Episode 1 : The Journey

Abby's pov

I was confused and startled. The duffel bag i was staring at right on the bed in my rented room in this strange country isn't mine. 

I unzipped it slowly , taking a peep to be sure if i am safe. Not my fault, casey has told me back home that the citizens in Louisiana are just as dangerous as they were great. 

Leave it to Casey to confuse me with her speech sometimes. Okay here i am in the strange country of Louisiana and i just arrived about an hour ago from Africa, My boss Mr Thompson has praised me the week before and finally he had said.

" Abby you deserve two months holiday. I will prepare the documents for your flights at once, you will spend them in Louisiana and I'm sure you will enjoy your stay " i have been more than excited when i heard the words from my boss. Never have i dream of been out of the country, less the Continent. 

Casey my best friend and also my colleague at work was very excited for me as well. 

" This is very great. we can't say, You might finally found your man in the state, just be careful. The citizens there are dangerous but also great " She had Said. 

In response to her speech i had rolled my eyes , waving her words away. She surely wouldn't know how the people here behave because just like me she hadn't been out of Africa. Not even once but now that i stood in my little rented room that has been secured for me by Mr Thompson , staring at the duffel bag before me i began to start rethinking about Casey's words.

The bag contained a mask, two note books and a flash drive. No wait, looking more closely i realized it wasn't a flash drive but a code wallet.

I exhaled sharply when i saw this. I have only saw code wallets in movies back at home but thanks to the TV though i was able to recognize it at once.

Jerking me from my fantasy was a call from the airport. I frown deeply as confused line appear on my forehead. 

I answered the call slowly and immediately i heard the cold voice of a man. 

" You have my duffel bag... Right ? " The voice came, booming into my ear loudly and i barely nodded in response.

" Yes it is " I manage to reply. The caller is obviously a citizen of this country judging by his accent. The coldness of the voice though was the reason i got chill in my vein. Part of me told me to run while another advise me to listen to the man on the other end who has begin to speak again.

" Bring Back my duffel bag now, i will Wait for you at the airport " He said and hang up. I stare at the cellphone with a open mouth before sighing. 

Great way to start my first ever two months holiday. I have taken with me a traveller's bag and a brown duffel bag which is identical to the one i have now in my room and ironically actually belong to the man who just hang up on me. In my Haste to return the belongings to the man who clearly was upset already, i forgot to zip back the duffel bag as i raced out of the apartment. 

To my horror rain was pouring down aggressively without me knowing when i was in the house. As soon as i step out, the cold breeze blew my hair off causing me to shut my eyes against the chill wind. 

I know the man won't let me have my way because judging by the way he sounds minutes ago, I'm sure he was waiting for me already at the airport. 

I flagged down a taxi and quickly get in.

" To the airport please " i instructed the elderly man behind the wheel and he obey immediately. I alighted from the taxi and paid the driver before rushing into the airport without acknowledging the incoming car that nearly hit me. 

My heart was caught in my throat when i saw the car nearer to me. I fell down awkwardly, scared to death but luckily the man behind the wheel was very skillful that he halted before making any damages. 

He get out of the car quickly, running towards me.

" Are you okay? " He asked bending to me. Then was when i look up to stare at his face but he was covering his nose with a mask and so i didn't have the grace to see him. But I'm lucky enough to sight his skin even though it was raining heavily and the thunder was clapping very loudly. He has a black skin just like mine but his fell on the chocolate colored category.

" I'm fine " i replied getting on my feet as i clutched the duffel bag on my chest. Now I'm dripping wet and cold.

" No you aren't, you are bleeding " The man says muffling through the mask on his face. He reached out to touch my wrist which by now has blood on them thanks to the fear of dying in a strange land. I jerked away from his touch in fear and the duffel bag fell from my grip. 

" Alright, but make sure you get that treated " He advised and bent down to pick up the duffel bag which he extended to me. I received it in haste and i dash into the airport. 

I started to look around for anyone suspicious , anyone who might be the rightful owner of the bag. 

" Hi " I heard behind me and i whirled around to see a white handsome guy with a long hair which he pack in a ponytail. No doubt he was into something illegal because his face looks like those of the criminals in the movies i usually watch Back home ,he has a scar on his forehead. Subtracting the scar he would have been the most handsome man i have ever seen in Louisiana. 

I'm sorry, not that i have seen much men though for I was only arriving an hour ago. I offered him the bag and he received it hastily going through it. 

I am so sorry when i realized his notes were wet but I'm sure he could get them dried.

" Where is my duffel bag? The one you took instead of yours " i asked him in a low tone but he didn't reply. Now he has a frown on his face which make him look more like an assassin. 

Thank goodness we are in the public, I'm not sure i would be safe if we have happened to be in a private, silent place.

" Where is my code wallet? " He asked in a hard tone and I signal him to check the bag further.

" It's in there " I replied slowly earning a glare from him this time.

" Check yourself " He managed to reply as i noticed he has began to fume in anger. 

I received the bag very slowly from him to look for the code wallet myself but unfortunately i couldn't find it. 

Oh no! I saw the code wallet before I left home, oh good lord. Did i just lost it? 

Shit! It must be when i wave away the stranger who nearly hit me with his car. Instinctively i raced out to the spot i left the man but he wasn't there. 

My heart leap into my mouth at this and i got nothing to say to the white man who was watching me. 

" I'm ... So sorry, i think i lost... It " i stutter in fear regretting the way i have waved away the stranger's touch. 

" What? " The man before me asked in awe. His scar seem to widen suddenly as he clenched his jaw, obviously retraining himself from strangling me in public. 

Then was when i know I'm in deep, deep trouble and huge debt.