Chapter 1

I woke up in a pool of wet gooey stuff, I could feel the cold liquid against my skin before I could open my eyes. I felt sticky, as I tried to move, I felt my body slip against the liquid. I finally opened my eyes, and I could not see a thing. It was dark. The first thought that came to my mind was that I had lost my sight. I tried opening them wider maybe if I widened them enough, I could see, but to no avail. I started panicking. I'm too young to go blind, what is my life going to be like. I position myself in a cradling position sniffling as tears rolled down my cheeks, what would my life be like as a blind person. I was not even rich enough that people would worship the ground I walk on, I would probably be an outcast.

"Pull yourself together", I spoke to my inner self. I can make this work. I focused on the sight which had gone from my eyes and became wary of my surroundings. Through my snot and probably at that time red eyes. I tried to feel my surroundings, but all my hands touched was the liquid, it was sticky, and it made me cringe. It moved my hands further maybe I could figure out where I was. OR scream yes scream

"Help, help me please!', no answer, then I remembered that if I had lost one sense my other senses were probably heightened, it tried to listen hard, but I couldn't concentrate not with the idea of being blind my entire life still lurking in my head. "Try harder"

Then I heard footsteps, where were they going, the sound got louder, they were walking towards, I got excited, help was here.

Then it hit me, help, if I needed help it probably meant I was captive, but why would someone capture me. What happened I tried to remember what happened prior this? The last thing I remembered was taking a drink from a hot stranger, at the school restaurant and then, my eyes were suddenly heavy. 'Damn you, hot stranger". Now I was blind, was it the side effects of the drink, is this how it ends for me. I tried to grab whatever I could, to defend my myself but I touched more gooey stuff. Now the tears rolled uncontrollably. What was I going to do?

My parents. Maybe they had noticed I was missing maybe they would come get me. I crawled back and forth. And there it was like a miracle. I was blinded by a light. So, this is what dying looked, like. My final hours, I wept for the last time. At least I would die young, maybe I would be someone's guardian angel. But the light was dimmed by a huge figure. I looked up. Then it dawned on me. I looked around I was indeed confined in a cell. A tall man stood at the entrance, and behind was what seemed like a corridor, a well-lit one.

So, I wasn't blind. I almost leapt for joy, but I was curious about the stranger before. I wanted to yelp out for help. But I was in shock, he pulled me to my feet, like I was a piece of paper my feet were wobbly I lost balance and he held me up, almost in a hang up position.

I couldn't make out the features of his face. My eyes were trying to give out, but I kept fighting. He lifted me up, I was helpless I couldn't even try to fight back, I felt like I was under anesthesia. All I could do was stare at his face, as he carried me along the corridors, I was mumbling. 'help". But I don't think he could hear me.

"I'm taking you to safety", he said, and I nodded. Then I tried to laugh at my nodding. Why was I nodding. I barely understood what was going on. What safety was he talking about and what was I nodding to. I tried to lift my head so I could speak to his ear "I want to go home' but the darkness struck me again. I went to where I saw myself with my parents. We were at the dinner table like we always did but something felt odd. I felt like I did not belong. They didn't look like they wanted me there. But I was probably just paranoid or PMS. My mom stood up, walked slowly to me, her figure getting taller as she got closer to me.my heart pounded hard against my chest. Then I heard a deep, voice. "Anika" I opened my eyes, I was dreaming, of course I was dreaming I repeated it in my head. There is no way my mother would be that scary, she is the nicest person I know.

A warm handheld my neck, I sat up. Tried to take in my environment before returning to the warm hand. I was inside a large bedroom, probably a deluxe suite. I used to stay in such rooms every time we travelled with parents. It would be nice to see them again and maybe this time we could take a trip to Ethiopia, I had always wanted to go. "ANIKA" he called again, waking me from my daydream. I looked up. And my gaze was met by worried brown eyes.

"Are you okay" the stranger asked, concern lacing his deep voice.

Was I okay? I tried moving slightly "where am I, and who are you'

He was not the stranger how gave that drink "what happened" I asked now finally coming to my senses, I was in a stranger's house. Was I naked, I felt a gown over my body, what had happened? I stood up quickly almost losing balancing. Rushed to the door, which had noticed seconds prior my waking. It was locked.

"Please calm down," he said, "the maid changed your clothes, a female maid, I couldn't let you sleep like that and I'm sorry for that, but I had to do something."

I was still not convinced, I kept rattling at the door, he slowed stood from where I had left him, beside the couch I was sleeping on.

"Please calm down, I won't hurt you I promise, if I wanted to, we wouldn't be here, I rescued you."

Then I remembered the dark cell, the spiked drink

I slowly calmed down, tighten the robe. Which coincidentally fitted me perfectly. And wrapped my hands on my chest, "okay I'm listening."

'My name is JAGON"

"Jagon" I repeated, why did the name sound familiar, maybe he was one of my father's associates, but he didn't look like the kind of guy my father associates with, he was younger than my dad's usual colleagues, maybe an employee.

"What am I doing here," I asked, trying to stray away from the million question I had about the man Infront of me, questions about Jagon", I would ask these later.

"Can you please sit down', he motioned to where I had just stood up," I will tell you everything, I promise.

this man, This Jagon, was making too many promises, and I had only known him for less than 1hour. I contemplated. But finally went back to the couch, he came and stood Infront of me. I looked up to meet his gaze, he had such beautiful eyes, the brown was very defined, like a quality piece of wood, they almost shined.

"I rescued you, which by now I'm sure you are aware of" he said as he walked past me in slow motion almost like each with each step, he was carefully choosing his words. I didn't disturb him; I wanted to listen and question later. I figure asking too many questions, might delay the whole thing. I wanted to go home.

"You had been kidnapped, my men, saw your kidnapper carry you to his car and to the safehouse. It took us a while to find you, I'm sorry I took that long."

The apology seemed, sincere. But why was he apologizing, it was my fault for taking things from strangers I knew better than to accept drinks from strangers. In fact, I never accept things from strangers, but for some reason, I trusted that man, he seemed sincere. How gullible of me.

"Who kidnapped me? do my parents know, and where are they, I don't understand, why isn't my dad here,"

I stood up, I looked at his back, now I wanted answers the kidnapping I understood, but why. I mean we had money, but normally after such incidents I would expect a parent to be with their child. Maybe they were coming. Or he was briefing before he lets me meet them.