SEVEN

DYLAN'S POV

It was one of the happiest days of my life! My parents had just confirmed that I was capable of becoming the CEO of one of the family hospitals. After going through my masters in Business Leadership degree, my father, the strict business-man, said he was willing to hand over the position to me. He was going to hold my hand through it all for a solid full year. I would have preferred a shorter period, but with my dad, there was no challenging or negotiating when it comes to business matters.

I was taking the leadership role in the de Milo Children's Hospital, a member of the de Milo Group of Hospitals. I was just one day away from becoming the new CEO. Finally my dream was coming true. I was just one night away from getting hold of the title; one night away from cutting that ribbon, from earning that title which I had worked very hard for.

Since childhood, our parents always emphasized that we needed to work extremely hard for us to be able to take on the responsibility of running the family hospitals. There were many of them, with four Hospitals in the capital city, and several others scattered all across the country of Lakeworld. My parents also co-owned many hospitals in Hallowcave, one of our neighbouring countries.

It was difficult for me to control my excitement. My very good friend Pete Rockridge was still at work, and we had plans to spend the night finalizing my speech for the handover. Both of us had homes of our own, but my mother, being extra careful, requested that we sleep over at our family home, the Clear Opal Manor.

I had no option but to wait for Pete; for I knew that the moment I stepped into her manor, my mother would start lecturing me about not having a girlfriend. At one point, a rumour circulated stating that I was gay, and the speculation was that Pete and I were in love. Funny rumour to us two, but it seriously affected my mother, pushing her to force me to urgently get a girlfriend. The bad rumour died a natural death after Pete announced his engagement to Raelynn.

The marriage lectures from my mother to me became intense because in just two months' time, Pete was getting married to his fiancé Raelynn. Since we were of the same age, mum compared us non-stop. Going over to the Clear Opal Manor with Pete was my way of avoiding the lectures. Of course my mother would still mention the issue of my marriage, even in Pete's presence, but she would not go too far.

It was my day off, but I passed by the hospital for a few things. When I left the de Milo Private Hospital where both Pete and I worked, Pete was still very busy, so he asked me to go and wait for him at his house. The plan was for him to get home within two hours, yet we were already going into the fourth hour, and my friend was nowhere to be seen. I called him.

"You're delaying, remember we need to be at the manor before 5PM, at most", I reminded him.

"Of course of course! Dylan, please come and pick me up." he asked me in a hurried tone.

"Why? Ask your driver to bring you along, Pete."

"No Dylan, please come. I need to discuss a few hiccups with you on the way. It concerns my wedding."

I took my car keys and left Pete's home, headed towards the hospital. I tried to avoid the busy roads, so I drove towards one Harvey Road, which connected to the hospital much more easier and faster. I immediately called Pete. "Hey, stop disturbing me again!" he complained.

"Wait for me in the basement, I don't want to waste any more time," I teased him.

"I will wait. We still have a lot of time, Dylan, take it easy."

"Mum is on my case. She's calling every two minutes. She needs to see what we're wearing tomorrow, can you imagine!" I laughed.

A roar of laughter came through from the other end of the call before Pete said, "Since when did she start worrying about how we dress? We're adults! That reminds me of Raelynn; she always wants to monitor my dressing. I don't like it."

"It's my mum, man, you know my mum. She is too strict and you and I know that!".

"Of course," he laughed before we ended the call.

I curved into Harvey and immediately saw a man waving in the road. What did he want? He wanted a ride from me? Well, never in my life had I ever given a stranger a ride, and I was not about to start on that day. Not that it was a bad idea, but it was just something I never did. The man, sensing that I was going to drive right past him, jumped into the road, making it difficult for me to evade him. I meant to veer off the road, but seeing that it was probably too late and therefore dangerous to do so, I took the last remaining option: stopping my car right in front of the man. In a flash, he hopped into the back seat of my car and hissed at me, "drive!"

The word shock is not enough to describe what I felt. I thought it could have been a dream, but it was not. The man was right behind me, and his face, reflecting in the mirror, showed that he had no time to play games; he was here for business. Before I knew it, he pulled out a gun which he pressed slightly on my ribs.

"Head over to the end of the street and follow all the directions that I will give you!" he sneered in a deep scary voice.

"Who are you? What do you need?" I felt seriously scared.

"You and I are going on a trip to Yellowleaf. Drive fast!"

"Is this a joke?" I asked.

"You wish!" he looked sideways and coughed a little. At that moment I started to regret a lot of things, like not asking Chris to drive me. Probably the two of us could have managed to handle the situation in a better way.

"Switch off that phone and hand it over to me," the man stretched his hand and I handed over my phone.

"Who are you? What do you need? Is it money that you want?" I asked in fear.

"Too many questions. Make sure no-one sees me here. If you try to give a hint to the police or anyone, I will shoot you. I have killed before. It's not a big deal to me!" his deep voice sounded very close to my ear.

I remained silent, wondering if the man who sat behind me could have run out of his mind. What was he talking about? What did he want from me? Was I his target or he just picked me randomly?

"Do exactly as I tell you." he said with a stern voice.

"Do you need money? I don't have any with me now, but I can arrange for you lots of money if that's what you need!" I had to make a bargain for my life.

"I will blow your brains out right at this moment if you continue talking about money! I said I need you to take me to Yellowleaf." he bellowed.

With the nozzle of the gun touching the back of my head, I continued to drive. I cursed car manufacturers for tinted windows, and I prayed that someone, somehow, would come to my rescue. The man ordered me to increase the speed of the car, and I obliged. What else could I have done, I was at his mercy.

"I spent the whole day crouched up in hiding, my legs hurt," the man spoke, as if speaking to himself.

"What did you say?" I asked. He did not respond but instead, knocked the back of my head with his gun. It could have been a way of reminding me to remain focused on driving and stop asking questions. Many things ran through my mind. Was I targeted…I did not think that anyone would want to harm me. Yes, the de Milos were well known throughout Lakeworld, but my mind refused to accept that anyone would try to harm me. Did my parents hurt someone in a way? Or I angered someone? For all I knew, I hardly ever spoke to people, except for my family and close friends. Most of my time was spent with Pete Rockridge, my close friend since childhood. If I were to be kidnapped for a ransom, I would have understood it. Yet the man behind me flatly refused any money. So what did he want? What were his plans with me?

My mind went to Pete. He probably was calling and failing to reach me. And my parents; especially my mother. Obviously she was already tired of waiting, and I could not imagine how she felt when she not only failed to get through my phone, but I also did not appear at the Clear Opal Manor.

The preparations…the place was already decorated; the news crew were called in. Everything was in place, everyone was ready. What was going to happen to me. Was there a chance that the man pointing a gun at me was going to let me go, or I was already on my way to kissing goodbye to life.

Cold sweat ran through my body, more sweat balls formed on my forehead and I took a deep breath. Slowly I exhaled and tried to think of a way to escape. With a gun pointed right in my head, it was not east to devise a getaway plan.

"Take the next left turn. I said we're going to Yellowleaf," the man's merciless voice boomed behind me, reminding me that I was no longer in control of my actions. I slightly nodded my head and took the left turn.