Quillon’s Ordeal

Misplaced trust

As Quillon alighted the bike, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, rough and unyielding, it was Draco-the gang leader who alongside his gang members, had rode down to the location on different bikes. Quillon stumbled, breath catching in his throat as he heard “you’re looking for Lucian, aren’t you?” he asked, his tone casual. Quillon nodded “yes…….he said he’ll be here”. Draco chuckled, low and unsettling, “he’s pretty much around, just relax” The dream house address that Lucian had sent to Quillon turns out to be a mere old countryside abandoned hangar. It was at this moment that Quillon fully realized he had been catfished. More bikes arrived with each carrying a passenger, their expressions and communication in code, their eyes too sharp. The world blurred into red for Quillon, his ears rang, his body swayed and betrayal burned his chest hotter than pain as a series of slaps landed on his face. “Lucian is nowhere to be found. He is a phantom, a catfish and I am just his prey!” He thought to himself. Tonight was supposed to be magical, it was supposed to be the beginning of something thrilling, ignite their “happily ever after”

“Ten million dollar ransom, you pay it or we end you here. Money, no Cops, quick!” echoed Draco. By now, all the gang members had arrived and demands have began to fly in the air. “I will pay you, I have people who can send the money” Quillon replied in a low tone, taste of dusts and liquid metal filling his mouth. “Are you a top, bottom or verse” asked one of the men, with curiosity in his eyes. With an expectation that the assault would drop or he’d probably be pardoned if he made them realized that he had no business with a man’s rump, as most heterosexuals have a great fear of hosting a visitor at their core, Quillon hurriedly replied “I’m a bottom….” The man hurriedly echoed from within “easy with the beatings, he’s just a girl”. Quillon didn’t know if to feel relieved or happy because either way, it’ll take God’s intervention to get him out of here alive if the ransom is not paid. Another man asked “how long have you been gay? What’s your body count? This time, things went south for Quillon as he replied “I got converted by a friend about two years ago and so far, I’ve been with ten men”. The men immediately resumed the beatings with harder slaps and punches on Quillon’s face and back. “Ten whole men, your core must be worn out already, you s**t your pants….don’t you?” Draco screamed in expression of the shocking response they just got from Quillon. “No I don’t” answered Quillon, his heart about to jump out of his chest as his heartbeat thundered. He wants to scream but the sound is stuck in his throat, his body trembled, his mind spun, he’s been caught in their web, swallowed by the night.

One of the men leaned close? his breath was hot against Quillon’s ear. “No escape” he whispered, the words cut deeper than any slap he had received. He scanned the entire place with his eyes, hoping that Lucian would appear and save him but this is reality, Lucian is nowhere close and the only way he could be saved is if money gets paid.

“Hand your phone over to me” Draco ordered Quillon. His voice sounded sharp and impatient. Quillon handed over the phone, his hands trembling, his fingers reluctant to release it, the device felt like his last tether to the world, but in their hands, a tool. Draco took the phone, scrolled through his apps, his eyes wide with curiosity, his expressions unreadable as he began to place calls to several of contacts on Quillon’s phone. Already stripped naked, Quillon began to shiver from the freezing cold breeze that sweeps across the wall-less structure they were in. “So what now, is this the end? Will I survive this? Will I at least get a befitting burial if my family finds out about my sexuality? Will they ever forgive me? Will my parents ever find my body? Will I make heaven if per adventure this is the end?” all of these thoughts ran through Quillon’s mind as Draco hurriedly scrolled through his phone. “Who is this person?” He asked, turning the phone screen to Quillon. “That’s my uncle ... .my maternal uncle, he lives in Ireland with his family” answered Quillon, his voice shaky and unsure. Draco couldn’t wait for further explanations before putting a call through to Quillon’s uncle and placing the phone on Quillon’s ear. “Hi, Quillon, how are you doing, please could you give me a minute? I’m currently in a meeting. I'll call you back later, okay?” Quillon’s uncle hurriedly replies over the phone and ends the call immediately.