“I’m stuffed. What’s the plan now? Do you want to go home or go walk this food off and get some fresh air?” Linlin yawned, dabbing her mouth with her napkin and leaned back in her chair to stretch out. TangShi rubbed her now full belly and turned to look at the weather outside the huge glass window of the café. The rain had dried up, and although it was still overcast, it wasn’t as grey or cold and the sun was pushing through with hopes of a nicer day.
It had been a pleasant quiet late breakfast, with small talk and happy vibes. Feeling a little more normal and how they used to be before this whole mess.
“I don’t feel like dealing with people, so anywhere that people are not.” TangShi sighed, relaxing now she was fed and a little tired. Between morning sickness and fatigue it had limited her ability to do much.
“How about driving to Jinshan city beach? It’s a little over an hour to get there. We
“She’s right back there, Tang.” TangShi had stepped only three feet away from him, facing away towards the rear but her body stopped short, stilling, and she swallowed hard. His voice echoed around her head and the familiar name kicked recognition into touch. She didn’t have time to react, to run, scream, or do anything, before a hand covered her face and her body was gripped cruelly. TangShi gasped, lifting her face away from the palm trying to muffle her. She twisted and managed to dodge her mouth being covered at all as he caught her under the chin instead. Putting up a fight and lashing out, throwing her feet back at him so he struggled to control her. TangShi had always been a girl who appeared weaker and gentler than she actually was and had a fire inside of her and a strength that only came out when she needed it. Survival instincts kicking in. Even though he was bigger, stronger, TangShi was functioning on pure adrenaline and found superhuman strength from somewhere
“Mr. Leng, Mr. Kim, the board members are all getting seated. This way.” The young secretary showed the men to the door of the long hallway of the room that was assigned for today’s meeting and yet ZhengLi held back. They had arrived at MinXo Corp to discuss a plan that had been in the works for a year and taken a half hour to get here.“Yo, hold up a second. I have a really weird feeling that I should drop Linny a message. Something feels off.” ZhengLi pulled out his cell phone, not caring that they were seconds from their appointment because it felt urgent suddenly and he couldn’t logically explain why. Wandering off to the side while YuZhi waited for him, checking his watch and feeling for his own phone to scan his messages. TangShi had left him a good luck text for his meeting and he smiled, happy at seeing her name, as he slid it back in his inside pocket. In no rush to get inside that room just yet.ZhengLi walked back to him s
“Nope. I have a lunch with them next weekend but right now I am in London again. Busy working, what’s up?” Rhea was in the process of having her hair styled for a fashion shoot, sat with her feet propped up in a studio while being tended to by various assistants.“Shit. It’s nothing. I just can’t get hold of them and need to. Don’t worry about it.” He looked up at the ceiling and pinched his nose, trying to curb his growing angst. A headache forming right at his temples.“You sound stressed, what is it? Why do you need them? What’s going on?” Rhea’s own concern peaked, aware that ZhengLi sounded emotional which was weird for him and knowing of the two girls, TangShi would always answer. She had never been one to monitor or ignore calls. Rhea had always found her to be a fast answer or text responder in their days of hanging out.“It’s nothing. I’m in a meeting and they went
TangShi stilled in the now motionless car. Listening intently for noise and trying to make out what Rong Cai was doing. Closing her eyes to improve her senses while still gripping the tire iron with both hands and poised to attack. Her heartrate raising and body clammy with fear but she tried to stay focused and calm although it felt like they had driven for an age and she had no idea where they were now.He had stopped them somewhere finally, pulled Linlin out already, of that TangShi was sure as she had heard the dragging and muffled groans of her on the other side of the seat. Straining to listen and see if she was conscious while he lifted her and pulled her away from the car.His footsteps came back towards her on a hard gritty surface, seeming like he hadn’t walked far to deposit Linlin and TangShi knew she was next. She gripped harder, her breathing getting shallow as her nerves elevated, her face damp with sweat as anticipation clawed at her, churning her
TangShi didn’t respond, her heartbeat racing and her palms clammy which was making the bar hard to grip, but instead kept on with her steady backwards sliding. Until she came level with Linlin and pushed Linlin’s outstretched leg gently with her foot to rouse her.“Linlin, are you awake, can you hear me? Please say something.” TangShi so desperately needed to hear her, even if it was just a groan to signal she was still alive. She looked completely lifeless and it was scaring her that he had done something awful.“Mmmmm.” A soft mumbling moan came from behind Linlin’s duct taped mouth covering and TangShi exhaled in sagging relief. Her head swimming with dizziness at hearing her respond and thanking god that she was conscious and breathing still. It made her less alone in this predicament and gave her hope that Linlin could still recover.“Did you think I killed her?” Rong started laughing, a cackling and man
“He’s coming. You only have one chance. GO. Just go!” Linlin could see him over TangShi’s shoulder, pulling out of the car with water bottles and knew it was their only chance. TangShi’s blood ran cold, the way Linlin was glaring over her shoulder catapulted her into instinctive action. Fight or flight response initiating and not giving her a moment to think it through. Stroking a final hand across Linlin’s head and sobbing as she jumped up.“I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you. I’ll get help.” She hushed her saddened words at her through jumbled tears and broke off into an instant run in the opposite direction of Rong Cai.TangShi put her all into it, head down, legs and arms swinging fast as they could. She made a break for freedom and adrenaline gave her a speed she had never achieved before. The sheer fear of running for her life without looking back.“TangShi, No!” Rong yelled after
“What are you doing?” Rong barked at her, sliding her body with him as he dragged her out of the car and dumped her at his feet in a careless manner. TangShi crumbling like an empty sack. Not able to keep a grip with the way he had to crawl backwards out of the car.“HELP…SOMEONE HELP, I’VE BEEN KIDNAPPED. HELP ME!!” TangShi screamed at the top of her voice, hurting her throat in the process, aiming at the car’s open door knowing she left the call connected to emergency services and praying they would have some way to track the cellphone. That if they could hear her then they would have some procedure in place to find them.Rong’s eyes followed her line of vision, confused with her erratic behavior once more, peering inside the car and spotted the illuminated cell on the floor. Rong lost his temper in instant fury, betrayed that this bitch would try and call for help and slapped TangShi hard across the face to shut her u
TangShi flicked her glance back in horror, seeing him come to and hurried Linlin towards their escape.“You can’t drive. It has to be me.” Linlin pointed out as TangShi tried to lever her into the open passenger door.“Look at you. How can you drive like this? We don’t need to go far, just away from here while you call the cops and we find out where we are. I can do that. I can try.” TangShi pushed Linlin in without further argument, having learned the basics of driving as a teen even though she never went onto pass her test. Linlin relented, slumping in and TangShi closed the door after handing her the phone and ran around the other side. One eye on him as she dashed as fast as she could.The keys were still in the ignition, much to her relief and she started it quickly. Her hands shaking, her vision blurry and she took a long calming breath to get her brain to work on the mechanics of getting going. Pulling up her lessons fo