Chapter 11: A Gun in My Head

"Uh-"

Before the woman could continue, I ran and locked the bathroom door outside. My hands shook harshly while doing it. My heart was racing, and I was a little out of breath. The woman screamed and cursed at me from the inside. I ignored her and rushed out of the room.

I turned the key I stole, and the door opened successfully. With sneaky steps, I tried to find the exit. My feet sauntered while looking to my right and left. I think it's safe. Not a single person's voice was heard.

Very carefully, I walked down the stairs. Cold sweat ran down the palms of my hands. I struggled to calm my choking breathing when my eardrums heard the faint sound of people talking.

Damn, I have to be careful.

I rushed to hide behind a large glass cabinet in the living room of this house. There seemed to be about two or three people talking. I don't know for sure. Their voices were still some distance away. Maybe they were in the kitchen or somewhere.

My legs were shaking violently, and I wanted to curse myself for feeling so weak. My hands trembled as they rested on the cupboard, supporting my body so I wouldn't faint. As best I could, I stepped closer to the door as if the voices of the people were getting further away.

The tremors in my hands didn't make my attempts to open the door fail. The door managed to open. Unlocked. Lucky me.

I glanced around me. As far as the eye could see, there was no one within at least a few meters radius. Half running, I approached the gate that towered in front of me. My hand found that the gate was locked with a cold padlock against my skin.

Shit shit shit. How about this?

My eyes looked at the top of the gate. The gate was not electrified, nor was it too sharp. It took a few seconds before I finally decided to just climb up. I looked at the entrance and swallowed my saliva. It is about two and a half meters high. If I slip even a little, my bones will be broken.

But this is the only way to get out of here.

Alright, I'll do it.

I put both hands on the iron gate. Seems strong enough to hold on to. With a bit of shaking, I began to climb it. Slowly I climbed the fence step by step without looking down.

Hold on, Minka, you can do it.

Now I'm at the top of the gate, and the question now is ... how do I get down?

Before I had finished thinking of a way to get off, my eyes looked behind me and saw two men approaching me while running. Damn, I got caught! Looks like I have to jump right now.

"Don't run away!" one of them shouted.

The scream made me panic even more. I tried to step outside and down as much as possible. When I reached half of it, I jumped that very second.

As I can imagine, I landed very uneventfully. My knees and elbows get pretty long scratches. So did my throbbing shoulder. Unfortunately, I don't have time to care. I have to run fast.

I ran as fast as I could away from them. I don't know where to go. I just wanted to get as far away from that damned place as possible.

I let my footsteps go crazy along this lonely street. Where am I actually? Why is there not a single vehicle or person passing by? Why are there only rice fields around me?

My breath hitched, and I coughed. I turned my head back. They haven't been seen at all. I'm grateful.

Full of hope, I ran again as fast as I could. I turned the corner and stood in a small coffee shop. Without thinking, I entered it. There are no people in this shop even though the words' Open' are clearly displayed on the doorstep. Where did everyone go?

"Hello? Is there anybody here?" I asked a little loudly. Not a sound was heard.

"Excuse me?" I shouted again. No visible signs of life. Even the barista who should be standing by is not clear about the jungle. Even though I was going to ask anyone here for help, it seemed to fail.

I looked at the table in the corner. A cellphone and a small backpack are lying on the table. I approached it and took the phone. I have to call someone.

My hands are shaking violently. It's my first time stealing people's stuff. I've never stolen anything before. I hope God will forgive me because this is an urgent situation, and I have to ask for help immediately.

I stepped out of the shop and ran again. I rushed into it when there was a narrow passage and took cover at the end. My fingers dial my Dad's number and dial him. My heart seemed like it was about to fall down when I heard the sound of a trash can collapsing. Damn it!

I want to curse at a cat who nudged the trash can.

While waiting for Dad to pick up the call, I looked around and sighed in disappointment when no one was around. I was so worried they could find me. I called him three times, and he didn't respond at all. I switched to calling Evan because, luckily, I still remember his cell phone number.

He's my only hope. I'm finished if Evan doesn't pick it up this time.

And it seems the magic is on my side. On the third ring, he picked it up. I wanted to cry when I heard his voice, which was almost unfamiliar to my ears.

