I Want Them All To Pay

Hailey stood in front of the Golden Luxury Hotel, waiting for a cab. Somehow, her phone had disappeared into thin air. Minutes after her disgrace, the hotel manager had approached, ordering her to leave the premises. Luckily, the room had already been paid for, but he refused to disclose the identity of the anonymous benefactor. Security was called to escort her out, and the haughty glares from other patrons revealed that she was already trending on the web.

 

All her life, Hailey had believed that she was unloved and had no place in the world. In the blink of an eye, her small world had transformed into a fairy tale. A letter had been delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Bale, and she was presented before her biological father, Bernard Lincoln, a business emperor. She had been the product of a love affair between him and the daughter of a miller. Olivia, distraught and alone, had abandoned her baby at the doors of a Catholic orphanage before taking her own life. Bernard had recently discovered his long-lost daughter and, determined not to let his enemies get to her first, had requested that she be brought to him.

 

Tears flowed freely from Hailey's eyes as she thought about how her peace of mind had been shattered in a single day. Hailey was a fairly renowned writer, and the day before, she had attended a book signing for her second paperback, "Up The Hills," her latest thriller. Afterward, she hadgone out to celebrate with a glass of champagne and an expensive dish. Who would have guessed that she would wake up in the same bed as her future brother-in-law?

 

"God, why is this happening to me?" she soliloquized, kicking stones with her flats onto the smooth, tarred road. After a while, she resolved that no cab was coming to pick her up, and she began her journey home on foot. It would take her more than three hours to get home that way, but she had no choice. It was either that or exercise fruitless patience. She suddenly remembered her old pink bicycle back at the Bales'. She had ridden it until it lost its bell and had punctured front tires. Eventually, it was sold to buy her new church clothes and a beanie when winter raged mercilessly back in the day.

 

The harsh sunlight bore down on her, and in her haste, the entire contents of her purse spilled onto the floor, combs and feminine oddities falling onto her path. It seemed like the universe was trying to mess with her, a continuation of her hellish day. It couldn't be past 10 am, yet she wished the day was already over. She bent over to pick up her belongings, unable to save a pink nail polish bottle that had broken upon impact. Done with the little task, Hailey straightened, her brown hair tumbling behind her back. Suddenly, she heard the sound of quick footsteps, but before she could react in time, she was grabbed by strong hands.

 

A handkerchief covered her nostrils and dulled her senses almost immediately. Her eyes rolled in, and she was carted away by unknown men.

 

---

 

The splash of water, followed by an order to wake up, shook Hailey back to awareness. Slowly, she recognized that her hands and feet were bound as she tried to adjust her weight. When she opened her mouth to protest, her tormentor, wearing a black ski mask, had already left the room. She found herself trapped in a metallic enclosure, the floor as cold as ice. Despite the difficulty of moving, she avoided staying in one position for too long.

 

As water continued to drip down her face, Hailey mused, wondering who could have orchestrated such a horrible act against her. Just as she was trying to recover from the shock of the situation, she now found herself in the clutches of nefarious individuals. It seemed likely that they knew she was the daughter of a wealthy man and intended to exploit her for financial gain. However, given the ongoing issue involving her alleged involvement with her brother-in-law, she had doubts about her father's ability to protect her. As the liquid dripped off her hair, mixing with the smears on her face, she realized it wasn't water but fuel.

 

"Fuel?" Hailey thought, repulsed, as she spat out the vile substance. 

 

Without warning, the door swung open, and since Hailey was lying on her side, she couldn't see who had entered. The newcomer approached and pushed her onto her back. It was Ashley, looking down at her with a malicious frown. Hailey sighed in relief, knowing that while there was no love lost between them, her chances of survival had increased, albeit marginally.

 

"Ashley! Oh, thank goodness you're here! You have to get me out of here. I was kidnapped by some men, and we have to leave before they return. Maybe if you cut my hands loose, I could do the rest myself," Hailey pleaded urgently.

 

Ashley wordlessly retrieved a lighter from her pocket and rapidly flicked it on and off. "You're not going anywhere, Hailey. I'm not here to save you, and no one else will either, once the video with Luke hits the internet and the news. I congratulate myself on a job well done. Luke is such a great actor," Ashley said sadistically, laughing.

 

Hailey gradually pieced together the fragments of information in her head: "Not here to save you... a job well done... Luke... a great actor..."

 

"What? You're shocked?" Ashley laughed maniacally, sending shivers down Hailey's spine. She continued, "Luke and I planned this. We are going to ruin you, and I'll be able to take over everything that my dad and your mom owned."

 

"My mom?" Hailey questioned, her disbelief evident.

 

"Oh, you didn't know?" Ashley sneered. "Your mom owns half of the properties we have. She signed them in your name so that you can inherit them, but you can't access them until you're twenty-two. Daddy isn't willing to give you your share, and that's why he brought you back so he can control you."

 

"It can't be..." Hailey shook her head in disbelief.

 

"Keep denying it. He doesn't love you and will never love you. So instead of going home to face his wrath, let me end you and put an end to your mystery," Ashley coldly declared. She flickered the lighter again, eyeing the flame with an unsettling fascination, and stepped back from Hailey.

 

Panicking, Hailey pleaded desperately, "You don't have to do this, Ashley! We're sisters. Please don't make a hasty decision in anger..."

 

Ashley threw the lighter at her sister, and instantly, Hailey ignited like a Christmas tree. Her screams of agony

 

 filled the air, and the deranged Ashley cackled in sick satisfaction. In her final moments, Hailey vowed not to die in vain.

 

***

 

The sunlight filtered into the warehouse, where only ashes remained, the fire long extinguished. Suddenly, the doors of the warehouse were forcefully kicked open.

 

A tall figure rushed in, accompanied by a troop of men dressed in black, appearing as bodyguards. They moved swiftly, their eyes scanning the surroundings.

 

The tall figure hurriedly approached the heap of ashes on the floor. Initially, he simply stood there, staring at the black lump, but after a while, he seemed to lose all strength and collapsed heavily to the ground.

 

His expression was filled with sorrow and misery. He reached into the ash, taking some into his hands. A tear rolled down his cheek as he cried, "Nana, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for coming too late." He sobbed, sitting on the dirty warehouse floor.

 

The bodyguards behind him stood in silence, their faces mirroring the profound grief they felt. The scene was heart-wrenching and grim.

 

Then, the man who had been crying lifted his head. His eyes were bloodshot and red as he looked at the bodyguards.

 

"Find out who did this," he ordered firmly. "I want them all to pay for hurting my woman."

 

"Yes, sir!" the bodyguards responded in unison.