Leave Me If You Dare

Arabella arrived at the Central Bank. It’s the biggest bank in Capital Z. With her body staggering, she managed to encash the check from Bill. Before she entered the bank, she already had the sight of the white box truck.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” The bank manager asked her as her face was as pale as a ghost and she was nervously shaking.

“I’m fine. I’m just a little bit cold, maybe because of the cold air coming from the AC.” It was just her alibi. She clearly remembered that caller’s demand to act well and avoid suspicion. How could she let her lousy acting be a hindrance to her goal?

“Okay then, everything is ready.” The manager said delightedly.

“Please ask some of your staff to help me load the money in my truck.” She intentionally used the word ‘my’ to avoid suspicion.

“Sure. Consider it done, madam.” With a smile, the manager called someone and ordered to get more people to help her load the money.

The loading was successful. She was about to jump inside the white truck as per the caller’s instruction, but the door automatically closed and locked, then it furiously ran away leaving her in awe.

“Hey! Give me back my money! Stop! Give me back my money!” Arabella chased the truck though it was impossible for her to catch it. When she felt her air had run out, she kneeled on the ground. At this moment, her body was shaking in anger. She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth in annoyance at herself for easily trusting the person on the phone. Even if that was not her money literally, but she ruined her name just to get it. She knew exactly what Bill was thinking of her. ‘Wow! Her name was ruined just to be deceived by someone. What a great life!’ Her hopelessness invaded her while she was walking on the sidewalk lost in her thoughts. Then suddenly, two persons grabbed her at the back and covered her nose with a handkerchief. Then, she felt her head was so big that he couldn’t carry it because of its heaviness and then she felt dizzy and she collapsed.

She tried to wake up from her unconsciousness, but her eyes were too heavy. She could only open a little and all she could see was darkness. She then realized that she was inside a running vehicle and her hands and legs were tied. She tried to shout for help, but her mouth was covered with tape. All the small sounds she could make just echoed inside a metal container. She tried to struggle, but her body was weak and could not cooperate. Her dizziness was still all over her body. She remembered the handkerchief they covered on her nose a while ago, it seemed it was the cause of everything she had felt right now. ‘They already had my money, why they still kidnapped me like this? This isn’t the plan. I can go with them voluntarily, according to the plan.’ Even in her dizziness, she could not help thinking about the things that continuously popping out in her mind.

An hour had passed and the black truck stopped in an abandoned building of a remote area away from the city.

Two persons opened the truck and dragged her out. Though she was nervous to death, she pretended that she was still unconscious.

“Tie her up on the chair!” An angry voice of a woman echoed in the room. Arabella’s ears stood up when she heard the woman’s familiar voice, but she couldn’t confirm it for now as she was afraid to be caught when she opened her eyes. She needed to act well for her to get out alive. Though her mind was still confused about everything that had happened. It happened too fast and all she knew right now was that she was in great danger. She should think of a way how to get out from there as fast as she could before it was too late for her.

Still pretending to be unconscious, a strong man tied her upper body on the backrest of the chair.

“Get up!” A roaring sound from the man came out while kicking the chair.

Goosebumps! That thunderous voice was also very familiar to her.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to put a cover in her eyes first?” Judging from the girl’s voice, she was worried to be identified.

That was the second time she heard the woman’s voice. If she was not wrong, she’s Sharon, the secretary of Bill Sky. Could it be Bill had something to do with this? Is this his revenge on her after what she had done to him last night? This is absurd!’ There was still something Arabella wanted to find out. The voice of the man. She knew she heard him somewhere, but she couldn’t determine where.

“No need. I’m going to kill her anyway, then let her see us. At least she would remember our faces when she dies.” The man said.

This can’t be! This was the second time he heard the man’s voice. Lots of goosebumps came out when she finally recalled the voice. She quickly opened her eyes in disbelief and yes, she was not mistaken. Her eyes grew wide when he saw the owner of the voice was none other than Officer Jackson.

At first, she barely couldn’t recognize him as she was used to seeing him wearing his police uniform. This time, he was in a civilian wearing a black leather jacket and denim pants with a hat that covered his forehead.

“Good thing, you are already awake, Lady.” Officer Jackson frowned at her.

Sharon was a bit shy and was about to run out, but realized that it was too late for her to do it as Arabella already saw her.

“Is it you on the phone?” Arabella was shaking with goosebumps all over her body, but she refused to just die without knowing the truth.

“If not me? Who else? Who could probably have all the evidence first? No, other than me. I was the one who investigated the site first. I cleaned up everything.” Officer Jackson smiled at her menacingly.

