《Dangerously Unusual》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 "It''s time to get up, Don," Kloe, my best friend and roommate, woke me up that morning, just like she had done for the past three years. We were as close as sisters, withplementary personalities - I was the calm one, while she had a fierce presence. In our twenties and our final year of college, we were determined to seed and earn the hard-earned diplomas we had been working towards. "Yeah, I n on sleeping in today because there''s no way..." I yawned. "No, Donnica, we can''t afford to bete for ss!" she eximed, pulling the covers off me. Donnica Smith, that''s me, a dedicated student pursuing a degree in telmunications and journalism, with a future full of promise. * * * Kloe and I arrived at the amphitheater bright and early that morning. The professor, always punctual, began the ss smoothly. Toward the end, he assigned us our usual projects. "Alright, ss, today''s task is to venture beyond the campus grounds," he exined. "I want you to interview individuals who are unexpected or influential. Surprise me. Exceed my expectations." The students squirmed with excitement. "Quiet!" Silence fell. "As I was saying, I want you to explore ces outside of yourfort zone. Challenge yourselves. Choose your muses and persuade them to answer a few questions for your final paper. Maybe the governor? Or a mayor? A tycoon? A billionaire? Go out there and achieve the impossible. Can you do it?" "Yes!" the ss responded in unison. "Remember, this final assignment will determine whether or not you earn that coveted diploma. Consider it a vital part of your thesis. Impress me." The students brimmed with motivation. "ss dismissed." The professor left the room, leaving behind a buzz of excitement as students eagerly discussed the plethora of possibilities for this assignment. "So, Klo," I turned to Kloe with a smile, "what''s your n?" "Girl, my father is a tycoon. He knows influential people. Don''t worry, I''ll simply ask him to connect me with one of his acquaintances from the country club," she replied, effortlessly packing her bag. "And what about you?" "I have something in mind," I responded, grinning mischievously. "Donnica, please don''t do anything reckless." "You''ve always been the voice of reason. You know I never hold back. Remember my uncle, the chief All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. manager of the central prison?" Kloe paused, her eyes widening. "No." "Yes." "Donnica, no. Why on earth?" "The infamous Antonio Caruso was transferred to his prisonst week. Yes, the convicted terrorist and mafioso who spread fear throughout the entire country and who was recently arrested. Can you imagine the honors I''ll receive if I manage to convince my uncle to let me interview him? All it takes is five minutes." Kloe stared at me, disbelief etched on her face. "That''s dangerous and foolish, Donnica." "Well, you''ve always been the wiser one, so it only makes sense, doesn''t it?" I chuckled, rising from my seat. "Let''s go." "I see you''ve already made up your mind. I hope you have a change of heart halfway through, because uh-uh." Iughed, and together we left the amphitheater, heading towards our next ss. "Don''t worry. I''ll do some research before stepping into the lion''s den." *** True to my word,ter that day, after school, I delved into some research. Seated in thefort of my bedroom, I scoured the inte in search of a picture of Antonio Caruso. To my surprise, there was no trace of him online. "No results? Absolutely nothing? Not even a photograph or sketch?" It made no sense that his appearance was a mystery to the public. Furthermore, aside from his criminal activities, his personal life remained shrouded in secrecy. Who was this man, and why was the government concealing his identity despite his acts of terrorism? I perused a few online forums discussing him and other criminals, stumbling uponments that resembled unsettling rumors. "I''ve heard he''s around fifty years old.¡± "He''s a deranged individual who has been in and out of rehab countless times.¡± "He''s Italian, without a doubt.¡± "He holds racist beliefs.¡± "He''ll be turning fifty this year.¡± "Approach him with a smile, and your death will follow shortly.¡± "He has connections to the Italian Mafia.¡± "He''s a terrorist.¡± Some of these statements were undeniably true, while others seemed absurd. Yet, a few held a hint of possibility. ¡®Hmm, so he''s around fifty. At least, that''s what it appears to be.¡¯ "I''ll uncover the truth myself." Closing myptop, I joined Kloe in the living room. *** The following day, Kloe and I decided to venture out and give our assignment our best effort. I dressed in jeans, ts, a T-shirt, and a jacket. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and gathered my notebook, pen, recorder, and bag. I was fully prepared and eager to begin. "Good luck, Donnie," Kloe said while adjusting her hair. "Thanks. I''ll need it. Off to Central prison, I go." "Here Ie, Keh & Co. Let''s tackle this challenge once and for all." Chapter 2 Chapter 2 The massive, chilling central prison housed only the most wicked and ill inmates. Upon entering the lobby, I insisted on seeing my uncle. Permission was granted, and I happily embraced him, as he had N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. been a father figure to me. "Good morning, Uncle Vernon." "Good morning, my dear. Have a seat." We both sat down. "So, tell me, you brought your student pass, meaning you''re here for an assignment. What did they ask of you this time? To interview me? I''m all ears." Uncertain of where to begin, I stared at him. "Um, actually, I''m not here for you." "Then who? One of the prisoners?" he asked. "Yes." "Well, that could pose a problem. I''m not supposed to allow it, but since you''re my niece and I want you to excel, who would you like to interview among these individuals?" Taking a deep breath, I dropped the bomb. "Antonio. Antonio Caruso," I revealed, witnessing an immediate change in my uncle''s expression. Disbelief filled his widened eyes, and he grew pale. "Excuse me?" he asked, shocked. "Uncle Vernon, please. I have to" "Not happening, Donnica. No. Do you realize what you''re asking of me?" "Yes, Uncle. Please! Remember how you mentioned wanting me to achieve great things-" "I take back what I said. Antonio Caruso? No, no, no." "Uncle Vernon, I''m begging you..." "I have already said no!" he dered firmly. "Pick someone else." Persistently, I pleaded with him, refusing to leave his office until he granted me the chance to see and speak with Antonio. Eventually, my persistence paid off, and my uncle relented. "Fine. Riggs! Tom! Come in here, please!" he called, and two armed guards entered. "Yes, sir." "Prepare Caruso. She wants to interview him." The guards appeared astonished. "B-but, sir-" "Do as I say. Get the chains or whatever." ¡®Chains??