Before she could finish her sentence, someone came from behind and covered her mouth, immediately knocking her down. The men exchanged glances and carried her to the backseat.
Callie felt a throbbing headache, realizing her hands and feet were tied, her eyes and mouth covered. The car was moving on a bumpy road, surrounded by a suffocating silence.
Panic surged through Callie’s mind. Who were these people? What did they want to do with her? The only response she got was the rumbling of the car.
The complete darkness made her back cold, stripping away any sense of security. They weren’t Jamir’s men, nor were they Nelson’s. It made no sense for them to treat her this way, so who could it be… With so many enemies, Callie had no idea who was behind them. At this moment, she finally understood what Nelson meant by his words.
-It will be more dangerous in the future.
Callie tried to stay calm. She hadn’t been ready for the challenge of the future; just as she stepped off the plane Nelson had arranged, she was kidnapped.
After an unknown period of time, the vehicle finally stopped. The kidnappers carried her out, and from the sound, they walked through a gravel path. The cold air mixed with the scent of nature hit her face, indicating that she must be in a remote area.
“Um…” Upon arriving, Callie was thrown to the ground, and she let out a muffled groan.
The kidnappers showed no mercy, the hemp rope having chafed her wrists and ankles red, making her look pitifully helpless.
She heard one of the kidnappers say, “What now?”
“Send a message, it’s about time.”
“How long do we have to keep an eye on her?”
“Make a call first.”
The voices were hollow, leading Callie to guess that they were in an abandoned construction site. The kidnappers walked outside, their voices fading away.
She struggled but couldn’t free herself, so she gave up, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.
After a while, the kidnappers returned, tying Callie to a chair and removing the cloth from her eyes and mouth. She squinted against the bright light.
“Girl, be a good sport and stay put, we’re not going to kill you!”
The leader was a bald man, looking menacing as he lightly traced Callie’s cheek with the tip of his knife. “She’s quite pretty.”
Callie glared at him. “Who’s behind this?”
The bald man scoffed, glancing up at the sky. “Tsk, looks like a heavy rain is coming.”
Sure enough, they were in an abandoned construction site with no roof, and the cold rain fell on her face, making her more alert.
“Jaquan? Was it Jaquan who ordered you to do this!?” she exclaimed.
The bald man showed signs of impatience.
Callie quickly negated it. It couldn’t be Jaquan. He was in deep trouble, with warrants for his arrest everywhere. It was impossible for him to return to Ylosea and do something so bold…
Then who could it be!
The kidnappers ignored her, settling in a corner under an overhang to play cards.
Soon, the heavy rain arrived, accompanied by a cold wind, drenching Callie who was in the open. She couldn’t escape, and her whole body began to shiver uncontrollably, her face pale.
The rain lasted for two hours, and Callie nearly fainted several times, pinching her own thigh to stay conscious. She had been too confident, not anticipating that a third party was watching her.
When the rain began to subside, the bald man came over with an umbrella to check on her, and one of his lackeys asked, “Bro, what if she gets soaked to death?”
The bald man cursed. “Look, she’s still alive.”
He lifted Callie’s chin with the tip of his knife again, looking at her nearly lifeless state. “You’re still quite resilient.”
Callie took a deep breath and spat at him.
“You motherfucker!”