78**Mr Scott **~Day ThreeThe night before, I spent a couple more minutes with Antony before checking out via Michael's instructions. I returned back to my house which was as quiet as a graveyard. On getting inside, I became suspicious of the silence thinking everyone had abandoned ship in fear of getting kidnapped or worse. I checked their sleeping quarters, they were still there. That alone warmed my heart. Reaching the top of the stairs, my eyes darted to Tracy's room.I couldn't stop myself from reaching it, twisting the knob and entering inside. There were police tapes everywhere. Dried up blood at the corner, Antony 's blood. I tore my eyes away and left the room headed for mine. I doubt I'll be getting any sleep.I did.The next morning, my entire body ached. I felt pain all over. I called for a maid who managed to secure some painkillers to ease my pain. I gave it a few minutes to work before jumping on the day's activities. I didn't have Michael's number, I doubt he'd give
79**TRACY SCOTT**~Day EightIt was all quiet from my end after all that ravaging. I lost my touch and the whole thing got me down. I crawled up in my own space and fought to wrap my arms around myself to provide the least amount of comfort I badly craved."Are you cold?"I heard him ask. I hissed and buried my head into my laps as deeply as I could. I didn't want to see, speak, talk, or have any form of interaction with that man. He's on my list already that makes him a dead man. I'm coming for all of them."Here, use this."He offered a jacket, placing it over my skin. I hissed and kicked him off."Don't pretend to care. Just go back to the front seat and enjoy your freedom while it lasts. Leave me the hell alone because I won't want to talk to you!"I raked at the top of my voice. He lifted the jacket, placing it back on his skin, then walked away.I went back to my sulking state awaiting what's to come. How long is the trio anyway? We've been driving for hours now. Maybe another
80** Mr Scott **~Day TwoI tucked my hands in my pocket and began my journey to Griffen park. A few passing by persons recognized me and while a few showed sympathy by shaking their heads or offering a small smile, others shamelessly hissed and walked by. I guess your eyes aren't really open to things until you become a victim, that's the occurrence and deep shit I'm in. I didn't know the hatred had gotten to this extent, it's so bad that anyone can openly admit to being happy that my daughter has been kidnapped, the hate comments even get to an extent where they wish she'll drop dead, or get tortured. It's that painful.Regardless, I got to the park and my phone began ringing. As I said, he's keeping a close eye on me."Check under the sixty bench, act normal, don't arouse suspicions. There's a small note waiting. After you retrieve it, don't open it until you're back in your office, ensure you read it in the restroom, I'm almost certain they have cameras in the hallway and a few i
81**TRACY SCOTT**~Day Eight"You weren't kidding Huh? He is truly here."I gulped slightly agitated and at the same time definately frightened."Yes. It's time you two get well acquainted with one another right?"I didn't react. I didn't speak, I arched my back further into the chair and kept silent."I'd like to stay alone, if that jerk comes back I'll take care of him or whatever, but I sincerely don't need to stay around you, you and I have nothing to discuss."I dismissed him in a final note."Tracy ...""What is it? What do you want to say that's going to change or influence our current situation? Absolutely nothing. We are in this now and there's no going back. I've come to terms with it. Please do. You betrayed my trust, you joined hands with the person who killed the man I cared about, you were also actively involved in my kidnapping since you knew our routes and other things, you're still involved in my current capture giving you express access to my list, I will get my ow
**MR SCOTT**Day Four"Cut the crap suspenseful Micheal, it's beginning to turn into a habit, I want to know what's going on with Antony . I'll sincerely appreciate it if you tell me the truth."I gritted my teeth. I heard him sigh on the other end."The doctor says he was bleeding internally. He was able to locate the source and take care of it so Antony didn't bleed out, but it somehow reversed all what we've been working for."My heart fell and shattered into pieces."That means we are back to the night of the abduction all over again? There's no progress at all?"I asked for confirmation. It was truly hard to believe."Yes. I'msorry about that Mr Scott It wasunintended.""What's the response time at this point.""Weeks."I breathed out and buried my face in my palm."Alright then. There isn't much we can do afterall. Thank you for updating me. I'll keep up the fronthere, please always let me know things as soon as they occur. I want to be kept in the loop ""I will."He assu
**TRACY SCOTT**~Day EightIn all Eight days, this is the first time I've seen the insides of someplace remotely normal. That's if it's still Eight days. Last thing I recalled was getting sedated while contemplating on getting on a plan with the head of an organisation against trying my luck by running away.Tina gave me a shot at the side of my arm to pause my thoughts and fixed my decision for me, get in whether you like it or not.Ethan was injured in the cross-fire. We came close