Episode 1

~Lisa's POV~

"Dad! No! You can't do that. You can't take my money," I whined over the phone to my drunkard father. He replied, "Sweety, it's only for the week. Everything will be fine." He sounded really drunk, which made me wonder why I was making that call in the first place. It was like running into a dead end.

That was the third time that week my father had taken my money to go spend it in some bar, and I wasn't having it. Ever since my mom died, this was what I had to deal with—my father's irresponsibility. It was one hell of a chore taking care of a grown-ass man.

"Hey, Maribel," I said after she had heard my line connect successfully to my best friend's.

"Hey, what's up?" Maribel replied rather coldly.

"Uh, could you do me a favor?" I asked nervously.

"Sure, I'm the one to call whenever there's a favor needed," she replied sarcastically.

"I just really need your help, Maribel. I'm sorry, but I can't help it sometimes," I pleaded.

"Let me guess, your father took your money again?" she said mockingly.

"Yes! Yes, he did!" I replied, almost too loudly.

"Girl, I've told you to change the location of where you keep that money."

"And I did! I did change the location, but he always finds my money wherever I keep it."

"I do hope you know what a bank account is?"

"Oh, come on, Maribel. You know I can't do these things as my identity is not in the government records."

"So, what do you need?" she finally asked.

"Please help me out with some cash. I promise, I'll pay you back," I pleaded, embarrassed and concerned that my debts were growing more and more by the week, and some people were already demanding their money. If I could jump off a cliff that minute, I would, but I felt I had so much to live for and so much to take care of, including my irresponsible father.

I eventually got some money cash app to me by Maribel, and I was really grateful. I got a text from my boyfriend, Max, that read that we needed to see, and boy, was I excited because I hadn't seen him in a long time.

I was so busy with work at the bar. My boyfriend, on the other hand, had so much to do, so seeing that text brightened my mood for sure. Until a few minutes later, I got another text from him saying I shouldn't bother coming again.

Max: Don't bother coming anymore. I need to be somewhere ASAP.

Me: What? Why? But I miss you.

Max: I'll come over to you tomorrow, I promise.

Me: Okay, baby. Tomorrow then.

But I wasn't convinced. I had to spy on him. I mean, what more would I do with my life, actually?

I got into my car and dropped by the gas station to get some fuel with the little cash I had on me. Then I drove all the way to his place, and that was when I sighted from afar that his truck was still there, which meant he hadn't left already. So, I was elated. Then I got out of my car and decided to give him a surprise visit.

His door was wide open, so I assumed he left it open because he was on his way out and probably forgot something. Then I heard loud music blasting from upstairs, which I guessed to be his room. I tiptoed as slowly as I could and tried to slide his door open, and to my surprise, it was open as well. And you know what was even more surprising? Seeing him in bed with my best friend, Maribel.

At that point, they stopped whatever it was they were doing and tried to cover up fast, but I already caught them red-handed.

"Is this what you do? Is this why you usually don't have time for me?" I asked, almost tearing up.

"Babe, it's not what you think. Who let you in my house anyway?" He said, putting on his pants, and I scoffed.

"You must think you're something, asking me such a shitty question," I spat at his face. Then I turned to Maribel, who just sat there, unmoved and unbothered.

"Is this how you treat a friend?" I asked in my thickest Mexican accent ever.

"You are anything but a friend to me," she shrugged and went back to her phone.

"Okay, okay, Mari, you have to go. Babe, please, it's not what you think," he said, kneeling and touching my legs, but I smacked him in the face and pushed him away.

"You dumb fuck!" I yelled in frustration and anger.

"After all we've been through together! I lost a lot of my jobs because of you! I go hungry sometimes just so you would eat! I lost so many friends because of your stupid ass!" I thundered.

"Baby, baby, please, please," he said, running after me as I dashed away from him through the stairs.

"It was Maribel who paid me to do this! I know you have no money, and I wanted to help myself as well," he explained, a bit out of breath.

"Did I ever complain? Did I ever have to sleep with a man to make the money I make for us?" I yelled and got no response from him.

"Then fuck you!" I thundered and stormed off. I had no idea where I was going; all I knew was that I was driving and I was really hurt and crying. I just wanted to disappear, and everything was crumbling right before my very eyes.

I caught sight of a bar down the street, just close to my house, and I knew I needed a drink or maybe two. I quickly made a stop and got in the bar. It oozed of alcohol and weed, as expected. I found a seat at the bar and asked for shots. "Hey! Two shots for starters," I said to the barman, and he nodded with a cute smile. He got my shots ready, and I started drinking. That was when this cold-looking man walked up to me and took a seat right beside me, and soon we were engaged in a good conversation.

"So, how about you? How's life treating you?" he asked after he told me about his business, his wife, and his kids.

"Oh, just little blows here and there, but I'll be alright," I said and chugged down my fifth shot for the night.

"Oh, definitely, you will be alright. More shots?" he asked.

"Yes, please," I said, feeling a bit dizzy, but I didn't care. I just wanted the night to feel less painful for me.

I got really dizzy and heard the man whisper something in my ear. "Let's go to my place, sexy," and that was the sexiest thing I'd heard all month. All I could think of was how good I'd feel in his buffy arms, so I agreed to go with him. Soon, I was in a van, and I noticed people around me, but I didn't really care at that point, and I guessed it was the alcohol. So, I looked beside me and saw a guy with a gun and started panicking. Meanwhile, the anonymous guy who took me into the van was holding and caressing my hands, and I felt safe again. Stupid, right?

I eventually fell asleep and woke up moments later. I woke up to a dimly lit room with my arms tied at the back and my legs tied to the chair I was sitting on. Shit, the hangover was really bad, but not bad enough to realize I had been kidnapped.