Demand

Inside Jack's house,

Jack finished explaining the whole situation to Della. But by the time he finished talking Della had already gathered pool of tears from crying.

"Why did this happen to us? Why? What do they want from us anyway?"

Jack had no answer for his wife's question. He also wondered why he and his family members had to go through so much hardship.

' it's because you're just a weak and fragile human '

Jack felt a chill down his spine. He looked around nervously but in vain because he couldn't find the source of the sound.

But he was 100% sure that he heard someone speaking. Also, the voice of this unknown speaker is different than normal people. It was mind-freezingly eerie..like the voice of a cold hearted bloodthirsty butcher.

'Who? Who is talking now? Where is this voice coming from?' Jack thought about this question in his mind.

' No matter how much you search, it's futile because I am inside your head. I am you, more like the demon inside you. '

The voice sounded again and his eerily calm yet vicious words rang out in Jack's head.

' Who are you? What do you mean by inside my head? '

' you will learn soon what am I but don't worry I will help you become stronger than your current pathetic self.'

'Hey wait, answer me first. What are you? Why can't I see you? ' Jack anxiously asked the voice in his mind. Although he couldn't completely understand what was happening, but he had a gut feeling that he can communicate with the voice in his head.

But this time he didn't get any responses from the voice. Suddenly, he felt like he was really crazy from all the things that happened. He was crazy if he thought he could talk to someone in his mind.

On the other hand, when Jack was busy talking inside his mind, His wife, Della kept on mumbling something in fear and grief.

Jack snapped out of his stupor and noticed his wife's mumbling. He felt sorry for Della. She was more attached to their son. This incident must have shocked her more than he expected.

Jack pulled her closer and embraced her gently, he patted her shoulder so that he can give her mental strength.

But then he heard her mumbling words more clearly.

"It's his fault that all this happened. Definitely his fault. Definitely, definitely, definitely his fault. His fault for being a poor clerk. He couldn't keep us in rich neighbourhood. That's why my son got kidnapped. If we stayed in a rich safer area, my son would not be in this horrible situation. Definitely the fault of that poor bastard. He married me and ruined my life. Now, because of him, my son's life is in danger too. What should I do now? Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!..." Della kept on mumbling, her face twisted from a mixture of negative emotion.

Jack was immensely hurt after hearing his wife's word. Although he knew that her mind was not in a good state right now but it still hurts him when he heard those cruel words from Della's mouth.

He has been always considerate of his wife's needs. He tried his best to fulfil all her desire and expectations. But there is a limit to how much he can do in this kind of economic capacity.

*ring*ring*ring*

At that moment, the telephone rang again.

Jack got up hastily and Della also followed her husband. Jack signalled Della with his eyes to keep quite and not to do anything rash or stupid.

Jack was afraid, his hand trembled as he reached out his hand to pick up the phone.

' Who is it? Is it the kidnappers? It's almost time they phoned us again. They said so themselves. But what will they demand as ransom? I hope it's not money. I don't have any money on me. If they ask for too much cash, I can't pay it. I can't believe this is happening to me. First, the robbery and now, this kidnapping. I can't even imagine what will happen if I said I don't have any money. Forget the kidnappers, Della will freak out instantly and if I said that I was robbed today, then what? Della will definitely kill me. The kidnappers will also kill our son. What to do? Is there any way that I can avoid paying money. But is there really no way! I don't want to see our son's dead body. But, But, but.. '

' But, but what? You think they will kidnap your son if they weren't after money. Don't be foolish! Just hurry up and pick up the phone. I am sure there is some interesting going on here.'

The voice from before spoke up again. But again, when Jack tried to communicate, he could not get any responses.

'I wasn't wrong! There's definitely someone who speaks to me in my mind. I am not crazy.'

Jack felt a sudden gush of elation bubbling up from his inside and he felt he gained some strength to struggle out of this horrendous situation. He felt relieved for some reason.

At this moment, he finally picked up the phone with a *clack* sound. His hands weren't trembling anymore and he felt he could manage the situation somehow.

"Hello"

"Hello Jack, listen to my instructions carefully. I don't like to repeat myself. You will go to a place. Meet a person on my behalf. He will give you something. Bring that to me and I will let your son go. I will send you the location address by a letter. Someone will deliver the letter to your house. You will go there at 1a.m. sharp. Don't try something foolish. If you do, you will suffer the consequences... rather your son will be the one to suffer."

The last part was said in a threatening manner. But that was normal because they had his son so they can threaten him as much as they want. If they did not, that will be weird.

But now Jack felt somewhat relieved. They didn't ask for money, they just wanted him to run some errands. Of course, this errands is not something good. He wasn't foolish enough to believe that he will be running errands like normal. They must be smuggling something illegal and dangerous. Otherwise, they will not kidnap their son just to force him to run some errands.