there. It's because of his effort I'll get to see another day, without him I'll be dead. A bullet hit his leg as we tried to get out, but I expect he's getting medical attention Already.I woke up drowsy as always whenever a sedative was given. They always made it in high dosage.An entire day couldn't have passed right? It was dark outside, I suspected it's still the same day just hours passed so it was currently evening.As I said, I was in someplace normal. A typical bedroom, a television hanging on th
**MR SCOTT**~Day Eight~One Hour LaterI called the office, informed them that I'll come in a little late today, I decided not to skip an entire day, too much suspicion would get drawn towards me on different ends. It's been an hour with no news so far.Tracy was taken out. Michael's hands tied with no new leads. I managed to freshen up further, change even then sit on my bed, occasionally stand up and pace around myself without an answer to the burning question on all our minds. What the hell is going.Just when I was about to lose it completely, the phone began ringing. Rushing towards it, I picked the call, hung it over my ear, tilting my ear so it wouldn't fall, then I grabbed a pen and paper for anything that needed to get put into writing."I couldn't back to you since, it's been a tough day from my end."He breathed, more like paused from the panting session I caught him in."I understand, but I just need to know if you were able to locate Tracy.""We have her location. They'r
**TRACY SCOTT**~Day NineI tried to move while seating on the bed. Ethan's hand immediately went to the small of my back. He was shot, I was sedated, shouldn't this be the other way around?"It feels like I'm in some sort of dream. I can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm actually in his house, and oddly I find it very unconvincing and hard to believe. Where's everyone else?"He sighed and released a small chuckle even. What's funny? I crossed my arms underneath my chest, managing a glare aimed at him."You ask a lot. I'm stuck on which question to attend to first, I'll start randomly. The rest of the crew are in the general room discussing what to do next and how to proceed. I'm not Mr M, he'll show himself to you when the time is right, but that's all I know. Nothing more. For the nth time, I'm here because you've had a rough forty eight hours, back to back sedation isn't healthly. That's all you've been getting for eight days. I want to check to see if there are any damages,
**TRACY SCOTT**. "Where do you want to go?"Jimmy asked, dirverting into the main road.It's a miracle we've even gotten this far without any reporters trying to bash into the car or take pictures. Maybe they don't have vans?I'm almost sure Father would have gotten the news by nowThey've flock around the office begging for a comment or the house.I expected it. In fact I want it.The more influence I have, the more people get to hear the truth.Father can't oppose this even. That man killed his wife. He took me for days and now they're going to just let him go.Well I'll be dammed.Just like clockwork, my cell began ringing.Lucky guess it's Ethan. He's calling to rant aboutIt'll be rude not to answer, plus I'm not ashamed of what I've done I'll repeat it if necessary."What is it?"I snapped. From the corner, Jimmy's brows shot up."I just wanted to say congratulations. I'm happy you're going to do something that n
**TRACY SCOTT**. Murmurs. Bickering. Incessant sounds that's currently irking. Echoing in my ear and makes me want to scream. Maybe they'll shut up.More reporters are gathering since I've gotten what I wanted. For this to air live. For the entire world to hear me.For the whole world to see and understand my plague. To know why I went through and decide for themselves if what's going to happen is the right thing. It's not. They know it. It's why they'll stand up and stop it. I hope."Everyone is eager to understand what I'm about to say. I'll tell you and since this is live, there won't be any miscommunication."My eyes went above their heads as the teachers would advise us while we gave our speeches. I wished I hadn't done that though.For the side entrance, I noticed Antony burst out with Ethan behind him.Perfect. I had all the media attention, they weren't affected by two men.I turned away. Antony's eyes move
TRACY SCOTT**. Jimmy loves me. I should not be considering that with everything that's happening and all that's at stake, but in some weird way I can't help the tingles all around me with the realization that Jimmy loves me.He's actually in love with me. I know that because what we about to do is similar to jumping off a cliff with no safety on, he's willing to do that.I think he is. Maybe he'll just walk me up to it, tell me what to do then leave me hanging.He'll remain neutral in the dealings and I'll face the music myself.I would not blame him. It's typically the smart thing to do.Ethan. Antony. They should all stay away from me. The best thing to do is taking it all head on.In fact involving anyone else will just make matters worse.I'm the center piece of everything.It started with me. It should end with me."Are you reconsidering it? I won't lie to you, it'spolitical suicide, that what we would call it
