6
2007words
I don't know how long I slept.When I woke up again,the sun was already setting outside the window.
I groggily opened my phone,and the screen showed over 999+Weibo messages.
I had chosen a relatively cheap spot,around the 40th position on the trending topics list,since I just wanted to generate some heat.
But with the passage of time,the Weibo post I made had risen to the fifth position on the trending topics list!
There were more than 6,000 comments,almost all of which were expressing indignation on my behalf.The most popular comment read:
"Summary:A family of bloodsuckers versus a super cool young lady,a satisfying story."
I raised my eyebrows and continued scrolling down.It was truly wonderful:
"I can't think of any witty remarks.Just giving it a boost.I hope that guy and his mother go to hell soon."
"Goodness,in the year 2022,how can such creatures still exist?"
"Let me know when these two die."
"This is something even digging up an ancient tomb couldn't produce,such a pure old fossil."
"That guy looks like he's on drugs."
"Wuwuwu,the young lady is really brave.I hope the scumbags will be punished!"
I felt extremely elated.The netizens these days really have a way with words.
Of course,there were one or two trolls trying to stir up trouble:
"Am I the only one who thinks this woman isn't a good person either?Embarrassed JPG."
But I didn't even need to take action.There were always awesome netizens who would put them in their place:
"Send you up there to make a fool of yourself."
"You're so great.You'd probably make out with such people."
Although it was a bit absurd,I really felt extremely satisfied!
Even many indignant netizens directly dug up Tom's personal information and led others to attack him.
At this moment,if nothing unexpected happened,Tom's family should be in complete chaos.
There were also those who dug up my information,but I had the people I hired report and take them down.
I was enjoying myself when a strange number called.I didn't even need to think about who it was from.
As soon as I answered,I was greeted with a stream of abuse:
"Annie,you fucking bitch!What the hell did you post?I advise you to delete it within ten minutes and give me three million dollars,or you'd better watch out for your mother's life!"
Then the other side hung up the phone.
Only then did I notice that my mother wasn't at home.I looked at the time.
It was 7:30 pm.
This was the time when my mother usually went for a walk in the park.
I thought something was wrong.It got dark early these days,and there were several little-used paths near my home.
The way Tom said that just now was so decisive.He must know where my home was!
I quickly packed up and left the house.I dialed my mother's phone number,but it kept going to voicemail.
My hands were shaking non-stop.I was angry and anxious, and I wished I could slap myself a few times.
In a panic,I called the police and told them my home address,asking them to search quickly.
I then ran all the way to the park,praying in my heart that my mother was still in the park.With so many people around,Tom wouldn't dare to do anything there.
First,I went to the management office and asked the staff to announce on the loudspeaker for my mother to come to the office to find me.
Then I started searching everywhere in the park,hoping to find that familiar figure.
I searched the fitness equipment area,the dance floor,the pavilion,the rockery,and the public restroom,but to no avail.
During this time,I saw a few figures that looked similar and rushed up excitedly,only to find that I had mistaken them for my mother.
I had to apologize in a flustered manner and then continue searching under the suspicious gazes of others.
Still,I found nothing.
I was going crazy with anxiety.I should never have provoked Tom without making sure he had left completely.
Just when I felt hopeless,I pinned my hopes on another place:
The vegetable market.
All the running had severely exhausted my body.It was now the rush hour after work,and I couldn't get a taxi at all.
I rode a shared bicycle as fast as I could,hoping to get there faster.
When I arrived at the vegetable market,it was crowded with people,mostly elderly men and women around my mother's age.
Relying on my height advantage,I stood on tiptoe and scanned the crowd.
I was so anxious that sweat poured down my face.The various noises in the vegetable market made my head spin and my ears ring.
The smell of meat,sweat,and dirt all assailed me.
I felt extremely uncomfortable,and the more uncomfortable I felt,the more panicked I became.
Finally,about twenty meters away from me,I saw that familiar figure.
It was my mother!The shark hair clip on her head was the one we bought together when we went shopping at the mall!It was a black butterfly style with a row of pearls on it.I couldn't be mistaken!
Like a person who had been thirsty in the desert for a long time and finally found water,my eyes lit up.
I shouted at the top of my lungs:
"Lily!Lily!!!"
But the vegetable market was too noisy,and my shouts were drowned out by all the other sounds.
I desperately pushed through the crowd,and my toes and heels almost got trampled on.
I didn't care about that.As I looked around,I saw a pork stall next to me.In a moment of desperation,I grabbed the loudspeaker that was still playing an advertisement and turned it up to the maximum volume:
"Li-ly!Li-ly!!!"
This time,not only did my mother see me,but all the people in the market turned their eyes to me.
This meant that when my mother was dragged away by Tom with his hand over her mouth,no one stopped him.
The figure quickly disappeared from my sight,and my heart almost stopped.
Without time to regret,I put my hands on the stall of the pork seller and directly climbed over into the aisle where only the stall owner was allowed to enter.
"Hey,young lady,you're not allowed in here..."
