They lay on the patch of green grass in a small clearing of
a forest near their house, looking into each others’ wrinkly eyes lovingly. They
were reminiscing on their past, how they met, how they fell in love and got
married despite the number of obstacles they have faced. They laughed and
frowned at the memories.
Suddenly, they heard a rustle in the bushes. They looked
around in alarm looking for the source of sound. Then, they saw a pair of brown
eyes peeking through a bush. They cautiously approached the pair of eyes.
“Hello, who is there? Come out,” beckoned Adrian.
The pair of brown eyes blinked a few times before slowly
emerging from behind the bush.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but when I heard
both of you talking about your story, I was simply enthralled. Your story is
amazing, like right out of a romantic movie. I couldn’t help but feel curious
and that tempted me to continue eavesdropping. I am so terribly sorry. I will
not say a word to others about your story. I promise,” said Samantha.
“It’s okay, dear. Do you want to sit with us and listen to
our story? We would be thrilled to be in the company of a young lady like you,”
Julia invited with a warm smile on her lips and Adrian nodded encouragingly.
Samantha thanked them and introduced herself. After exchanging
pleasantries, the old couple continued their story.
Just then, they heard another rustle from a different
direction. Samantha joked that it could be another person like her who was
interested in the couple’s story. The couple beckoned the stranger to come
forward and join them. It was a young man. Like Samantha, James apologized
before joining them. The couple continued their story.
Suddenly, Samantha’s nose and mouth was covered with a piece
damp cloth from behind. She did not see who it was. The cloth was dampened with
chloroform. Samantha fainted.
She woke up light headed tied up to a chair. She looked
around. It looked like an abandoned small house. The furniture is old and the
floor was dusty. She tried calling out for help, calling for the old couple,
hoping that someone might hear her.
The door creaked open, in walked the couple. Samantha was
overjoyed and quickly asked them to help untie her. Alas, her joy was
short-lived. James then walked in behind the couple holding a piece of damp
cloth.
Samantha tried to process what she had seen; trying to
understand what was going on. She panicked.
“Adrian, Julia. What’s going on? Why
am I tied here?” questioned Samantha, hoping to prove she was wrong.
The old couple smirked and slowly laughed louder and louder.
Samantha was right. Her worst fear was confirmed.
“Why are you doing this? Do you know James beforehand? Why did
you capture me?” asked Samantha as tears streamed down her face, afraid of what
would happen to her.
The couple simply continued laughing as James approached
her. Touching her face and hair and looking at her body, he said “Her skin is
pretty good. She has beautiful hair too. As well as a good figure although she isn’t
very tall.”
Samantha demanded to know what was happening, all the while
struggling to free herself from the ropes used to tie her.
“Sammy, stop wasting your energy trying to free yourself. It’s
no use,” Adrian said.
“Why are you doing this? How could you act this way? Aren’t
you a kind person?” Samantha asked.
“Young lady, when did I ever say that I am kind?” Adrian
asked with a glint in his eye.
“But your story you told me just now. Your love story…”
replied Samantha.
“You believed us? Old man, we are great actors! We should go
film a movie!” teased Julia.
“Actually our names aren’t Adrian and Julia. We made that
up,” the old man cackled with glee.
“No, No! Let me go! You wretched old man! Let me go! What
are you going to do with me?! Let me go!”
“Oh, honey. Haven’t you ever heard of human trafficking?”
the old woman hinted.
Samantha was horrified. She struggled even harder. She shouted
and yelled as loud as she could. Then, James covered her nose and mouth with
another chloroform dampened cloth.
The three kidnappers laughed among themselves loudly.