"Evan?" I cried frantically and happily.

"Hello? Sorry, who is this? Your voice isn't clear," he said in a stuttering voice.

I glanced at the signal on this phone. The signal is only one line. Damn, that's bad.

"Evan, it's me, Minka! Can you hear me?" I asked.

"Hello? Sorry, who? Could you please speak louder?"

Shit shit shit. I have to speak louder.

"Evan, this is Minka. It's Minka! Help me, please," I said, raising my voice.

"Who?" He shouted on the other end. God, he didn't hear me?

"Minka!" I said louder.

"Min ... Minka?"

"Yes. Minka!" I shouted. I bit my lip holding back a cry that was ready to explode.

"Minka! Oh my God. Where have you been? Where are you?" asked Evan in a tone that was no less panicked.

"Evan, now—"

Before I finished speaking, a cold object stuck to my neck.

"Go on, and I'll rip your neck off, Pretty."

He's here behind me. The man from the house pointed his knife at me.

I froze for a moment. My body shook violently. Before taking any further action, the other man took the cell phone in my hand and immediately slammed it to the ground. The thing shattered at my feet. Without me to prevent it, the person injected something into my neck.

I screamed or at least tried to scream. It seems the effect of whatever liquid is injected into my neck is swift. Everything fades away. It was the same as the first day when they covered my mouth with a handkerchief.

I think in the next second, my body collapses into their hands.

***

I caught my breath after waking up with a loud scream. Nightmares haunt me when I'm unconscious. Even when I opened my eyelids, the nightmare was getting real in front of my face.

When my balance was restored, I realized that I was sitting tied to an old rickety wooden chair. My hands are cuffed behind my back while my legs are tied to the legs of this chair. My body sweats a lot.

My eyes frantically scanned and found I was in the room where I was being held captive. My breath is still ragged. I couldn't move my arms and legs at all.

The next second, the door opened wide, revealing the figures of Loko, Zo, and the middle-aged woman I locked in the bathroom. Zo locked the bedroom door. My stomach churned violently when I saw what Loko had brought.

A gun.

Shit.

Zo stood behind me. Meanwhile, the middle-aged woman stood with her head lowered to the left of Loko. Loko slowly walked toward me. He threw a slap on my left cheek, then switched to my right cheek, sending my face flying in the other direction.

"Tyrna escape, huh?"

My cheeks are sore and hot. That horrible sound made me goosebumps. After that, he threw a punch at my face without hesitation.

"Stop it," I pleaded.

"You fucking bitch!" The punch landed on my face again. He punched me again, and I couldn't avoid him at all.

Pain ran all over my face. Hot and sore. My lips are bleeding. So does my nose.

I couldn't feel anything but the soreness that engulfed all of my senses. Pain and dizziness. My head almost exploded from the pain.

"And you!" he shouted at the woman. "Your task is simple. Just deliver the food. Make sure she doesn't run away, but you're not good at it?" His voice sounded terrible.

He also slapped the woman until she fell to the floor. "You fucking stupid!" Loko kicked the woman's body. She sobbed on the floor, clutching her stomach.

"Get out!"

The woman rushed out, stumbling.

After that, Loko handed Zo the gun he had initially been holding. Loko once again slapped my face until my blood splashed on the clothes he was wearing.

"Listen!" he ordered while grabbing my face to face his. I tried to avoid eye contact with him and glanced at Zo, who watched me silently. "If you try to run away again, I'll kill your goddamn father!" His voice hissed right in my ear.

"Don't hurt my father," I pleaded quietly.

Loko laughed loudly.

"Don't hurt my Dad ... Don't hurt Daddy ... That's all you can say? You fucking idiot! He's not even your biological father, and you're defending him with all your might?"

What did he say?

Not my biological father?

"Do it now," Loko said to Zo.

The gun in Zo's hand he put behind my head.

I cry slowly. Biting my tongue so I can endure the pain. There was a click as Zo placed the deadly object on my skull. Ready to shoot me.

Zo brought his body closer to me, making the gun press against my head even more.

"Shoot her," Loko muttered, looking at me with his hideous smile.

I closed my eyes. Is this the end of my life?