chapter 1

Prologue

I couldn't react. I couldn't scream. My head felt dizzy and my eyesight was blurry. My face had gone numb. I could hear my breathing, but I couldn't hear anything else.

I felt paralyzed.

And I didn't know how long I had been like this.

I woke up to a bright light on my face and my hands tied to a chair

Help me!

I tried to pull my hands in vain.

Help me!

I was shaking in fear as I tried to look around. I felt my ears getting pierced when I heard a very sharp sound and I tried to blink a couple times.

Was… was that a mic getting adjusted?

Someone's here! Help me!!!

Slowly, I found my strength coming back to me when I felt a ray of hope. I could hear many voices in Front of me.

There were people here!

My eyes widened in surprise when I heard a man saying something into the mic. I tried to open my mouth to scream for help but only a few gurgling and moaning sounds came from it. My tongue has gone numb too.

HELP ME!

Then suddenly the bright light in my face dimmed and that's when I saw it.

People have their faces covered in masks, sitting in chairs and staring at me, but nobody is coming to help me.

What's going on here?

I tried to struggle more. My eyes started to sting as tears rolled down my face.

I could hear someone speaking on the mic but I couldn't process what he was saying.

I saw people raising some sort of banner but nobody came to save me.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. I wanted to wake up from these nightmare and curl into my mother's lap and feel her fingers running on my hair's

"H—Hel.."

The person on the stage kept shouting and panic started to consume me as my eyes landed on banners being raised by these people .

Then they landed on one person

He was wearing a red mask and he was just staring at me. Not raising any banner, nor caring about the person who was shouting on the mic. His whole face was covered but I could see the gray outlines of his hair and his silver eyes.

These place screamed danger. I had to get out of here.

"H-Help…" my throat went dry and my head started spinning.

"H-Help…m–me.."

The man slightly tilted his head and raised a banner. At the same time I finally screamed. "HELP ME!"

Then a strong smelling cloth covered my mouth again and I passed out

*******************************

Chapter 1

1yr Before my abduction

"You are the most boring person I've ever met Irene porter"

I threw a split glance at the girl.

In Front of my desk, my best friend had her hands on her hips, huffing out an annoyed breath.

"River just a sec am almost done…." I furiously scribbled in my note book resulting in unintelligent penmanship that will be of no use later when I review it.

But still… I had to finish at least this much before I went for lunch.

"Know why it is called homework? Do it when you get home. Come on!"

She pulled me by my elbow causing my pen to slip.

"Alright, l'm up! I'm up!" I flipped my notebook closed and neatly returned it into my hermes backpack.

I stood up looking at her in defeat.

" I've been hungry for the last two hours and you insist on studying," anyna grumbled in disgust.

She looked down on her cartier la Dona gold watch on her wrist and turned her glare to me.

"See? We've already wasted twenty minutes of our precious break!".

She picked up her Louis Vuitton shoulder hand bag and stormed out of our classroom leaving me to scramble after her.

With the pace she walked with in the middle of the hallway, my best friend almost ran into another student.

" Watch where you're going" she hissed at the freshman- looking boy.

The poor guy looked scared out of his wits as he moved out of the way.

I and river were graduating from high school in two months,but I doubt it was our seniority that made him scram.

Salle academy may be the school for the rich but even the students weren't safe from its own caste system.

River Clarisse Ruiz was an infrastructure genius. Both an engineer and an architect and the head of the billion dollar SHR building inc.

"Stupid commoner! This is why the board should have abolished that useless scholarship program!"

Oh,no. She's starting again. With a nervous laugh,

I slipped to her side

"You wanted that lunch right? We have a class in An hour."

River was already getting second glances and people were stopping in the hallway to watch the unfolding drama.

"Oh stop being so nice, irene! This is why you always get preyed on by vultures!."

With an apologetic glance at the people around.

I took hold of my best friend's expensive bag and started dragging her out of there.

River may not have cared for attention,but I did.

And when she started there was no stopping the things coming out of her mouth.

My best friend may be rich and beautiful but she needs an obvious filter.

In a way though,I couldn't blame her. During our first year, I had a friend.

A product of a CSR program. She was kind,well mannered and intelligent- the very reason she passed the difficult screening of LCA.

It was always just the two of us and we tend to stay in the library to study.

But for some reason whenever we are together, I tend to mysteriously lose my things.

River was just my classmate then and she was the one that caught the scholar stealing from me.

She even persuaded me to report it to the student affairs of our academy for proper action.

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

And instead of reporting the situation I confronted that friend, her answer was something that I, in all my time, will never forget.

"That shouldn't be a big deal aren't you rich? I needed the money more than you did!".

Word failed me and I was frozen on a spot,staring at her.

But Rivers ,who was there, was quick to react. Her hand reached up to pull the other girl's hair.

Of course that girl fought back. They fell on the grass as Rivers went on top of the other girl, not letting go of her hair.

"You dirty poor thief"

In the end it became the three of us in the dean's office.

Rivers told the concerned office staff about everything.

My parents came into the room as rivers's mom and the director were called in.

The next day the girl was gone.

Rumors spread throughout the school like wildfire.

There were mixed reactions from students due to the incident .

But from that time on, I and Rivers became best friends.

I remember her saying "you should stick to your own kind" and since then it was just the two of us… but there were still days I wondered if we were the same "kind" like today.

"Aren't you embarrassed with what you are doing, if your dad finds out!" I lectured her as we walked.

Rivers snorted in an unladylike manner "what could he do? disown me? I will definitely pay to see that".

I always knew these gurl was a bit too rebellious for her own good. But lately she is more hot headed than normal.

Especially at the mention of her parents. I decided to keep my mouth shut until we got to the school cafeteria.

