Chapter 298
Veronica’s POV
In The Car
I was in the passenger seat as Ann was driving us back home.
Today was hectic over at Harmon Designs as we were investigating about Imelda coming over and finally, we found out she did go to the records room.
I had a bad headache so Ann decided to drive us back home.
The evening traffic was as always..thinning so I checked on my phone to see if Jonathan called as we had been facing a lot lately.
“You know how much Jonathan worries seeing you disregarding your health over work,” Ann said.
I knew she was trying to take my mind off things but I could not take my mind off the fact Imelda still had access cards.
I kept wondering how we forget to take the access cards from Imelda and Fredrick?
I smiled faintly at her, but the uneasiness refused to disappear as I constantly felt like someone was following me.
No matter how much I wanted to believe the danger was behind me, my instincts said elsewise.
Just then I noticed Ann kept on glancing at the rearview mirror.
“Veronica, it seems like that black sedan has been following us for a while now p>
By the time I turned around to look, the black sedan was no longer alone. Three more cars had appeared behind them.
Soon they were maintaining a steady and unraveling steady distance.
Ann tried to change lanes to dodge them, but they kept on following.
She tried to take a different lane, but she just wasn’t able to dodge them.
She was about to drive down the bridge but a car approaching from the opposite direction narrowed the road ahead.
Ann had to slow down as she was searching for an escape route, but soon the convoy closed on both sides.
Fear tightened in my chest as I realized this was no ordinary traffic block.
Just then a car swerved across the lane and forced Ann to slam the brakes.
Ann tried to reverse but two men stepped out of the cars and approached my side.
Ann immediately locked the doors and reached for her phone.
She was about to dial Smith’s number but a man struck on the window with a heavy rod shattering the glass.
I had dialed Jonathan’s number, but the phone fell from my hand.
Ann shouted for help as the men yanked the doors open.I searched frantically for something to hit the men…all in vain.
I was terrified as I saw Ann being forcefully pulled out of the car.
I tried to grab hold of her but I was also pulled out.
Ann fought the first man who pulled her out as she struck him on his arm and tried to kick free from his grip.
I rushed over to help her, but another man seized me from behind.
The movement and coordination separated me from Ann before I could reach her.
Ann was dragged into a car behind ours as I was forced into the car that was on my side.
Suddenly the person who grabbed me, and a sharp smell filled my senses as a handkerchief covered my mouth.
Even as the smell began to make me drowsy, my greatest fear was not for my safety, but for Ann’s.
Slowly my strength drained away and darkness took over me.
The last I remembered was Ann calling out my name.
Unconsciousness was taking over me as I could no longer distinguish if I was in a moving car or not.
My wrists were restrained, and every attempt I made to break free would only make my head spin harder than before.
I tried to engrave the attackers face in my mind and the direction I was moving.
But soon my thoughts were beginning to scatter as the darkness was swallowing me.
The last thing I remembered was…Jonathan’s smiling face.
Before slumming into the darkness, I clung to the belief Jonathan would search for me the moment he noticed I was missing.
Unknown Room
By the time I regained my consciousness, I could no longer hear the sound of the car’s engine.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw a dim bulb dangling above my head.
I forced myself up and looked around to see where I was.
I was shocked as I realized the walls were made of metal, and a heavy metal door had me locked inside.
There were ventilation ducts on the ceiling.
My wrists were no longer tied, but my head was still throbbing from smelling the chemical on the handkerchief for too long.
My legs felt weak as I pushed myself upright and I looked around to see if my purse or phone were anywhere to be seen.
I rushed towards the door and tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge.
I began to panic as I realized I was all alone, and trapped in a place I didn’t know…where.
“Ann! Can you hear me?” I struck the metal door with my fists.
“Ann! Are you there p>
“Anybody! Hello p>
I pressed my ear against the door and I could listen to footsteps, but none came close to the door.
At first, I thought I could hear a faint sound of machines, but it didn’t last long.
