THE SPIRAL CODE

ALEX

Chapter 1

The first thing that got to me was the smell, a very bad, awful smell. Urrgghh, goodness me but my head hurts…. I can feel my body bounce a little as a result of the movement caused by something, it’s like I’m in a moving vehicle, am I in a moving vehicle? No, that can’t be right, how can I be in a moving vehicle? Wait I can hear loud rock music. What in the world…

The last thing I remember is my sis pissing me off by sending me to the supermarket to get stuff for dinner. You see I was doing her job that’s why I was pissed. But that’s by the way, cause right now I feel like I’m like I’m in a sticky situation and this situation is so sticky I’m afraid I might not be able to free myself.

Okay, deep breaths Alex, deep breaths… I need to figure out where I am if only I can see.

A few hours back.

“You said you sent her to the supermarket?” asked the detective, he was taking notes of Brie’s statement in a short notepad.

“Yes” sniveled, Brie, she couldn’t believe her little sister has gone missing and it’s all her fault. She was in the dining room while her parents were in the living room; they had just gotten back from their date when Brie told them about Alex’s disappearance. Immediately her dad called the police, detective Aaron and his partner detective Mason took the case. Currently, they’re questioning them. Brie’s parents are being questioned by detective Aaron while Brie is being questioned by Mason.

“When did you send her on this errand?” asked detective Mason.

“It was in the afternoon” replied Brie.

“What time in the afternoon?” continued detective Mason with his questions.

Brie shook her head, “I…I...can’t remember” then she broke down in tears, “I shouldn’t have sent her, she didn’t want to go. This is all my fault”

“No, it's, none of it is your fault. We’ll find her, just be patient”

“But it’s already eight in the evening, she doesn’t stay out late. She never does,” said Brie still crying.

“We’ll find her Brie calm down” repeated the detective.

“Okay,” said Brie, she sniffed and cleaned her nose.

At that moment, a police officer came up to them, he looked at Brie and for some unknown reason, he was pissed, maybe at her or at something else.

“Detective, why are we here. Is someone not meant to be missing after forty-eight hours?” he asked quite rudely.

“This is a special case, Rueben,” said the detective without looking at Rueben, he was writing on his notepad.

Then he said to Brie, “We’ll find her Brie, just be patient okay”

“Okay. Thank you” she replied.

“What do you mean by special case, she’s just a normal girl like every other girl?” said Rueben the police officer. But the detective didn’t listen to him; instead, he walked over to his partner who was questioning Brie’s parents.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to find my daughter?” asked Mr. O’Neal. He was holding his wife close to his side. His wife Mrs. O’Neal was finding it difficult to answer questions. She was very worried, and couldn’t stop crying.

“Yes sir, we will” replied detective Aaron.

“Okay thank you detective” replied Mr. O’ Neal.

“We’ll give you a call as soon as we hear something,” said detective Aaron.

Mr. O’Neal sadly nodded his head.

The detective walked backward nodding for the last time at the O’Neal’s before turning fully around to face his partner detective Mason.

“How far?” asked Mason.

“She’s the one we’ve been looking for,” said detective Aaron.

“For real?” asked detective mason amazed.

“Yep” confirmed detective Mason.

“Jerk of an officer ‘Reuben’ came asking questions, had to shut him down before he makes it obvious that this case is unusual”

“Good work Mason,” said detective Aaron.

“Yeah thanks” he replied, “So what do we do now?”

“We find her before Ezekiel does,” said Aaron, already having a calculative glint in his eyes.

“I hate that man” replied Mason in a hateful tone.

“Same here man but we’re going to get that girl before he does, we need her.” said detective Aaron, they were walking out of the O’Neal’s residence straight to his black jeep parked by the curve along with other police cars. He used a remote to open his car door. It made a click sound. Aaron and his partner opened their doors, curved their bodies and got in.

Once they were settled, Mason faced his partner. He was inserting the car key in the ignition,

“What if Ezekiel already has her?” he asked.

Aaron didn’t reply until he started the car, “we’ll take her forcefully from him even if it means killing him”.

Mason faced forward smiling evilly. He liked the idea of killing Ezekiel. They’ve always hated him; he tends to always get the victim before any detective or agent. It’s quite annoying because he never gives them a chance to get even one victim, so they also can be called heroes. Instead, he does all of the rescuings, letting everyone think he is the best. Well, today the world will know there are others better than him. And they will be the one to show the world.