¡¯ The prison guards simply nodded and turned to leave. "Wait, let me apany you," I insisted, rising from my seat. My uncle nced at me. "I want to see his cell and provide a description for my article." "I can''t believe I''m allowing this. You''ll have five minutes with him," my uncle reluctantly concluded before permitting me to follow the guards. * I was led to the area where the cells were located. As we walked through the corridor, I saw menacing- looking men. Some shouted suggestive remarks from their cells. "Honey, paying me a visit?" one taunted, provokingughter from the others. Some even attempted to provoke the officers. The majority were far from attractive, sporting shaved heads, bulging muscles, and tattoos and piercings adorning their bodies. They frightened me, and my mind conjured up images of the crimes they must havemitted based on their appearance. This made me wonder how Antonio looked. If he resembled any of these men, how would I be able to meet his gaze? We arrived at an isted section of the prison, where I noticed an iron door with a small peephole at the end of the corridor. My heart skipped a beat. Reaching the door, I inquired, "Is this his cell?" The guards simply nodded. How dangerous was he that they had to confine him to a dark, enclosed iron room? One of the guards opened the peephole''s lock and peered into the cell. "We''re opening the door, so behave yourself, Caruso," the guard nervously warned. Stepping back as they began to unlock the door, I was apanied by four guards. Three were armed, while the fourth held a bundle of heavy chains. The door was unlocked and swung wide open. The three guards immediately aimed their guns inside. Light from the hallway spilled into the dark cell, and I eagerly looked inside. To my surprise, I saw a young man. I could deduce from the side of his face, as he sat quietly on the cold floor with his head bowed. He had jet-ck hair, and I noticed a tattoo-like marking on the back of his neck. His eyes were closed, as if in deep thought or meditation. He was the youngest prisoner I had encountered so far. ''No. This can not be him. Can it?'' I tapped one of the guards on the shoulder, and he turned to me. "Um, I mentioned Antonio Caruso. I want to interview Antonio Caruso," I specified. "Yes, miss. This is Caruso." ''What?'' I froze, my eyes widening to the point of difort. I couldn''t utter a word. Confusion overwhelmed me. "Antonio, stand up and approach us slowly. No tricks," one of the guards warned, their guns pointed at him. The young man in the cell rose slowly. I noticed chains on his feet and wrists. He turned and approached the door, stepping into the light, and that was when I saw his face. My jaw nearly dropped in disbelief. He was incredibly handsome. Remarkably so, I would dare to say. He couldn''t be older than fifty. Was this some kind of joke? His skin had a beautiful sun-kissed glow, and his lips were quite attractive. His eyes were a captivating blend of light gray and sky blue. He appeared nothing like the rumors I had heard. He was astonishingly good-looking. As soon as he was fully outside the cell, all guns were aimed at his head, as the fourth officer added additional chains to his limbs. I stared with a mix of disbelief, wonder, and fear. ''This was entirely unexpected.'' Silently, he was guided down the corridor with utmost care. Not once did he raise his gaze, a fact that suited me just fine. I took out my notebook and diligently wrote down everything I had witnessed. ¡®I''m about to gain my honors, no doubt. This is going to be captivating.¡¯ I followed behind them until we reached a dimly lit interrogation room, its walls made of iron. In the center stood a single table, with two chairs on either side. A single, brightmp illuminated the table and room, directed towards the already seated and bound Anthonio. Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked why the guards had set up the room in such a manner. They exined that it was to obstruct his view and divert his attention away from my face, while simultaneously monitoring his every reaction and movement. Though it seemed illogical to me, I assumed it was part of their standard protocol. "May I have a moment alone with him?" I dared to ask, causing the guards to look at me in disbelief. "No," stated the leader. "I need him to feel at ease enough to answer a few questions. Please. Besides, what harm could he possibly do? He''s securely tied up." After much reluctance on their part, I managed to persuade them to give me privacy with him, while they observed from outside. Once we were alone, I cleared my throat and took a seat. The bright light from themp illuminated his face, yet surprisingly, it didn''t seem to faze him. It didn''t hinder his vision one bit as he stared straight at me. "Good morning, Mr. Caruso." Chapter 3 Chapter 3 "Good morning, Mr. Caruso." He did not reply. He just stared at me, as emotionless and silent as ever. His expression was vague, looking straight into my eyes without being bothered by the bright light. Nervously, I dropped my gaze to the table but knew I had to continue. "Um, okay. I''m Donnica Smith, a student at Kingston University. I''m here to interview you." ''Maybe I shouldn''t have revealed where I study or my name? Oh shit. But he''s locked up, so it shouldn''t matter.'' I nced at him, but he still didn''t reply or react. His silence both terrified and annoyed me. Time was running out. "Mr. Caruso," I pressed on. "I''ve been hearing rumorstely, like the fact that you''re Italian. Is it true?" I asked the obvious, yet he remained unresponsive. His impassive, intimidating silence was getting to me. I was losing patience. I had limited time with him, and hisck of cooperation frustrated me. "Mr. Caruso, interviews require participation from both sides," I mustered the courage to say, though inside, I already regretted my outburst. Antonio shifted slightly, intensifying the knot in my stomach. ''I should apologize...'' Just as I was about to apologize, he smirked, barely noticeable. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ''What''s going on?'' Antonio leaned closer, cing his chained hands on the table, causing me to instinctively lean back into my chair. I was too scared of him. What was he about to do? ''Something feels off. I should leave.'' Just as I was about to call the guard, Antonio Caruso finally spoke his first words. "Yes, I am Italian," he replied in a low voice. Confusion washed over me, and I blinked a few times. His voice matched his appearance, but it still surprised me. Smooth and velvety, if it made any sense. It had a gentle quality to it. And it made me wonder if this man had trulymitted all those crimes. But who was I kidding? He was sick. "Okay," I began, reaching for my notebook. "And how old are you, sir?" I asked, avoiding eye contact. His eyes held darkness and yet, they were the most captivating pair I had ever seen. "Because there''s a misconception about your age. People believe you''re around fifty or so. Clearly, that''s not the case. So please, enlighten me," I continued. "I am twenty-three..." I looked up at him, eyes wide with disbelief. He was the same age as me? "Seriously?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. He stared at me, still expressionless. "My apologies. Okay, twenty-three," I cleared my throat and moved on. "Quite young. At what age were you first arrested?" "Fourteen." My eyes couldn''t have widened anymore. "Four-!" I coughed. "For what crime?" "Nothing too serious," he replied calmly. "Which was?" "I killed a family of five..." ''Nothing too serious?!'' I fought to keep a neutral expression. It was hard to believe everything he was sharing. The chilling revtion that he had murdered a family of five at fourteen sent shivers down my spine. The room felt colder, and I knew I had to gather myself and leave as soon as possible. "Mr. Caruso, how did you end up in America?" I pressed on with my questions. He looked at me in silence for what felt like an eternity, about three minutes. I thought he wouldn''t answer. But he did. This man was toying with my emotions. "I never knew my parents. Grew up in an orphanage and joined the Mafia at twelve." My eyes widened as I jotted down this information. My hands trembled, and I had to take a deep breath to steady myself and continue writing. He was simply answering my questions, yet something felt extremely off. Very off. "Please, go on..." "I was transferred to America with some other members. I was the youngest and involved in drug and arms trafficking. I smuggled them from here to Italy. I learned to kill, and I did during that period of my life." ''At twelve?'' I noted silently, avoiding his gaze. "How were you caught?" "After I killed my girlfriend at the time. Caught in the act. I was fourteen. Did time in juvenile detention and was released at eighteen." I stared at him, seeing