are not coming, and you’re getting hit until they
don’t answer anymore”
Tears stung my eyes. “If you don’t believe me,
why not put it to the test? If you have nothing
to hide, then prove it, call them.”
Mike snorted. “Save your little schemes.
Nobody’s saving you today.”
He picked up the cracked phone and shoved it
at me. “Go on. Call.”
He looked at me with that same twisted grin,
already convinced that no one would come.
I forced myself to take a deep breath and
dialed my brother’s group chat.
Like my parents, he picked up almost
immediately.
“Mike, what’s up?”
It was my brother’s voice, and I couldn’t help the sob that escaped me. “Matt, Mike
kidnapped me. Please, you have to come and help…”
“What? What are you saying? The signal’s
terrible here, gotta go!”
The dial tone rang in my ear, cold as ice.
“HAHAHAHAHAHA, isn’t that the truth?! she’s
nothing but an expendable pawn!”
Mike was howling with laughter, like he’d just heard the funniest joke in the world.
I sank to my knees, begging him. “You see, I’m just a pawn for your family! Just get revenge on whoever wronged you, please!”
Mike went silent. For a second, I thought my
words had gotten through to him. I tried again:
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“I promise, if you let me go, I’ll do whatever you
want. I won’t make any trouble…AH!”
I thought I’d gotten through to him, but then his
fist crashed into my face.
“She begged them too, but she got beaten all the same.”
“So why do you think I would ever let you go?!”
Mike was yelling as he hit me.
And in that moment, I saw her face! Chapter 2
- 5.
Before the wedding, I heard whispers that Mike had a girlfriend. I told my parents, “Guys, maybe we should call this thing off.”
But they just waved it off. “Don’t worry your pretty little head. Just say yes, and we’ll take
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care of the rest.”
744
I didn’t say anything. My opinion never mattered
in that family.
Still, I had a friend look into Mike’s past.
- 6.
Turns out, his girlfriend was a foster kid they’d taken in, some sweet, smart girl named Rainey. Supposedly, she was the perfect daughter,
except for one thing: the Leightons thought she was trying to steal their precious son, Mike!
Then, Rainey went overseas to study, and Mike
stayed here for whatever reason.
But just as our wedding plans were being
finalized, Rainey got kidnapped.
Some scumbag traffickers were livestreaming
the whole thing.
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8:05
744
Of course, some internet rubberneckers found it
and shared it everywhere.
“This one’s knocked up, so she’s basically
worthless. Anyone want the fetus? HA!”
The guy in the livestream was grinning, but it was the kind of grin that made your blood run
cold.
I couldn’t watch, but I prayed she’d be okay.
And that name Mike screamed, was that her? Was that Rainey?!
I tried to speak, but my mouth felt like it was
full of cotton.
Mike watched me, smirking. He looked just like
that psycho in the livestream!
And that’s when it hit me: Mike was reenacting
what happened to Rainev. but with me as the
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