Chapter 3 Abducted
897 Words
"Miss, you have to run! Please, run!" Nelia screamed as two bodyguards in uniforms closed in on them, their footsteps growing louder.
Penelope gripped Nelia's arm, panic flooding her chest. "No, Nelia, come with me!"
She knew that if she fled, Sandy and Howard would never forgive Nelia.
They'd make her pay.
But Nelia pushed her away with force, shaking her head. "Go! Only if you survive will you be able to avenge your mother!"
She was basically whispering, and Penelope froze, looking at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Just go, go!" Nelia shoved her harder, stepping in front of the guards as if to buy Penelope a few extra seconds.
Penelope hesitated. But after one final look at Nelia, she ran away.
Her feet pounded the pavement, and she didn't stop until the sounds of pursuit faded into the distance. Only then did she slow her pace, her breath ragged.
She slumped against a nearby wall, trying to steady herself. But Nelia's words kept circling her mind.
Why would Nelia say she needed to avenge her mother?
And what had she meant when she said her mother could have survived?
Was someone behind her death?
A chill ran down her spine, a deep suspicion forming. If it was true... the person responsible would pay.
*****
The night dragged on, thick with silence.
Penelope returned to her apartment. Fortunately, the password didn't change. Though the place was tiny, it was a decent shelter.
She lay in bed, but sleep wouldn't come. The storm had passed, but her mind was still racing.
She had to find Nelia. Tomorrow, she'd get answers.
Then, in the dead of night, thunder cracked through the air, shaking the walls.
Penelope shot up, her heart pounding as she gasped for breath.
Was it a nightmare? Or something worse? The dread lingering in her chest wouldn't let go.
*****
The rain had stopped by morning, but the air was still thick with dampness.
Penelope called Nelia. When she learned Nelia had gone to the market, Penelope rushed to meet her, throwing on a coat and heading out.
In the bustling street, she spotted Nelia and waved frantically. "Nelia, over here!"
Nelia scanned the crowd, then, seeing a break in traffic, hurried toward her.
But just as Nelia was about to reach her, a black sedan came barreling down the road, swerving sharply toward them.
"Nelia, look out!" Penelope screamed, panic rising in her chest.
She took off running toward Nelia, but the car was too fast. There was no time to stop it.
The sickening sound of the impact made her stomach twist as Nelia was flung into the air, her body crumpling onto the pavement.
The basket of vegetables scattered everywhere as blood pooled around Nelia's head.
"Nelia! Nelia!" Penelope scrambled over to her, pulling her into her arms. "Nelia, open your eyes, please."
But Nelia's face was a blur, covered in blood.
Her lips moved, but her voice was barely a whisper.
"Please, Nelia, don't leave me. I'll get you to the hospital. You'll be okay," Penelope cried, fumbling with her phone.
Her fingers shook uncontrollably, the numbers blurring on the screen.
"Howard... Death... Madam..."
Penelope leaned down, her breath catching in her throat as Nelia whispered. "What? What did you just say?"
Nelia's lips parted again, but no sound came.
With the last of her strength, Nelia gripped Penelope's hand, and then, just as suddenly, her hand dropped.
She was severely injured and beyond saving.
Because Penelope wasn't family, she had no right to make decisions about Nelia's body. The hospital wouldn't release her.
Outside, the rain began again, tapping against the pavement.
Penelope stumbled out of the building, her mind blank.
Then, suddenly, everything collapsed. She sank to her knees on the wet street, her sobs shaking her whole body.
*****
The weather was freezing, and the street was almost deserted, save for the black SUV parked on the side.
The man inside watched Penelope through the window, his gaze sharp. When he saw her sobbing, he frowned slightly.
"I already sent you the footage you asked for. But why do you need that?" Landon Croft said, fiddling with his phone. However, Tyron didn't respond for a long time. Landon looked up and saw him gazing out the window.
Landon followed his sight, and then his eyes widened when he saw the woman curling up by the street.
"Well, well, well, look at that. Tyron Narsson actually looking at a woman? That's new. I'll take a video and send it to everyone in our group chat."
Tyron glanced at Landon and ordered flatly, "Get out."
Landon was shocked. "Dude, it's raining outside."
"Don't make me repeat it," Tyron said coldly.
Though Landon couldn't see Tyron's face, he could tell Tyron was irritated.
He wisely dropped the subject, sliding his phone back into his pocket. Then, he got out of the car obediently.
The moment the car door slammed shut, Tyron twisted the wheel, cutting a sharp turn and heading straight for Penelope.
"Get in." His voice was commanding. Penelope looked up and saw his face.
But she ignored him, stood up slowly and kept staggering forward.
"How ungrateful," Tyron scoffed, driving away.
But before long, Tyron threw the car in reverse, driving back to her. "Get in the damn car, or I'll come drag you in myself."
- Writer