the sociopath he was. He shared these details as if they meant nothing. "Why?" I asked. "She cheated on me." "What? How old was she?" I couldn''t help but ask, too shocked and curious to stick to my prepared list of questions. "Neen." "Nine-" My sentence trailed off as dizziness washed over me. I leaned back in my chair, trying to process the bizarre information I had just received. "You''re not very smart, are you?" he suddenly remarked, surprising me. "Excuse me?" I sat up, furrowing my brows. "And I''m twenty-seven, not twenty-three." What was this about now? "Mr. Caruso, I''m at a loss here." "I''m twenty-seven," he firmly repeated. Confusion clouded my mind. "Okay. But why did you tell me otherwise?" "I was just guessing your age," he replied nonchntly, leaning back in his seat. Cold sweat trickled down my back, unsure of how to respond. "And I was right. You''re twenty-three, aren''t you?" "We''re here to discuss you." "Are we?" he asked, widening his eyes, his gaze prating my soul. It felt like a threat, and my instincts screamed at me to get out of there. "I appreciate when people are afraid," his voice interrupted my thoughts. "Good to know. I''ll make a note of it. This interview ends here," I dered, hastily packing my belongings into my bag. Suddenly, he leaned closer, and I froze. My breath caught in my throat. "But you''re not finished. I see more questions," he stated, his eyes fixed on my notebook. I immediately stood up and gathered the remaining items. "I have everything I need. Good day, sir," I responded curtly. "Okay," he replied simply, watching me rush to the door and knock. As soon as it opened, I swiftly exited the deadly room without looking back. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 That night, I told Kloe all that had happened. "Well, that''s really creepy," shemented, frowning. "I know, right? And yet, he remains incredibly attractive. It''s absurd!" I replied, taking a bite of my sandwich. "It''s unfortunate that you couldn''t ask him all the questions you had nned. How many did you manage to ask?" I nced at her. "I''m not sure. Maybe around five? Or even fewer. Man, I can''t remember." "Well, I guess it''s time to move on. You''ll have to find another fascinating person to interview. If you need help, I can ask my dad for you." "Mm, thank you but I''m not sure," I sighed. "I really wanted to do this. To seed. And then I messed it up." "Forget about Caruso, Don. Don''t dwell on it." I nodded and sighed once again. "Okay. It hurts me to admit that you''re right." "Good. Because if I were in your shoes, I wouldn''t take the risk." I wasn''t thrilled about giving up, and a part of me still clung to the idea. "I¡¯m off to bed. Goodnight, babe." "Goodnight~" I retreated to my bedroom, and once in the privacy of that space, I pulled out my recorder and listened to my brief interview with Anthonio. As the recording yed, I could vividly visualize each scene from earlier that day, experiencing it all over again. While listening to his detailed yet unsettling answers, I had a realization that left me bewildered. I stopped the recording and stared into space, my brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait," I spoke to myself. "He provided me with far too many specific answers. On many matters, he shouldn''t have. He vited the mafia''s code of honor. Omert¨¤..." I sat in wonder for several moments. Why? Curiosity would kill the cat that I was, but the satisfaction I would derive from obtaining the answers to my questions would revive me. The journalist within me was eager to return to the central prison and face Antonio once more. ¡®I¡¯m going back to finish what I started. He is locked up and can''t harm me. I¡¯m going to go back and finish what I started. He is locked up and can do me no harm.¡¯ *** Summoning all my courage, I returned to the central prison the following day. After much pleading, I managed to persuade my uncle to let me finish my interview. I was escorted back to the same interrogation room, where I patiently waited for Anthonio to be brought in. This time, I was determined and prepared to see it through. I intended to do my job and leave, projecting as much confidence as I could. After a few minutes, Anthonio was brought in, his chains dragging behind him. We were left alone as he sat across from me. Taking a deep breath, I spoke up. "Good morning, Mr. Caruso. How are you?" I asked, and there was a brief silence before he responded. "Didn''t expect you back," he replied. "We have unfinished business, sir. Shall I continue from where we left off?" I inquired, grasping my pen. When he didn''t reply, I looked up at him. "Your silence implies consent." He remained cold and impassive. "Can you provide an estimate of the number of people you have killed?" I asked, having modified my questions overnight to be riskier¡ªthe kind that would earn me recognition as the woman who convinced the infamous Caruso to disclose details about his crimes. "I''ve bombed many areas and killed numerous people with my own hands. Too many to estimate," Anthonio replied. "I see," I noted down. ¡®You imed I wasn''t very smart, yet here you are, foolishly answering my questions,¡¯ I thought to myself, suppressing a smile as I looked up to ask the next question. "Rumors suggest you are racist. Is that true?" I asked, unable to meet his gaze, no matter how hard I tried. "That''s new," he muttered. "If I were racist, I wouldn''t bother speaking with you." Clearing my throat, I nodded. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. "Noted." I proceeded to ask more questions from my list, each one riskier than thest, and he responded without hesitation. Finally, I obtained answers to all my questions, and I couldn''t have been happier to leave that dreadful room. "Are you done?" he asked. "Yes, finally," I admitted proudly, packing away my notebook and pen. "Good." He extended his chained hands and pulled my recorder towards him. Frozen, I stared at him, afraid to grab it back and give him an opportunity to harm me. He looked at me, and the words he uttered sent chills down my spine. "Now it''s my turn..." "Y-your what?" I stammered. "It''s time for me to ask you questions." My breath hitched. "No. Please, give me my recorder, sir." "No?" he frowned, disying the only hint of emotion I had seen from him. "I don''t ept no for an answer." Suddenly, I felt threatened. "Sir¡ª" "I provided you with all those answers for your paper. You owe me. And at the same time, I have nothing to lose, as I will likely be sentenced to death. Our countries are negotiating how to deal with me." "Okay? And how is this my concern?" I wondered. "But do you believe I''ll stay here and patiently wait?" he asked, leaving me even more confused. "I don''t know," I replied, realizing I had no choice but to engage in this peculiar conversation. I needed my recorder¡ªit was my evidence, my lifeline at that moment. "I will escape from here," he suddenly dered, jolting me out of my thoughts with wide eyes. "And how?" I asked. "This is the most secure prison in the state." "It''s nothing. I have many contacts." "It''s none of my business," I dryly retorted. "This is what you will do for me," he continued, and I couldn''t believe what I was hearing. "Today is Tuesday. I need you to visit me for the rest of this week, until Friday." "Tsk!" I snickered, grabbed my bag, and stood up. "I will ask a guard to retrieve my recorder from you since you do not want to hand it over." As I turned to leave, I heard something hit the floor, and my heart sank with it. I immediately turned around, and my worst fear was confirmed. Before my eyes, Anthonio shattered my recorder and stomped on it until it was utterly destroyed. Frozen, I didn''t know how to react for the first few moments. Before I could process what had just happened, he spoke. "I know where you live." My heart dropped again, and I began scanning my surroundings as if I were insane. "I know where your friends live. I know everything about you," Anthonio uttered in a chilling tone, making the impact of his growing threat palpable. Speechless and horrified, I found myself unable to react or call for the guards. He continued speaking. "Your room number is 28. Your roommate is Kloe Bakari. Your parents reside at 55 Acorn Street in Chicago, Illinois. They are both business people, and you are their only child, the heir to their fortune." My bag slipped from my grasp, and my heart started racing. "H-how do you¡ª" I began to ask. "Like I said, contacts. Just do as I say, and I will decide whether to leave you and your family in peace." "Oh, my gosh..." I whispered, covering my mouth in disbelief at what was happening at that moment. "Donnica Smith, I will see you tomorrow. And the day after. And on Friday. Utter a single word to a guard out there, and I will know." I stared at him, feeling my knees tremble with fear. He knew everything about me. How? Gripped by fear, I picked up my bag and hastily left the room. I left the confused guards behind and didn''t utter a word to them. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 That night when I finally got home, I went straight to my room. Kloe was sleeping out. I cried and cried. Never had I been so afraid. I couldn''t find sleep because of the paranoia. When Kloe had called earlier, I had to lie to her, saying the interview had gone well. I''d seeded in passing my article to the professor but still, I wasn''t at peace. How could I be? Unable to find sleep, at 3 AM, I climbed out of my bed and headed towards the room''s window to look down at the empty campus roads. "What the hell?" I gasped in fear after looking out the window. I could''ve sworn there was someone standing out there, staring at me. The person was tall, very tall, and huge. He wore a ck hat that covered his face and a long ck jacket or coat that reached his feet. He raised his head and looked at me. I couldn''t make out his face. "Jesus!" I gasped and immediately stepped away in fear. It had to be one of them! One of Antonio''s people! "This can''t be happening..." I stated in shock. This means he had ordered for me to be spied on. Or worse, Killed! Swallowing hard, I approached the window again. But the person had vanished! I stayed up all night until the next day. I freshened up and made sure to attend myst ss as a university student. After that, I left school and took a cab to Central prison. This time I went as a visitor, making sure my uncle nor some familiar guards did not know I was around. I asked to meet Anthonio Caruso and the officer in charge stared at me like I was crazy. "Do you know him?" he asked. "Uh, yeah." "Who is he to you?" "A friend." "Friend??" the officer asked in clear surprise. "Um, yeah." "Are you on his list of visitors?" "List??" "Yes." "Uh, I don''t know." "Hold on." The officer took a huge register from the side of his table and began to search. At a point, he looked up at me in a surprised yet suspicious way. "You''re the only name on his visitors'' list." "Really?" I asked surprised. Not knowing how my name got there. It was surely one of his works again. "Fine. ID." After some necessary checks, I was allowed to visit him. And that was how I did it for two consecutive days! I would meet him but we would not say anything to each other. I would just stare at ces while he sat on the other side of the ss. We didn''t speak. I''d ignore him until the fifteen minutes given were over. He was more than strange! Why did he ask for this? Friday atst, I came again. I decided to speak for the first time. I picked up the phone on my side and motioned for him to pick up his. He did. "Today''s thest day. Hope you know that." "I know." "I don''t know why you asked me to visit for three days but at the same time, I don''t give a fuck. I''ve harassing me and get out of my life as well as that of my loved ones." I ended. He just stared, emotionless. "You''re free." My eyes widened. "Are you serious??" "Yes." "Omg! I''m out!" I said happily. I was just so happy to never see him again. My life was back to normal! I got my bag and immediately left the visiting room. I walked down the halls with a smile I couldn''t contain. Being in one room with him was like being alone with the devil. Or rather, facing death. N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. I kinda felt stupid though, I should have never chosen him for that assignment in the first ce. It was too dangerous and with some miracle, I''d made it. I''d made it out alive! ''I should never, never, ever! Do something so dangerous ever again. I just want to forget everything...'' I thought. That afternoon I met with Kloe. We went shopping for our graduation outfits And shoes. I was so happy. I was alive again. A normal girl with a normal life! Yes! That night I slept so well. I saw no strange human being lurking around. Anthonio Caruso had been a nightmare. Meeting him was the first thing I was going to erase from my memory. All I had to do now was think about graduating, finding a good job, or working with my parents, and with time, find a suitable hubby for myself. What had happened a few days ago was officially part of the past now. It''d never even happened. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 *** Saturday finally reached. Shania and Kate, two other friends of mine came over and we helped each other to make up and arrange our hair. By the time we put our robes over our gowns, we were beautiful and ready to go. The campus was crowded! Parents, friends, and rtions hade from far and near to see their loved ones graduate. Even my parents had traveled from Chicago toe to join in my joy. I was so happy. I was soon to be an independent girl. Or rather, young woman. ~~ We went to the grand field and took our seats with the other graduates. I looked around and spotted my parents. I smiled at them and they smiled back. The day was gonna be an unforgettable one. The ceremony began. Speeches were made by important personalities present. The Vice Chancellor made a speech too and soon it was time to give our certificates and diplomas. There was happiness. The vice called us one by one while the Chancellor gave certificates and took pictures with each student. Anytime a ssmate was called, we would p and cheer. "Next up, Kloe Meave Bakari!" We screamed and cheered her. Kloe was smiling like never before, as she got up from her seat. She was elegant and beautiful. We happily watched as she climbed up to the stage. She got her diploma and smiled at the crowd. We cheered again. She then took a picture with the Chancellor before leaving the stage. Two more people were called before me. "....Donnica Smith!" What I''d been waiting for! There were loud cheers and screams for me. My eyes watered in joy. Finally! My hard work had paid for. I got on the stage and collected my diploma. I waved to my parents and friends who cheered and pped for me. A picture of the Chancellor and I was taken before I left the stage. Soon, the ceremony was over and we went for the second session of the ceremony, where we ate, drank, and danced all night. - I ran to my parents and hugged them tightly. "Oh, my darling. We''re so proud of you!" my dad said happily. "Thank you, daddy!" N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. "We love you, dear." my mom added and I hugged them again. I spent enough time with them because they had to travel back to Chicago by nine pm. And they did. I was still happy they''d made it through. I spent thest hours of my happy night in thepany of my ssmates. I was a graduate! Finally! *** That same night, in our room, Kloe and I chatted andughed. I was in the kitchen washing dishes and she was in the living room. "Can you believe it, Kloe?" "What??" "Derrin asked me out on a date today!!!" "Omg! At the party??" Derrin