The Sielnt Cry for Help

Jane waited.

Each passing day felt like a lifetime, her heart caught between fear and hope. She spent her days pretending—pretending she wasn't terrified, pretending she wasn't counting the seconds until Nick came.

And then, the sign came.

It was late evening when Maria, her roommate, ordered fast food. Jane sat on the couch, her eyes subtly following the delivery process. A guard stationed outside the building checked the package thoroughly before allowing it inside. Every little detail was monitored. Even Maria, as perceptive as she was, remained clueless about Paul's invisible chains around Jane's life.

When the food arrived, Jane took the box with steady hands, though her heart pounded against her ribs. She carried it to the kitchen, opened the lid, and began transferring the food onto a plate.

That's when she saw it.

A small slip of paper, hidden beneath the meal.

Her breath caught as she carefully pulled it out, hands trembling. Unfolding it, her eyes darted across the message:

"I know what he planned. Do not be afraid. I will protect you. Everything is done. Wait for me.

Love, N."

Jane's vision blurred with unshed tears.

Nick…

She had doubted him, questioned his love. But he had kept his promise. He was coming for her.

Relief flooded her which made her nearly collapse. But she couldn't afford to be careless. She quickly grabbed the sauce packets and smeared them over the note, erasing the words. Then, she crumpled the paper and buried it deep within the garbage, making sure it was discarded properly.

She couldn't risk the guards searching the trash.

Swallowing down her emotions, she forced herself to eat, her stomach churning with nerves. That night, she fell asleep gripping her pillow tightly, the faintest flicker of hope keeping her sane.

The next morning, a sharp knock at the door jolted Jane awake.

Her blood ran cold.

She moved carefully, schooling her face into an expression of calm before opening the door.

A tall man in a crisp black suit stood before her, his polite smile doing nothing to ease her fear.

"Miss, Mr. Paul sent me to take you to the wedding," he said smoothly.

Jane forced a small smile. "Thank you."

As she moved to close the door, the guard stopped her.

"You don't have to change into the wedding dress now," he added. "The makeup artists are waiting for you at the venue."

Before Jane could respond, Maria stepped into the room, wearing a soft pink bridesmaid dress, her eyes glowing with excitement.

Jane swallowed hard.

"Alright," she murmured. "I'll be ready in a few minutes."

The guard nodded and stepped back.

Once the door shut, Jane moved like a ghost through the room. She slipped into a simple black dress, her hands shaking as she adjusted the fabric. Her heart felt heavy, as if it already knew something was coming.

Maria frowned, eyeing Jane's reflection in the mirror.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, concern laced in her voice.

Jane gulped, looking anywhere but at Maria's worried face. "I have to be."

Maria crossed her arms, exhaling sharply. "You don't look happy, Jane. You look like you're going to a funeral." She gestured toward the black dress. "And what's with this? Why not wear something… I don't know, hopeful?"

Jane let out a hollow chuckle. "It doesn't matter. I have to change into the wedding dress anyway."

Maria didn't respond, but Jane felt her eyes linger.

She didn't press further. She knew something was wrong.

With a deep breath, Jane stepped out of the apartment, Maria following closely behind.

The door opened instantly, revealing Nick and Adam. Their faces were set in grim determination.

Maria stepped inside, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's ready."

Nick clenched his jaw, his fists tightening. "How does she look?"

Maria hesitated. "Like she's walking to her execution."

Nick's entire body tensed.

Adam placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We have to move fast."

A new voice spoke from the corner of the room.

Richard.

"We have to get her out before it's too late."

Nick exhaled sharply, his eyes burning with intensity.

"We will."

Nick nodded firmly. This was it. There was no room for mistakes.

Richard, the only one Paul didn't know, had stepped in as their secret weapon.

A few days ago, Nick had reached out to him, desperate for help. Richard had agreed without hesitation. His role was simple but critical—he had to be inside the mansion before the wedding.

Disguised as a boutique salesperson, he had personally delivered Jane's wedding dress to Paul's mansion. Paul had been pleased with how the gown turned out, unaware that Richard had deliberately asked the shop to make it a size bigger.

