Devil's Prisoner

Chapter 1 -Part IV

Ria takes a deep breath, approaches one of the partitions, and raises her hand to knock. She keeps tapping three times but receives no response at all. The door is closed so tight that it feels like there is no way Ria could get in. She paces back and forth before the entrance, her mind racing with different strategies to get in. One of the most vital ideas is considering giving up and confessing that she couldn't accomplish the adventure. Still, Alan, Amelia, and the rest of her team are watching her closely behind, so Ria can't give up without trying her best.

Fortunately, the same group of waiters came back again. Similar to the previous time, they all hold the silver trays in their hands. Ria steps aside so that she doesn't stand in their way. One of the partitions, acting as a door, is slightly ajar, allowing the waiters to get in. Ria quietly trails behind them, the last in the procession, and successfully manages to sneak into the secret area.

All the waiters in the restaurant tower above her, measuring at least 75 inches or more, and Ria is only 63 inches tall. Their massive frames entirely block her view of the front, leaving her unable to see what is happening. It is as if she is standing behind giant poles. All she notices is that inside, it is hushed, deadly quiet. Ria couldn't hear a single sound, not even the faintest clink of plates or silverware.

As the final waiter gracefully walks across the dining area, serving the table and gracefully exiting, Ria's eyes finally fall upon the source of her earlier curiosity. Three gentlemen are seated at the table.

The person on the right is a good-looking, sophisticated, and elegant gentleman wearing a brown casual jacket blazer over a gray dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. On his left wrist is a classic sleek watch with navy-blue opaline dials, 12 orange fire opal-represented numbers, and a dark blue alligator leather strap, revealing his refined taste and top-tier wealth status.

The gentleman sitting in the middle has a paler complexion, a slimmer and taller frame, and appears to be younger than the person sitting to his right. He is wearing a luxurious solid white hoodie made of pure Egyptian cotton. His pale skin perfectly matches the white color of his attire.

In front of him lay a stunning white opal tea set. The teapot rests on a free-form moonstone slab and is decorated with a silver vermeil mounting. The teacup he holds is carved with a powerful-looking eagle pattern. The tea set is breathtakingly exquisite, but its splendor is eclipsed by the diamond-studded platinum pinkie ring adorning his left hand. The diamond on it makes it sparkle every time he moves. Ria had never seen such high-end jewelry before. The pinkie ring is beautiful but appears too loose for his finger.

He comfortably sits in a chair, facing slightly to the side. A magnificent velvet cushion is nestled behind him, providing ample support for his back. His right arm rests languidly on the armrest of the chair, perfectly balanced to maintain his relaxed sitting position.

On the left is an overweight young man. He wears a striking red palm tree-print Hawaii shirt that clings tightly to his body, and the buttons seem to struggle to remain fastened. The color of the shirt is too bright, making it uncomfortable to look at. The shirt does not do him any favors, as it emphasizes his overweight frame. His facial expression conveys an unwelcoming demeanor, making him appear quite unfriendly.

They are humans, not monsters. Ria sighs in relief and inwardly laughs because it increases the possibility of accomplishing her mission.

She focuses her gaze and plans to look closer at her target, thinking about the best way to approach him and politely phrase her request for an air kiss. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a group of twenty imposing bodyguards materialize and surround her, effectively trapping her in the middle and blocking every possible way out. Before she even has a chance to react, they pull out their guns, all aiming directly at her head, instantly making her heart skip a beat.

The newly generated possibility vanishes immediately. There is no chance for her to survive if they fire at this close distance. Her body is entirely devoid of any movements, and her brain, once teeming with thoughts and emotions, now feels like an arid, empty desert. The God of Death, a towering figure casting a dark and ominous shadow, looms over her frozen form. The sound of its cold, cruel chuckles echoes through the emptiness of her mind. The situation is absolutely out of control because her life would be terminated if any of them slightly moved their fingers. The bloody scenes from the horror movies flash into her mind, and the insurance policy the admin discussed during the new hire training this morning floods her thoughts. Her face becomes pale, and her body starts to shake uncontrollably.

Calm down! Calm down! She needs to calm down to think clearly. "Ria, Ria, Ria." She repeats her name silently to herself. Forget about the task and run away. With a burst of energy, Ria pivots on her heels and sprints towards the entry door.

Unfortunately, her body couldn't function normally under the death threats - her left foot trips over the right one. Ria stumbles on herself and falls on her face and stomach embarrassedly.

The man sitting on the right swiftly leans forward and checks on her. Ria's sudden and unexpected reaction catches him off guard. Fortunately, the sand ground is soft and mitigates the impact of the fall. There is only embarrassment, but thankfully, she is unharmed. He sighs relief at his findings and sits back in his seat again.

Ria sits up on the ground and is frustrated with herself. She's always struggled with sports. No matter what sport she tries to play, her body parts always seem to act independently and never coordinate together well, not even once. Her parents tried to improve her coordination for years but couldn't see any progress, so they eventually gave up. Today, she finally realizes how bad her coordination is, and it's worse than expected. She's not good at running away, either.

The man in the middle subconsciously clenches his grip on the teacup. This girl is unfamiliar with guns; she can't tell those ones are unloaded. She is so silly, somehow in a cute and sweet way.

After the chaos inside, the partition restores its deadly silence. It is almost 5 p.m., peak time is approaching, and more and more customers are coming into the restaurant. The outside noise can be heard clearly from inside. Ria suddenly realizes something important. Her eyes are lit up with hope. She may not be in danger after all and still have the chance to accomplish the task.