Just as the tension in the air was about to explode, the TV screen abruptly went black, leaving viewers fuming. But before they could start hurling insults at the network for cutting them off, the screen flickered back to life with a flourish.
"Romance, justice... These are the labels that the French of this era put on themselves.
A melodious French voice with a distinct Parisian accent wafted through the speakers, imbuing the room with an unexpected sense of grandeur. Accompanied by music fit for a sweeping epic, the voiceover had the power to draw in even the most disinterested of audiences, capturing their attention in a heartbeat.
"And what's even more tragic is that they believe it," the voice intoned its tone heavy with sadness. With a flourish, the word "romantic" appeared on the screen, emblazoned in bold letters and accompanied by a pair of powerful drumbeats that echoed in viewers' chests.
As the word faded, the screen was suddenly filled with the image of a face so battered and bruised it was almost unrecognizable. The person it belonged to was twisted in agony, with snot and tears streaming down their face, and it was easy to imagine the incoherent screams that were being stifled by the cloth stuffed in their mouth.
"The 'romantic' Frenchman John washes clean every day, dresses like a college student, walks on the streets of 'romantic' France, doing his day-to-day work..." the voiceover continued, its words dripping with a sense of irony.
Viewers were treated to a series of images, snapped by the brave Alex, that showed John and his fellow traffickers chatting up unsuspecting tourist girls and luring them into their trap. But John wasn't the only one on the prowl - other gang members, like Peter, were also out there, searching for new prey to add to their collection.
But what the viewers didn't know was that all these traffickers were dead now. Their bodies haven't been found yet and most likely will never be found.
"Excellent strike-up skills can often allow them to obtain important information, such as tourists' names, origins, hotel addresses..."
A few pictures of men and women having a good conversation.
With a shiver-inducing finality, the voiceover declared,
"After the prey is determined, the hounds will dispatch, they will directly kidnap them in broad daylight. And the police will give it a blind eye."
A few videos of the girl following behind men who look like gangsters. Fear is evident on the girls' faces. A close-up shot of the hidden weapons of the men is brought up. As the group passes by some policemen, the girls try to plead for help, but they remain unmoved, and lust is evident in their eyes.
The scene changes to John's face, and the cloth gag is removed from his mouth.
"The construction site, kidnapped women are brought to the construction site. There they are divided into various groups based on their beauty. The most beautiful virgins are sold in the auction. The rest are made into prostitutes. Many people go there under cover of construction work and enjoy them." John's voice sounded.
The cloth ball was stuffed into his mouth again, and John had a terrified expression, but it didn't help. With a crisp sound, his veins burst out, and he convulsed uncontrollably.
"The kidnapped girls are brought to the so-called construction site,"
"Yes, they call it a construction site." The voice of the narrator sounded again.
The picture changes, and a construction site with a large number of people appears. But everyone can understand that this is not a real construction site because the excavating equipment here isis all parked and motionless.
The pale lights are everywhere, and the people illuminated are particularly obvious. None of them wear any uniform or safety harnesses like hard hats.
They just lined up in front of small, aluminum display boxes inside an enormous storehouse with money in their hands.
Almost immediately, most people recognized the construction site. It was the same site in the news they had seen the past few days. The news that had made them protest in front of the police station to catch the so-called culprit for killing all those innocent people.
But now the truth is in front of them. All they believed to be the truth was a fucking lie. They were being led like cattle, and the so-called innocent people that got killed were, in fact, human traffickers and corrupt cops. The documentary continued...
As the scenes unfolded, the audience was transported to a world of intrigue and mystery, where the line between good and evil was blurred. The documentary was a masterpiece of storytelling, a rollercoaster ride of emotions that left everyone speechless.
The exploits of the French at the center of the story were captivating, and Alex made sure to leave no breathing room for the audience. Every twist and turn in the plot was expertly crafted, leaving the viewers guessing until the very end.