was a cute guy I crushed on. We always checked each other out. That particr day, during the ceremony, he''d finally walked up to me. "Yes! It still seems so unreal! He''s so hot." "Finally! When are y''all going out?" "Next week Wednesday. I can''t wait!" "Girl, you''re so lucky." "I know!" I giggled happily. I had a good feeling about Derrin and me. Things would go on perfectly well. ** That night, Kloe and I chatted happily about the ceremony and how it went. The next day was going to be a tiring one because we had to pack our things to leave the campus for good. I was going to go to Chicago that Monday to spend time with my parents and then return Tuesday evening. They''d bought me a little house in New York and had given me the money to settle down. Of course, Kloe and I would be staying together till we found suitable jobs. That night I slept extremely well. ~~ Soon it was Sunday so Kloe and I got up early and started packing our stuff. The day was tiring and hot. By evening we were done, but tired. We each took a good bath andnded in front of the TV at exactly 8:30 pm. "Let''s watch a good movie," I told Kloe. "Sure. But let''s watch the news first," she said and I agreed, reluctantly. "Fine, fine. You win." I grumbled. She got the remote and put the news. There was "LIVE" breaking news. Cameras filmed a helicopter in the air and many police cars with loud sirens speeding through the streets of New York. Kloe and I immediately adjusted and listened attentively. Something serious was going on. ''Breaking news! The police and FBI are racing through the city of New York, right here in Manhattan, in search of the very dangerous Anthonio Caruso who has escaped the highly secured Manhattan Central Prison!'' "What?!" Kloe and I eximed in shock. ''It was reported that the murderer''s cell had been found open by seven PM. Nobody saw him leave or open his cell. By now he''s probably far away. An underground dug hole was found in the prison''s field. It''s still a mystery. None of the guards have an idea of how he escaped. We advise everyone to stay indoors! He''s out there somewhere and as dangerous as ever!... A suspect has been identified. The police say all evidence proves that it might be the murderer''s aplice. This is the suspect''s picture...'' A picture appeared on the screen and it was a picture of me! The te in my hands dropped and broke to pieces. Shock took over me and I stood there paralyzed! Chapter 7 Chapter 7 *** Kloe looked at me with her eyes and mouth wide open. I stepped back in shock, tears welling up in my eyes. "No! This¨C this can''t be." I stuttered in a low voice, a lump in my throat. ''She is known as Donnica Smith! It has been reported that she''d been visiting him a few days before his escape. She ims to be a student but nothing is still certain.'' "No! Nooo!" I screamed, my whole body shaking. Kloe stood up and faced me. "What is this Donnie? What''s going on?!" she asked, scared herself. I was speechless. I stared at the picture of me in the visiting room with Anthonio, on screen. The security cameras filmed us! What did I expect? ''The police and FEDs are on their way to John Hugh university to find her. She might be dangerous and so everyone is careful.'' "Donnie. Answer me, please..." Kloe muttered, beginning to sob as her shaky hands touched me. I backed out of her grip. "I didn''t do anything! No!" Not knowing what to do or how to react, I ran to get my car keys to escape. But the police were already on campus. In no time, they''d surrounded the girls'' dormitory building. It was like a horrible dream! I could hear the helicopter above our heads. I ran to the window and saw that a lot of students had surrounded the building along with the police. There was a huge light on the building, by the helicopter. "DONNICA SMITH! LEAVE THE BUILDING, HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!" an officer ordered with the use of a loudspeaker. I stared down at the way the other girls ran out of the dormitory, directed by some officers. I wasn''t a terrorist! My palms were white and my entire body was weakening. I''d been tricked. Suddenly, our door flung open and two armed officers pointed their guns at me. "Hands behind your head! Now!" I simply obeyed. I was traumatized and my entire body shook. One of them came to me and cuffed my hands behind my back. Tears rolled down my cheeks automatically. I couldn''t believe all of it was happening! They were about to take me downstairs when I turned to Kloe. She was sobbing. "Donnie¨C" "Call my parents and tell them. I''m innocent. To get me awyer." Those were myst words as I was led downstairs and out of the building. - Outside was a whole crowd. Guns were pointed at me and the helicopter''s light was directly on me. People stepped back like I was some monster. Others filmed me with their phones. I had not done anything, yet I was being treated like an outcast! They put me at the back of a police car and the head of the officers spoke to the officer who was to drive me away. "Take her to the headquarters. We gotta ask her some questions first. We wanna search the surroundings. Caruso might be around." "Yes, sir." the officer replied. My life was over. I was doomed! My life was destroyed. ** During the whole drive, I didn''t have the force nor the courage to raise my head. I leaned weakly against the back of the driver''s seat, feeling the handcuffs hurting my wrists. That was supposed to be a good night. But there I sat in my tiny sleeping shorts and T-shirt at the back of a police car. Suddenly, the car stopped. There was silence around. Without raising my head, I waited for the policeman to take me out of the car. He did open the door and said: "Get out." I looked up at him. He had a grown beard and mustache with fat ck shades on. ''Who wears shades at night?'' I got out of the car but saw no police headquarters or even prison. I realized we were on the outskirts of the city, where there were no houses but only trees. The only light provided was that of the car. I looked at the policeman, confused. He approached me and freed me from the cuffs. I stared at him, lost. He looked back at me and took his hat off, then his shades. To my shock, I watched him take off his mustache and beard before letting them drop to the floor. Standing right there all dressed like a policeman was Anthonio Caruso! I was unable to say a single word! There was a heavy lump in my throat! All the anger and pain in me resurfaced and I pped him. Then I immediately regretted the act. He looked at me with fury in his ssy eyes. I stepped back. "Let me believe that you''re angry about your situation. So I''ll spare you," he replied, clearly angry. "You''ve destroyed me! My life!" I growled, beginning to cry again. I felt so frustrated about the fact that I couldn''t do anything to the psycho in front of me. "You''ve killed me!" I screamed and tried to push him away but he caught my wrists. I struggled like a flea to fight out of his grip while I cried, but it was useless. I was so angry. So mad. "Let me go!!" I shrieked, kicking weakly at him. Oh god, I wanted to kill him! I was hopeless. Giving up, I fell to the ground in tears. I cried and cried. He just stood there, staring in the dark. I looked up at him with swollen eyes. "Why??" I asked to sob, "Why? What did I do? Where did I go wrong? What? I interviewed you and you set me up??" "I didn''t set you up." was his cold reply. "Boy, shut the fuck up! Why did you ask me to visit you if it wasn''t to set me up??" "I needed just a maximum of three days to observe the visiting room. I wanted to find a way to escape through that room. I couldn''t observe the room if no one visited me. That''s where I needed your intervention." He was very cold in his ways and showed no emotion. "But now, I''m ruined. Go tell the police the truth!" "Who do you take me for? A car will be arriving. We need