3:45 pm a few hours back

Okay, so far I’ve come to realize my head hurts and where I am, stinks and I’m in a moving vehicle. In addition to this, what I’m lying on is a bit rough, hard and very uncomfortable. Technically speaking, I’m in a boot. And I think I’ve been kidnapped.

But why and by whom?

This is what I need to find out.

You see, I’m a college student in love with computers. Why will anyone kidnap me?

Okay, no time for why’s. I need to get out of this car right now. These guys might be killers or r****t. I need to escape.

I tried moving my hands to roll to my back, but when I did it, my hands didn’t move.

Great, my hands are tied, just perfect.

What do I do now?

Immediately I asked myself this question, the car stopped and I swear my heart stopped too. The car isn’t moving anymore, have they decided to kill me and get rid of my body? Why did they stop?

Common Alex, you can’t stay still without doing something to escape, I told myself. With a determined mind, I began to wiggle around, stretching my hands in the process.

I need to loosen these ties on my hands so that once the boot gets opened I’ll attack the first person I see and run. I’ll run until I can get help.

Yes, that’s what I’ll do.

So I proceeded with my plan by wiggling and moving my hands and feet but none of that worked. Instead, my hands began to hurt because the ropes were pressing into my skin.

But this didn’t stop me, I continued. A few seconds into my struggling, the car stopped moving, I stopped moving to listen. I heard loud, male voices from outside having a conversation, car doors banging closed, heavy footsteps, and then a moment later, the boot was opened.

Shoot! I couldn’t free myself. But that didn’t matter cause that’s when I saw him, that’s when I saw my kidnapper

.……………………………………………………………………….

A few hours back

“Alex, Alex!”

“What?” I yelled my reply to my big sis, I’m currently in my room working on my system. I’m a computer programmer/ hacker and I love what I do. I love being able to break down people’s security walls and take a little peek into their world, their secrets, their privacy. Well yeah I know it’s wrong but it’s not like I blackmail them or anything. I always get out once I’ve taken a peek and I never return.

You see the more I do this the better I become, my goal is to be able to break into Interpol’s security wall. It’s hard, yes, but not impossible. I’ve heard of people that were successful. The only thing is, these people were caught and sent to prison. But that won’t happen to me. I’ll go in like a ghost; no one will ever know I’m there.

Anyway, like I said, I’m working on my system, I’m like really into it, but my sis is breaking my flow. I’m Alex and I’m twenty-one, my annoying sis is Brie and she’s 26. We are both home alone. Our parents decided to go out on a date. Yes, I said it, a date. Anyway, now we are home and my sis is at it again; pissing the hell out of me.

“Alex!” she yelled again, trying her best to bring down the house with her loud voice.

“I’m coming!” I yelled back; I got up angrily from my working table, stumped my way out of my room, down the hall, and through the living room where she sat outside relaxed drinking lemon tea.

“What is it?” I asked, and not in a nice way.

“Don’t take that tone with me. I’m older than you with four years” she casually replied sipping her tea.

“Yeah, so?

She looked at me with her tea in hand and said, “Well that means you are to respect me”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“And don’t roll your eyes at me,” she said.

“What is it Brie, I’m busy,” I said to her. Hopefully, whatever she wants me to do, I’ll be able to do it quickly then get back to my computer.

“I need you to go to the supermarket to get foodstuff for dinner”

I stared at her.

She kept drinking her tea not looking at me. When I didn’t say anything she turned her head to stare at me.

“Did you hear me?” she asked.

“You want me to go and get foodstuff for dinner” I stated.

“Yeah, that’s what I said” she replied.

“But, but brie, it’s your turn to go to the supermarket, not me” I complained.

“Well I know that, but now I’m telling you to go,” she said, then she faced forward and continued with her tea.

“Why can’t you go?” I asked angrily

“Cause I don’t want to okay. So you will be doing the shopping”

“But….”

“Alex,” she said, looking at me with those hard eyes of hers.

Grudgingly, I turned around and stumped back into the house grumbling. She does this to me a lot, always sending me, giving me her chores to do. And she does this when our parents are out. I wish she will just go away, for me never to see her again.

I should never have had that thought.

