chapter 19. kidnapped

Sofia's pov.

"What did you do to him?".

I stood frozen in my tracks with every word, unable to come out of my mouth.

 "Did what? and to who?". I asked, ignoring the thumping sound of my heart against my chest. "I'm knocking on his door and he is not responding".

How was that my business if he wasn't responding to her? Of course, apes would always behave like apes. "Then you should wait till when he comes back from wherever he went to and stop stalking me . I have someone else to be". I said in all seriousness and watched her blink her long lashes in front of me. "You better be sure of that". She said warnings, but who cares. 

She stepped backward and out of my way and I took that chance to flee as far as I could because no matter how the situation might show out. I would be caught in no time.  I doubt if there was a CCTV camera in his room, because if it was, then I was done for.

I pushed into the elevator. Well, I didn't expect to meet any person inside the elevator as Alice popped into the elevator as well.

She looked surprised and I wondered what for. 

"You  look scared Sofia, is anyone running behind you?" She asked, looking at me with an odd expression on her face.

"And why are you carrying your backpack with you? I mean you're supposed to be on duty and not here in the elevator looking scared".

She stood in front of me with hands crossed in front of her chest. With her blonde hair falling on either side of her face.

"I have items to pick up at the roadside. I just moved in and I need some lady's stuff". I hope that was conceiving enough.

"Ok then".

She continued to where she was going and I pressed the down floor.  I passed by the receptionist and didn't even blink at Cheryl at her desk. 

I heard her call to me in the middle of the crowd, but my mind was a mess to answer her and by the way, I had to go as far as my legs could carry me, I have to leave this place.

*****

I have been running the whole day and did know how much I have run.

I had run past a lot of streets filled with cars.

The roads were stuck with cars in traffic, making it possible for me to cross along. 

To say I was exhausted was an understatement.  My body was starting to feel numb. I was exhausted. Every nerve in me was beginning to slow down. I could feel it. I could not run anymore. 

I checked the cracked screen that has been with me all along, it was 7:30 PM.

 I wanted to take a rest. The streets were brightly lit up. Making everything visible. I had to put my backpack down, I removed a black hoodie from it and put it around my mouth like a mask. I don't know if that was helpful but I think it would help somehow. 

I don't know what the situation at the hotel is like now. I forget I left my door open and I know everything is out there in the public and there must be a search for me now.

Just as I was about to lay down in front of the grocery shop just next to me,  a blue van stopped in front of me and two men all dressed in black with black caps over their heads and black masks covering their mouths, stepped out of the van. 

This was the end for me I suppose.

But how did they know I was the one? Have they been following me? Unable to process my thoughts, when one of them walked behind me and grabbed my hands behind, putting a knife around my neck. 

"Don't act stupid or else, I will send this knife right through your throat and cut it open ". He threatens, but I still struggle anyways.

Although I knew that was not going to get me anywhere.  They were two of them, tall and muscular men and I was no match, even if it was just one of them.

"Let me go. I have done nothing to you".

I screamed at the top of my voice, they only proceeded to do what they were doing.

"My colleague just told you to keep quiet and not act rational.  So you better shut up. It won't help you because no one is going to hear you. People here are concerned with minding their business and not others ".

I think the latter was true, as people passed by like they didn't see a struggle. 

"Then why don't you mind your business and leave me alone". I retorted. 

"That's because you are our business and we are minding it".

What? I'm their business. What in the world?.

Before I could say a thing, they blindfolded me and placed duct tape around my mouth before pushing me into the car.

This is my end. I only struggled, but couldn't say anything. 

I think we drove for almost two hours before coming to a stop.

One of them walked to the booth and let me out.

It was pure darkness, but I could tell that we were somewhere far from the city as the place was dead silent. 

"Where have you taken me?".

I asked with a shaking voice after they removed the blindfold and the duct tape from my mouth. 

"Some were pretty far and I think you will like it when you see the person who asked us to get you".

"You all must be stupid, I don't want to see anyone. I don't know anyone. Just let me go"

I tried to struggle with them, but of course, I knew it was of no use since we were far away and I knew no amount of screaming was going to get me out of this place. 

"You know, you're something else, even in the darkness you keep struggling even though you know that, there would be no way out for you".

"Can you just get her and let us go, boss, must be waiting for us".

One of them said, dragging me with him. Almost 10 minutes into our journey, when the phone of the guy that was holding my hand rang. Stupid enough for him, he let go of my hand to get his ringing phone while the other man was in front leading us. 

I did not want to waste more time as I took that as an opportunity to run.

Within the blink of an eye, I took a turn to my left at all full speed.

"Hey you stupid girl, where do you think you're going?".

One of them asked, but I didn't bother to answer as I kept running into the thick night.

"Wow, you're such a brave girl. You keep trying to run, even in this thick darkness. Did you think that you're going to find your way out of here?".

I stopped in my tracks when I heard the voice behind me clapping their hands.

At that point, I knew there was no way out.

I bend to waist length, with my hands on my knees, panting like a dog with my hair flushed forward, literally covering my face.

"Thank goodness Mateo, you saved us the trouble of having to run behind her so many times in just one night ". One of my kidnappers ran towards me and the stranger was also panting just like I was.

"Of course, I had to, after seeing how helpless you two were behind her".

 What is going on, like what is happening to me? What are these people talking about? Wait, he just said he has been watching us the whole time, does it mean he has been keeping an eye on me like he knew that I killed someone?. 

Still, with my hands on my knees and hair forward, I wondered with my eyes searching the corners if he was coming any close. 

"Take her now. Boss Leo has been waiting for so long to finally meet her".

The stranger said and that made me wonder even more.

 A world we live in. People know you and everything you do, meanwhile you know nothing about them. " Who the hell is your Boss? and what does he want me for?". I just needed to get my answers. Why do people keep following me? Since I was seven years and till now, what have I done?

Wait, maybe because I'm from a powerful family, I mean from a powerful family. But my parents got killed and everything was taken away from them.

So who are these people? Can someone just come to my rescue? I cried internally.

"Do not bother much, you will get to know him when we get there, sweetheart"

 He said, trying to get closer. Sure, your boss or whoever he is would surely get it from me.  I almost kneed him in the groin. Watching that evil smile form on his face.