to travel tonight." I looked at him like he was sicker than he already was. "What?? Who''s we?" "Or do you want to stay here and go to prison in my ce? You''re ssified as suspect." "I''m not going anywhere with you!" "Fine. Not like I care. Just thought you wouldn''t like to be locked up and so I proposed freedom to you. Suit yourself. Ain''t got time to waste. Fact is, it''s gonna take an eternity for the cops to investigate and realize you''re innocent. You might not even be proimed innocent." I watched in surprise and with an open mouth as he turned and started walking away, leaving me and the police car. How heartless was he? He didn''t give a fuck about me or my situation! I remained there sobbing. I didn''t know what to do. I couldn''t go to prison! Was I ready to endure brutality and lesbian attacks? Hell no! I had to escape! At least until my name was cleared. I couldn''t stay. Everyone considered me a terrorist already. Wiping away my tears and standing up, I gathered the bit of energy I had left and ran up to the mad guy. "Wait!" I shouted, "I''ming with you!" I was already regretting it. But I had no choice. Both options were horrible. If I went to jail, I''d die a slow death! If I followed the mad man, I''d probably be shot in the head in the next 24 hours. I would die both ways but better to die fast. "Fine," he replied. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ''I shouldn''t follow him. But I''m so confused. I don''t know what to do or what to think. God help me¡­'' The fear I felt at the moment was indescribable. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 I screamed in shock when he pulled a gun out and pointed it straight at my head. "Toote to change your mind." he said in his usual dark manner, "Now you have toe with me. Whether you like it or not. Else I''ll shoot you in the head." I was trembling from head to toe and dared not to tell him no. I nodded obediently, having no choice. It was now turning into a kidnap. I should''ve run away when I still had a chance. He led me down the street and I tried not to pass out because of the fear. As we walked, a car''s headlights could be seen at a distance approaching. He stopped in his tracks and I stopped too. The car came closer and I realized it was a ck hummer. It pulled up and a man all dressed in ck stepped out. I recognized him immediately. It was that man I''d seen roaming on campus. He still had that fat ck hat on. In the dark, I couldn''t make out his face. "Good job, Caruso." his deep voice gave me the chills. "It was a kid''s game. You got them?" "Yes." the man gave Anthonio a briefcase before giving him the car''s keys. I stood there lost. "What about the girl?" the scary man referred to me and I stopped breathing. "I''ll see about her caseter. I need to go." "Alright. The bag is in the boot. When you''llnd, you''ll know." "Okay." then turning, Anthonio pointed the gun at me again and I froze. "Get in the car." was his order. I was scared to death as I hurriedly got into the front seat. Anthonio got in too. "Meet you there." the man said. "Yeah." Anthonio closed his door and started the car. I got confused. "W¨C what about the scary guy? He''s staying out there?" I asked, trembling. As if that was my business. I guess my fear had something to do with it. "Shut up," he replied dryly as he started the car and we drove off, leaving the other man. I looked back and to my surprise, he wasn''t there anymore. Like he''d vanished! What was up with these people? "Where are we going to?" I asked slowly, tears rolling down my cheeks. "One more word and I cut your tongue off." was his reply as he turned to me with a sharp look. I adjusted immediately. I remained silent till we left the city of New York. *** Noise. I heard a noise. I was hearing it. I opened my eyes and discovered it was still dark and I was still in that car. It wasn''t a bad dream. I was escaping with a terrorist. I''d slept off without realizing. Once all sleep was out of my system, I saw a lighted area ahead. "What time is it?" I muttered. "Four AM." We''d been traveling the whole night. "Please, where are we?" I risked asking another question. "Close to Phdelphia," he answeredzily, his jaw clenching. I realized I was beginning to annoy him Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. again and so I remained silent. We approached the lighted area and I discovered it was a gas station. We stopped there to put some fuel in the car. I was tired and even thought of escaping with the car. But to where? For how long would I stay away from New York? Anthonio and I were not safe in America as a whole. Of course, his escape shook the whole country. We just had to leave the country. I had to! And without him, if possible! The thought made my heart ache. I wasn''t happy about all of this. Not at all! Anthonio got back into the car and then we took off again. In about fifteen minutes, we''d reached Phdelphia. There I was in the same car with a terrorist. How had I gotten myself into this? The ce was quiet because most people were still asleep apart from drunkards and party animals. After some time, he turned into a dark and dangerous street where we parked by a motel. It didn''t look inhabited and seemed to be locked. I watched him take out that briefcase, open it and take out a bunch of keys. "Get out of the car," he ordered in a cold tone. I obeyed again and stepped out of the car. There was fog that early morning because of the cold. I felt horrible. I couldn''t still believe what had happened to me thest night. I was sure they must have noticed that I''d escaped. Oh! What would I tell my patients? My friends. I had to find a way. "We''ll be leaving this ce first thingter on this morning. Before the warrants get out for our arrest. So prepare." I stared. "Why?? Why are you holding me captive?" I asked, and he stared at me. "Just shut the hell up." he finally replied in his usual dry manner. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 "Wipe those away." his dry tone came in. I looked up at him, getting annoyed. "What? Wipe what? My tears???" I growled, boiling from inside. He stared at me and I stared back. I was shivering because of the anger I suddenly couldn''t contain. Tears just rolled down my cheeks continuously. "Do you know who you are talking to??" "Yes!!! A mad Guy!!! I''ve said it!! Come kill me!! You''ve already even done so! I''m better off dead than alive anyway. In a week or even less, my whole life was destroyed!" I cried out angrily. I expected the worst and didn''t care. He stared at me like a devil. I noticed the swollen vein at his temple and I knew he would probably bang my head against the wall. Man, I was ready to run! It was not because I''d said I didn''t care if he killed me, that he had to, right? To my surprise, he unbuttoned the police shirt he still had on before taking it off. Beneath was his white singlet which he also took off. I blinked in confusion. His athletic body took me off guard and I stared like a dumbass. His chest...stomach...abs...arms...all wasted for the killing of innocent people! He stared at me and once again, I stopped breathing! ''Gawd! If he rapes me, I''m dying!¡¯ I thought to myself, fear taking over me again. To my surprise, he simply sat down and opened the box, taking out a wig and some female clothes. Then he took some card-like things and little books from his briefcase and aimed them at me. I looked at him in wonder. "You''ll wear those clothes. And you''ll have those things on you." I picked what he''d thrown at my feet. There was a fake ID with my picture present and a fake visa along with a ne ticket. How did he? I had a fake Visa and ID in my hands! How? Had all this been nned, already? Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. "We''ll... We''ll surely be caught...and why do I have an already made ID??? And visa??? You nned on taking me along??" I dared to ask. "No. But ns have changed. Seems my boss will be very happy to know you." "What???" ''Boss?