13

The room was dark and poorly ventilated, the air was thick and dusty. It had only one window which was way too high, it didn't give the room much light so there was no difference between night and day. Even if she tried to reach the window, she wouldn't be able to pass through it.

Grace slowly scanned the room, her eyes darting left and right looking for an escape route. She was tied to a wooden chair. She wondered if there was already a search party in her honor since it was hard to tell what day it was, she concluded that she has been locked up without food nor water for a week.

When she tried to think of who would come to her rescue, no one came to mind. The one person she would have hoped for was the one responsible for the kidnapping.

Old times sake? she scoffed, it would have been better if he had sued her rather than kidnapping her.

She heard the door to the room opened and she immediately shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

"I know you're awake."

Grace slowly opened her eyes, she looked at the man that walked in, he looked familiar but she was more focused on the tray of food he walked in with. Her mouth watered and she began salivating, her throat was dry, she was extremely thirsty and famished.

"Let's talk." He said, he dropped the tray on the table few inches away from her. He opened the plates on the tray and the smell of fried chicken hit her nose.

He untied her mouth and stepped back.

"Water...." She whispered, her voice hoarse.

"This?" he lifted a glass of cold water and took a big gulp. "Water is the least of your problems now, you leaving here dead or alive is up to you."

She felt a chill go through her body.

"Please tell Bruce that I'm sorry," She pleaded and swallowed hard. "I didn't mean to go against him..I was just very emotional."

"Bruce?" he chuckled softly. "You seem to have forgotten me so fast."

She squinted her, trying to remember who he was and where she had met him. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Noah Williams?"

"Ahhh..you remember now, it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Grace is it?"

"I don't understand what's going on now."

"You will soon."

"Bruce put you up to this right?"

"Oh no."

"Then why?"

"Well...."

"You know he has dirt on you."

"Yes you see...."

"You're putting yourself in danger."

"Let me talk woman," William shouted. "Well you my dear have more dirt on him."

"What are you insinuating?"

"Come on now, enough with the interrogations."

He leaned closer to her, his lips inches away from her ear. She could feel his breath on her neck and he reeked of cigarette.

"We need your full cooperation, give us all the dirt you have on him," he moved away from her. He brought out a gun from the back of his pocket and cocked it, he dropped it slowly on the table. "This is life," he pointed at the food. "This is death," he pointed at the gun. "I wouldn't mind the latter but the choice is yours."

Life or death?....To Grace both options would be her doom but one doom was better than the other. She opened her mouth and the words came out rushed. "I'll like ketchup to go with the chicken and a glass of orange juice."

A big grin appeared on Williams face. "Getting rid of a body would have wasted my time and resources," he rubbed his palms together in excitement. "I'm glad you made the right choice."

But was it? Grace questioned herself as he untied her hands. Did she make the right decision? she knew how dangerous Bruce was and she didn't want to get on his bad side.

But then again he had dumped her like an unwanted piece of rag which was too dirty to make use of anymore.

She recalled the first pregnancy she had for Bruce and oh how excited she had been. She had cheerfully broken the news to him and he had stared at her like she was giving a boring lecture. She had gone on and on about shopping for baby clothes and searching online for good baby names and he had let her talk to her satisfaction. When she was done talking, he threw his credit card at her and said coldly "Get rid of it." and he left for a meeting. Sadly she had been too in love with him to accept the truth, the fact that she was just a toy to him. She had made up excuses for him in her head, she told herself countlessly that he had only acted that way because it was unplanned, unexpected and he had a family reputation to protect and she had gone ahead to forgive him.

Maybe, just maybe she could forgive him once again and end it all. She started contemplating on the life and death choice, perhaps death was a better answer, the only answer.

She bit hard into the fried chicken, she took a big chunk and chewed slowly, savouring the taste. Then again maybe life was the better answer, she licked her lower lip, life was tasty....