Chapter 2

Presently

I was lifted effortlessly out of the boot of the car by the man that kidnapped me. He’s like 6 ft 3, really strong, and huge. And I know I’m not supposed to think of this in the state I’m in but he is super cute. It’s annoying when the bad guy is super cute, they can use their cuteness to charm their way out of anything. He looks like a bodybuilder, or a wrestler, or someone that served in the Army. Anyway, he placed me on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes and began to walk. His partner, who was right behind us smiling like a crazy person, looked like a man in a kid’s body, he’s quite skinny and he looks like he’s in his teens. He’s also strangely hyperactive like he’s on drugs or something.

We got into a house; the giant step my kidnapper was taking was making me bounce on his shoulders like I was jumping on a trampoline. A moment later, I was placed on a couch.

“Boss, we’ll have a go at her right?” asked the partner. He was looking at me and licking his lips like I was a piece of juicy steak.

“No, this one belongs to me,” said my kidnapper in a deep baritone.

Hold on, I know that voice.

“But boss,” complained the partner taking his eyes off me to his boss.

I looked at the partner when he spoke, while I tried to remember where I’ve heard the voice of my kidnapper.

The boss tuned icy look at the skinny man; he immediately shut his mouth and weirdly, but immediately bowed his head in submission. I observed their conversation and behavior, the skinny guy looks scared of this huge man. Well, I can’t blame him; anyone would be scared of him right now.

My kidnapper turned his head away from the skinny guy to me, and then he said to the skinny guy without looking at him,

“Take her to my room”

I gulped.

His room?

For what?

The skinny guy raised his head to look at him, his face was filled with dread, he’s probably surprised that he won’t be having me for himself.

I don’t even know which is better, me being in the hands of this huge guy, or me being in the hands of the skinny, weird man.

Well, one thing is certain; I don’t want either; I just want to go home.

“Boss” he whispered, looking really sad like his favorite dog was snatched from him.

“I won’t repeat myself, Caleb. Take her to my room” said the boss, his eyes still on me.

Oh, his name is Caleb. I looked at Caleb. Hmm, he doesn’t look like a Caleb to me; he looks more like a “Billy”.

“Yes, boss” replied Caleb as he reluctantly came to me and helped me to get up then he led me to a room.

The house actually is a bungalow. And from the number of doors I can see, there are three rooms apart from the living room and dining room. I was led to the door on the left side of the house. He opened it and roughly pushed me in. I stumbled a bit but caught myself quickly. Taking deep breaths, I turned around slowly to look at him; his look was a mixture of want and anger.

“I’m going to have you no matter what. The boss can’t be with you 24/7. So get ready for me”

Then he turned around and left, banging the door closed behind him.

The room was quiet. I looked around then took my eyes back to the door.

In a voice that didn’t sound like mine, I said, “I’m in deep s**t”.

One week later.

So I’ve been in this house for a week now and I can bet that the whole town is looking for me. But my kidnapper of whom I’ve come to know is called Brax doesn’t seem to care.

Right in his room where I’ve been placed for the past week, I sat on his bed with my legs tucked in, crisscrossed, drinking tea. He makes tea for me every night. Says it’ll help me sleep. He’s right, it does make me sleep. Wait, does he put anything in it?

I looked into my tea. The door handle shook; I looked away from my tea to the door. And in walked Brax.

“Have you been drugging me?” I asked suddenly.

He looked at me as he closed and locked his door. He always locks his door. Then he walked straight to his set of drawers and pulled out a drawer, taking out a white t-shirt.

I watched him pull off his shirt, his tats were all on display. It covered the whole of his back; he threw his shirt flimsily to the ground, putting it on, he walked back to the door.

All this while I was watching him, my tea was still in my hand. I hadn’t taken a sip since the thought of him drugging me popped in.

Holding the handle of the door, he twisted the key unlocking it and pulled it open.

Then he turned his head to my side and said,

“I’ve never drugged you and I never will”

Then he walked out closing the door and locking me in.

Well, I guess that’s enough for me. If he wanted to do anything bad to me, he would have done that the first night he got me.

But come to think of it, I’m a weird girl cause I mean see me all relaxed in a criminals nest. A criminal that kidnapped me, this same criminal locks me up in his room every time he comes in and goes out. Now, any girl in my shoes right now will be going crazy, she’ll be scared out of her mind. Like, she’ll be in total distress.

But no, not I, I’m all chilled like I’m on a vacation. There’s no other meaning to this, I’m a weird girl.

So being the weird girl that I am, I took a sip of my tea. As I did this, I found myself remembering why and how I got here, this is how it happened.

