JADE
Two days later, I decided to visit my parents. Their house felt like a sanctuary, a haven of warmth I craved. As I entered, their smiles welcomed me, and I couldn’t help but express how much I had missed them.
“Mom, Dad, it’s been too long,” I sighed, genuine joy lighting up my face as I hugged both of them tight.
“Baby, how are you?” Mum replied with an even brighter smile. They led me to the living room and my eyes perused through the walls of my home.
Everything was still the same. Nothing had changed.
“I am fine and what about you both?”
“Well we are fine as you can see” Dad replied. My eyes tilted towards the stairs, expecting to see Melissa’s bubbly profile come rushing downstairs to meet me.
“Mum, Dad, where is Melissa?” I inquired.
“Oh she traveled for her internship. She would be back soon enough. In a month’s time I think” Mum replied, caressing my hair.
A mild frown appeared on my face at her absence, “I miss her so much. I was hoping to see her”
“Cheer up princess. We haven’t seen you in months. Tell us how are the Grecos? I really do hope everything is fine” Dad asked, handing me a glass of orange juice.
I nodded, “everything is amazing”
My parents, attentive and caring, inquired about my welfare. “How’s Luciano? Are you both doing well as a couple?” my mom asked, her eyes reflecting maternal concern.
“We’re good, Mom. Luciano’s been busy with work, but we’re excited about the baby,” I replied, the happiness of the impending arrival evident in my words.
Their eyes lit up with joy, and the room echoed with shared excitement.
“You are pregnant!” Mum exclaimed, unable to hide her expressive joy.
I giggled and shyly nodded. “Yes mum”
“Darling our baby is having a baby. We will be grandparents soon” my mother spoke with teary eyes.
“Congratulations my princess” father pulled me in for a hug. “I always prayed you would enjoy your marriage to Luciano. I guess this shows that my prayers have been answered”
“Father, mother…”I held both their hands, “Getting married to Luciano was one of the best decisions I ever made. Thank you for bringing him into my life. I admit at first it was not rosy but after we learnt to put our differences and fears aside, confess our love for each other, it’s been wonderful. I love him so much.” I sounded like a teenager in love right now.
“I am glad you are finally getting to see the joy of marriage my baby” mother kissed my hands.
We delved into discussions about nursery plans, dreams for the grandchild, and the upcoming changes in our lives.
“My regards to Luciano when you get home, tell him you mother and I said hi.”
My lips twitched into a small smile. “I will dad.”
After dinner I packed up the plates and took them to the kitchen. A metallic squeak, followed by the sound of water gushing from the faucet met my ears as I rinsed the plates.
The dry thud of approaching footsteps sounded behind me. “I’m so happy you visited us today dear, really,” my mother’s voice rang, tinged with affection.
I turned off the tap and dried my hands with a napkin. “Same here mom, I must say it can get boring in Luciano’s mansion.”
“So tell me, have you come up with a name for the baby yet? Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” she beamed.
“I don’t particularly have a name yet, and it’s too early to determine the gender, mom,” I replied.
“I hope it’s a baby girl,” she said, her eyes bright.
I shot a glance at the wall clock. “It’s getting late, I should probably head back home mother,” I said.
She pulled me into a hug, and I reciprocated, placing my chin against her shoulders. “I just know you’re going to be an amazing mother,” she whispered.
“You two can’t leave me out,” father remarked as he joined in, his arms wrapping around us.
Finally, we broke apart, I grabbed my bag from the table and made my way to the door. My parents escorted me out until I was inside my car.
“Take care honey, call me when you get home!” Her voice boomed as my dad waved at me. I waved back and smiled at them before I drove off.
My fingers were wrapped around the steering as I glided down the road. The rows of street lights brightened up the road which was mostly vacant and void of other automobiles.
I reached and turned the knob to change radio stations, I finally settled on one that was playing an RnB song. I continued to drive, and now I was going through a somewhat lonely street.
The shrill of my phone ringing fills the air and I steal a glance at my screen. It’s Luciano. I let out a sigh and slump my shoulders. I fingered the chair and grabbed my phone, swiping up to accept his call.
With a quick head movement, I managed to sway my hair aside and pressed the phone against my ears. “Hello Luciano?” I reduce the volume of the music playing.
The scrambling noises in the background cease. “Jade baby It’s getting late, where are you?” he questioned.
“I’m driving, can we talk later?”
“Sure, just be safe please my love”
He hung up. I tossed my phone back on the passenger seat and turned up the volume as I turned into a dark street.
A feeling of apprehensiveness rippled through me as my head lamps cast their warm glow against the asphalt.
A sharp beam of white light shone against my face, making me squint and step on the brakes. The car was coming towards me at full speed.
I immediately hit the brakes, my car screeching to a stop as my seatbelt secured me to my seat, preventing me from colliding with my dashboard.
“What the fuck!? Who the hell uses a one way to-”
The car came to an abrupt stop in front of me and two men quickly got down from the car. My breath hitched in my throat as my pulse quickened. My veins became electric with adrenaline as I could only decipher one thing, I’m in danger.
In a bid to escape, I reached for the gear shift, attempting to put my car in reverse but a loud noise reverberated beside me, followed by shards of glass flying in every direction.
I gasped. “Don’t try to move!” The man barked, I looked over my shoulder at him and my eyes widened in horror.
He had his gun trained directly at my forehead through my shattered window. I could feel my heart thrashing against my ribcage as I swallowed the bile that rose to my throat.
“Get down!” The other man commanded, and without thinking twice I obliged. What could I do against two armed men?
I shut my car door and raised my arms up in surrender. “Move it!” he yelled.
I flinched, nodding as I followed them towards their white jeep. Everything in my body was screaming for me to run, but I dared not, it’s not just about me anymore, it’s about my baby too. “P- please-”
“Shut up!” His voice sounded again, interrupting my pitiful attempt to beg. Hot tears streamed down from my face as I sniffed. Was this it? Am I going to die?
I couldn’t help but think of the worst case scenario as I neared their jeep. I took a deep breath, darting my eyes around to find help, but there was no one.
One of the masked men reached out and yanked the door open, “get in!” He spat, shoving my head into the car.
Immediately I got in the car all the doors were centrally locked and then the engine revved as they drove away. I watched as the familiar scene stretched into a thin line. They sped away, taking me to an unknown location.
I tightened my jaws, trying my best to hold back the tears. I bit against my lower lip, my brain trying to find an escape route.
The muzzle of the gun was pressed against my sides, a constant reminder for me not to try anything funny.
The driver was unmasked, but I could only see his eyes through the rear view mirror as he adjusted it to peer at me in the back. “Make her go to sleep,” his voice sounded.
I shook my head but my face was quickly smothered with a thick napkin and I tried to struggle but I was quickly overwhelmed. As I continued to involuntarily inhale the chemical, dark spots clouded my vision and I felt my muscles loosening.
My eyelids grew heavier and my eyes jammed shut as I slipped into darkness, the sounds fading away into a distant noise. “Luciano…” I managed to whisper with the last ounce of energy I had left.