Chapter 4: Liena

Jess texted me to be at home by 6 pm. It’s still 1 in the afternoon, I haven’t had my lunch yet, I open the fridge to check if there’s something to cook. I can only see few ingredients; I’m planning to go out to the near mini grocery store. I have a few bills here left by Jess, thou she reminded me to not get out and just use the money for home delivery of foods.

I just wear a black pants and flipflops I brought my phone and cash before heading out. I’m walking down in roadside and eyeing the different food shops beside me. Now I can see the mini grocery store, I made myself a way to spice section. I get bay leaves and star anise. I get to bag of potato chips too and two bottles of beer before paying to the counter. I’m about to go out when a middle-aged man approached me.

“Miss, can I ask something?”

“Sure, Sir.” I smiled awkwardly.

“Did you know where Allegro apartment building is?” Does he live in the same apartment as us too?

“Yeah, I live there. Actually, I’m heading back towards our apartment.” This man seems harmless.

“Thanks goodness! I’m looking for it since this morning, I’m going to relocate next week in that apartment.” He delightedly shared, I guess we’ll have a new neighbor.

I walked him through our apartment building we talk a little bit about his life. His name is Joe and will be relocating here because of his job. He’s alone in his life and decided to only focus on his job rather than looking a partner.

His apartment is located on the 5th floor while our apartment is on the 4th floor. He pretty seems a decent guy, I thought his life is quite boring, but I guess I’m wrong it’s actually sad. Being alone by the age of 35 and not planning to have a family is a laid-back life.

I guess I will be seeing Joe quite often now, I wonder why he didn’t try to date again.

I was about to walk to our apartment when suddenly I heard footsteps following behind me. When I look who it is, there’s no one. I continue walking but this time I get immensely nervous, I heard the footsteps again but faster than the previous one. I did not dare to look back again, I’m about to run. When someone grab me, this person has tremendous force – he’s a man. I managed to shout to call for help but then the guy abruptly put a handkerchief on my nose, in no time I felt dizzy and sleepy, losing all my will and physical power to fight back to the guy who’s dragging me. I can’t clearly see who it is, my eyesight is blurry now and droopy.

I woke up in a dark place, there’s no light. I slowly gained my consciousness and remembering what had happened. My both hands are in pain right now, they’re tied with rope. I’m sitting on a chair, I’m about to move my feet, but it is also tied. My mouth is covered with duct tape. This place is full of construction materials. I can hear that someone is walking upstairs – he’s going up here.

I pretended to be asleep, and I heard the door opened. I am sweating bullets, and my heart is pounding too fast. I can’t die here; I can’t die without even remembering who I am. I feel he is coming close to me; I can feel his breath. I can smell smoke from a cigar. He started to smell my neck; this is not good. He is a creep! I felt his stubbles poking to my neck as he continues sniffing me.

Help!

I’m about to stop my pretentious act of being asleep when he slapped me in my left cheek. It was strong, my cheek felt numb. I want to cry because of pain but I get hold of myself.

I slowly open my eyes. I nearly fainted to found who it is. I feel like all my blood from my face are drained. I trusted this stranger and now he’s the one who brought me to danger.

It’s Joe.

I’m mumbling words of ‘help’. But no one could hear me. Joe is just standing in front of me as he puffs his cigar. I couldn’t phantom that Joe whom I was with earlier brought me here.

He removes the tape; I’m breathing more freely now. “Joe…” It’s a call of plead.

He grinned evilly. He walks near the corner to get the other chair and put it in front of me. He sat there, as if he’s ready to listen to all my confusions to ask about him.

“You know, I just get paid to do this kind of job. Nothing personal, Liena.” He leaned back to the chair, “Well?” he asks.

“Why?!” A tear fell, “Did I do something wrong? Who is your boss?” I desperately asked.

Joe sighed deeply and burst into laughing.

“You are soft hearted, Liena. You even easily trusted a stranger like me. And you are asking who’s my boss? You don’t want to know who it is.”

Joe laughed again as if I said something funny. Why is the world so cruel to me? I lost my memories and now I am being kidnapped and locked in this dark storehouse.

Why?!

I want to shout all my frustrations; I want to punch Joe right on his face right now. Joe got out after that, he came back with a bottle of water and a meal compromised with pizza and Mac and cheese. He untied my hands but kept my feet both tied. After that he got out again.

A small ray of light that is coming from a hole of the wooden upper ceiling is slowly losing its shine. It’s getting dark, a hint that the day is finally over and turning into dark night. The insects are starting to make their noises. I didn’t even bother to touch my food even though my hands are untied; I didn’t unlash the rope on my feet. I feel like losing hope that someone can save me. I feel like I was thrown in a deep somber well, slowly drowning in numbing water and suffocating me to death. I can’t see any hope, there is no light hint of hope for me, and I am just invariably hopeless in this life.