It all began the day I went to do my sisters chores. I was at the supermarket and I was done with buying the groceries.

I stepped out with my bags and walked quickly to my car still fuming about my sister making do her work. As I tried opening my car door, I heard a man crying or was that whimpering? It was coming from the side alley of the supermarket, where a large waste bin was resting against the wall.

“No, no, please don’t, I’ll pay you, I promise” whimpered a man.

“Shut up you fool. You’ve owed me for weeks now. I want my money right now” said another guy fiercely.

I dropped the groceries into my small car and closed the door. The whimpering seemed to increase. I could also hear poundings like someone was getting beaten.

I moved closer to see; maybe I can help by calling the police.

Yeah I know, I’m stupid, I should just get into my car and call the police from there. Not to go there by myself and probably get beaten too.

But seeing as I’m me and I clearly don’t think before acting. I walked right to where the man’s voice kept increasing. When I got there, I wished I was never there. Skinny guy of whom I’ve come to know is Caleb was standing over a man. I couldn’t see his face, but it looked messed up and it was covered in blood. Some of the blood was on his grey shirt, he was shoeless and his trousers were torn in different places.

A few feet away from the bleeding man stood another man, he was staring at me, and his face was hard, like really hard. Now, this right here is a man. He’s tall, huge with long, black, shoulder length hair, broad shoulders and piercing grey eyes that I swear could see into a man’s soul.

I gulped, I don’t know why I did but I did, maybe because I was scared or maybe because of the beauty of this man. I kept staring at him, he kept doing the same. I couldn’t stop looking at him. Our staring contest got interrupted by the sound of a gun. I jerked back in fear as my eyes zoomed right at Caleb. He had a gun pointed at the man on the floor and blood was oozing out of his forehead.

All this while I had arrived, Caleb didn’t know I had seen him beat a helpless man. But right now, he did. Because it was then I said,

“Oh my God”

I didn’t say this quietly; nope not me, I said it quite loudly.

Caleb snapped his head at me; his eyes got huge cause he never knew I was there. Instead of me to do something smart like run for my life, I said to Caleb, “Are you crazy?”

Then my eyes moved to Brax. Brax had taken a step towards me like he wanted to get me before I flee. I was planning on doing that, like really soon.

Apart from that, he looked like he was about to laugh. Why in the world would he laugh at a time like this?

I looked down to the guy Caleb had killed then I looked back at the men. Okay, it’s safe to say now is the time to run.

And run I did.

I spun around and fled. But I didn’t even get halfway to my car because the next thing that occurred was me falling down.

I had hit my foot on something in the process of fleeing. This made me fall and hit my head hard. After that, nothing……. it was all blackness.

When I woke up, I was in the boot of a car. Brax had decided to take me cause I had just witnessed them kill someone. So if they had allowed me to escape, it would have been risky for them.

So that’s why I’m here. I’m here because I witnessed a murder. I couldn’t remember when I first came through because of how hard I had hit my head.

Now Brax doesn’t want to let me go. He intends to keep me and I can’t have that, yes he’s caring and sometimes sweet but he’s a criminal and I can’t be with a criminal, being cozy with my kidnapper is even crazy.

So I have to plan.

I have to escape.

Chapter 3

I came awake to find myself in a comfy bed, I smiled cause I have never had a bed this comfortable, like never. But is this my bed? Wait, I’ve been kidnapped, I haven’t been found yet, so whose bed am I in. I gave myself a moment to fully come awake. My head was on something hard and warm, with my eyes still closed, I used my fingers to feel what my head was lying on comfortably and what I felt was skin. Immediately, I scrambled away from whoever I was on and fell on the ground, right by the side of the bed. I was wrapped up in the bed-sheets so the scrambling continued on the ground. I was also screaming like a hyena.

“What the… hey, you okay?” asked Brax.

Can you believe it? I was all wrapped up with my captor. How did that happen?

“Hey” he repeated, concern filling his voice, “you okay?”

“Don’t come close” I commanded, as I continued to struggle my way out of the bed-sheets.

“Stop struggling, and let me help you get out,” he said as his voice drew closer.

I got more scared because I just realized I was wearing nothing but a tank top and my boy shorts.

“No! Don’t!” I yelled.

“Seriously if I don’t get you out you’ll suffocate in there,” he said right before he held the bed-sheets and pulled hard. With just one tug, I was free and half naked.

