When I was suddenly hit in the head and my eyes began to close, I thought that was the end and that I was dead. So when my eyes began to close, I started to wish I had done some things better, I wish I could see Mom one more time and tell her that I love her and don't mean it those times that I give her trouble and I also want to tell Dad how much I appreciate his effort on us, then the sensation of Jane being with me on the other side pushed everything away.
So when I opened my eyes again, I tried to check out if Jane was with me in this paradise. It was then I noticed that the place was dark. Total darkness.
'This must be hell'
I told you how I believe every word that comes out of Ms. Erin's mouth. Well, I didn't tell you that I also believe everything Mom says. In fact, I believe Mom's words to a greater degree more than I believe Ms. Erin's. That's the relationship between a mother and her child. So it was Mom that told me what hell is. It was a long gist between mother and son that beautiful twilight.
Mom was in the kitchen, Dad was yet to return from work, and I just finished my homework. So I joined her in the kitchen since Jane would probably be busy with chores too. It was a quiet atmosphere only broken by the sounds of the cooker and the food boiling. I hate dull moments. I decided to tell Mum what had happened in school that day. One boy had stolen his classmate's lunch pack and one way or the other, he was caught. A wear was designed for him out of cardboard paper with 'THE LUNCH PACK THIEF' boldly written on them.
"I really pity the boy," I said to Mum "He was made to wear it while going around the school visiting every classroom and staff offices"
"Stealing is not a good thing Mase," Mum said. "And it shouldn't be supported. That is why the school punished the boy. If they don't and he goes on to become a robber and killed. He will go to hell"
"What is hell," I asked out of curiosity and that's how Mum told me how hell is a place where bad people end up after they die. She said it is a place of infinite pain and torture, in pitch darkness, without water or food. And that's why I always told myself that I will never end up in such a place that has no food.
So when I regained consciousness into such darkness, I began to wonder why I ended up in hell. I was a good boy or so I thought. Then I remembered how Mum said those in hell are tortured but I feel no pain of torture. It was then I realize the reason for the pitch darkness is that my eyes were tied with some thick fabric that prevents me from seeing anything. I also noticed that I was in a sitting position though I can move as my legs and hands are tied by a rope that seems to be fighting its way into my flesh.
I heard the struggle of someone not too far away from me. I strongly believe it is Jane since she was the only one I was abducted with. I tried to call out to her but my mouth has been sealed with some kind of tape so I began to struggle to see if I can free myself from the rope that bounds me.
Our efforts to free ourselves from the chair caused quite the noise and I had fallen with the chair when I heard the creaking sound of a door opening. I heard heavy footsteps come near me, two hands landed on either side of my shoulder and violently lift me off the floor with the chair. I was now back up not knowing where I was, or who the person that has just entered is. My eyes were still covered by the piece of fabric so I could not see what was going on but then I heard a man with a very thick voice that sends shivers down my spine instruct one other man to untie the fabric on our eyes.
I opened my eyes and wait for them to adjust to the light in the room. When I could finally see clearly, I discovered we are in a fairly large room as big as our sitting room back home. The room is empty bar some iron chairs and some hard metals that look like weapons. They must have knocked us out with one of those things. I looked beside me and not so far from where I am tired, Jane's eyes have also been untied and she seems to be taking in her environment. I just gave her a nod of assurance and she just nod back with tears already welling up in her eyes. Our mouths were still taped so we couldn't talk.
My eyes drifted back to our captors. There are three of them, men with huge biceps and as big as those men in black that we see on the television follow the President of Silverland, not allowing anyone to get close to him, beating every brave aleck till to retreat as they follow closely behind him. That's how I can describe these men. One was standing not so far from where I was tired, one on Jane's side, and the last one who seems to be their leader took a seat and sat not so far from us making sure he is in the middle of us.
"Remove the tape," he said and his subordinates quickly remove the tape from our mouths, setting our loud tongues free the next thing that comes to my mind is to scream for help but every thought of that was quickly thrown into the sea when Jane attempted to scream.
"Don't even think of screaming. You can try but no one will hear you even if you do from now till eternity. And moreover I hate noise. So just listen to me or die regretting it". The man threatened us in his thick voice and we both instinctively kept quiet". "Someone will bring food to you very soon. I'll come back after your meal"
"Untie them," he said to his subordinates as he stood up and walk towards the door which I assume they came in through. As he was about to step out, he turned around and said to us:
"Don't even think of escaping. You are heavily guarded"
He left the room. His dogs soon untied us and they also left the room, leaving the both of us alone again.
"Are you okay" I hurried over to Jane's side ignoring my pains.
"I'm fine" she replied though she was crying. I've always known Jane to be a strong girl, she does things like a boy, and you can call her a hard girl. That's why I was worried to see her cry because I know the trauma of being kidnapped and the uncertainty of what is to come is getting to her. "How about you. Are you fine? She asked amidst sobs.
"Fine" I replied and we both sat down together, right there, silent and just hoping that maybe a search party would have been arranged to look for us and maybe they will come and rescue us.
That didn't happen and the door soon opened and another set of men brought in food in some kind of bowl for us to eat. Even though we were famished, we didn't touch the food for fear of being poisoned. For the second time in as many days, food is placed before me and I am unable to eat it. We drank the water only for we were dehydrated. I didn't eat before I left in search of my parents that morning and I guess the same could be said for Jane. The door opened again and the leader of the kidnappers came in once more.
"I was told you didn't eat," the man said putting on an evil grin. " It's better you do because you don't know how long you'll be here for," the man said as he sat down.
'You don't know how long you'll be here for' the words kept repeating in my head as I began to cry silently. I was still a kid. A 10-year-old, what do you expect.
"Why" Jane shouted and for the first time, I wonder why they even kidnapped us.
"You are Mason Henshaw, right?" the man asked and I nodded wondering how he even knew my name in the first place. "Your father is being defiant, that's all you need to know for now," the man said as he faced Jane.
"I don't know you or how you got together with him and land yourself here but I believe you'll be useful too" the man stood up without saying anything as he makes his way to the door.
"Wait" my lips suddenly moved "how is my father being defiant"
"He has to be a transporter for my boss," the man said as he left the room.