Debt Contract

That’s impossible. My parents never mentioned taking out any debt from the mafia and definitely not five hundred million dollars. What would they even need that much money for anyways? We lived a normal life. We didn’t have any crazy money to spend like that.

I turned to look behind me at my sobbing grandmother who had a look of absolute shock on her face. I knew it, this is probably also my grandmother’s first-time hearing about all this. I was worried about my grandmother. She looked so pale like she could pass out at any moment and her silent sobbing cries had gotten louder as the situation worsened around us.

“It’s just as the contract states. Your parents borrowed five hundred million dollars from our boss and we’re here to get it back. Simple,” the man continued in a passionless voice.

Simple. My foot.

I looked down at the contract that I clutched tightly in my trembling hand. Scanning it, I could see the words and figures of five hundred million dollars. The signature of both of my parents were on the document. Did they really take out this ridiculous loan? Why?

“But…my parents passed away many years ago…” I whispered, still unable to come to terms with this.

I was in no position to pay off any debt. We could barely afford to get by. We had no money to spare, let alone the five hundred million dollars that the man was talking about.

“Exactly. That’s why we’ve been looking high and low for you, their only daughter. Since your parents are dead, you’ll have to pay the boss back,” the man said while nodding his head.

“But…I don’t have any money…” I said, completely at a loss.

“Well, that’s not exactly my problem. However, the boss wants his money back. So, you’re coming with us,” the man said.

Before I could react, the man’s hand had reached forward in astonishing speed and was gripping my wrist tightly in his large hand. He didn’t hold me too tightly and it didn’t hurt but no matter how much I struggled against him, his grip wouldn’t loosen.

“Let go! What do you think you’re doing?” I cried out loudly as I continued to struggle vainly against his grip.

“Stop struggling. You’re making this unnecessarily hard for both of us. My boss has ordered me to bring you to him if you don’t have any money to pay him back with,” the man said as he dealt with my struggling effortlessly.

“No! I refuse!” I shouted.

“Well, I’m just doing my job. Hurting women and old grannies isn’t my thing. I suggest you stop struggling now and come with me willingly,” the man said sternly.

“Lisa!” I heard my grandmother call out my name repeated in a strained and broken voice when she witnessed the physical struggle between the man and I.

However, soon after my grandmother was silent. I turned around to see that she had fainted. Oh…what do I do now?

“Let go! Can’t you see my grandma has fainted! This is all because of you…” I shouted at the man, tears stinging my eyes. This is the worst; I can’t start crying now. I need to help grandma first…

“Yo…you stay behind. Call the ambulance and get dear granny there to the closest hospital. Girl, you’re coming with me,” the man instructed one of his teammates while pointing a finger at my grandma.

The next thing I knew, my body was being lifted off the floor. The man carries me up and threw me across his shoulder effortlessly. I cried out in surprise at what was going on before I started beating my firsts on his shoulders and kicking my legs wildly.

“Grandma! Grandma!” I called out as loudly as I could as I continued to struggle.

I watched my grandmother’s unresponsive form as she laid on the floor and I felt tears running down my face. Is she going to be, ok? I don’t have anybody left…I can’t lose her too.

…

Everything that happened once I entered the black limousine was like a scene from the movies where the young woman was kidnaped by the mafia, stuffed into a car with her hands and feet bounded and a black bag placed over her head to stop her from struggling and to make sure that she didn’t know where she was being taken.

Just like in a movie, once I was inside the car I wouldn’t stop struggling and yelling at the top of my lungs. The men restrained me to the seat at first with their hands before they looked at each other and decided that more needed to be done to restrain me.

“Listen, Miss. I’ve been ordered to treat you kindly and with respect. I’m not allowed to use violence but if I deem that you will do less damage to yourself if you were restrained then I will restrain you. Do you get it?” the same man from before explained with a tired sigh.

“I don’t care!” I shouted in his face.

Seeing that I wouldn’t cease screaming and struggling, the man nodded to his men and one man started bounding my hands together while the other bounded my feet. I screamed at the top of my lungs and cursed at them all the way until they taped my mouth shut, literally.

“This is for your own good, miss. I can’t let you arrive in front of the boss in a damaged condition. Bear with us for a while…” the man said with a chuckle as he took out his mobile phone.

“Yes…you can tell the boss that we’re on the way. Yes, the girl is with us,” the man reported to whoever was on the other end of the line.

The phone call was short and succinct unlike the journey that I was on. Since they didn’t blindfold me, probably because they thought that it was unnecessary, I was still able to see the scenery outside of the car’s windows. I couldn’t tell where they were taking me, but it was clear from the direction that we were going that we were headed to the capital city.

I haven’t been back to the buzzling and busy city since I moved to the countryside to live with my grandmother. I wondered if that place has changed at all?

 “Wake up, little miss. We’ve arrived,”

--To be continued…