Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
As night descended, Mia hesitated to close her eyes, apprehensive that if she succumbed to sleep, she might awaken in an unfamiliar location.
After a while, the van came to a halt on a desolate rural road.
The group disembarked to take a break and have a meal.
Fabian turned to Mia and said, “Grab something to eat. As long as you cooperate, you’ll be treated well. Don’t worry; while our town may not match the affluence of big cities, it’s not too shabby.”
Mia glanced at the bread offered to her and made a straightforward request. “I’d like some milk as well.”
“Of course, as long as you’re well¨Cbehaved,” he responded.
Mia sat upright with the hope that Fabian would free her, yet he remained alert and resistant.
Resigned to the situation, she decided to eat first¨Cafter all, the baby in her womb couldn’t afford to go hungry.
Before long, the van resumed its journey.
Jostled by the bumpy ride, Mia soon succumbed to sleep.
When she awoke, it was already the following morning. Glancing around, she saw nothing but towering mountains, devoid of any signs of modern urbanization.
Mia’s heart sank once more. “Have we arrived?” she inquired.
“Not yet. We still have to traverse this massive mountain, then another, and we’ll reach our destination. We have to stick to these smaller roads to stay off the radar. It might take a bit longer, but it’s safer.”
Mia clenched her teeth, holding onto the belief that her brothers would eventually come to her rescue.
Suddenly, the roar of engines echoed from above, mirroring the distinct sound of a helicopter.
Mia’s heart soared with newfound hope as the sound of the helicopter reached her ears.
The sudden appearance of the aircraft couldn’t be a mere coincidence.
Mia couldn’t help but wonder if it might be her brothers coming to her rescue.
Fabian’s vigilance heightened as he sat in the passenger seat. “Could it be the police?” he questioned.
Ronald, behind the wheel, chuckled and brushed off the idea. “Fabian, have you been watching too many movies? Why would the police show up in a helicopter?
“We’ve been down this route countless times. What could possibly go wrong?”
“What’s the helicopter doing here, then? We’ve never seen one in this area before.”
“It could be for tourism, or perhaps the TV station is filming some aerial shots.”
Fabian found Ronald’s explanation to be somewhat plausible. After all, the prospect of a helicopter coming to rescue Mia seemed far¨Cfetched, considering their high cost.
Before long, Ronald remarked, “Look, the helicopter is flying away. I told you it wasn’t here for us. You worry too much.”
Upon hearing this, Mia also noticed that the helicopter’s roar had considerably subsided.
Could it be true that it was merely passing by?
Mia felt anxiety gripping her as the realization sank in. The audacity of these men to carry out kidnappings in a bustling city was hard for her to fathom.
What should be her course of action now?
Was she really going to give birth in the mountains?
on after the van abruptly screeched to a halt.
Ronald cursed, “Damn it, why is there a massive tree blocking the road? How are we supposed to proceed now?”
“What’s our plan? Should we turn back?”
“There’s no way we’re going back. Let’s all pitch in and clear these trees out of the way.”
With that, the men exited the van, leaving Mia alone inside.
She held her breath and cautiously sat up, stealing glances outside to assess the situation.
However, her heart sank as she observed the rugged mountainous terrain.
The thought of traversing it on foot was daunting, and escape seemed nearly impossible.
Suddenly, a group of individuals clad in camouflage attire emerged, swiftly subduing the ment attempting to clear the roadblock.
Mia’s heart raced as she witnessed the unfolding scene.
Who were these mysterious interveners?
Abruptly, the van door swung open. Mia turned to find a man in camouflage attire. Though his face was smudged, his eyes were undeniably familiar.
Could it be Timothy?
Standing by the van door, Timothy swiftly cut the ropes binding Mia’s hands and feet. As he observed the marks on her wrists and ankles, his gaze turned noticeably colder.
Suppressing the chill in his eyes, Timothy lifted his head and extended a reassuring hand toward Mia. “It’s okay, you can come down.”
Mia stared at him, feeling somewhat dazed. “My legs are numb. I can’t move.”
Being pregnant, Mia refrained from making any hasty movements, fearing the potential consequences of a fall while exiting the van.
As Mia voiced her concern, she observed Timothy bending down, ready to lift her out of the van.
Instinctively, Mia wrapped her arms around Timothy’s neck, lifting her gaze to observe the camouflage paint on his face. It added a hint of mystery and rugged charm to his expression.
Pursing her lips, Mia inquired, “How did you get here?”
She never anticipated that Timothy would be the first to arrive and rescue her!
Timothy remained silent, gently setting her down by the roadside. He thoughtfully wiped the nearby stones clean and proposed, “Feel free to sit down here.”
Mia complied, settling down as Timothy squatted in front of her. He retrieved a first aid kit, diligently disinfecting the wounds left by the ropes on her hands and feet.
As the alcohol made contact with Mia’s wounds, her hands and feet instinctively twitched, displaying a degree of resistance.
Timothy maintained a firm grip on her ankle. “Stay still.”
“It hurts!” Mia’s voice quivered, causing Timothy’s hand to momentarily pause.
Glancing up at her, he noticed tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. Adjusting his pace, he reassured her. “It’ll be alright. Just endure it for a little while.”
Mia was taken aback by Timothy’s response.
Instead of offering the comforting words she had anticipated, he simply advised her to bear the pain.
Despite this, Mia recognized that, given the current circumstances, enduring was the only viable option.
Contrary to his seemingly stern words, Timothy’s actions were remarkably gentle.
Just then, Mia’s attention was diverted by desperate screams emanating from the other side.
She tried to look, but several men in camouflage blocked her view.
From the sounds, it appeared that her abductors were facing some form of reprimand.
Lowering her gaze, Mia noticed a bandage snugly wrapped around her ankle. She couldn’t help but be captivated by Timothy’s profile, emanating both charm and elegance.
Mia found herself stunned, gazing into Timothy’s blue eyes.
Awkwardly averting his gaze, Timothy inquired, “Are there any other places that hurt?”
Clearing her throat, Mia replied, “No, I’m fine.”
Shifting her body slightly backward, she stole another glance at the commotion nearby. “Thank you for coming to my rescue this time.”
Timothy set aside the first aid kit, his gaze weighted with concern. “In the future, perhaps you should choose a more trustworthy man to safeguard your well¨Cbeing.”
Mia pursed her lips and inquired, “How’s Felix?”
With a touch of disdain, Timothy responded, “His condition isn’t life¨Cthreatening.”
Upon learning that Felix wasn’t seriously injured, Mia felt a deep sense of relief, especially considering he had sustained injuries on her behalf.
In that critical moment, who could have predicted the audacity of these men?
Timothy surveyed the group and posed the question. “What do you suggest we do with them?”
Mia lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes. “Is that question meant for me?”
Timothy furrowed his brows, revealing a touch of impatience. “If not you, then who else? We’re in
Upon hearing this, a shiver ran down Mia’s spine, and she swallowed nervously. “Let’s call the police.”