The Hunt Begins
I grip awareness with all the power I can summon as the darkness looms large and threatens to overwhelm me again. The cloud is broken by Natalia's voice, her desperation drawing me back.
With a desperate grasp borne of terror, she exclaims, "Richard, stay with me!" Her hands cling to my shoulders.
I fumble a nod and open my eyes to see hers. I mumble, "We need to get out of here," little more than a whisper.
Natalia nods, determined not to waver in the face of the peril all around us. Asking, "Can you stand?" she looks around the room, trying to find our kidnappers.
Against the agony throbbing in my chest, I clench my teeth and, with Natalia's help, push myself upright. I'm not going to let the pain that comes with every step break me.
We stagger together to the window, the mayhem outside the hospital room door muffling our feet. Natalia opens the window with shaky hands to show a sheer drop to the street below.
Her voice firm and determined, "We don't have a choice," she continues. "We must dive."
I pause, the unknown gnawing at my spirit. But I also recall Natalia's icy resolve and her unfailing support, which began the moment I woke up in that hospital bed.
I nod and brace myself for what's to happen. Though my heart is racing, I say, "Let's go," my voice steady.
Natalia draws a long breath and tightens her hold on my hand as she gets ready to jump. And then we go into the unknown, not turning around.
Hurling towards the earth below, the wind whips at our hair and clothing. Every second that goes by, my gut aches as the earth hurries up to meet us.
But as soon as I believe we're going to break up, Natalia's hand grips mine and forces me to do a quick turn in midair. We smack against the window of a neighboring building, falling into darkness as glass fragments rain down all around us.
As we crash into the earth, my perceptions are thrown off. But Natalia's voice comes through the fog, firm and forceful.
With her eyes darting around for any indication of danger, she replies, "We need to keep moving." There will be searches for us.
I push myself up, groaning and relying a lot on Natalia for support. Though every muscle in my body cries out in protest, I clench my teeth and push myself to go.
Walking through the empty hallways, we stagger together through the desolate building. A continual reminder of the peril that lies just beyond the shadows, the anxiety intensifies with every second that goes by.
But we continue because we are all determined to live. And I find myself wondering what other horrors lie ahead of us in the shadows as we hurry toward an unknown destiny.
The quiet is broken as we move through the poorly lighted hallways by Natalia's urgently spoken comments. Whispering, "We need to find somewhere to hide," her eyes dart tensely side to side.
I give a nod and look about us for any indication of a safe sanctuary. "There," I say pointing to a door at the end of the corridor that is half open. "Let me try in there."
Stepping gingerly up to the door, the rush of adrenaline numbing the ache in my beaten body. Slowly pushing open the door, Natalia looks inside and motions for me to follow.
Just the faint gleam of moonlight coming in through dusty windows lights the room, which is pitch-black. Other from a few pieces of abandoned furniture and cartons piled up against the walls, it's vacant.
Almost whispering, Natalia replies, "We'll be safe here for now." "We can't stay here very long, though. We shall be found soon."
I groan and sank to the floor. I say, "We need to figure out who they are and why they're after me," the events of the last few hours whirling through my confused and afraid head.
With brows wrinkled in intense focus, Natalia nods. Striking for her phone, she adds, "I'll try to contact some of your associates, see if anyone knows anything about what's going on."
But before she can press a number, footsteps startle in the hallway outside, getting louder by the second.
I say, "They're coming," my heart thumping in my chest.
With a start, Natalia gets to her feet and pulls me into the room's darkest corner. She cries, "Quick, hide," her voice frantic.
Stumbling after her, my limbs heavy with fatigue, we slam ourselves into the wall, hoping we won't be seen.
The footsteps go closer till they are slightly outside the door. As the handle twists and the door swings wide to show the silhouette of a person standing in the doorway, my breath hangs in my throat.
A voice bellows, "Richard Richmore," icy and intimidating. "We are aware that you are present. Relax and we might save your life."
Knowing we don't have much time left, I shoot Natalia a panicked look. Silently nodding, we prepare ourselves to meet our assailants head-on.
Natalia grips my arm more tightly, her gaze flitting between me and the person in the doorway. Over the thump of my heart, she says, "We have to go," her voice scarcely audible.
But the person moves forward into the room, exposing the threatening stare of a well-known face, before we can react.
"Mr. Richmore," the man says, a nasty smirk forming over his lips. "I have to admit that I'm let down. I had anticipated more of a test from you."
When I look into Marcus Reed's eyes, my old business partner, recognition strikes. When I understand how deeply he has betrayed me, the betrayal pierces my spine more deeply than any knife.
How about you, Marcus? My voice shaking with a mix of incredulity and rage, I demand.
Darkly laughing, Marcus looks contemptuously at Natalia. Richard, that's not what I want, actually. With a gesture toward the shadowy individuals looming behind him, he continues, "It's what our mutual friends desire.
Realising how much Marcus is involved in this evil scheme makes my blood run cold. My voice stinging with hatred, I charge, "You sold me out."
Marcus shrugs, a grin teasing the edges of his mouth. To Richard, business is business. And loyalty only gets you so far in our line of work.
I'm so angry that it makes me even more determined to deal with the injustice of it all. Marcus raises a hand, though, indicating to his friends to move ahead before I can think of a strategy.
He gives the cold, contemptuous order, "Take him."
As Natalia squares off against our attackers, her eyes flaming with defiance, she moves to protect me. Determined, she says, "You'll have to go through me first."
But as he sees the drama play out in front of him, Marcus just laughs, a very nasty chuckle. His eyes gleam cruelly at me and he whispers, "You're a fool, Natalia." Yet yet, he is as well."
And with that, the room bursts into mayhem, my friend Natalia and I fighting for our lives against overwhelming odds, people colliding and frantic shouts filling the air.
But as the night looms large over us again, I can't help but wonder if this is the end or if this is only the start of a far bigger battle to come.