The beach was alive with activity. Families played in the surf, children built sandcastles, and groups of friends laughed as they tossed frisbees back and forth. The sun was high, casting a warm glow over everything, while the sound of waves crashing creating a soothing, and pleasing alive sound.Under a large, colorful beach umbrella, an older woman and a little girl sat together, enjoying their day. They looked strikingly similar—perhaps grandmother and granddaughter—with the same bright eyes and easy smiles. The woman hummed a holiday song, her voice blending perfectly with the laughter and chatter around them, while the girl stuffed her face with snacks, giggling at the crumbs falling on her lap.Nearby, a fitted black haired man that looked thirty years old in swim trunks and a Hawaiian shirt appeared to be just another beachgoer enjoying the sun. He lounged on a towel, sunglasses on, a book in his hand. But every few minutes, he would lower the book slightly, revealing a camera
The drive was smooth, with the woman's car always in sight but not too close. The man followed, weaving through traffic easily. His eyes never strayed from the familiar vehicle ahead.The woman and the girl seemed oblivious whatever was going on outside their car, their conversation carrying on as the cityscape changed around them. The man followed them through intersections, past rows of shops and residential streets. He kept his car at a safe distance, ensuring that his quarry never suspected they were being tailed.She was an old woman, what was she even going to suspect? He scoffed.As they drove, the woman occasionally glanced in the rearview mirror, but she was mostly focused on the road ahead and the girl in the back seat, who was now singing softly to herself. The man took note of every turn, every change in speed, ensuring he stayed on their trail without raising suspicion.The journey continued, taking them out of the busier parts of town and into a quieter neighborhood. The
They drove until they arrived at the front of a trailer home. The woman parked the car and turned to her children. "Quédense en el coche," she instructed firmly. "No salgan hasta que yo vuelva."_Stay in the car, don't come out until I get back._She hurriedly got out of the car and made her way to the trailer , her heart pounding with urgency. She knocked on the door, glancing nervously over her shoulder. The door opened to reveal a potbellied man whose shirt could barely cover his stomach. He held a ginger cat in one arm and a cigarette in the other.She grimaced at his disheveled appearance but shook her head, reminding herself that she was in a hurry. "Necesito los pasaportes," she demanded, her voice tense._I need the passports_The man looked at her suspiciously. "¿Por qué?" he asked, his eyes narrowing._why?_"Es una emergencia," she replied harshly. "Los necesito. Son míos de todos modos."_It's an emergency. I need you. They're mine anyway._He shook his head, still holding
She woke up to a loud sound from outside, a distant but alarming noise that cut through the quiet night. The woman was startled, her heart racing. Lily woke too, her wails filling the small bamboo house as she searched for her grandmother in the dark.The woman moved quickly to an opening in the bamboo wall and peeked outside. She saw flashlights cutting through the darkness and heard the heavy footsteps of boots crunching through the underbrush. Fear gripped her, but she knew she had to stay calm. She quietly crossed the room and shook Carlos awake, who was deeply asleep."Carlos, wake up," she whispered urgently. "There's here, Tenemos que irnos."_We have to go_Carlos blinked awake, confused. She grabbed her handbag containing their documents, money, and other essential items, and handed it to him. Then she took Lily’s hand and placed it in his."Escucha," she said quietly but firmly. "take your sister and go out to get back, through the back door. Find a bush and hide”_Listen_C
FEW MONTHS AGOA few months ago, a familiar feminine figure in a vibrant yellow sweatshirt and a black tennis skirt drove into the misty woods. She followed a narrow, winding road that seemed to go on forever, each turn seemed to take her deeper into the forest, and she was grunted in frustration. Finally, she arrived at her destination and parked in front of a secluded bamboo house. The car’s engine cut off, leaving an eerie silence that matched the dense fog surrounding the place.She climbed out of the car and took a deep breath, glancing around to ensure she was alone. Pulling out her phone, she studied two pictures. The first was of a bamboo house that looked almost identical to the one before her. The second was of an older woman, probably in her late fifties, with brown eyes and a weary expression. The resemblance between the house in the photo and the one she was standing in front of was uncanny. Satisfied that she was in the right place, she nodded to herself.Opening the car
PRESENT.They drove in silence for what felt like hours, the landscape changing from dense forest to open roads. Carlos stared out the window, lost in his thoughts. His uncle's words echoed in his head, providing little comfort but a glimmer of hope that they would soon understand what was happening.Eventually, they pulled into a secluded driveway leading to a small, nondescript house. Their uncle parked the car and turned to face them. "Alright, we're here. Let's get inside quickly."The boy helped Lily out of the car, holding her hand tightly as they followed their uncle into the house. Inside, it was modestly furnished but looked and felt safe and secure, whoever took their grandmother wouldn't find here, he was sure. Their uncle led them to the living room, where he gestured for them to sit down.Carlos looked at his uncle, his eyes almost pleading. "Please, tell us what happened."Their uncle sighed heavily, running a hand through his grey hair, he called a maid first and instru
The next night, the warehouse was filled with the echoing sounds of footsteps and murmurs. The woman, still tied to the chair, had spent the day in a haze of pain and exhaustion. Her body was covered in bruises and cuts, and the pain she felt was clearly nothing to write home about, she was just a human who has not healing abilities of some sort. She barely had the strength to even keep her eyes open.As darkness fell, the men returned again, their faces looking more determined as if they already made up their minds ito kill her I'd didn't confess. The leader approached her first, his eyes looking very cold, the cut that ran from his lips to jaw did help ease matter."Are you ready to talk now?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm.She met his gaze, her voice hoarse but defiant. "Don't you all get tired. For fuck's sake I'm not saying shit, you should take it or leave it"He sighed, shaking his head. "You know, I really hoped it wouldn't come to this, again."He nodded to one of the
NEXT MORNING..The pain was unbearable, a constant, throbbing pain that killed her. Her body ached from the countless bruises and cuts, her hands throbbed from the torn nails, and her lungs burned from the waterboarding. Each breath was a real struggle, she could barely swallow her own spit.She was barely conscious when she heard footsteps approaching again. This time, there were more of them, and the sound filled her with dread. She assumed someone else had come along. Was this it? Was this how she was going to die, just because of money? Who were these people even? The questions swirled in her mind, making her almost question her existence. How had it come to this? She thought of Carlos and Lily, and a pang of sorrow shot through her heart. Would she ever see them again?The door creaked open, and though her vision was blurred and her eyes hurt too much to see clearly, she sensed the presence of someone else. Fear gripped her, more intense than any physical pain she had endured. Sh