Trapped With Mr.X

"We have no more money. Just take your mom home. The insurance won't cover everything." Nora looked at James with wide eyes. Her stepfather looked upset after they got a huge bill from the hospital, "I won't give up. I'll try to get a loan from the bank. It would be best if you tried too. My mom is the woman you love the most, isn't she?" "What do you mean by saying that? Your mom has an autoimmune disease; what can I do? I've been giving her money every month; why are you saying that I'm not working on her treatment?" James looked angry. He couldn't take Nora's words. Nora looked sarcastically at James. "I never wanted to say this, but you're not telling the truth. My mom has been living hand-to-mouth, trying to make up for the money you've ruined with your gambling hobby. You spent it all. Now, I will no longer remain silent. If you still care about your wife, then take care of her even if she's sick." Nora left James. Nora entered Nancy's room. Her mother was lying helplessly on the hospital bed. Her face was pale, and her body was emaciated from an autoimmune disease. Nora grasped Nancy's hand tightly. "I will never stop trying. I will do anything for your recovery." An upset James could no longer contain his feelings. He peeked at Nora and Nancy's interaction. "You take me for granted, Nora. I'll make you regret it!" James left, sat on the waiting chair, and then called someone. James' previously sullen face looked calmer; slowly, a smile graced his face. "The price is very reasonable. I have nothing to do with her. She's just a woman I've known for a while. Then, you can take advantage of it. I will tell you the exact time to take her away." *** Nora smiled, looking at the paper in her hand. She finally got the loan from the bank, and she wanted to tell Nancy as soon as possible so that Nancy could get the same treatment and health as before. Nora didn't want to waste much time, so after leaving the bank, she immediately went to the hospital. Going to the hospital from the bank was not far. Nora only needed to walk a few hundred meters. To speed up the process, she chose to cut through the alley that connected the road to the hospital. Several times, Nora had passed through that alley. If she walked before night, then there wouldn't be anything strange. Only a few homeless people were sitting there. Nora was not bothered by that. Nora continued to walk until she felt someone behind her. She turned around and then saw a tall man in a denim jacket who stepped slowly behind her. The man was looking at her too, with one eyebrow raised, but Nora didn't want to think badly because surely she wasn't the only one who knew this alley. However, Nora began to notice something when she saw the end of the alley. The sunlight seemed to be covered by someone's silhouette. Nora realized it was another man who was indeed staring from there. Nora also felt uncomfortable as the man behind her was getting closer, even deliberately rubbing her skin as he walked beside her. The man smiled when Nora noticed his behavior and continued to do it on purpose. Of course, Nora was angry. "Please don't get too close! You can walk first if you're in a hurry, right?" Nora said stressfully that she didn't want to get into trouble with that person when she couldn't ask for help in that place. Nora regretted it; she should have taken the main road instead. "I just wanted to ask you. You seem to be the one who knows this place." The man looked at Nora with his blue eyes. "I don't really know this place. Please ask someone else," Nora replied firmly. "Well, it looks like the man in front of the alley knows." Nora didn't answer. She tried to stay calm and kept walking until she was a few steps away from the end of the alley, but the man there was walking closer to her with a suspicious smile. Nora seemed to be right; the two men had bad intentions. They greeted each other. This time, Nora realized that she was their target, and the two men ambushed her body. Nora tried to fight back and screamed, but it was all in vain, as she didn't have enough strength. "Let me go. Who are you? Please don't do this to me!" Nora said in a trembling tone of voice. She was very frightened. Her body was trembling, too. Nora was so scared that she couldn't fight back, but she didn't want to become the target of the two strangers' crimes. "We just want to have fun. Go to sleep, Nora; soon, your life will change," said the man with a scarred face on his forehead. The man took out a handkerchief, which he brought close to Nora's face. Nora struggled, but the man behind her pressed her head. She smelled the strong chemical odor coming from the handkerchief. Nora's eyesight blurred, and her body went limp. Nora fainted. *** A strange smell pierced Nora's nose as she began to regain consciousness. Nora opened her eyes slowly. Her vision was still blurry. Her hands held her dizzy head. She tried to stand up, but it felt like her whole body went limp. "Where is this?! Somebody help me!" Nora shouted, but her voice sounded like a mouse screeching. Her consciousness was not yet complete, but she could not linger as her heart was suddenly unsettled. She had never fallen asleep like this. She always knew when to go to sleep and when to wake up. Nora was sure there was something wrong with the way she woke up like that. Slowly, Nora was able to open her eyes completely. She looked around her. A room that looked more like a hotel room. Nora held her dizzy head. She got out of bed. Then she walked towards the door. But Nora's steps immediately stopped when she heard a voice saying, "Don't you dare go, or you'll die, Nora!"