Her breath hitched when she saw him pull out a strip of cloth from his jean's pocket. It was black. It was ominous. It meant only one thing and that was to blindfold her. Quickly, she shook her head. 'No... you can't do this!' Nic gave out no reaction as he continued his way to her. She attempted to sprint away from him, but he only captured her elbow in a vice-like grip. 'Don't struggle or you will only hurt yourself more,' he stated when he lifted the strip near her face. Tears spilled from her eyes this time and no matter how much she willed herself to be strong, she pleaded, 'Please, don't do this.' 'I have no other choice,' was his quick reply. ~ 0 ~ Cielle, after stopping by at her favorite fast-food chain, never expected her road trip would take a turn for the worse - her chicken buckets eaten by salivating mouths, her SUV carnapped and her safety threading on a thin line. Thrown in between a helplessness of a boy and the sinister plans of criminals who had captured her, hope and salvation is yet to be seen. But what if... just what if her heart itself became the traitor in the midst of all the drama? Like falling and aching for a certain mysterious man she is supposed to hate? What will she do? Genre: Mystery, Romance (Short Story/One-Shot) Status: Completed All Rights Reserved 2018 JMFelic Books
Chapter 1 Danger in the Road
"Hmm, yes. Yes. I am just going to buy four chicken buckets and I'll be on my way there."
Cielle Antonette Becker, a half-Filipina, half-American woman, parked her car in the parking lot of a popular fast-food chain and turned the engine off. She twisted the key out and disembarked the vehicle just as she informed her best-friend, Silvia, at the other line of her plans.
"Uh huh, I'll be just quick," she added whilst righting her black blazer into position-the first garment she was able to pull out from her luggage that could protect her from the cold October evening. Under it, she wore a white v-neck tee and dark blue jeans-an ensemble of which she deemed simple but elegant paired with a wedged sandal.
Right after locking the car door, she stood right beside her white SUV and studied the whole of the area. At this time of the night, exactly seven in the evening, a lot of customers jovially flock the mouth-watering establishment with their families so it was no wonder most of the parking spaces were occupied.
But no matter. The crowd didn't bother her at all.
She had giddiness in her eyes, smiling from ear to ear as she looked up at the well-known bee mascot signage bolted up some few meters above a thick pole. From where she stood, she could already detail out the long line of customers waiting to order, but once again, it didn't bother her. Heck, it was even a welcomed situation.
It reminded her fondly of her memories back when she was younger, when her grandparents would bring her in the establishment every time her parents visit the Philippines.
She sighed and brushed a single tear that escaped from the corner of her eye. Those were wonderful memories indeed, worthy to be treasured inside her heart. It has been years since then. A beautiful adult she may have become, but that didn't mean she won't get the same happiness when stepping inside the building.
"Alright, four chicken buckets, here I come!" she exclaimed after a deep breath of confidence. These juicy cuts were apparently Cielle's share of food in her own welcome party after having stayed in the US for nearly six years. She had just arrived in the dainty town of Cordova in the province of Cebu a day before and was already very excited meeting her loved ones in their ancestral house in the city.
"I believe I should get some large fries along with the buckets to eat while driving," she murmured to herself and nodded twice, agreeing with her own decision.
When she was finally in the cashier, she did just that-ordering four buckets of chicken and one large fries.
By the time she headed out of the building, her hands were full of her purchases. It was heavy, but she had a fun time carrying it all the way to her car.
'Silv, I'm on my way, ' she texted on her iPhone after she laid the buckets at the passenger side of the car.
After sitting comfortably and adjusting her seatbelt, she turned the ignition on. Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk immediately sounded inside the car as Cielle drove out of the parking lot. She sang along with it and even bobbed her head, swayed her shoulders, and rocked her hips even while driving.
This part of the road that she took was one dark area. From the right and left sides, overgrown shrubbery was seen. No huts or concrete houses. Not even one person was on sight. There were small electric lamps along the way, but it didn't dismiss the gloomy aura of the place.
Cielle didn't mind the overall presence though as she was too engrossed with the booming music of her speakers and eating her crispy fries. However, when a loud gunfire passed through her ears, she yelped and abruptly stepped on the brakes. Her car immediately came to a halt beside a lamppost.
"What the-" she uttered as her eyes fell on the scene a couple of meters away.
A light brown Toyota Fortuner was on a standstill in the middle of the road while a middle-aged man was seen with his head popped out of the driver's shattered window and one hand dangling over it.