“Why? You are a police officer.” Arabella was confused. She trusted and relied on him to solve the case of her father. She was deeply moved by his concern about her regarding the CCTv’s that she needed to fix in their house for her protection, but it seemed it was all part of his scheme.

“You see Lady, you just said I am a police officer.” He stopped and spat on the ground like he was disgusted with his position. “Our salary couldn’t even buy a bigger house. I want tons of money rather than this stupid position.” He exclaimed.

“Yes. Ms. Jones, we want the money!” Sharon then butted in putting dearly her arm on Officer Jackson’s shoulder.

This gave Arabella the idea that the two have a romantic relationship with each other.

“Sharon, Did Bill had something to do with this?” Arabella’s eyes were fierce. If Bill was really involved with this, she couldn’t promise herself not to kill him when she sees him.

“Yes. Of course. I am her secretary so I am just following his order. He gave you the money in the contract, but he ordered me to take it back then after that he ordered us to kill you.” Sharon smiled at her viciously. She was really up to something.

Upon hearing Sharon’s words, Arabella’s anger was like to explode. Her face was flushed as she clenched her fists tightly. At this moment, all she wanted was to see was his face and gave him a big punch until he would knock- out. That would be her first thing to do if ever she could escape from the place. Her anger said she needed to escape to make it happen. ‘I would kill you first before you could kill me!’ She refused to die without killing the evil first.

Thinking of Bill, her fighting spirit went high.

“But I already gave you the money. If you will kill me, maybe could you at least give me some dignity? Free me up.” Arabella toughly said. Since she was young, she already learned the basic rule of life: The weak will die and the strong will live, but in the new generation, the smartest will surely live.

Hearing Arabella’s words, Officer Jackson rushed to her and suddenly grasped her neck. It was too sudden that Arabella didn’t see it coming. At this moment, she had a hard time breathing, but she refused to die so she tried her best to inhale some air.

“You gave us the money? Where is the money now?” Officer Jackson choked her in anger.

“I can’t breathe. I followed your order.” She was staggering as she was out of oxygen in her body.

“You think you can outsmart me? I already told you not to because I will kill you, but you just didn’t listen. So, die!” Due to his outburst, Officer Jackson held Arabella’s neck even more tight that he could really kill her if he won’t stop.

Arabella was in pain. She couldn’t breathe anymore. All she could see is the man who was gritting his teeth to put more force on choking her and with a look that was determined to kill her. It seemed that she would just die in his hand. Arabella just then closed her eyes with tears rolling down on each side to surrender to her death. She remembered her happy moments with her parents and Farrah. They were on the beach, laughing and eating together. Lastly, Bill’s handsome face appeared and he smiled at her. How could in her dying time this man still showed up? Is it really her destiny to remember his face before she dies? She cursed him in her heart.

When she was about to fall on the ground, she heard a commotion and gunshots everywhere. The strong hand released her and finally, her body shoved directly on the ground together with the chair. She gasped for ample air to replace the oxygen in her body, but her body had become weak. She tried to open her eyes, but it was blocked with tears. She could only see some lights, but couldn’t see clearly what was exactly happening around her. More gunshots were heard, Arabella just remained on the ground. She didn’t dare to move.

When another gunshot was heard,

“Sweetheart!” Sharon screamed disdainfully. Officer Jackson was shot in the forehead. He was Sharon’s long-time lover. They planned to have a wedding, but it was all costly. She knew officer Jackson was handling Arabella’s father’s case. When she saw the contract between her Boss and Arabella, they came out with a big plan. After getting the money from Arabella, they would leave the country. They would start a new life and would make a family of their own. Now, that her man died, how could she live her life alone?

With a vengeance anger dwelling in her heart, Sharon then picked up Arabella from the ground.

“They kill my lover. I will kill you too!” Sharon said while pointing her gun at Arabella’s head.

“You don’t need to do it, Sharon, we can talk about this.” Arabella uttered in a low staggering voice. It was obvious she was in pain.

“No! An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!” Sharon was acting crazy this time. It seemed that she had great love with Officer Jackson and that she was really willing to kill for him.

“Sharon, you are not in the proper mind. Please listen to me, put down that thing.” In her weakness, Arabella still tried her best to talk to her.

“No! I will not listen to you. Mr. Sky said to kill you. I will do anything that my Boss wants me to do. Ha.ha.ha!” The way she laughed, she seemed out of her mind. Sharon really lost her elegance, this time. She was obviously suffering from the pain of losing her loved one. By avenging him, that could only satisfy her.

Then, another gunshot was heard.

Suddenly, Arabella fell to the ground.