With him

The enemy

In the dimly lit, damp basement of an abandoned warehouse, Mathew and Marry were bound to each other and sleeping. Morning light, flickering through a grimy window, cast eerie shadows on the cracked walls. The room was filled with the unsettling rhythm of distant dripping water and the muffled sounds of footsteps from the goons who had abducted them. The oppressive atmosphere was made all the more menacing by the dampness and the minimal illumination.

Marry and Mathew stirred, waking to find themselves still shackled and lying on the cold, concrete floor. Their bodies ached from the uncomfortable position they had been forced into during the night. As their eyes adjusted to the dim light, they saw the three goons who had kidnapped them standing nearby. One of the goons, a burly man with a sneering expression, looked directly at Marry and said, "If you're willing to sleep with me, I'll let you go. This whole kidnapping thing was unplanned anyway."

Marry’s eyes were red and puffy from the terror and endless tears she had shed. She glanced at Mathew, whose face was bruised and battered. Despite his evident pain and the way he slumped forward, Mathew's protective stance towards Marry was unyielding. His resolve to shield her from the goons was clear. Through gritted teeth, he declared, "She’s my girl. You touch her, you touch me first."

The goons had scoffed at his defiance, their mockery only growing louder. They seemed to enjoy the twisted game they were playing with the couple, but they had not pushed further, possibly respecting Mathew’s resolve or simply preferring to escalate their cruelty in other ways. Mathew had bravely attempted to shield Marry from their lewd demands, but his refusal only fueled their anger and led to their current predicament.

Hours had passed before the goons finally deigned to provide them with some food—two stale sandwiches and a lukewarm bottle of water. Marry, with trembling hands and a look of desperation, tried to feed Mathew. However, his body rejected even the smallest morsel. After a few bites, he began to retch, his face contorted in pain and nausea. The small amount of food seemed to aggravate his condition rather than relieve it.

Marry rushed to his side, her hands quivering as she held his head up, offering soothing words as best as she could. “Mathew, please try to stay calm. I’m here with you.”

He managed a weak smile through his suffering. “Marry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t want this to happen. I should have—”

“Don’t,” Marry interrupted, her voice a mix of firmness and tenderness. “Don’t blame yourself. We’ll get through this. We have to.”

He looked at her with gratitude, and something deeper—a profound feeling that had grown between them despite the circumstances. Despite his pain, he reached out and placed his hand over hers. “You’re incredible, you know that? I never thought I’d be so grateful for a warm presence, especially in a place like this.”

Her heart ached at his words. She gently stroked his hair, trying to offer him some comfort. “I’m just doing what anyone would do for the person they care about in a situation like this. We’re in this together.”

A distant clanging sound interrupted their brief moment of solace, signaling the possible return of the goons. Mathew’s eyes narrowed as he recalled a crucial detail from their earlier ordeal. The leader of the goons had inadvertently revealed the mastermind behind their kidnapping during a brief moment of taunting. It was none other than Mathew’s friend, Jason.

“It’s Jason,” Mathew said, his voice strained but resolute. “He’s the one who put us in this situation.”

Marry’s eyes widened in confusion and concern. “Who is Jason? I wanted to ask before, but I thought it might hurt you. Is he your friend?”

“He is my relative,” Mathew whispered, his voice filled with a mix of bitterness and resignation. “We’re enemies. He’s always been jealous of my success in business. I thought we were friends, but he’s always harbored resentment.”

Marry’s face reflected both concern and shock. “We need to find a way out of here.”

Mathew nodded, though his expression remained grim. “You’re right. But for now, let’s focus on staying calm and keeping our spirits up.”

Despite their dire predicament, the bond between them proved to be a source of strength. Their conversations, though limited, were a comfort amidst the darkness and despair. Marry’s voice was a soothing balm for Mathew’s suffering, and her presence a beacon of hope.

“I remember when John suggested I download that dating app,” Mathew said hoarsely. “I really didn’t want a girlfriend at the time, but he insisted. He said our profiles matched and practically forced me to install it and message you. That’s how our conversation started.”

Marry looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. “It’s funny because the same thing happened to me. My friend Lena actually downloaded the app for me and made a profile. I didn’t really want to date anyone at the time either, but I’m not regretting it after starting a conversation with you.”

Mathew’s gaze softened, filled with affection and a hint of sadness. “Me too.”

Their shared memories and newfound connection were a small comfort in the bleak situation. But the clanging of footsteps signaled the goons’ return. They dropped another meager portion of food on the ground and looked at them with malicious glee. One of the goons sneered, “Still hanging in there, lovebirds? Let’s see how long you can keep up the charade.”

Mathew’s eyes were defiant, but Marry’s gaze remained fixed on him, her determination unshaken. She helped him sit up straighter, her hand firmly gripping his.

“We’ll get through this,” she whispered, her voice steady despite the circumstances. “No matter what happens, we have each other.”

Mathew squeezed her hand, finding solace in her touch, a small yet significant comfort in their shared misery.

After the goons left, Mathew’s condition worsened. He vomited three times that day, each episode leaving him weaker and more debilitated. The lack of medical care was taking a toll on him, and Marry watched in helpless sadness as his strength waned. Despite their brief acquaintance, their connection had become strong, and seeing him in such pain was heart-wrenching.

Marry tried to feed him as best as she could, offering small bites of the stale food and sips of water, but it was clear that Mathew’s body was struggling to hold on. She knew that he needed energy and nourishment, but his repeated bouts of nausea made it difficult for him to keep anything down.

Her heart was heavy as she watched him, her mind racing with thoughts of how to escape this nightmarish situation. They had talked about their lives and shared moments of vulnerability, but now the urgency of their situation overshadowed their conversations. Marry focused all her efforts on providing what comfort she could, hoping against hope that their captors would make a mistake or that someone would come to their rescue.

As the hours passed, Marry continued to talk to Mathew in soothing tones, her voice a gentle reminder of their bond. Each time he managed to keep a little bit of food down, she would encourage him, trying to keep his spirits up. Despite the dire circumstances, she was determined to remain hopeful, for herself and for Mathew.

The flickering light from the window cast long shadows across the basement, and the oppressive atmosphere seemed to close in on them. But amidst the darkness and despair, Marry’s unwavering support and Mathew’s courage provided a glimmer of hope. They were trapped in a cruel situation, but their connection and determination to survive kept them going, even as the world outside seemed indifferent to their plight.

In the face of their ordeal, their bond became a source of strength and resilience. Each small gesture of kindness and each shared word of encouragement helped them endure, holding on to the hope that somehow, someday, they would find a way out of the darkness that had engulfed them.