Quillon’s Ordeal

The cost of love

“I sent you a text over twenty minutes ago and your dumb-ass got the balls to go ahead and ask me for details??” Draco continued. “If you think you could pull a stunt on me then you must be tripping. All the goddam details you needed are embedded in the link I sent to you man! Two options, you got two options here. Play by my rules, get me my money and I’ll give you your so-called lover or you could as well call in the cops, lose your life and that of your freaking lover….ball is in your court man!” Draco echoed over the phone and ended the call abruptly. It’s thirty-two minutes past seven pm. Caius is horrified at this point. He can’t seem to figure which is more terrifying between the time running out or the whole situation he’s in at the moment. For one, Caius had been a doctor his entire career but having to navigate through a criminal case within such a short period of time is an unimaginable nightmare for him.

The thought of getting detained if the kidnappers find out that he's offering lesser than ten million dollars wrapped around him like a warm hug, but the fear of losing the one person who, after he has phased through series of heartbreaks from desperate Florida boys and even community members in diaspora finally comes to save him is even greater. “Should I just call the cops?” he thought to himself as he hurriedly walks down the street, hailing at every single vehicle that looks like a taxi to him. “No that might not end well, let me just call the hospital security for a backup…..oh darn it! that might spark unwanted reactions at the office” he continued as he reopens the message to read out the address to the driver but something caught his attention. “Why is the location in front of a black tall building?”……he said to himself. “Why not in a gas station? an eatery? or even a train station? somewhere open, somewhere safer…..oh my days!!” “at least I'm not coming with the cops!” he continued. Caius is freaking out but his naivety is about to give him out even more. “Are you okay sir?” the taxi driver asked out of curiosity. “I’m okay….I’m fine! Just drive, drive fast please!” Caius answered.

Dark, lonely, and cold street with barely a single soul appearing to live in it. From Caius’ view, it's just two almost roofless old-looking duplexes on the left and an abandoned warehouse on the right. Every other area are covered in yellow-like grasses and muddy, stagnant water hosting a horde of mosquitoes and related insects as the headlight from the taxi shone forth. Another text message made Caius’ phone beep the minute the driver parked in front of the warehouse and said “we're here sir!”. The only response he managed to give was “wait here, I'll be out shortly” as he read the content of the text to himself in a whispering tone. “Walk five feet ahead and take a left turn beside the warehouse, walk straight down and cross to the other side of the street right in front of you, then take another left turn and drop the money by the tall black building, return immediately and don't look back! You'll find your baby along your way back”. Dark narrow road, no street lights, not even a flash. Caius’ heartbeat is thunderous at this point, one could almost hear it from a mile away but he has to keep going, he has to save the love of his life, he has to strive, fight for his love, the one his heart beats for. It was indeed a quite scary walk down the dreadful road that leads to the building but because there were not so many buildings in the area, confusion was out of the discussion for Caius. He got to the said point, carrying the bag of money in one hand while firmly holding his phone in the other with its flashlight on. He dropped the money as said and turned to make his way back when a hand tapped on his shoulder. Freaking out was an understatement, Caius’ soul had left his body. He froze, wishing it was Quillon but he was too horrified to either speak nor turn around to see who it is. “Good job boy, good job!…..was expecting to see your Cops escort but I see you’re a bit smart enough not to play with us like Draco said….this cash better be complete or you gon regret playing games, gay boy!” A voice said from behind him” “it’s….it’s complete, it’s complete sir! Your money is intact” Caius replied. “Good for you, now run along!” The man whispered. “Where’s my Quillon? Where’s my baby?” Caius asked as he turned around to see who’s been talking to him but the man had disappeared. The shock heightened for Caius and he began to run back to his taxi.