Chapter 3

I heard rustling sounds, keys fidgeting, wailing, crying…

With difficulty, I opened my eyes. I am in a room with a few people whom I do not know well but they all work in the News Firm, I have seen them there.

My head hurt, I held my head and groaned from the pain, it felt like someone had hit me hard.

“Arghh…”

“Mommy… Mommy…” I heard a cry, a familiar voice, instantly I looked up and saw George, his face covered with fear and anxiousness. I approached him staggeringly and then blinked my eyes multiple times. Finally, I saw Lily lying on the floor unconscious and Geroge shaking her looking worried.

“Lilly… Lily…” I patted Lily’s cheek trying to wake her up. She didn’t move, I tried to look for her pulse and thankfully, I found it, but she is too weak.

“W..a..t..e..r…” She murmured and I looked around eagerly, “Water… Does anyone have water? Water… Please?”

I yelled but everyone seemed to turn a deaf ear as no one responded to me, just looking at me with tight lips. Are they all ghosts or have they been d****ed? I couldn't figure it out at the moment.

“What happened to Mommy? Aunt Eloise, what happened?” George looked at me with frightened eyes and I held him closer to me.

“Everything is going to be alright, George… Don’t worry…” I rubbed George’s back to soothe his fear and he squirmed in my hold. Poor boy.

I looked around the room, there were 3 young men, 2 older, and 1 woman who is a sweeper at the News Firm.

I could see the fear on their faces and their blank glances were proof that they too have no idea what happened to us and why we are here caged in a room together.

Fear prickled my skin, have we all taken as hostages?

****

TICK TOCK

An hour passed by, I guess and Lily stayed unconscious. She kept mumbling for water every now and then, feeling impatient. I stood up and started hammering on the door.

“Open the door… Open the door… Someone here would die, she needs water… Open the door…

Who are you?

What will you get from keeping us here?

Show yourself…

Open the damn door…”

I kicked the door furiously, there was no response from the other side nor did anyone make any effort to join me, I was all alone hyper and hammering at the door with all my myths.

CLICK … CLICK …

I heard the footsteps of someone approaching and took a step back cautiously when I heard the keys jingling and then the door opened wide revealing a man’s silhouette, he was wearing black clothes, and his face was fully covered with a black mask.

His eyes are deep black which can be seen by the mask. His lips were wide and thick, which could be seen from the mask too clearly.

He looked straight at me, waiting for me to speak, “I… This… This woman… Lily… She needs water…” I stutter from fear, his appearance was frightening, and his aura carried a vast sense of terror around him, darkness followed along.

He took a step forward and I sucked in a breath of nervousness.

One step

Second

Third

BOOM

My heart seemed to drop at its lowest when he just got inches away from me and then suddenly he turned walking towards Lily who was lying unconsciously, he studied her with his eyes, and then again his gaze was on me.

"Come with me." He spoke for the first time, his voice robotic.

He made a gesture from his hand for me to follow and gulping nervously I started to follow him slowly glancing at George one last time, who was petrified by the situation.

He locked the door with a key and then walked into a narrow path and I followed quietly, each second was increasing the terror in my heart, at any moment, I could faint, and my legs too started to wobble.

We completed the narrow path and then four doors came into my view. One at the left, one at the right, one at the center, and one at the right corner. It was small and hidden in the dark but somehow I noticed it.

He opened the center door and then let me in. I entered the room and gasped in shock. It has a large TV screen showing the inside of the room where we all are caged at the moment.

Which means, he had installed a camera there.

I gulped nervously, sweat started to cover my back, this man is truly dangerous but who is he, and what the hell he wanted from us all?

“Please… Let us go… You won’t get anything by keeping us here… Please…”

I pleaded with him, and he stayed unmoved. Taking a step closer, he pushed me to the wall and then whispered in a rich dark voice, “I will get what I want.”

I looked into his dark eyes, with my face drained out of blood, what did his words mean? I am hell terrified now from his closeness.

He then stepped away and picked up a water bottle, “This is what you want, huh?” He inquired and I nodded my head eagerly.

“Huh…” He scoffed at my eagerness. “Not that easy.”

“Please… That woman would die without water, she has a son…” I told him reasonably but he looked untouched by my words.

“We will play a game.” He said suddenly, making me stunned.

“A game?” I raised my brow in questioning. I don’t feel any right vibes from this man at all.

“I’ll touch you for two minutes, and you have to keep a smile on your face. If the smile fades, the water too fades away…” He laughed like a maniac and I gulped down with difficulty.

Touch… What kind of touch is he talking about? The panic started to cover my heart but then Lily and George… George is waiting for me. I looked at the TV Screen and saw the pitiful state of mother and son. My heart tightened and taking a deep breath, I finally made up my mind.

“Ok,” I responded firmly and his lips curved into a vicious smile making me unsure if I had taken the right decision by agreeing to his demand.

BOOM