Chapter 4 The taking

For the next few minutes I couldn't breathe. Everything suddenly went quiet and all I could hear was the ringing in my ears.

The horrified looks on my parents faces was my least worry now as I began to notice the men standing in black suits, behind my parents. They didn't have guns in their hands but they must've said or done something to my parents to have them sitting and looking that way.

I felt confused. Who were they and what do they want? I saw the look of fear in my father's eyes as they watched me and I saw how my mom tried to pretend she wasn't as frightened as the situation called. Just as I was about to speak, to ask my mom what was happening here, a voice broke through the kitchen.

" Is this your little girl? " The voice is deep and demanding, having a bit of intimidation on it. I looked around and saw a man walk out. You might think in a situation I'd never get the chance to check a man out right? Well I did and instead of forcing my gaze down, I watched him. He's tall and well built, muscular in every way, even his black suits gave it out. His black hair is styled to swipe up on his head, his fairly long face bearing a set of full dark eyebrows and small, sloe eyes with thick long lashes. His dark lips has a sadistic grin on it for just a while before the moment he completely stepped out of the kitchen, a long frown crossed his face , his eyes holding my gaze. I felt the urge to look away. But I wasn't thinking straight yet. Who was he?

" I normally wouldn't collect this kinds of payment but I guess I'll make an exception tonight " he added, walking up to where his men were standing behind my parents.

I didn't think I heard that correct. When he snapped his fingers, two of his men came at me, reaching to grab me. That's when it occurred to me what's about to happen. I yelped in fear and looked at my parents. My mom's face was thrown away.

" What are you doing?! What's happening here mom? Dad? " I cried. I needed answers. That man over there just said he normally didn't collect this kinds of payments. Does that mean. . . . . . I started to fight frantically as they tried to pull me. Where were they taking me? What was happening right now?! All the while my parents never looked at me, they just threw their faces away.

" Stop " the first man ordered and they let go of me immediately. He walks towards me, my heart racing rapidly in my chest.

He stops in front of me, inching his face down a little bit to my level and peering into my face. Due to the short struggle from earlier, my hair was scattered over my face so he reached a finger below a strand and brushed it back.

" Listen, Layla, " he said " your lovely parents here are giving you to me. I'd have loved for you to have a little time together to get some real explanations and maybe say a couple of goodbyes but I'm really not cut out for that "

What? I thought the pipe to my lungs got cut and I stopped breathing for a minute there. I looked over to my parents as I heard him snap his fingers for me to be taken again.

" We're sorry, Layla, " my mom said, standing up " we owe him some money and we couldn't pay him off! We're very sorry! " She was sweating profusely.

I couldn't believe this. I refuse to believe this. She's just going to tell me that after selling me off to these people? I wanted to cry but there seemed to be something more important than shedding tears right now. I wanted to pour my heart out at them. How could they do this to me? They had no idea what was going to happen to me and they didn't care. They had no idea where I was being taken and they didn't care.

The men grabbed me by my arms. That's when the adrenaline kicked in. I struggled frantically to break free but they easily overpowered me.

" Let go of me please " I began to cry but they don't stop. They just tried to do what their boss commanded and take me out. " Please! Let me go! " I pleased, catching sight of my parents face one more time before being dragged out of the door, the leader of the men standing behind.

I started to scream harder so anyone passing by could save me even though it was past 11 in the night and it was very unlikely of anyone to be walking around. I wondered if Maddy reached her house already. I wondered if she heard that loud scream before getting gagged with a piece of cloth. I wondered if she was heading back now because she heard a scream. I didn't know what to do, my head was spinning. The chance of somebody finding me was very thin but I wanted to try.

I kicked and pushed but in the end, it felt like I was just standing there while they dragged me effortlessly. The truth is they were much bigger than me and definitely more powerful, I knew I couldn't win this fight with them. As we closed in on their huge car, the cloth still pressed to my mouth and making breathing impossible, I knew this was it. I couldn't win this.

They pulled open the car and threw me in and as soon as I was inside, I felt a sharp needle piercing through my arm. I looked to the side where my skin had been pierced to see a man seated next to me, also in black suits and dark shades. What did he do to me? Did he just sedate me? .