The plan was in motion.

Jane stood in front of the mirror, drowning in the sea of white lace and silk.

The dress slid off her shoulders, the fabric too loose against her frame.

A dresser stepped back, her face pale with fear. "Miss, did you lose weight?" she asked hesitantly.

Jane shook her head. "No."

Panic spread through the room. One of the girls quickly informed Paul about the issue. "The dress isn't fitting," she stammered. "It's an off-shoulder design—it has to hold around her waist, but it's too big."

Silence.

Then, the sharp sound of a slap rang through the corridor.

The girl gasped, clutching her cheek as Paul towered over her, eyes dark with fury. "How dare you make such a mistake?" he hissed.

She trembled. "I-I'll get the alternate dress—"

"Forget it!" a voice interrupted smoothly.

Richard.

Dressed in his disguise, he stepped forward, adjusting his glasses to look older, more professional. "I can fix the dress in a few minutes."

Paul's jaw tightened. He hesitated, but time was running out.

"Fine. Fix it," he ordered, then turned to the guard. "Take him to Jane's room."

The makeup room was heavily guarded. Paul was desperate to see Jane, but tradition dictated that he couldn't before the ceremony. His frustration was evident, but he had no choice.

Richard, trying to steady his nerves, walked toward the room.

The guards stopped him immediately. "Who are you?"

"I'm here to adjust the wedding gown," he said, keeping his voice even.

The guards exchanged glances, suspicious. One of them picked up the phone and called Paul.

Seconds felt like an eternity.

Then, finally, Paul's voice came through the receiver.

"Let him in."

Richard exhaled, his heartbeat drumming in his ears as he stepped inside.

Chaos.

The room was filled with panicked whispers, women scrambling to fix the situation.

Richard forced himself to stay calm. He opened his supply box, making a show of searching for tools while scanning the room for Jane.

Where is she?

Then, he saw her.

She was in the changing room, hidden from sight.

Richard needed to get everyone out.

He let out a loud, frustrated sigh and dramatically ran a hand through his hair. "I can't work like this!" he snapped. "The room is too crowded! Everyone's panicking, and I need silence if I'm going to fix this."

The women exchanged nervous glances.

He turned to the guard. "If I can't concentrate, the dress won't be ready in time. And if the bride can't wear the dress… well, you know what that means."

The guards stiffened. If the wedding got delayed, Paul would be furious.

One of them waved his hand. "Everyone, out!"

Reluctantly, the women left, murmuring anxiously.

The door shut behind them.

Silence.

Richard wasted no time. He rushed to the changing room and pulled back the curtain.

Jane stood there, motionless, her face devoid of life. She looked like a broken doll, waiting to be placed in a glass case.

"Jane," he whispered urgently. "It's me."

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Richard?" Her voice cracked. Then, without warning, she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him. "How… how did you get here?"

He pulled back, gripping her shoulders. "There's no time. Nick is arranging everything."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle. "Take this," he said. "It's a gas emitter. Before they announce your entrance, drop it on the floor. It'll release a thick smoke."

Jane's breath hitched. "What?"

"While everyone panics, a dupe will take your place. She's waiting near the ceremony hall. The moment she switches with you, remove the wedding dress and run." He pressed a small key into her palm. "This is for my car. It's parked in the lot on the left side of the venue. You remember it, right?"

Jane nodded quickly, her hands shaking.

"You need to be fast," Richard warned. "As soon as you get to my house, lock the doors. Nick will come for you."

Jane swallowed hard, nodding again. "I understand."

He sighed in relief.

Then, for a brief second, she broke. Tears welled in her eyes, and she reached for him again, hugging him tightly. "Thank you."

Richard smiled faintly. "Just don't get caught."

She pulled back, wiping her tears, determination settling into her features.

He handed her a body suit. "Put this on under your dress."

She took it and nodded.

Richard hurried back to his supplies just as the door swung open.

A guard stepped in, eyeing him suspiciously. "Is it done?"

Richard faked a casual smile. "Almost."

"Hurry up," the guard snapped. "We have ten minutes."

Richard forced a smirk.

Ten minutes.

That was all they had.