Chapter 110: His Target
As I slowly opened my eyes, I wince due to the sharp pain I felt in my head. ’Did I hit my head somewhere?’ I thought as I adjusted my eyes.
I looked around and saw an unfamiliar room, it was a cozy yet elegant apartment that I don’t know of. The bed I’m lying on is too soft and comfy, there’s also a high view from the glass window near the bed. This place looks like a penthouse.
’No! This is not the time to think about that! The masked man abducted me!’ When I got reminded of what happened, I immediately got off the bed, but my legs were far weaker than usual and I fell to my knees.
What did they do to me? All I remember was seeing that masked man, then someone covered my mouth with a handkerchief. What about Night? Did he see the masked man? Am I safe?
Wait, if I’m really abducted, why am I in a luxurious-looking room like this? And why am I not all tied up? It’s weird. ’Oh.’ I chuckled after realizing that I might be overthinking this.
Night probably saved me from being abducted, like the strong man he is. And this place? Maybe we’re here because we’re taking shelter from the rain outside. That’s right! There’s no way those people will win over Night—
"You’re awake. Good morning."
My head quickly turned in the direction of the door after hearing a weird robotic voice. Hope immediately vanished from my system after seeing that same masked man standing in front of the door.
"Did you sleep well?" His voice made me tremble as I backed away. Dragging myself onto the floor just to get away from him. "Why are you scared? I won’t hurt you." It made me gulp as I roamed my vision, trying to find a way to get out of this place.
"I just need you to cooperate with me." Even though I can’t see his whole face, I feel like this person is smiling at me. "You have something I own." Those words made me remember the text I received last time. It’s exactly those words used.
"I won’t hurt you as long as you give it to me."
I gulped. ’I know that I should be smart and not taunt this masked man, but if I’m going to die here, I at least want to piss them off.’ I thought as I took a deep breath.
"Then why did you kill my parents?" If what he’s saying is the truth, if they really don’t want to hurt me, then how come they attempted to murder my family?
The masked man chuckled. "They’re not dead, aren’t they?"
I bit my lower lip as I tried to get up from the ground. "But the intent was there."
"Oh man, you’re being brainwashed." He said still with that robotic voice. "Oh, does this voice bothers you?" He then adjusted something on the right side of his mask. "Is this better?" His voice became softer and sounded like a voice of a teenage guy.
"I-Is that your real voice?"
The masked man chuckled again. "No. I’m quite famous, you see." He said as he crouches to me. "I just need what you have, and after that, you’ll be free." That’s a completely unbelievable story.
"W-What is it that you need?"
"It’s simple." His hand touched my chin and made me look into his eyes. All I could feel were fear from this person’s touch, even though his black gloves prevent his hand from touching my skin directly.
"The ring."
I gulped as I froze from where I was sitting. "W-What ring?"
"The garnet ring. It’s a ring your father stole."
S-Stole? "My father didn’t steal anything!"
I heard a laugh from him, it was a sinister laugh bringing shivers down my spine. "Your father might or might not know." He said. "But who cares? He still got what belongs to me."
"That’s enough for you to kill them?"
He tilted his head. "I didn’t kill them. I have no intention of hurting you or your family. I only need the ring."
I-I don’t understand this person. His actions weren’t rough and violent like how Night was towards me the first time, but I feel more scared towards this guy. It’s like, he’s a psychopath and I can’t predict what he’ll do next.
"L-Let me go."
"Only if you give me back my ring."
W-What’s with that? Can’t he just buy another one? "I don’t have it with me."
The masked man became quiet after that. I can’t see his face so I can’t predict his emotions. All I could feel towards him was fear, even that beautiful mask looked so creepy in my eyes as I tried to back away.
"Hmm, I can’t go to the Yamaguchi-gumi like this. How will I get that ring?" He asked me while tilting his head. "You won’t suggest going back there, don’t you?"
"B-But I don’t really have it with me."
The masked man touched his chin. "Hmm..." He then snapped his finger. "Aha! Why don’t you let one of your friends get it for you? One that doesn’t know about your secret." My forehead creased after hearing that.
"Wouldn’t Night and the others discover your location that way?"
"Ah!" I flinched after the masked man raised his voice. "You’re right. That will totally fail. If you didn’t tell me, I would have tried that." He said.
Is he joking with me right now? How could he not know of that? Or is he acting like he doesn’t know?
The masked man chuckled. "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?" Isn’t he supposed to torture me right now to force me to give what he wants? "Do you have allergies?" He asked as he walked towards the kitchen part of this place. ’I think?’
"Please do tell me, we can’t be letting your life in danger."
Huh? Doesn’t that contradict what they did to me? What if I get a heart attack from the sudden abduction they did?
"I-I’m allergic to nuts."
"That’s cute."
What’s cute about that? I almost died eating peanuts when I was younger! It’s because I didn’t know that the chocolate Andy offered me had nuts in it. That almost traumatized Andy so he’s always been careful with giving me food.
"Then would be chicken good? I don’t know how to cook so I’ll order some." The man said. Why would he treat his hostage to some chickens? "Jollibee sounds great right? Do you love their chicken joy?"
I gulped as I felt my mouth watering and my stomach grumbling with just the thought of that.
"I-I do."
"What about fries and sundae?"
I already feel hungry just by hearing those words. ’Was it because I’ve been craving it and I couldn’t eat it in the amusement park?’ I nodded as that masked man dialed a number on his phone.
He turned his back on me which made me think that he was being too carefree. What if I tried to hit him on the head and escape? ’As if I could. With these weak arms and legs? What possibly could I do right now?’
"Oh, do you need help?" The masked man asked. "By the way, you can call me Z."
Z? Like the alphabet? "I-I can stand on my own," I said because I was more afraid of being touched by his hand rather than falling to the ground after trying to walk back to the bed. The only choice for me is to crawl so that’s what I did. I crawled to the bed while eyeing the glass window near.
I think this place is too high for me to figure out where this is located. All I could see outside were the city lights, but there was no way I would know where this place is.
’How am I going to go back home and escape?’
Even though I’m being taken hostage, I don’t feel any hostility from my kidnapper. He’s too relaxed that it makes me overthink. There’s no way he could be this relaxed if he’s weak, or if he’s not ready to be raided by anyone.
I sat on the soft and comfy bed. ’Why is this bed so soft? I kind of like it.’ I looked at the glass window outside. ’What happened after they finished abducting me?’
Did Night celebrate because I’m finally gone? That’s right. Why am I thinking that they’ll come to my rescue when Night wanted to get rid of me as soon as he could. Maybe, the moment he lost sight of me, he was already thankful.
The Yamaguchi-gumi already did their best on helping me, it was my fault that I got caught by this masked man now. ’Which reminds me...’
"Are you, from the Llarena mafia group?"
Z turned to me. "How did you know? Could it be, you stalked me?" He giggled. "You’re so bad, Noelle."
I froze after hearing him call my name. It felt... familiar. Even though this is the first time I heard his voice, the way he called my name felt so nostalgic.
"How did you know my name?"
He chuckled. "Of course, you’re my target." The smile on his face widened. "It would be easier to list the things I don’t know about you."
