Happiness before chaos
1135 Words
Jane
I ate until I was full before excusing myself from the table. I was about to leave when Caleb’s sister stopped me.
“Get ready. We’re going shopping.”
I blinked at her.
“Shopping?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, looking way too excited. “You’re going to be my shopping bestie.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at how happy she looked.
“Okay. I’d love that.”
She smiled before turning back to her food.I headed upstairs, but somehow, my thoughts immediately went to Caleb.
Where was he?
He was always disappearing.
One minute he was there, the next minute he was nowhere to be found.
How did he expect me to cope here all by myself?
I barely knew anyone in this house, and now that he was gone again, I couldn’t help wondering when he would return.
I sighed.
Why was I even thinking about him so much?
And why did it feel like I missed him?
I immediately shook my head.
No.
Absolutely not.
I wasn’t going to start missing Caleb.
I had more important things to worry about.
I reached the room and started arranging the few things I had. As I tucked my hair behind my hair, there was a knock on the door.
My heart jumped.
For some stupid reason, I thought it was Caleb.
I quickly turned toward the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Lucy walked in carrying an outfit.
“Oh.”
She smiled.
“I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “Young madam asked me to bring this for you. She said you should wear it for the shopping trip.”
I took the clothes from her.
“Thank you, Lucy.”
She smiled before leaving.
I locked the door behind her and looked at the outfit.
It was beautiful.
A short pink gown,I quickly changed into it.
The moment I looked in the mirror, I paused.
The dress hugged my body perfectly, bringing out my curves .I stared at myself for a few seconds.
“Jane…”
I turned slightly from side to side.
“You are a goddess.”
I laughed to myself.
Maybe I needed to compliment myself more often.
I did a little makeup, nothing too heavy, then slipped my feet into the glass heels Lucy had brought.
Thirty minutes later, I was ready.
I gave myself one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs.
I still barely knew her name. I knew Rave’s name, but for some reason, I hadn’t bothered to properly ask hers.
“Ma, I’m ready,” I said.
She immediately frowned.
“I’m not ‘ma’am.’”
I blinked.
She laughed.
“I’m Elise.”
“Oh, sorry.”
She waved it off.
“Come on. Let’s go.”
We walked outside, and a driver was already waiting beside a black Maybach S-Class sedan.
Elise opened the door for me.
I stopped.
I’d only ever seen cars like this in movies.
I never imagined I’d actually ride in one.
“Wow,” I whispered.
Elise laughed. “Get in.”
I climbed inside, and she got in beside me.
A few seconds later, we drove off.
I pressed my face slightly toward the window, taking everything in.
The outside world felt so different.
I’d been locked away for days, and even though I hadn’t been inside a prison, that’s what it had felt like.
I missed seeing people,the streets,the freedom of simply going wherever I wanted.
For the first time since my kidnapping, I felt like I could breathe.
Soon, we arrived at the mall.
I stared through the window.
It was enormous.
It looked exactly like the malls I’d seen in movies.
“Is this where we’re shopping?” I asked.
Elise laughed.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
We stepped out and walked inside.
The place was huge. Bright lights, expensive stores, people moving everywhere.
I followed Elise as she walked toward the entrance.
There was a strange looking door that seemed almost impossible to get through. It had three sections that spun around whenever someone pushed through.
I stared at it for a second.
“Come on,” Elise said, pulling me along.
Once we were inside, she turned to me with a huge smile.
“Makeup first. Then bags. Shoes. Clothes. And literally anything else we can buy.”
I laughed.
“Anything?”
“Anything,” she repeated proudly. “I have the black card Daddy gave me.”
She pulled out the card and laughed.
I shook my head.
“Your father loves you too much.”
“He knows I have good taste.”
We started shopping.
Elise dragged me from one designer store to another, picking out dresses, handbags, shoes, and makeup products.
She made me try on so many things that I eventually lost count.
I was actually having fun.
For a moment, I forgot about everything.
Then suddenly—
A loud scream came from downstairs.
I froze.
People started running.
At first, I couldn’t understand what was happening.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Elise looked toward the entrance.
Then we heard it.
Bang!
My entire body jerked.
Another gunshot rang through the mall.
People screamed and scattered in every direction.
My heart dropped.
“Gunshots!”
I grabbed Elise’s arm.
She looked just as terrified as I was.
“We need to hide!” she shouted.
People were pushing past us, knocking things over as they ran.
I could barely breathe.
“Where do we go?”
“I don’t know!”
Another gunshot echoed through the mall.
I ducked instinctively.
Elise pulled out her phone with shaking hands.
“I need to call Daddy.”
She quickly dialed his number.
“Pick up, Daddy. Please pick up.”
I looked around desperately for somewhere we could hide.
Behind us, people were still running.
Some were crying.
Others were screaming.
The beautiful mall that had felt so exciting only minutes ago had turned into complete chaos.
Elise grabbed my hand.
“Jane, stay close to me.”
I nodded, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
“Daddy, please…” Elise whispered.
Another loud bang shook the air.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I had survived being kidnapped and being held against my will.
But now, standing in the middle of a crowded mall with gunshots ringing through the air, reminded me of everything I wanted to forget.
“What if they are here for me”,I thought..
Then Elise’s dad picked.
“Dad! Send help!..some men are here at the western city mall shooting incessantly ”..she said with tears in her eyes.
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