¡¯ I widened my eyes in shock. Was this some indirect way of saying that I was going to be sold off or owned by some crazy terrorist and dangerous leader? "W...what?? No! I am not going anywhere with these or with you! There''s no way I...." I cut my sentence short when Anthonio pointed his gun straight at my forehead. "Now pick those things up, get into that bath and take a fucking shower. If it was up to me I would''ve killed you a long time ago. Your mouth makes me sick. Now go!" I stared at him in shock mixed with anger and fear. "Y...you''re rude..." I dared to say. He angrily took a step forward and before he could realize it, I''d run into the bathroom. I stood in the bathroom, trying not to sob or chicken out again. But it was hard not to do so. I was going to undress when he knocked at the door and I opened it. "Here." he handed the clothes and wig, which I''d forgotten to take along. I took them and banged the door in his face. That was the least I could do. So pathetic. *** After I''d taken a bath and gotten all dressed in the clothes he''d given me, I wore the wig. Then I left the bath and stood in front of him. "I''m done," I told him in a dry tone. I have dressed in a baby pink fitting gown, long and ck chic boots, and a fur jacket. Not to forget the short wig I had on. He looked at me from head to toe. "Apply to make-up." he gave me a make-up set. I made up and returned to him. "Put these on." he gave me a pair of brown eye contacts. I still did as I was told. He then asked me to go stand by the wall. I did and I watched him get a strange camera from his bag before approaching me. It was one I''d never seen. He raised the camera to my face and clicked. Immediately, a little portrait picture, the size of a passport picture, came out. I was silently impressed. He took the little picture and reced the fake ID picture with it. "Whenever you go out with me, you have to look like this. That is the wig and eye contact. And make- up." I simply nodded. "I''m going in. Touch a thing in here and I''ll know. And you''re still to discover who you''re messing with if you dare to try me." I wouldn''t dare! He locked the main door and kept the keys in his pocket. Then, he took some clothes and entered the bath. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 *** I sat waiting, trying not to cry again though there was a heavy lump in my throat. I had to escape. But how and to where? I needed money for that. Fifteen minutester, Anthonio came out of the bathroom all dressed. I was surprised to see that he''d sprayed his hair and brows blonde. He looked different! He wore a fitting ck T-shirt, a ck pair of jeans and some sneakers. Honestly, he was so attractive. "I believe you''re into pro makeup?" his voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Huh??" "You heard me." "Um, it depends. What do you want?" He touched the back of his neck. He wanted me to hide it. The tattoo. "Oh. Uh, give me the makeup set please." He picked the set up and gave it to me, before sitting down on one of the chairs. I went up to him and applied my skills. By the time I was done, the tattoo was invisible. Perfectly hidden. "A...avoid sweating or else it might melt off." I stammered. "I won''t." he took a mirror and checked his tattoo. "Perfect." He got up to go get his bag. Not like I expected a thank you. ''PFF!'' I watched him take out a pair of sses and wear them toplete his camouge. He looked like a normal guy who wasn''t Anthonio Caruso. He''d covered his remarkable eye color with brown eye contacts. When he was done, he turned to me. "If you''re asked who I am to you, what would you say?" he asked in his dry tone. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. "Uh...my brother?" "Don''t be dumb. Do we look rted?" "Don''t be rude. It''s not my fault if your presence confuses me." I scoffed. "Fine. Say I''m your friend." "I don''t think so..." I murmured, hoping he didn''t hear me. "I heard that. Keep trying me." I gulped at his reply which was a deadly warning. "Get the little stuff you have. The flight will be leaving soon," he added. "W...where are we going?" I risked a question. "Brazil." "What??" *** ''Is this how stupid people are??'' I thought to myself. The highly secured airport couldn''t detect the fake IDs and passports, Anthonio and I gave. They didn''t even bother to perfectly verify things. I was now to be called ''Anissa Lourdes'' and Anthonio ''Jerome Herons.'' Those were the fake names we had. The checking was quickly and easily done. I soon found myself boarding a ne and seating close to a terrorist. In a few minutes, we''d taken off. It was unbelievable! ** There I was, running away from my own country like the terrorist by me. I looked at Phdelphia beneath me and realized it wasn''t a dream. A tear rolled down my cheek as we flew over New York. It was all real. I would probably never see my parents again. Or my friends. "What?" I whispered and Anthonio turned to me. "Excuse me?" "What will be of me? Tell me." I begged. "I don''t know what the boss usually does with his girls but you''ll discover." "W...what?? Y...you''re kidding right??" I asked, my body trembling. "I never kid." I felt my blood run cold. I had to find a way to steal some money and escape on my own to wheresoever. "You''ll die. You''ll be arrested and killed!" I blurted out but in a low voice. He didn''t even look at me! During the flight, there was no conversation between us. He was busy on hisptop. We''d been flying for three hours already. I was bored and worried to death. I decided to look around but noticed that everyone was asleep apart from Anthonio and me. Shrugging, I reached out for the orange juice which had been served by a flight attendant to everyone. But as I touched the ss, Anthonio grabbed my wrist. "Don''t drink that." "Why??" I asked, annoyed. "It''s mixed with sleeping powder." I stared at him in surprise and shock. Then looking around once more, I noticed some flight attendants too had fallen asleep. Everyone had! "Oh my gosh! Is this your fault??" I panicked but he didn''t answer "...please tell me the pilot isn''t asleep." "Once again, don''t be stupid. He isn''t." Suddenly, the male attendant who''d shared the orange juice approached us. He was Asian. "Good job Chung. Go make sure the pilots don''t leave their cabins." Anthonio told the Asian. "Alright," Chung replied and walked away. I stared like a dumbass, unable to understand what the hell was happening! "Why did you do that??" I asked. "Stand up." "What?" "Stand." He stood up and abruptly grabbed my arm, forcing me to stand. He pulled me along as he walked past the sleeping people. They slept like they were dead! Anthonio went straight to the first ss where the rich people were found. They too were all asleep as well as the attendants. "Take these." he handed a pair of gloves to me and I looked at him, confused. "Put them on." "Why?" "Don''t make me lose my temper. Do what I say!" I shook and did as I was told. He did the same, putting on a pair of gloves. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 *** "Do you see that briefcase?" he asked me. "Y...yeah." "Get it. There''s a diamond in it belonging to that man." He pointed at a white-haired man of about sixty-five. He looked wealthy. "...He''s the Queen''s jeweler. And that diamond is hers." "W...why are you telling me this?? I asked nervously. "Go over there and take the diamond out of the briefcase." Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. My eyes went wide! "W...what? I...I can''t!" "Donnica do what I say!" he growled. I didn''t care. "I can''t steal! A diamond for that matter!" He stared at me before pulling a gun out and pointing it at me. My blood ran cold again. My knees trembled. He was so close. Never had I been this close to a gun! I felt it rub against my temple. "Now get the diamond," he ordered again. Slowly I walked toward the briefcase and opened it. I wondered how he''d made it past the airport''s security with that gun. There was a huge diamond in the briefcase. It glittered beautifully. This diamond could buy half a kingdom or a country. I held it in my glove-covered hands and turned to Anthonio, trembling. He looked at me and then put the gun away. He then walked to another briefcase. A white one this time and I watched him open it. In it were all types of golden watches. He took everything and reced them with identical fakes. I was dumbfounded and speechless. He had a ck bag with him in which he put them. Surprised, I watched him take a fake replica of the diamond I had in hand. "Give me that one and rece it with this." I did as I was told. Once we were done, we left the first ss as if we had nevere. Great, not only was I considered a terrorist''s aplice, I was now a luxury thief. My head ached when I thought of what was in store for me. "I''m never doing that again, Anthonio!" I told him boldly. I was too angry to care about the fact that I''d called him by his name. He ignored me. Luckily, A few minutes after we''d stolen, people began getting up from sleep. That was a close one! I was officially a criminal. *** The journey to Brazil was long. We arrived the next day at around three in the afternoon. It was a beautiful ce. Once again, Anthonio made it out of the airport safely. I heard no English around me. Just Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian. I didn''t know which was which. On leaving the airport, we met a ck limo waiting for us outside. "Wow." I thought to myself. "Let''s go." he grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the chic car. He opened the door "Get in." The inside of the car was beautiful. It was expensively beautiful. There was a mini fridge, TV, and a mini wine bar. I was still afraid though. I didn''t know where I was heading to. I turned to look at the psycho who was practically kidnapping me. I hated him, yet I wondered how he could be so handsome. I couldn''t lie. I''d heard that a person''s wickedness could make them ugly. That was not the case with Anthonio Caruso. "Donnica." his cold voice interrupted my thoughts. He''d called me by my name for the first time. "What??" I replied rudely. "You don''t need to think a lot. If the boss keeps you, make sure you respect everything he says. If he sends you on some kind of mission, don''t reject it. Then you''ll be kept alive." I looked at him in surprise. He stared back impassive as ever. "Am I dreaming or...or you''re advising me?" I asked. He stared nkly at me. "Yes I am." was his straight reply. He didn''t smile or frown. One could not read his facial expressions! So vague. "Alright..." I murmured. He looked away and continued to manipte hisptop. I wondered what it would''ve been like if he was a normal guy. I''d probably be trying to get his attention. But for the moment, that was all I was avoiding. We drove through the city where we were. I didn''t know its name or where it was exactly. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 *** I wondered where we were heading to. "Come here." Anthonio suddenly said, motioning me toe over. "What??" "Do as I say," he answered in a low threatening tone. I gulped and moved over to sit close to him. I watched him take a rope out and tie both my hands together. Then to my surprise, he took a scarf out of his bag "W...what''s that for?" I stammered afraid. He didn''t answer but just approached me before blindfolding me with the scarf, so tight that I was sure not to see a thing! "W...why?..." was the only word I managed to stammer. "You do not have to see where we are going." Great. So I was being kidnapped or what? I got angry at all that was happening. Again! "So what are you gonna do now?? Huh? Tie my feet??" I asked angrily. "Maybe I should tie your mouth. Shut up or else you''ll make it to the boss with some scars." he always spoke calmly. Calm yet frightening. He did not joke and always meant every freaking word he said! But as stubborn as I was and angry at that moment, I didn''t stop talking. "I don''t care! I''m unable to see anything! And I''m sitting here with a mad head like you! I ain''t no Anissa Lourdes! I''m me!" When I didn''t get his reply, I began to stupidly regret my act. His silence was killing me and I felt a deadly stare on me. Why wasn''t he speaking? I was afraid all of a sudden. "Apologize. Now," he ordered in slow anger. I gulped. "...n...no." I stammered, stubbornly. I heard him exhale heavily. He was very angry. But I just couldn''t chicken out. I was angry too! "I can''t wait to teach you a lesson, you idiot. Let''s see if you speak again after you discover what''s in store for you." was the low threatening reply I received. That was enough to make me begin to sob. My entire body began to tremble as I imagined horrible things. I''d heard about the horrifying things Anthonio had done to people. The tortures he''d imposed on them. I''d heard he could cut your tongue off, pluck out your eyes or do worse things heartlessly while you were still alive to endure the pain. He had no mercy on men, women, and kids. He was mentally unstable! ''Oh my gosh.'' Thoughts of the horrible articles I''d read about him returned. I needed to apologize! I was a coward who didn''t realize who she was truly messing with now. "O...okay...I''m...I''m sorry....please..." I told him in a shaky voice, tears continuously rolling down my cheeks. There was silence. That made me sob the more. The silence was worse than an angry reply. Especially silence from Anthonio Caruso. "I...I said I''m...sorry...please..." I added. I was afraid to move my tied hands to try and touch him. "I...I''m...sorry...." I begged continuously. I continued to beg and sob for about twenty minutes without a reply! I began to doubt if Anthonio was still in that car. "Pleeaaasee...." I cried like a child, my fear bing worse. "Keep that to yourself..." was his sudden cold reply "...we''ve arrived.¡± I felt the car stop and my heart sank. There wasplete silence wherever we were. Not only had he rejected my apologies, but I''d also arrived at my doom! I heard the car door open and felt him get out. Unable to see a thing, I felt him grab my arm with force. He hurt me so bad I had to press my lips together so I wouldn''t yelp or cry out. I got out of the car and felt grass underneath me. Anthonio led me up what seemed to be a little hill. I just kept on walking till I passed through a door. We were probably in a house. A very big one. I heard voices... Male voices! "Wee back Anthonio." one said in a heavily Latino ented voice. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. "Heard you taught America another lesson." anotherughed. From their voices, they seemed to be very much older than Anthonio and me. "I always do," Anthonio replied with augh. Hisugh gave me goosebumps. He couldugh? I wondered what he looked like when he did. "Is she the one?" a deep voice asked. They weren''t one or two men in there... They were many! "Yes." "Will the boss take her in?" one asked "Oh, he will. He loves tough brats like her so he can tame them into obedient pets." Another answered and they allughed savagely. Anthonio didn''tugh but I could tell he was smiling like an evil lunatic! What did they mean? I was so scared. "Maybe she''ll be part of his pleasure girls." Theyughed again. My heartbeat quickened. Tears automatically rolled down my cheeks. "You should stop." Anthonio''s voice came through. "Chill Anthony. We''re just preparing her psychologically. Take the bitch to the room." Oh no, no, no, no! I was ready to die! Anthonio led me up a staircase that seemed to have no end. We then walked through what seemed to be a hallway before halting. I heard him unlock a door and he pushed me in first. Then I heard him