“We’ve caught a big fish,” Selina called out, excitement in her voice. “She is wealthy and this is just what we need.”
“Where is she?” Cassandra asked, standing up.
“Nico is bringing her in,” Selina answered putting on a ski mask. “You should put on yours too for safety precautions.”
“Right,” Cassandra did what she was told. “So where are we putting her?”
“You sure ask a lot of question, newbie,” Selina shook her head.
“This is my first time.”
“Just watch what we do and do not call out our names.”
The black door flung open followed by a woman being pushed forcefully into the building. She had short black hair and by the clothes she wore, Cassandra knew she was of working class. She wore heels and was blindfolded, making her stumble every once in a while when Nico shoved her. Nico led the victim to the room at the back of the warehouse while Selina and Cassandra followed.
The paint in that windowless room was peeling off and mould formed at the top corner of it. There was a wooden chair and a bucket in the middle of that room.
“Be quiet,” Nico warned before untying her. “If you try to do anything stupid, I will kill you.”
“Please, let me go,” the victim begged. “I can pay you how much money you want.”
“Shut up,” Nico barked, slamming the door behind him and locked it. Selina and Cassandra stared at him, waiting for an instruction.
“What now?” Cassandra asked.
“Not here,” Selina answered, sauntering away from that room.
They went to the front room of the warehouse which was fully furnished and more luxurious than the one they used to keep their victim. The television was switched on and they took the seat on the pale blue couch. Nico grabbed the packet of crisps on the table and tore it. He ate a few while his female accomplices waited.
“By now, everyone knows this woman is missing,” Nico smiled. “We’ve done this before except for you, Cass. Everything will be fine. In an hour, we will call the husband and ask for ransom.”
“You’ve done this before? It was successful?” Cassandra asked trying to sound amaze but all she felt was fear.
“When nobody dies and you get paid, it is a good day,” Selina explained, proud at her achievement.
“You’ve killed people?”
“Hush now, Selina. You are scaring the newbie,” Nico interrupted and turned to Cassandra. “Follow my instructions and everything will be fine.”
Cassandra nodded.
“Who wants to be on the first watch?”
“The newbie, of course,” Selina suggested.
“You heard her. Go and guard the woman. Make sure she doesn’t escape. No matter what she says to you, do not listen. Clear?”
“Yup,” Cassandra answered. “How can she escape when there is no window?”
“People get creative when they are in such situation.”
Cassandra left Nico and Selina to handle the ransom while she guarded the victim. Every once in a while, she looked into the room through the small window on the door. Sure enough, the victim begged and cried for Cassandra to release her. It was heart wrenching to see that but she had to follow the instructions given to her.
“As soon as your husband pays, we will release you,” Cassandra said from the door right before Nico walked up to her.
“The deal has been made,” Nico smiled. “Drop off is in two hours. It was a quick deal. I think we really caught a big fish this time.”
“Are you sure they will pay?”
“If the husband wants the wife to live,” Nico said confidently. “Selina and I have to meet someone for Plan B should anything goes wrong. If she escapes, I will hunt you down. Understand?”
“Yes,” Cassandra nodded.
Ten minutes after seeing Nico and Selina drive away, Cassandra unlocked the door and entered the room where the victim was kept. Cassandra tried looking for a way out of that room but found none. Her mind started playing tricks on her when she heard the sound of a car’s engine. When she checked, no one was there.
“Follow me,” Cassandra told the woman. They walked straight and within minutes, they came to the front door. “Quick, do you think you can run?”
“I can try,” the terrified woman answered.
“Take off your heels. I have to save myself too.”
Both of them ran and climbed over the gate to exit the warehouse. Dogs were barking and Cassandra swore she saw Nico’s car heading back to the warehouse. They didn’t have much time so they ran to a deserted area where they found an abandoned car.
“Get in the car,” Cassandra instructed the woman.
“No.”
“They will kill us if you don’t. They know this place. They showed me this place. This is our escape route.”
“No, you are part of their group. Why should I trust you?”
“Because I joined them to save you. I overheard their plan when I was on the bus. I disappeared but I am here now.”
“Cassandra?”
Cassandra took off her ski mask, “Yes. It’s me, mum. I’ll explain everything later. Just get in the car.”
Carina Lim bears different messages through her fiction. These messages could be useful in life. She can be contacted at mermaidgal03@yahoo.com
