ABDUCTED

"Wake up, lazy bone!" Madeline woke me up that morning like she had been doing for four years. She was my best friend and roommate. We were both twenty- four and in our final year. We were close to being called sisters, same height and character. "I will be pleased when you wake me up without insults." Adriana, it would be best if you got up now; you and I know you take hours before you dress up, she said. "Oooh, s**t! I need more sleep… I yawned tiredly. No, Adriana, we will be late for class, she said, pulling the covers off me. I'm Adriana Morgan. A black girl close to graduating from the university. I'm described mainly as pretty but stubborn and funny at times. At the university, I study criminology and security studies. Neither did I know that that particular day would change my life for good. **** Madeline and I made it late to our lecture that morning; we had to sneak in because the lecturer in charge of the course was very strict. He was not only our criminology teacher but also the head of the department. He would send us challenging assignments occasionally; he was very strict and gave high scores to those who took his lessons seriously. "Okay, everyone, you are going to be doing something very different for your assignment this week, something you have never done before, he said at the end of the class. Your course rep already sent me your class list, which will divide you guys into different groups. You will be interviewing a particular group of people to which I will be assigning you, he said. The students fidgeted as he brought out his list. These would be fun; I felt it. " Okay, silent, everyone," we all kept mute. "Madeline," he called. I am sending you to the Metropolitan Correctional Center; you will have to get as much information as possible from the people there. Bring me something new; I don't want what everyone already knows, he said. "Okay, sir." John, you will be going to the Queensboro correctional facility with Lisa. You have to interview the prisoners there, he said. It continued, and everyone seemed satisfied with their appointments; I had to wait patiently for mine. "Now, Adriana." "Yes, sir!" " My most stubborn and determined student," he chuckled. I constantly challenged him. He gave me the most complicated assignment in class, and I always found a way to crack them, making me one of the best students. " How about I throw another challenge your way? There is no way to reject this. Go ahead, sir, I am a Morgan, and I don't fear anything, snapped back. The students laughed and clapped. Go, Adriana, my friend yelled from the back of the class, and we all laughed. Ok then, the professor said, satisfied. He looked like he was about to give me some terrible news. Adriana, I'm sending you to Riker's Island, Bronx. I want you to interview one of the worst terrorists and psychopaths. Cillian Armani. There was dead silence in the class as everyone turned pale, including me. My eyes turned red, and I felt sick immediately; what? Sir, with all due respect, I don't know much about Cillian Armani, but the little I know is enough to keep any sane human off his path, I said. He is the leader of a f*****g Mafia group, and I am not ready to risk my life. Language Adriana, he said. "I'm sorry," Prof. We had an agreement, Adriana, he said. Good luck, guys; most of you will need it, he said. Don't forget to take your ID and student pass along to avoid misunderstanding. This assignment will be the last, and it's going to determine if you are going to be a graduate or not. If you are thinking of skipping this, I will be happy to see you again next year, have a nice day, he said and left the class. Such audacity, Madeline said, sitting next to me Adriana, tell me you will not do this s**t, she said. I have no choice, Madeline, this is my final year project, besides you heard the man, I want to graduate. I said. It will be hazardous, and you know it, she said. I'm already scared; all I need right now is your support, please, I said in tears. My dad's friend is in charge of Riker's; I will beg him till he allows me to see Cillian. "Oh, that makes it a bit easier, but I advise you to ask questions and research that psycho. I had cold feet just imagining I had to interview a devil on Earth. I picked up my phone from the table and searched for him on the Internet, but what I saw left me in shock. Madeline, you won't believe what I just saw; this guy is racist. You should go to the prof's office and turn down this project, it's precarious, and you know it. Not to worry, I can take care of myself, I said. **** After school that day, I went to different professors to ask questions about Cillian Armani. " He is Italian." " He is very ruthless and has been to rehab countless times." " When you talk to him and smile, he kills you. We're all the replies I got from the few people I asked. " Oh, why is this happening now? Why me?