Chapter 68: The kidnap
1095words
'You are indeed physically and internally ugly!"
Mr. Nathan's words kept rumbling in my head as I went home. I couldn't sleep because of them. This is not the first time someone has called me ugly. I usually get it off my mind immediately after they say it, but what is so different about his words? It's obvious he is just like everyone else. What was I even thinking? But why does a part of me wish he saw me differently? It made me emotional, and I slept in a puddle of my tears. No one has ever made me cry to sleep because of my appearance before; not even my mother.
'Aren't you going to work?" Mother asked, showing up in my room at noon. I turned to the opposite side to turn my back on her.
'I'm talking to you."
'Leave my room, Mother!" I ordered. 'Stepmother, I mean to say," I corrected myself.
The next second, I felt her hand on my shoulder. I jerked up, facing her.
'Don't you dare touch me!" I snarled.
'You have to calm down, Scarlett. You can't remain angry with us forever. We are still your family," she said calmly.
'A part of me really wishes that's true, but the truth, they say, is always bitter. Leave my room," I said.
'It's fine. I know it's going to take time for you to accept the truth. So, why aren't you going to work? Were you fired?" she asked.
'You've been fasting and praying for that, haven't you?"
'Don't say that. How can I pray and fast for you to lose your job? I'm not that heartless. Besides, if I did, who would take care of us? I can't bite the hand that feeds me, can I?" she stated.
'If you must know, I quit my job," I said.
'You quit or were you fired?"
'Which part don't you understand?"
'How can you quit your job? Have you lost your mind? What are you going to do? Walk about the street? Will that feed us? Don't you think before acting?" she began scolding me.
'I'm not a liability to you, Mother. I'm a businesswoman. I can always find my feet again," I defended.
'What stupid feet? Do you think there are business administration jobs for someone like you out there? Why do you like overestimating your value every time? Just because you are a graduate of business administration doesn't mean you possess all the qualities every firm is searching for out there." There she goes again. 'I don't care what you think you've done. You are going to work right this minute," she ordered.
Just then, Kristine stormed in. 'Mother, the cops are looking for Scarlett," Kristine announced.
My heart leaped to my throat. I didn't do anything wrong.
'W...what?" my lips trembled.
'What did you do, Scarlett?!" Mother snapped.
'I didn't do anything. Tell them I'm not at home," I cried, fear creeping under my skin. I dropped on the bed, pulling the duvet over my head.
'I already told them you're inside," Kristine said.
'Are you mad, Kristine?!" I snarled, sitting up abruptly. 'How can you say such a thing?"
'They're waiting for you," Kristine declared, and went out.
'Have you seen what you call a daughter?"
'Come on, you have to go out," Mother said.
'What are you saying? Are you giving me away?" I sounded terrified.
'What do you want to do? Only the guilty ones are scared of the cops. Come with me," Mother said, pulling me down from the bed.
'What do you think you're doing? Let go of me," I tried to pull myself back, but Mother overpowered me and dragged me outside.
'Miss Scarlett de Guzman, your attention is needed at our station," one of the cops said.
'I didn't do anything. I'm not going anywhere," I cried, but one of the cops seized me.
'Let me go. Mother, why aren't you saying anything? I don't want to go, please." I struggled with them.
How can someone who couldn't free her hands from her mother free them from the cops? They pushed me into their van and zoomed out of the compound.
Some minutes later, the van stopped in front of a bungalow, which looked nothing like a police station. I felt goosebumps instantly.
'This is not a police station. Where are you taking me?" I protested as they dragged me out of the van.
'You are going to be quiet!" one of them groaned.
'Let go of me! Help!" I shouted.
My voice was muffled as a thick metal-like hand clamped my mouth. I couldn't struggle anymore. Only hot tears streamed down my face. I was pushed into a bedroom.
'What do you want to do with me?" I asked, hugging myself in fear.
'You are going to remain as quiet as a mute, or else we'll have no choice but to gag you," one of them warned and left, locking the door.
I slid down the wall, my hand clamping my mouth to muffle my cry. My body jerked with cold shivers. Fear gripped my heart like a shroud. I could hear my heart drumming in my head. How can Mother hate me this much? How can she sell me out without remorse? What if these men kill me?
I stayed in the lonely room for as long as I could think. There was no escape route in this Godforsaken room, not even an open window. Why the heck, then, is there a bed? It was a real bedroom with all the stuff needed to live comfortably. Who would bring me to such a place? I know I have many enemies, but I never antagonized them to warrant this treatment.
My silly stomach grumbled as I paced back and forth. How can I be hungry at this critical moment? I looked at the two plates of food on the table, but the fear of being poisoned killed that urge. How long am I going to be here? What are they going to do with me? It's getting late, for pity's sake.
I dropped to the floor again, unable to control the tears streaming down my face. Suddenly, I heard footsteps and jumped back up to my feet. My heart was running a marathon now. My legs wobbled under me, weakening in support of my body.
Just then, the doorknob turned, unlatching the door. Each movement raised the hair at the back of my neck.
'You?" a terrified gasp escaped my lips as the person entered.