“Give that back!” I commanded, feeling totally helpless.

“What, this?” he asked looking at the bed-sheets.

“Yes, give it back now”

“Why in the world will I do that? You were suffocating in there” he said, looking confused.

“Do you see the state I’m in?” I asked.

His eyes roamed my frame just once then they landed on my eyes.

“Yes I do, but these sheets were killing you. I didn’t bring you here to get you killed”

“Well, I need…” I paused, as his last words made meaning to me.

“You don’t want to kill me?”

“Yeah” he replied.

He threw the sheets on the bed and got out of it then walked over to the bathroom at the end of the room. He was putting on blue jeans with no shirt on, I watched him walk, he has a fine walk, I noticed it on the second day of my stay here the same day I noticed the tattoos on his back that looked like a tribal tattoo.

Once he disappeared into the bathroom, I rushed to my feet, snatched the bed sheets from the bed and wrapped it around myself. Then I followed him.

The bathroom has a toilet, shower, a mirror and a bucket. The mirror was hanging on the wall with its own compartment where toothbrushes and toothpaste are kept.

He was brushing his teeth.

“How did I end up in bed with you?” I asked, holding the sheets around myself.

He spat in the sink and rinsed. Then he faced me.

“You slept off on the ground when you refused to sleep on the bed. The ground is hard, didn’t want you to wake up in pains”.

Once he was done with that stunning statement, he walked past me into the bedroom, I stood there as I thought of how and when I slept off.

What? I slept off…. When did I?

I spun around, walking fast behind him. He was currently picking up a shirt from a chair by the wall.

“What do you mean by I slept off?” I asked.

“Exactly what it means firecracker”

“Stop calling me that, my name is Alex,” I said heatedly.

“Hmm,” he said absentmindedly then walked over to his bedside table beside his bed, he had a gun, wristwatch and a wallet on it. He took them all, tucking his gun behind him in his waist, his wallet was tucked into his back pocket and then he put on his wristwatch.

“Why did I refuse to sleep in the bed?” I asked.

“He looked at me, “you don’t remember?”

I shook my head.

He continued to stare at me, after a beat he said,

“We had an argument firecracker, you were demanding to go outside, but I refused”

Understanding dawned on me. That’s why I was pissed at him.

“Ohhh…yeah, that’s true. Now I remember” I said.

Oh, my god, did he have s*x with me?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.

“Ahhrrmmm…. Did you, have s*x with me?” I asked praying really hard that he didn’t.

“What? No, of course not?” he replied looking affronted.

I skewered my eyes at him.

“You seriously think I’ll sleep with you while you’re dead to the world? Do you think I’m into Somnophilia?”

“What? No” now I’m the one that looks affronted.

“Good, cause I’m not” then he continued, “Back to the topic of you not going outside. You won’t be going out for anything, except I permit you to. It’s dangerous out there; this place isn’t like your home”

“Then let me go, I promise I won’t tell anyone what you guys did,” I said pleadingly to him taking a step towards him.

“And what did we do?” he asked.

“Well, you two killed a man”

“Caleb killed a man, not me,” he said.

“Okay cool, then you can just report him to the police then,” I said, hoping he’ll agree.

“I can’t do that firecracker”

“But you can... You..”

“No listen, Alex, there’s a lot you don’t know. You think I’ve kidnapped you but I’m actually protecting you. If you don’t want to die you stick with me. Now I have to step out, I’ll be back as soon as I can for us to have lunch. Breakfast will be brought to you by a girl named Juliet. She’ll knock on the door two times fast and two times slow, this will let you know it’s her. If the knock on the door is wrong, do not for any reason open the door. Do you understand?”

“Brax..”

“Do you understand?” he enunciated.

“Yes,” I replied solemnly.

“Good”

And with that, he walked out of the room locking the door.

I stood there for a few moments when I suddenly realized he had locked me in. How do I open the door if I’m locked in?

3 weeks later.

I sat on the bed as I ate potato chips. For the past week, Brax and I have gotten close. I know, how does one get close to a criminal, one that was kidnapped by that same criminal it’s strange right? But hey, things happen you. Anyway, like I was saying, Brax and I have gotten close. So close that the men in the house are scared to talk to me. They are under the impression that I’m his woman. I really don’t know why they think I belong to him. I mean it’s not like he announced it to the whole house that I do. Or did he?

