“Ahhh! What are these memories?” Rose gasped, spasming on the floor as pain lanced through her head. Her hands clutched her temples, desperately trying to contain the agony that surged through her skull like a pulsing storm. It felt as though her mind was shattering and piecing itself back together, fragment by fragment, each one releasing a memory she had never known before.
But then, amid the chaos, a single memory came into focus, sharp and vivid. She saw herself, younger, only fifteen, sitting beside Lucian, who was barely thirteen at the time. They were in the back seat of their family’s car, and she remembered the familiar feel of her schoolbag resting on her lap, her fingers tapping idly on it as they were driven to school.
Yet, something was off.
The memory became clearer, a slow horror settling in her stomach as she recalled that day with an intensity that felt like it was happening in real time. They had a driver new and unfamiliar, but they had barely paid attention to him. Their usual driver had called in sick, so this was supposed to be just a substitute.
They didn’t think twice about it, assuming it was an adult’s decision and nothing for them to worry about.
But as they drove, Rose’s younger self grew uneasy. She remembered watching the scenery change, the tall buildings thinning out as they drove into quieter streets she didn’t recognize. The twisting feeling in her stomach deepened.
Lucian noticed it too; he had been quieter than usual, his bright eyes narrowing as he looked out the window. “Is this a new route?” he had asked the driver, his voice casual, though Rose sensed a tension hidden beneath his words.
The driver didn’t look back, his voice calm and practiced. “Yes, the usual route’s closed for construction. This way’s quicker today.”
The explanation seemed reasonable, and though her nerves didn’t fully settle, Rose had pushed the doubt aside. It’s just a detour, she had told herself. She was older, after all, and had to set an example for Lucian. So, she forced a reassuring smile and acted calm, telling herself not to overthink it.
But then, half an hour later, the cityscape had faded entirely, replaced by sparse, run-down buildings and stretches of abandoned lots. Her heart began to race. She exchanged a glance with Lucian, his face mirroring her growing concern. The realization dawned on them both: they were far, far from school, in a place neither of them had ever seen.
She remembered Lucian reaching for her hand then, gripping it tightly. “Rose, something’s wrong,” he had whispered, his voice steady but lined with a fearful edge. His small hand in hers was trembling, and for the first time, she realized he was scared not just for himself, but for her too. It was a pure, genuine fear that tugged at something deep within her.
The car finally slowed, pulling into the overgrown lot of an abandoned building. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as the driver killed the engine, an eerie silence settling over the scene.
As soon as the car stopped, figures emerged from the shadows, dressed in head-to-toe black, their faces hidden beneath masks. Their movements were efficient, calm trained. Guns glinted ominously in their hands as they surrounded the car, blocking every possible exit. Rose’s heart seized with fear, her mind racing as she realized how utterly trapped they were.
Her first instinct was to call for help. She tried to reach into her pocket, her fingers fumbling for her phone. But before she could even press a button, the car door swung open violently. A masked figure reached in, yanking the phone from her grip with cold, unfeeling precision. Rose’s heart dropped as she felt her last bit of control slipping away.
For a second, she sat there, frozen. Her throat felt tight, panic threatening to spill out as her body began to tremble. But then she felt a firm squeeze on her hand. She looked over to see Lucian, his face filled with worry but not the raw terror she felt. He gave her hand another gentle squeeze, his small fingers wrapping around hers as though to remind her that she wasn’t alone in this.
In a desperate attempt to keep control of the situation, Rose took a shaky breath and tried to summon her courage. “Who are you?” she demanded, her voice wavering but defiant. “What do you think you’re doing? My mother will know about this, and you’ll all end up in jail. Do you understand that?”
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Her words were brave, but she could feel her voice betraying her, the tremble seeping into every syllable. Fear tightened its grip around her heart, pressing down until her breaths felt shallow and weak.