**TRACY SCOTT**. "How about here, it says foreign nationals who have committed a crime...""We can't use that, they'll argue that he didn't actual commit the crime.""That would make no sense?"I cringed my nose in utter confusion."In theory, it would not but if they did that, they'll make a center piece of the American justice system, they'll bring it out on the open for anyone interested to ask as many questions as they'd like and trust me, there are some many people interested in the system.""Ugh."I fell on the chair, tossing the books aside."Maybe we take a five minutes break..."He was interrupted by my cell phone."I'm sorry, I should get this."I slipped my hand into my pocket silently praying it wasn't my father or Antony, in that case I won't have to get anything.It wasn't. Ethan was calling. From the burner. How nice."Yes?"I answered. No filter needed. I didn't want to talk to any of them from that p
153**TRACY SCOTT**. "Tracy wait! I'm confused because it's as though both of you just shut me out in an instant. What is going on here? One minute I think maybe in actually part of the team or whatever shit and the next you're gone with him, you disappear for almost half an hour. What happened?"I held my purse, twirling in the free space outside."Get rid of the substance in your car, we do not want anyone getting a whiff of what that thing might be. It won't do anyone good."I instructed instead of answering the question."Tracy. you're just avoiding the question and I thought you would not be mad for telling Antony.""I'm not mad. Come on, do I seem mad? If I dol apologise for giving you the wrong impression, I am not."I giggled, palming my lips to stiffen it when it got too weird."I'm sorry we didn't take you in with us. I only got ten minutes and somehow you were lost in between, it wasn't my intention."His
152**TRACY SCOTT**. You're weak. You're fragile. That's what they think. That's what they'll never say to your face, but it's the reason they pet you in believing things which aren't actually true.They're all liars. They've been lying to you for the longest time. That is the truth. You can't trust any of them.Those are Antonov's words from earlier today replaying in my head like a broken record.When he dropped the last bombshell, the concluding piece of the puzzle in my head, the little secret Antony was keeping, I grew numb while seating on that chair.I kept my hands folded, staring into space.My head was faced forward, probably making eye contact of some sort with him, but I was not there physically.My mind had wandered off, making up the scenes in my head.How it happened. Who she was. Why he did it.I created an answer for each of those questions after which more would just pop up. That's howmy mind work
**TRACY SCOTT**. I need a grip. A tight grip and maybe a lid. A grip on these whirling emotions inside me, like a storm and I'm in the fucking eye.An hour ago I was prepared, willing, and heaven knows I was ready to commit first-degree murder and not even blink.That's how mad I was. Was it anger? Or hurt? Or thirst for vergence? That would be fueled by either the former or latter before it?I'm not sure what it is, but it's there.I can feel it inside of it, it's burning and it keeps increasing with each passing minute.I would have killed that man, I would have done so without so much as blinking.That's how vicious I have become.Ethan was the only anchor left, if it wasn't for him I would have finished Antonov off.For now, I just need to stay in the same room with him.I need to look him in the eye and figure out why he ruined my life.Why did he kill my mother?Why did he start this goose chase for me decades
**ANTONY SANTOS**. "Why are you looking at me like that?"She asked after moments of silence reigned between us, neither bothering to utter a word. There weren't much seating positions in the gun range, so we merely relaxed our back over the wall, giving the other breathing space.Something I hadn't realised I needed, but I did."Like what?"I moved my shoulders, carefully flipping my front hair backwards and moving my eyes away which were raking her body with suspicion."Like I'm damaged goods. You're looking at me as though I'm damaged goods. It's what's going around and I can't seem to wrap my head around the look. It's getting annoying. Stop looking at me like that "She snapped, standing straight."I'm not looking at you like you're damaged goods. I would never think that, that's just being insensitive and anyone who is doing such hasn't the slightest clue of what you've been through nor has the right to judge
**ETHAN RAMIREZ**I searched the room with my eyes, it had cleared out leaving just us three. Antony and I standing metres away from one of the ranges, Tracy standing by the door with a smug look on her face that shows she's not exactly happy with either of us.What comes next is her feeling all too betrayed by both of us, but I'm sure Antony can handle it.I hope. I hope I didn't underestimate her angry she is at him, angry enough not to listen to a word he had to say, she has only made eye contact with him once since she walked in here and even then, she tore her gaze away quickly."I asked a question but it would seem no one is willing to give a weird answer. Since when did both of you become besties because that's what this seems. A get together for besties."She squirmed her shoulders, her tone dripping with sarcasm and mockery."Tracy..."She crossed her hand quickly, leaving one outside to place ahead of me and halt whatevermovement I had planned"I asked a question, Ethan. I