Through the windshield, Cielle could see a boy of not more than seven-years-old shaking the unconscious man's shoulder.
Though confused and wide-eyed, her nurse instincts kicked right in. She stepped out of the car, waving her hand and calling out the boy's attention.
"Hey!"
Although wary, she inched forward in quick strides.
"Hey boy!"
The small passenger only noticed Cielle when she arrived on the man's side of the window.
"Oh God," she immediately exclaimed, covering her mouth and stifling a scream when she noticed that the man had a gunshot wound in the head and dead.
"Who did this!?"
In realization, she quickly turned from side to side to see if there was an armed person behind her, but she found none. Dark were the surroundings still, without a chance of showing the culprit at all-if there was even any. A soft glow of the fluorescent light some inches away spotlighted the immediate area, but it wasn't enough.
"Big sis, is my step-father alright?" the boy asked surprisingly in clean English; his innocent eyes dancing with confusion.
It made Cielle's heart squeeze in pain.
Oh, God. What should I tell him?!
Gathering her courage and resolve, she rounded the car and stopped near the boy's window.
"Hey, I'm Ci...Cie...Cielle by the way, " she stuttered, too conscious of the possible danger lurking around them. "I'm your friend. What is your name?"
She smiled, trying to hide the nervousness she was feeling.
"Alexander..." the boy answered softly.
"Ah, Alexander! What a strong name!" With the side window pulled down, she patted the boy's head and gave him a new smile that emitted radiance. The fear in her heart was there still, but for the boy, yes, for the boy, at least she had to show positive strength.
"Can I call you Alex?"
The clueless boy nodded.
"Good. Now, Alex, hear me out. Your step-dad...isn't feeling well. He needs medical treatment."
Cielle abruptly chanced a look at the bushes behind her when she heard some twigs breaking. Seeing no presence in the shadows, she continued in a hurry, "We...we are going to call 911."
She flung open the car door but then stopped and face-palmed herself, "Uh, is that even available here? Oh God, no. I don't think so."
The boy stared at her with brows cutely knitted as if he was trying to figure out why she was showing a ridiculous face. Cielle would have pinched his cheeks because of that, but then her eyes widened.
"The police! Yes! The police and an ambulance!" She looked heavenward as if thanking her quick wit. "We need to tell them that your step-dad needs help!"
"Ophs ophs ophs!" a sharp, squeaky voice of a man then caught Cielle's attention.
She turned with a start and with mouth gaping-her back and long golden-brown soft curls pressed too much against the car door-as her eyes fell on three men wearing uniformed black shirts and pants.
"Not so fast, Beautiful," said one man in their native language who was at the center. His face was unshaven, full of holes from dried up pimples and two warts in his chin and the side of his left brow. He looked the typical villain along with his other air-headed sidekicks who were snickering at her, looking like they have just captured a priceless magical bird. All of them held a gun in their hands, looking every bit a wanted criminal.
Cielle's face turned ashen. "Oh God." She understood exactly what the man said.
"What's this, Don? An escaped mouse?" said a new man who emerged from the other side of the road. Cielle glanced at him when he stopped near the car's hood, hoping to see his face, but failed as he wore a half-face motorbike helmet with its cover pulled down.
Another man followed him and stood at his left. He had a blue full-face helmet and wore the same uniform black clothes, but he was the tallest of them all and the only man who wasn't holding a gun. His posture was relaxed, too relaxed, and even when Cielle couldn't see, she felt his eyes bore deeply into her.
"Yes, a mouse, but she won't be able to escape from us, " the first man named Don replied whilst glancing wickedly at Cielle and then to her SUV.
"Please," finally she gained the courage to speak. "You can take anything! My car, cellphone, and wallet! Everything! Just as long as you release me and this kid!"
Chapter 1 Danger in the Road
12/04/2018
Chapter 2 Destined Meeting
12/04/2018
Chapter 3 Behind the Mask
12/04/2018
Chapter 4 Imprisoned
12/04/2018
Chapter 5 The Bet
12/04/2018
Chapter 6 What Happens Under the Blindfold
30/01/2021
Chapter 7 Danger Looming
30/01/2021
Chapter 8 His Visits
30/01/2021
Chapter 9 Safe in the Dark
30/01/2021
Chapter 10 A Hero
30/01/2021
Chapter 11 Safe with You
30/01/2021
Chapter 12 Reunion
30/01/2021
Other books by JMFelic
More