One of the masked men stepped closer, towering over her as he leaned into the open car door. His eyes, cold and unfeeling, glinted through the slit in his mask. He glanced at the driver, who gave him a quick, cowardly nod and a thin smile. It was clear now this wasn’t just a random act. This was planned, orchestrated down to the last detail.
The man looked at Rose, his gaze scrutinizing her from behind the mask as if she were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “Come on, kids,” he said, his voice steady, void of any warmth or pity. He gestured with his gun toward the open door, his intentions unmistakable. “Out of the car. Nice and easy.”
Rose’s grip on Lucian’s hand tightened as she glanced around at the other men, all standing like statues with guns in hand. There were five of them in total, along with the driver, making six a group large enough to make any attempt to escape feel hopeless. The reality of their situation was sinking in fast, and it was terrifying.
Her gaze fell back on Lucian, his face pale but determined. She could tell he was afraid too, but somehow, he was holding it together for both of them. She wished she could summon that same strength, but her mind was clouded with fear.
The men led them to a dilapidated building, their footsteps echoing through the eerie silence as the siblings were forced forward at gunpoint. The cold barrels pressed against their backs, a harsh reminder of how little control they had. With each step, Rose’s mind raced, fear clawing at her insides as she tried to understand how things had gone so wrong.
They were dragged into a small room on the second floor, much cleaner than the building’s rundown exterior suggested. The room felt out of place tidy, with a table and a few chairs as if it were meant to host some kind of transaction rather than a hostage situation. Rose swallowed hard, her throat dry as she took in their surroundings, knowing this space had been prepared for them.
Despite the fear in her eyes, she tried to stay composed for Lucian’s sake. She felt her heart pounding, fear pushing her close to the edge of panic, but the warmth of Lucian’s hand in hers kept her grounded. Even here, in the face of danger, he hadn’t let go. His grip was firm, as if he were silently telling her, We’ll get through this. I’m here.
As they were pushed forward, Lucian took a steadying breath and spoke up, his voice surprisingly calm. “Hey, can you at least tell us why you’re doing this?” he asked, keeping his tone steady, though his eyes betrayed a mix of worry and frustration. “We can work something out if it’s just about money. We’ll call our mother she’ll pay whatever you want. You don’t have to do this.”
Rose was both surprised and relieved by his composed response, but before he could continue, the man in the lead spun around, his eyes narrowing with annoyance. He raised his gun slightly, causing both siblings to flinch.
“Shut up, you little piece of shit,” the man sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. He looked them over, his face hidden, but the hatred in his tone was unmistakable. Rose’s courage wavered, her body trembling from the fear she had tried so hard to contain. But just as she was about to falter, Lucian squeezed her hand tighter, a silent reminder that she wasn’t alone.
She looked down at their intertwined hands, drawing strength from his presence, despite the dire situation they were in.
Trying to calm her nerves, Rose looked back at the man and spoke up, her voice shaky but filled with defiance. “Please, just… tell us why you’re doing this. If it’s a ransom you’re after, I promise our mother can arrange something. You’ll get what you want.”
The man looked at her with barely concealed disdain, as though the mere sight of them was repulsive. “Get inside, and keep your mouths shut,” he barked, gesturing toward the room with his gun. “We’ll tell you what you need to know when it’s time. Spoiled little brats like you don’t deserve an explanation.”
They were shoved into the room, the door slamming shut behind them with a final, deafening clang. Rose’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind reeling as she tried to process the situation. The man’s harsh words stung more than she cared to admit, but her own fear for Lucian overpowered any anger she might have felt.
She looked at Lucian, his face a mix of worry and determination, and she realized just how brave he was trying to be.
Lucian scanned the room, his eyes darting over every corner, trying to find anything that might help them escape. For a moment, Rose caught his gaze, and he gave her a small nod, his way of reassuring her that they would get out of this somehow. The quiet strength in his expression surprised her.
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sighh guys bad news..ill wont get paid this time either sighh i was thinking of buying some gift on diwali
ohh yeahh happy diwali guys…have a wonderful dewali