose the area near the stove maybe because it was an out - of - the - way place in the building they were in.
In a mystery story, it could be that she knew some secret that someone didn't want her to tell. So they tied and gagged her near the stove to keep her quiet and perhaps as a form of intimidation.
This is a very concerning and dangerous situation. However, without more context, it's hard to create a full story. Maybe it could be part of a mystery story where the girl was kidnapped and held near the stove as a form of threat by the bad guys. But this is just a speculation.
Perhaps it's part of a prank that has gone too far. Some irresponsible people might think it's funny to play such a cruel 'joke' on her without realizing the seriousness of their actions. However, this is still a very wrong and illegal behavior.
Perhaps she has uncovered a big secret in a corporate or political conspiracy. The people behind the conspiracy don't want her to expose them, so they tie and gag her on her tiptoes to keep her silent. They may be planning to move her to a more secluded place later to deal with her more permanently, but she might be rescued by an unexpected hero who stumbles upon the situation.
One reason could be that the robbers are just looking for easy targets. They see the girl as an easy victim, perhaps because she is alone or looks vulnerable. So they tie and gag her to quickly take her belongings without any resistance.
In a very imaginative story, there could be a magical or supernatural element. A soccer girl might have unknowingly entered a forbidden area on the soccer field that is protected by some magical creatures. These creatures don't understand human ways and see her as a threat, so they tie her up and use a sock to gag her to keep her from making noise that might attract other humans.
One reason could be a prank. Just like in a schoolyard or a neighborhood where kids might play a not - so - nice joke on each other. Another reason could be in a mystery or crime - related scenario. Maybe he saw something he shouldn't have, like a robbery or some illegal activity, and the wrongdoers tied and gagged him to keep him quiet.
One reason could be that she is a hostage. In a thriller story, villains might gag her to prevent her from screaming for help and alerting others. For example, in a bank robbery, if the robbers take a girl hostage, they would gag her to keep her quiet during their escape.
One reason could be that the reader has stumbled upon a secret. For example, if the story is set in a world of spies, the reader might have accidentally overheard some top - secret information and the villains want to keep him quiet.
In a horror - themed story, it might be related to a serial killer. The killer ties and gags the girl to subdue her before carrying out his evil plans. The muffled screams add to the sense of horror and helplessness, making the situation extremely terrifying for the victim.
It might be a horror - themed story. The girl is tied and gagged, perhaps by some deranged person. The treadmill could be part of a sadistic plan, like she is forced to be near it for some psychological torture. The story could then be about her struggle to escape this terrifying situation.