I didn't care about that at all.I ran forward with all my might.
Tom is a lunatic.Is he going to kill people just because he can't get the money?
Although I didn't understand why he would do this,I still didn't dare to take it lightly.
After crossing the vegetable market was a road,and on the other side were several little-used paths.
I wandered back and forth along the paths as if I were in a maze. Every time I passed a corner, I silently hoped.
But every time,all I was greeted with was an empty path ahead and endless disappointment.
Just when I was about to cry out of anxiety.
When I turned into the last path that I hadn't explored yet.
I finally saw Tom's twisted,crazy,and enraged face.He was holding a fruit knife against my mother's neck.
My mother stood there motionless,using her eyes to signal me to run.
I noticed that Tom wasn't in his right mind,so I didn't dare to provoke him further.I put my hands on my knees,gasping for breath,and softened my tone,trying to communicate with him:
"Tom,put the knife down first.Tell me how much money you want,and I'll give it to you."
Tom's eyes were cloudy with red blood vessels all over them.He looked at me as if he wanted to skin me alive and chop me into mincemeat:
"Now you want to give me money?Weren't you so tough before?You said you'd never give it no matter what!I'm telling you,it's too late!One of you and this old woman has to die!"
"Don't be impulsive,Tom.I know I was wrong.I'll give you the money,no matter how much it is.Let go of my mother first.I'll do anything you ask."
I lowered my stance,trying to stall for time as much as possible before the police arrived.
"Hahahahaha,okay.You'll give me any amount,right?Three million dollars,right now.As soon as I get the money,I'll leave."
I was extremely panicked,but I still had to put on an expression of"let's talk things out calmly":
"Okay,I'll give it to you.But I don't have that much money,and I can't possibly raise that amount right away.Give me one day.I promise I'll have three million dollars in cash in front of you tomorrow.Let my mother go first."
"One day?Do you think I'm stupid?Stop talking nonsense.Call this number."
After saying that,he threw me a small piece of paper.
I picked it up and took a closer look,and my heart sank.
It was a loan shark's number.
He's crazy.He's really crazy.
"Okay,I'll call.But before that,can you tell me why you need so much money?
Otherwise,even if you kill me and my mother today,I won't give you the money."
Since he had gone this far,he must have been unable to borrow any more money and could only resort to threatening me unscrupulously.
Tom only cared about getting the money immediately.Seeing that I was no longer a threat to him,he impatiently pushed up one of his sleeves.
The moment I saw his arm,I felt a strong physical revulsion and wanted to vomit.
His arm,covered in red rashes and looking sickly thin,was filled with countless needle marks.
It was like a skeleton wrapped in a layer of tattered skin.
Just like his heart,it was sick and disgusting.
The fear in my heart kept rising,and my limbs felt numb and cold as if they were soaked in ice water.
But I couldn't show my fear.I mechanically nodded,took out my phone,and dialed the number.
The moment I connected the call,a group of dark figures were quietly approaching from the side opposite to Tom.
It was the police!
I couldn't hide my joy and relief.
But I knew I couldn't let it show at this moment,or all our efforts would be in vain.
I suppressed all the expressions on my face,as if I didn't notice anything and was still at Tom's mercy.
At this moment,the alley was deadly quiet,and even the sound of the phone call being connected could be heard.
I kept my head slightly lowered,judging the distance of the police based on the shadows on the ground.
Five meters.
Three meters.
Two meters.
When there was only one meter left,I suddenly looked up,and there was no more fear in my eyes.
Tom seemed to sense something.Just as he was about to bring the knife down,his arm was suddenly grabbed and twisted upwards.The pain made his right hand go numb.
There was a"clatter"sound,the sound of the knife falling to the ground.
It was also the sound of my heart finally settling.
I immediately rushed to my mother's side,carefully helped her up,and checked if she was injured.
Tom suddenly lunged towards me,but he fell heavily to the ground again.He looked at me with eyes full of hatred,struggling non-stop.
"Be still!"The SWAT officer who handcuffed him kicked Tom in the buttocks.
Before Tom was taken away by the police car,he roared and cursed at me like a madman,his words jumbled and incoherent.
I knew this person was beyond redemption.A drug addict would live in extreme pain for the rest of their life.
I thanked the police officers and cooperated with them to make a statement at the police station.
When I left the police station,the originally gloomy and despairing dusk now made me feel extremely warm and relaxed.
Tom's case was serious,and he would probably be sentenced to several years in prison.
To be honest,after I found out his purpose of threatening me for money,I was really scared.
I didn't expect that he was really involved in all three vices of gambling,prostitution,and drug use.
But it didn't matter to me anymore.That night,to soothe my mother's mood,we went to one of the most famous seafood restaurants in New York.
Perhaps it was a case of bad luck turning into good luck,and good fortune finally came my way.
Coincidentally,we were the 99,999th customers to dine there,so we got a 70%discount on the whole bill!
I think this must be a good omen!The days ahead will be more and more fortunate.
