Chapter 8 Into The Shadows

• Becca sat in her car with a bright smile on her face, from time to time, she would look down at the ring on her finger and smile.
• “I should hurry so I can go back to the party.” She said to herself as she took a right turn.
• A phone call came in from her dad and so, she reached out for her phone and answered the call.
• “Hey dad!” she said immediately and his voice came up
• “Where are you?” he replied, she could sense from his voice that he was worried
• “Dad, few kilometers away from the mart, I had ordered something for Alan and left it with Bianca to protect, I want to get it now, okay?” she replied ad heard him sigh from the other end
• “Becca, this is not wise… it is late night, you could have just told your driver to drop you.”
• “Shit! It escaped my mind, sorry dad.” She replied lowly
• “Just get home safe.” He replied and she ended the call.
• By this time, she had arrived at the mart.
• The night air was crisp and cool as Becca stepped out of her car, her mind consumed with thoughts of Alan’s proposal. Oblivious to the darkness lurking behind her, she locked the car and made her way towards the brightly lit mart, unaware that danger loomed just out of sight.
• “Stepping out this late in the middle of a celebration is stupid, Becca!” she said to herself
• Unbeknownst to Becca, a group of shadowy figures dressed in sleek black suits had been silently trailing her since the moment she left her car. These were no ordinary criminals; they belonged to a notorious mafia syndicate, operating with ruthless efficiency and precision. Their intentions were sinister, their motive unknown to Becca as she innocently entered the bustling store.
• “Keep your eyes on her, we must not lose her.” Tony ordered the men around and they nod their head in agreement with him.
• “Boss, she seemed to be having a celebration at her home.” One of them said to tony.
• “So? What does that have to do with our mission?” Tony asked him with a scoff as he leaned against the headrest of the car seat.
• Within the mart's fluorescent-lit aisles, Becca found herself engrossed in selecting groceries, her senses momentarily dulled by the buzzing atmosphere. Little did she realize that vigilant eyes patiently watched her every move, ensuring that their plan would unfold flawlessly.
• "Excuse me, is Bianca still here or has she already left?" Becca asked one of the staff members she saw walking by.
• "Bianca has—" the staff member began to respond before being cut off.
• "Bianca? Did someone call my name?" Bianca giggled, peeking her head out from behind a shelf.
• "Oh my goodness, Becca, you look amazing!" Bianca exclaimed, immediately wrapping her arms around Becca.
• "Heh, thanks Bianca," Becca giggled, pulling away from the hug. Just then, Bianca caught sight of something shining on Becca's finger.
• "Wait, is this real?" Bianca gasped happily, taking Becca's hands in hers.
• "Yes, it is," Becca giggled. "Oh my goodness, you're engaged... Congratulations, Becca!" Bianca exclaimed with joy, pulling her into another hug.
• "Thank you so much," Becca replied, pulling away from the hug. "It looks beautiful on you. Your order is also here," she added, gesturing for Becca to come along with her.
• "You're getting groceries?" Bianca inquired, and Becca shrugged. "I really don't know what for, hehe..." she replied, laughing softly.
• “Alan is really lucky to have a woman like you, honestly speaking.” She said to her and Becca could only laugh lowly
• “When did you get engaged?”
• “Few minutes ago.” She replied
• "What? And you're out here? You should be with him," Becca said immediately.
• "Yeah, I came to pick up the gift," Bianca replied. "Yeah, sure, it's here." She walked away to retrieve it.
• As Becca made her way towards the checkout counters, a staff member stepped out with a small box in hand and handed it to her. "You should be going now. You are always welcome here," she said kindly.
• "I need to pay for the—" Becca started to say, but was interrupted.
• "Forget it. The young man is waiting for you. I will take care of the bill," Bianca dismissed her concerns. With no other choice, Becca left the store.
• As she made her way towards the door, she paused, sensing a subtle shift in the atmosphere. There was an uneasy tension in the air, whispering conversations filling the space around her, mingling with the sounds of shopping carts and cash registers. It was an ambiance tainted with impending danger, although she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
• With her purchases neatly bagged, Becca exited the store, feeling relief wash over her as she anticipated the familiar comfort of her car. However, as she stepped out into the dimly lit parking lot, a sudden chill ran down her spine, causing her to instinctively quicken her pace.
• "What is this feeling? Nothing can happen! Not tonight," she muttered, reaching into her bag for her phone. Unbeknownst to her, a dark sedan with tinted windows idled in a far corner, its engine humming quietly. She stared at the car for a few seconds, a sense of familiarity washing over her. "Are they following me?" she thought to herself, her heart rate slowly increasing.
• As Becca fumbled for her keys, her heart skipped a beat when she sensed movement in her peripheral vision. Her eyes darted towards the source, and panic instantly seized her as she caught sight of the menacing figures materializing from the shadows. They moved swiftly, their faces obscured by the darkness, instilling fear that clawed at her very core.
• Frozen with terror, Becca frantically searched for an escape route, only to find herself surrounded by the relentless grip of the mafia's henchmen. Their presence alone exuded intimidation, each one emanating an aura of calculated menace. One of them stepped forward, his malevolent eyes fixed upon her trembling form – Tony.
• “What? What are you doing? Who are you? How can I help you?” she asked in less than a minute.
• "You've stumbled into a world you know nothing about," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "And now, my dear, you are coming with us."
• Becca's heart pounded in her chest, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as she finally grasped the perilous reality of her situation.
• “What are you even talking about? I have no idea of who you are!” she exclaimed and Tony scoffed.
• “If I were you, I’d keep my voice low.” He said to her with a stern look as he slowly took out a gun and pointed it at her waist. She gasped immediately and gulped down heavily.
• “My father would not let you get away with this.” She managed to say and he scoffed
• “Your father is the reason you are in our hands, pretty.” Another one said to her.
• “You? Which one of you is Kai!?” she demanded and Tony scoffed
• “Save your questions, you would see him yourself.”
• “No, I am not coming with you.” She yelled.
• “You want this the hard way, fine.” Tony replied and just then, a young man stepped out of nowhere and as soon as he saw Becca surrounded by tony and his men, he raised an alarm.
• “Help! Something is going on---“ Tony did not allow him finish his statement as he pointed the gun straight at him and released the trigger.
• It was a silent pistol and no one could hear the gunshot.
• Becca gasped and flinched back in fear as she watched the guy fall dead to the ground, “You just killed someone!” she cried lowly
• “You could be next” he warned her.
• “Now, come with us.” He said and she shook her head negatively
• “No, I won’t.” shaking in fear, Becca tried to pull herself off his grip but it was making no sense since Tony was stronger than her.
• The knowledge that she had unknowingly become entangled in the clutches of a dangerous criminal organization sent shivers racing down her spine. In that moment, hope seemed elusive, lost in the depths of the night, as the kidnappers closed in, tightening their grip and leading her into a nightmarish abyss from which there may be no escape.
• “This would make no sense!” she exclaimed
• “Great, he asked me to silence you.” Tony sighed heavily
• “Wh-what do you mean?” she stuttered and before she could blink an eyes, a white cloth was wrapped around her nose and mouth and in less than a minutes, Becca blacked out.