Chapter 3: According to Plan

"Oh, right, I haven't introduced myself yet," the woman began the conversation in a friendly tone. "My name is Hilma. People usually call me Mrs. Hilma."

Lorna nodded politely. "I'm Lorna."

Mrs. Hilma smiled, her large, firm hands remaining on the steering wheel. "That's a beautiful name. You're still in school, right? How old are you?"

"Yes, I'm 15 years old," Lorna replied.

"Wow, so young. I'm 27 myself." Mrs. Hilma's tone carried a hint of melancholy. "I'm a widow. My husband and baby died in an accident a month ago."

Lorna was startled to hear that. She glanced at Mrs. Hilma's face, which was still smiling, but there was a hidden sadness behind it.

"I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am," Lorna said softly.

"Thank you, honey." Mrs. Hilma replied with a long sigh. "My life used to feel complete. I had a loving husband and a sweet baby girl who was only seven months old at the time. But then, everything was taken away from me. Now, I'm all alone at home. It's so quiet."

Lorna felt a deep sympathy for the woman. "So, you've been living alone for the past month?"

Mrs. Hilma nodded. "Very lonely. That's why I offered you a ride. Not just so you wouldn't be alone this late at night, but... I also needed someone to talk to. At least, I wouldn't feel so alone."

Lorna gave a small smile. "I don't mind keeping you company. Besides, this is better than waiting for a taxi alone."

Mrs. Hilma glanced at her and smiled wider. "You're a good girl, Lorna. Your parents must be proud of you."

"I only live with my mom and my little sister, Mariana. She's 12. My parents divorced when I was eight." Lorna said.

Inside the car that drove through the quiet night, Lorna sat with mixed feelings. She glanced at the woman beside her, Mrs. Hilma, who was still driving with a calm expression. The dim streetlights illuminated her face, revealing her dark skin, thick curly hair, and tall, broad frame. There was something in her sharp gaze that made Lorna uneasy.

Even though Mrs. Hilma spoke gently, Lorna couldn't shake the tension creeping into her chest. The woman's sheer size made her feel dominant inside the increasingly cramped car. The friendly smile on her face should have been reassuring, yet it only deepened Lorna's discomfort, like something was lurking behind that kindness.

After driving in silence for a while, Mrs. Hilma suddenly reached for something in the car's dashboard, a small jar of cookies. She opened it and offered it to Lorna.

"You must be hungry after a long day. Have some cookies, they taste good," she said in a gentle voice.

Lorna eyed the jar hesitantly. She was a little hungry, but her instincts told her not to accept food from a stranger.

"Thank you, ma'am, but I'm not really that hungry," she replied politely.

However, Mrs. Hilma kept smiling warmly, her tone filled with concern. "It's okay, dear. I made these myself. I always bake them as my daily snack. I'm sure you'll like them."

Lorna swallowed hard. The way Mrs. Hilma spoke made it difficult to refuse. She didn't want to be rude, especially after the woman had shared such a heartbreaking story about her family. Finally, with slight hesitation, she took one cookie and bit into it.

It tasted good. Soft texture, just the right amount of sweetness. Lorna was surprised, then unconsciously took another, and another. Each bite sent a soothing sensation down her throat, making her feel slightly more relaxed.

But just minutes after eating a few cookies, she felt something was off. Her eyelids grew heavy. A wave of drowsiness hit her fast and hard. Her head started spinning, her limbs weakening as if all strength was draining from her body.

Lorna fought to stay awake. She shook her head slightly, trying to focus on the road ahead, but everything blurred. Cold sweat trickled down her temple. Something was wrong...

"M-Mrs..." her voice came out weak and broken.

But Mrs. Hilma only glanced at her with an unreadable smile. Her eyes no longer held warmth, they were sharper, colder, filled with something else. As if she had been waiting for this moment all along.

The world around Lorna darkened. Her breath hitched, her head slumped against the seat, and her consciousness slipped away completely.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Mrs. Hilma exhaled in relief, then smiled in satisfaction. The cookies had been laced with a strong dose of sleeping medication. Now, Lorna was entirely in her grasp.

Once she was sure Lorna was unconscious, Mrs. Hilma glanced around, checking if anyone was passing by on the deserted road. Carefully, she pulled over to the side of the dimly lit street, where only flickering streetlights cast eerie shadows into the night.

She swiftly stepped out of the car and headed to the trunk. Her large, strong hands opened it and retrieved several items she had prepared earlier—iron chains, a padlock, and a roll of black duct tape. Her eyes flickered toward Lorna, who remained limp in the passenger seat. Then, she opened the door and reached for the girl's body.

With practiced movements, Mrs. Hilma pulled Lorna's hands behind her back and wrapped the iron chains around her wrists, securing them with a small padlock. Then, she did the same to Lorna's ankles, ensuring the girl wouldn't be able to escape when she woke up. Not stopping there, she also tore off a strip of black duct tape and pressed it firmly over Lorna's mouth, silencing any potential cries for help.

Mrs. Hilma exhaled slowly, then gazed at the girl's face with an unsettling expression, a mixture of affection and unnatural obsession.

"You're safe with me now, sweetheart," she murmured.

Effortlessly, she lifted Lorna's frail body. With her tall and muscular build, she carried the girl with ease, as if cradling a child. Lorna looked so small and fragile in her arms, as though she truly belonged there. Like a mother holding her own baby.

Carefully, she walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk. Without difficulty, she placed Lorna inside, making sure the girl was lying comfortably, or at least, comfortable in her own perspective.

Once finished, Mrs. Hilma reached into Lorna's pocket and took out her phone. She checked the recent call list, then swiftly removed the SIM card. She examined the tiny chip for a moment before tossing it out the window into the bushes.

That way, no one would be able to track them.

She kept Lorna's phone and bag. Then, she returned to the driver's seat, started the engine, and continued driving.