“Hey,” said a deep voice out of nowhere.

“What the…?” I yelled out and jumped out of bed in fear. My chips flew in the air and landed on the floor along with my butt. Who in the world is that scaring me to death?

I popped up from the ground to find out who it is.

“You okay?” asked Brax. He looked amused; he was trying his best not to laugh.

“Don’t you dare laugh” I demanded pointing a finger and glaring at him.

He raised his hands out, shaking his head in a no gesture.

“Oh no, I won’t dare to laugh at you?” he said chuckling.

“You’re laughing,” I said, still glaring.

“Why did you jump like you were poked with a hot iron rod?”

He was walking to the bed while he asked.

“You scared me; you just came in without a sound. Did you even unlock the door? How did you even get in without me knowing?”

“One question at a time firecracker, you were so into your chips, you didn’t hear me unlock the door, come in, close it and lock it back”

“You did all that?” I asked, amazed I hadn’t heard it all.

“Can you get up from the ground please?” he asked instead, avoiding my question. He was sitting on the bed now watching me closely.

I didn’t say anything; I continued to remain on the ground with my eyes on him.

“Can you move?” he was looking at me wondering if I’m injured or something.

I looked at myself then brought my head up to look at him, “I think so”

“Then get up” he commanded.

“I like it here”

“Really” he replied. I nodded my head.

He kept a blank stare then slowly smirked at me.

“Why are you smirking?” I asked.

“Nothing, do you want to step out?”

I smiled so hugely, I could feel my face split in two.” Yes, of course!” I yelled, then scrambled off the ground and went straight to him.

He was still smirking.

“Why are you still smirking?” I asked, wondering what’s amusing to him.

“Cause you’re off the ground” he stated.

I shook my head at him and smiled, “let’s go outside before I go crazy in here”

“Yes ma’am, but I was kidding,” he said, killing my happiness.

“You were what?” I asked in disbelief.

“You heard me, I just wanted you to get up from the ground, and now that you have, my job is done” then he stood up and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

What a jerk.

Chapter 4

“Mason anything?” I said into my Bluetooth earpiece as I drove my jeep to the station.

“Nope nothing yet”

“Darn we need to get that girl before Ezekiel does,” I said into my earpiece, with the way things are going if we don’t find her we’ll lose our jobs.

“I’m working on it Aaron,” said Mason.

“Well work fast. Time is not on our side.” I said impatiently.

“Yeah, I know okay. Our job depends on that girl; we’ll get her, calm down”

Without saying goodbye to him, I cut the line and removed my earpiece from my ear. Finding this girl is getting more difficult by the minute.

Ezekiel, my greatest enemy, I’m going to get Alex before you do. And if you’ve already gotten her, I’ll take her out of your hands that I promise you.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

I was, as usual, lying down on Brax’s bed on my tummy with my legs swinging in the air, eating chocolate and listening to music on his mini iPod. His room has become a second home to me. Ever since he told me he didn’t kidnap me to kill me but instead to protect me, I’ve come to trust him. Apart from that, he has made sure none of the men in the house has tried to hurt me. I say, men, because almost every day, new guys come to the house to stay. Some leave after a few days, some decide not to leave at all. It’s like Brax is building a crew or something.

Anyway, here I am eating chocolate and listening to music. As I listened I felt someone in the room with me, I lifted my eyelids to know if my guts are right, and sure enough, they were. It was Brax, his lips were moving fast like he was in a hurry in telling me something. I watched his lips move, looks like he is saying, “do you understand?” I wasn’t sure so I took off the earpiece connected to my ears to hear what he was saying.

“What?” I asked.

“You didn’t hear me?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“You didn’t hear all I said,” he said.

I shook my head again.

He stared at me for a beat, then immediately walked briskly to me.

“Get up” he commanded, I stared at him confused.

“Get up now” he commanded again.

“What? Why?” I asked really confused now.

“You need to leave”

What did he just say?

……………………………………………………………………………

“I’ve found her,” said Mason my partner rushing to me. I was sitting on my desk when he came.

“You have? Where?” I asked, quickly getting up and pulling off my jacket from the back of my seat to wear.

“You won’t guess who she’s with,” he said looking really excited.

I stopped mid-air putting on my jacket as I looked at him trying to figure out who could have her.

“Ezekiel?” I asked.