I shouted Ann’s name again, then called out Jonathan’s name, hoping she was in the next room and could hear me.
Every time I called out…my voice echoed back to me after hitting the meal door.
I examined every corner and noticed there was no camera in the room.
Then I looked around for a vent large enough to escape, or a weak spot in the door.
I realized the room was made to keep me from going out.
My fear for Ann was deepening.
If I was brought here, then possibility is Ann might also be here, and possibly near me.
A soft mechanical click got my attention as a faint voice echoed in the room.
I froze as the voice was of a female.
I couldn’t identify the voice as it seemed muffled.
I got up and moved closer to the wall where the speaker was installed and held my breath.
I couldn’t make out who it was, but the tone was unmistakably calm.
The voice was not frightened, nor hurried, nor uncertain.
It was clear from the sound she had planned every detail of bringing me and Ann here.
A new dread settled inside of me as I felt this was not a random kidnapping to extort money from Jonathan.
“I see you’re awake, Veronica,” The woman’s voice was more clear now, but not enough to identify it.
“Who are you?” I asked as I stepped away from the wall. “What do you want from me p>
No answer.
Suddenly no sound as quietness followed.
It sounded almost like an amused laugh.
“From now on,” the voice spoke again, this time laced with venom.
“This will be your home p>
“I’ll have my men come over p>
“You are free to decorate the…no, your room as you like and don’t worry about the money, I have plenty of that p>
“You can tell them what you like to eat, continental, mexican, american, indian, whatever, all on the house p>
“You will get food three times, breakfast, lunch and dinner p>
“Tea in the evening and coffee or hot chocolate in the night p>
“A doctor is available if you feel unwell p>
“What the hell do you mean p>
“Oh, I think your blood pressure is rising, should tell the doctor p>
“I’ll tell him to send a tablet to you p>
“Who…what…what do you want?” I said, frustrated.
“Veronica, you should calm down as now…this is your home p>
“You don’t have to worry about your home and family as no one is going to miss you p>
My blood ran cold as I knew these words were not a mere threat.
They sounded like a declaration that I no longer existed in the outside world.
“Why did you capture me?” My voice was demanding. “What’s your plan p>
Again silence followed.
But her answer shocked me to my bones.
“I like your life, it’s very beautiful. A loving husband, lovely children, people who love and a loving mother p>
Silence followed.
“It must be beautiful to have it all, right p>
I gripped the edge of the metal wall, where it looked like a window belonged.
I froze on realizing not only does she know about Jonathan and my kids, but she knows about mother as well.
I wasn’t randomly captured, it was personal and a carefully executed plan.
My fear turned into anger. She wasn’t only taking my freedom, she was taking my life, my family from me.
“Soon, I will be living your life p>
What followed was the scariest laugh I ever heard in my life.
“How can you live my life, my looks and p>
“That’s not your concern,” she said, cutting my words midway.
I realized her plan was more sinister than I could ever imagine.
What was her plan?
What would she do with my family?
Would she harm them?
I struck the wall in anger.
“Who the hell are you p>
“Calm down, or else I can make the doctor put you to sleep p>
I stumbled a few steps back.
A lock clicked.
A man walked inside.
I tried to run but he shoved me to the ground.
Then he grabbed me by my arm and took me outside.
I was in shock as I saw brute men armed standing around the door.
“You think you ran from here alive p>
Then he threw me back on the ground in the room.
“Stay put and maybe one day you can go back p>
With that another man placed a plate of food on the floor and left.
“Tomorrow we’ll arrange a table and a chair, if you want anything else, tell p>
“A maid is hired p>
“She’ll clean, bring you clothes and necessities p>
“Your bath will also be arranged p>
“Where’s Ann??” I demanded.
“She’s safe, and in trouble cause of you p>
“Don’t mess around or she’ll be the first we shoot p>
The click of the lock was no less than thunder for me.