With him

Chapter 1: The Unforeseen Encounter The city was a swirl of activity as evening settled in. Mathew Jones, a tall and impeccably dressed businessman, weaved through the traffic in his Mercedes Benz. He was late, a casualty of an extended meeting that had run over its allotted time. His sleek car, a symbol of his success, was the backdrop to a nervous anticipation as he headed toward a quaint café. Tonight was supposed to be special; it was his first date with someone he had only met online. The thought made him smile. He never dated he was always focused on work but it's all because his friend who forced him to log in into this dating app where he met Mary. Marry Vincent, a high school teacher with a bright smile and a contagious energy, had just finished her day’s work. Her students had left for the day, and she was now focused on a different kind of excitement. After her friends had practically dragged her onto a dating app, she had matched with Mathew. The prospect of meeting someone new was exhilarating, and she was eager to see him and shy as this is her first date. She rode her scooter through the evening air, the cool breeze ruffling her hair as she neared the café. The streetlights cast a warm, inviting glow, and Marry felt a flutter of anticipation in her chest. After parking her scooter, she stood on the sidewalk, her gaze scanning the bustling area for Mathew’s arrival. Minutes passed, and as her excitement began to turn into impatience, she received a text from Mathew: “On my way, running a bit late. See you soon!” Just as she was about to check her phone again, a loud crash shattered the calm evening. Mary’s heart leaped into her throat as she turned to see a group of masked men attacking a sleek, black car—the very car Mathew had been driving. They smashed the windshield with a blunt object, and in a flurry of movement, they dragged Mathew from the vehicle. Mary’s instincts kicked in. “Hey! What’s going on?” she screamed, her voice filled with panic. The goons paused, their heads swiveling towards her. Realizing they had been spotted, they quickly decided to grab her as well. Marry’s heart raced as the men came towards her and grabbed her roughly, their grip cold and unyielding. She struggled and screamed but her efforts were futile against their strength and there was no one there. As they shoved her into the van, her mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Inside the van, Mathew, still dazed from the blow to his head, was coming to his senses. He could hear muffled voices and feel the movement of the vehicle. Then, the van skidded to a stop, and the doors swung open. He squinted through his blurred vision, recognizing Mary being pulled out of the vehicle beside him. “Marry?” he managed to croak, his voice barely audible. Marry turned to him, her face a mix of fear and determination. “Mathew! I—I saw them attacking you. I’m so sorry. I should have called 911 instead of screaming that's why they attacked me also. What a fool I'm” Mathew shook his head, trying to clear the fog. “This wasn’t supposed to be like this. We need to get out of here.” The goons hurried them through a series of dark, twisting paths leading deeper into a forest. The night air grew colder, and the sounds of the city faded into an eerie silence. They arrived at a large, dilapidated basement, its grim facade illuminated by the moonlight. The structure seemed to loom ominously in the darkness, its windows dark and empty. The goons forced Mathew and Marry inside, their steps echoing off the cold concrete walls. Marry looked around, her mind racing. She knew they had to stay calm and think clearly. Mathew, now more aware of his surroundings, noticed her tense expression. “Do you have any idea why this is happening?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite his concern. Marry shook her head. “No clue. I’m just hoping that someone will come looking for us soon. My friends will be worried sick.” Inside the basement, the kidnappers were arranging something, their voices low and serious. Mathew and Marry were left in a dimly lit corner, their hands bound with rough ropes. Marry glanced around, trying to figure out a way to escape. “I’ve got a plan,” she whispered, her voice determined. “When they come back, we’ll have to make a break for it. We just need to find a way to loosen these ropes.” Mathew nodded, his eyes meeting hers with a newfound resolve. “Alright. Let’s stick together and figure this out.” Minutes ticked by slowly as they waited in the darkness. The sounds of the kidnappers’ activity grew closer, and Marry took a deep breath. She had managed to loosen the ropes around her wrists just enough to start working on Mathew’s. “Almost there,” she murmured, her fingers working deftly. “Just hold still.” Mathew nodded, his eyes locked on hers. Despite the dire circumstances, there was a strange sense of camaraderie forming between them. They were bound by their predicament but also by their mutual determination to escape. As the basement door creaked open, the kidnappers entered, their attention focused on their tasks. Marry’s heart raced as she saw their opportunity slipping away.