“Nope”, he said still excited. “Common I’ll tell you in the car, the walls have ears you know”

…………………………………………………………………………………………

“What did you just say?” I asked Brax, I was standing at the foot of the bed. Is he sending me away?

“You have to leave,” he said as he snatched his iPod from my hands and tucked them in his back pocket.

Oh, my god, he’s setting me free, I’m…I’m free. This is the best day of my life!

But wait, I don’t want to leave yet.

“I don’t want to leave now,” I said to him.

“Alex, I’m not kidding, you need to leave,” he said. He looked down at my feet to see them shoeless.

“Where are your shoes?” He didn’t wait for me to answer; he began to look around for my shoes.

“Can you just calm down and tell me why you’re so in a hurry for me to leave?” I said. I just don’t get why he wants me to leave, why today?

And, why so fast?

He found my shoes then walked back to me. Guiding me to sit on the bed he wore my shoes for me. Aww, how gentlemanly of him.

Once he was done, he stood me up.

“Common let's go”

I looked at the window as he dragged me to the door.

“Hey, no wait. I can’t leave, seriously Brax it’s dark outside. I don’t even know where I am for me to find my way home?”

“I’ll tell you once we get out,” he said.

Before he opened the door, he looked at me, “listen, the guys can’t know I’m setting you free. It’s dangerous if they do”

“Can’t you come with me?” I asked worriedly.

“Not now firecracker, but soon, I promise”

“But”

“We need to leave now, remember, act normal. Don’t say anything; I’ll answer whatever question they throw at us. Okay?”

I didn’t like this, I wasn’t ready to leave, I was already used to staying with him. He takes care of me, I didn’t want to leave at all. But I guess nothing lasts forever right.

“Okay” I replied sadly.

He smiled sadly in return and then opened the door.

Guess I’m being set free, but why does it feel like I’m not.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“So you’re telling me Alex is with Caleb?” I asked Mason as I drove my jeep.

“Yep. He called to tell me his boss has a girl named Alex and she’s a computer genius” said Mason

Wow, I guess having Caleb as an inside man wasn’t a bad decision.

“So who’s Caleb’s new boss?”

“A guy called Brax”

“He sounds like a tough guy,” I said to Mason, my eyes on the road.

“Yeah I think he is” he replied.

“But why does Caleb keep changing bosses. Can’t he stick to one?”

Mason laughed at my question, “You know Caleb he never sticks to one boss”

“Well thank god he doesn’t, because of his uncertainty we are able to find Alex.”

“Yes we are, let’s go get her” replied Mason.

……………………………………………………..

“What’s going on?” asked Caleb the minute Brax stepped out of the room with me. He looked at Brax and me suspiciously. The living room was full of men of various sizes and shapes. They all looked at us the minute Caleb spoke.

I didn’t say anything. I did as Brax said. To keep my mouth shut.

“Boss, going somewhere?” he rallied on with his questions.

“And how’s that any of your business?” asked Brax sternly.

“Well, seeing as you never let us see her cause she’s always locked up in your room, and you’ve decided to bring her out tonight, just thought you‘ve decided to take her out or something” he replied.

“She’s mine. I decide what I want to do with her. Got me?” he said imposingly.

Then he pulled me along with him out of the house. Getting to the door, Caleb said in a loud voice, “we know she’s a computer genius, different agencies are looking for her. She’s like hot cake. Is that why you’re keeping her, you want to use her or something?”

Brax moved me to his front then turning his head to the side he said to Caleb, “think whatever you want Caleb. It’s your brain not mine” then he took me out of the house.

He led me to his car, opened the passenger’s door and helped me to get in. I got in and waited patiently for him to get in too. As he went around the car to get in, I noticed someone standing by the door of the house. I focused my eyes on the door to know who it was but I couldn’t see clearly. The reason is, outside is quite dark and there’s no security light.

Brax started the car, the headlights came on and at once we both stared at the door. What I saw made my heart leave its connected blood vessels and pipes to run straight to my mouth where it was currently situated. Seriously I could feel my heart beat thunderously in my mouth

Why in the world is Caleb staring at me like the clown in the movie “IT”? I don’t get it.

“I don’t like the way he’s looking at me,” I said aloud for Brax to hear.

“Yeah, me too” then he put the car in reverse, drove backward, maneuvered the car until it was facing its opposite direction and drove off out of here I've been held captive by over 3 weeks.

Brax has decided to set me free but why do I feel this is a huge mistake.