There were just a few people left lounging around and we quickly got our plates.

"I thought you said you were hungry" I pointed my fork at her untouched meal.

I looked at my best friend with straight blonde hair, full red lips, high cheekbones, and a slim figure. She was pretty talk at five-eight.

But there was something about the set of her perfectly shaped eyebrows and clouded big brown that screamed wrong.

Rivers was turning eighteen these Saturday and my family was invited.

I took a sip of my milkshake before breaking the silence.

"I got your invitation, by the way. Should I wear something red for a change?"

My best friend always complained that I stuck to soft colors when we attended functions. And she always insisted my best color was red.

Big brown eyes turned to me before blinking twice. Rivers blew out a breath.

I smiled at her encouragingly. " Oh, Come been acting weird lately. Just say it. I'll listen to matter how crazy it is.

My smile, however, quickly faltered as tears brimmed those brown eyes.

"river—"

"l'm already engaged Irene they've already chosen a bride for me."

The pause was involuntary on my part.

I didn't know why I was still surprised.

It wasn't anything new in our class.

The mega rich as the media called us, did everything to rise to the top and to stay on top.

Marriage and business always went together. It was either to further or maintain the status and the monetary value of a household name.

It's just the way things are. How it's been for centuries.

But my best friend was just turning eighteen! Which means she was going to be legally allowed to marry.

And I am turning eighteen in three months too.

Suddenly, I was nailed to my seat, lost for words, a single tear fell which she hastily wiped away with her manicured fingers.

She smiles bitterly at me while trying to lighten her tone "not that it isn't expected but …" her button lips wobbled.

I tried to regain my composure. " Do you know the guy? Do I know the guy?.

She shook her head,and for some reason I felt my heart would break for her.

My hands were tied too.

"danike Luther Blackwell"

The name did not ring a bell.

"The Blackwells own chains of hotels abroad.

Danike Blackwell, despite being an heir and next CEO of the company, interned in the SHR building under my dad's supervision. That's all I know."

Did you try talking to your dad? Maybe he will …" What Isla? Stop the engagement? Maybe postpone it to salvage the feelings of their daughter?

I was one to talk. I knew I couldn't say no if my parents said jump.

This was part of business, the payment to a lavish lifestyle.

Things like these were negotiated so carefully between families — quite possibly before our birth!.

It's our part, our follow through the contract,our duty.

I think I was more zoned-out in our next class. I kept looking at Rivers who was calmly listening to lectures. As if her world was not crumblings around her.

When the last bell rang, I sprung from my seat and immediately went to her side.

"Are you sure you are okay?" I asked her worriedly.

Rivers arched one brow before rolling her eyes.

She gave me the attitude as if the conversation earlier was already forgotten.

"It looks like you should be asking that question to yourself babe".

Then she suddenly lunged at me and engulfed me in a death grip. " Don't look so heartbroken!

It's marriage not suicide!".

I tugged at her hair. " Don't joke about death, you phyco" I murmured, hugging her back.

Her hands let go of me, raising it in the air " irene,am fine. Really. I swear."

I didn't believe her but sure. "There's this new Italian restaurant that's been on the rave these last week. According to the reviews, the chief is a reality show winner. Wanna go? My treat.

Rivers driver was already waiting in front of the school.

We slipped into the backseat of her audi.

I texted my own driver the coordinates of the restaurant and told him to follow.

I also called my mom who immediately agreed upon learning I was with Engr. Ruiz's only daughter.

It was 7pm when we arrived at the restaurant.

And the whole time, Rivers was pretty vocal again.

Maybe telling me these things made her feel better.

She was devouring the food and somehow, her earlier mood shifted to le as I picked on mine.

Things were going around in my head.

"Do you think..." I started and she stopped mid chew.

Rivers swallowed, taking the wineglass and pointing it to me. "Do I think?"

"Do you think you'll like him?" In my own words, my cheeks coloured In embarrassment.

Her face soured as if my question was the most ridiculous thing she's heard.

I waved a hand to her face, "Don't answer that. Nevermind". Pairing it with an awkward laugh.

We finished eating and I gave the card to that waiter.

Rivers was Obviously in a better mood now and was humming as we strode out of the place.

"Shoot! I forgot something,".

Rivers ran back inside as I was left on the sidewalk.

I followed her with my eyes until she went inside.

She was always like this, always forgetting things and I shook my head.

My gaze traveled up the building.

The place was a hôtel-restaurant, the first floor being the restaurant. Which reminded me, I pulled out my iphone out of my bag and dialed my driver number.

"Hello, Rob? I'm outside —"

Someone slammed against my side And u crashed to the floor on my elbow and right hip.

My iphone skittered across the pavement. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, my weight on one high-heeled foot.

There is no way I could've myself and I took that fall hard and skidded even a few inches.

Pain shot up from where I landed on the hard ground.

My teeth clicked together upon impact .

I heard a curse. A string of them, as a guy, presumably the one who slammed into me, halted in front of me in obvious annoyance. Expensive Italian loafers came into my sight.

"Would you look at where you're going?! Get up!" He said rather harshly

"O-Ouch…." I couldn't think past the pain

On my side. I couldn't get up either, at least not for a minute as I gathered my spinning sight.

My eyes squeezed shut as I tried to breathe through my nose.

And that earned me a string of profanities before I felt a hand on my arm, and another on my hip, as the man had my hands slipping around his neck and hauled le upwards .

My eyes flew open at the touch.

Only to meet the angry stare of a stranger.

Back then, I still didn't know who he was. I had no idea. But I had known that moment wouldn't be the last time we crossed paths, I would've never gone there. I would have tried to change fate. Because in the future as I would know, I wish we never met repeatedly