Chapter 5

For the next two days, I felt like I was walking on a tightrope.

Suppressing my disgust and fear, I played the part of the clueless host.

Mia kept calling me sweet names, offering to do chores, and showing a creepy amount of interest in my digital art, constantly asking how much my illustrations sold for.

Austin visited even more often, acting like the perfect boyfriend. But I didn't miss the greed and calculation flashing in his eyes.

Using work as an excuse, I locked myself in my office most of the time, frantically trying to figure out a plan.

I checked all my valuables. I quietly moved my property deeds, ID, tax forms, and bank cards to a highly secure, hidden spot.

I set up SOS emergency contacts on my phone and started secretly recording audio clips on Snapchat whenever they whispered. Even though their hushed conversations were vague, they were still suspicious.

During those days, I "ran into" King and Tubby a few more times. They kept feeding me information:

[Meow~ The male two-legs owes a lot of green paper with the old man's face. Bad guys are chasing him~]

[Meow! The bottle in the female's bag smells like sleep! Makes the head dizzy!]

[They are planning! Planning to take you to eat food, then you will sleep! Meow! Bad!]

Drugging me? They were going to drug me? Where were they going to take me? My heart was in my throat.

The terror grew every day. I knew they were going to make their move soon.

My solo art exhibition—something I had prepared for months—was opening tomorrow at an art center in the suburbs. Both Austin and Mia insisted on going to support me.

It was the perfect, secluded location, far away from the busy city center.

On the day of the exhibition, everything seemed to go smoothly.

My art got great feedback. Austin and Mia stayed by my side the entire time, smiling and showering me with compliments. But I knew this was just the calm before the storm.

By the time the exhibition ended, it was already evening.

The art center was in a remote area, and the streets were practically empty.

"Chloe, today was a massive success! We have to celebrate!"

Austin wrapped an arm around my shoulder, his voice filled with excitement. "I know this private tasting-menu restaurant nearby. It's super exclusive, great vibe. I already booked a table."

Mia grabbed my other arm, acting close. "Yes, Chloe! You worked so hard, you have to pamper yourself!"

Here it was. They were making their move.

Cold sweat broke out across my back.

I couldn't go. I absolutely could not go!

But how could I refuse? It was hard to get an Uber out here. I had nowhere to run, and I couldn't just walk away.

"I'm... I'm really tired. I think I just want to go home," I tried to protest.

"No way!" Austin immediately shot back, his tone carrying a sudden, unquestionable firmness.

"We have to celebrate! Plus, the reservation is locked in. It’s a waste not to go. Come on, the car is over there." He pointed toward the parking lot.

Mia pulled my arm tighter. "Come on, Chloe, don't be a party pooper~"

They were incredibly insistent, practically dragging me toward the parking lot.

My heart was racing, my brain working in overdrive.

When we reached my SUV, Austin said, "Let's take your car. I might have a drink, and Mia doesn't drive."

I froze for a second, then took the keys and unlocked the doors, pretending to agree.

"Okay. You guys get in first. I think I left something in the exhibition hall. I'll be right back!"

Without waiting for their reply, I turned and walked quickly back toward the art center.

Once I got about fifty feet away, I darted into the shadows of the building, my chest heaving.

I saw Austin and Mia exchanging confused glances. Mia looked like she wanted to follow me, but Austin grabbed her arm, nodding toward the hall, signaling her to wait.

Now!

Using their blind spot, I bent low and ran as fast as I could back to the parking lot. I slipped quietly to the back of my SUV.

Trembling, I opened the trunk. Fortunately, there was still some display trash from the exhibition inside. I climbed in, curled my body up tightly, and pulled the trunk door down, leaving just a tiny crack for air.

In the dark, cramped space, all I could hear was the deafening thud of my heart and my ragged breathing.

A few minutes later, I heard footsteps approaching.

"Where is Chloe? What's taking her so long?" Mia's voice was sharp with impatience.

"No idea. Let me call her." Austin said.

My phone started buzzing in my pocket, the screen glowing in the dark.

I immediately rejected the call and put it on silent.

"She hung up?" Austin's voice dropped. "What the hell is she doing?"

"Do you think she figured it out?" Mia sounded panicked.

"No way! She's too stupid, and she trusts me blindly." Austin was confident, but then his voice grew frantic. "Search the area! We have to find her! We need this done tonight! The loan sharks are breathing down my neck!"

I heard their footsteps scatter as they called my name, their voices fading into the distance.

Fear made me shudder violently. Cold sweat soaked my clothes.

The air in the trunk was getting thin, and I was starting to feel dizzy.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar, soft meow right outside the car.

[Meow! Dumb two-legs! Hide well! Don't make a sound!]

It was King! He had actually followed me here?

[Meow! They said they are taking you somewhere far away! That male has weird candy in his pocket!]

Weird candy...

My mind flashed to countless news stories of girls being drugged and assaulted.

The terror hit me like a tidal wave.

With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone, started recording, and slipped it into the seatback pocket of the row in front of me. The camera was pointed right out the window.

"Fucking bitch!" Outside, Austin finally lost his temper, unable to find the keys to open the car. He swore loudly. "Who does she think she is? Did she actually find out?"

"Impossible," Mia’s voice was venomous and cruel. "We were perfect. She's probably just throwing a tantrum. Austin, what now? The drugs are ready. We just need to get her to sign the papers at the cabin, and then..."

"Shut up!" Austin cut her off angrily. "Search the car! See if she left a spare key somewhere!"

Their conversation was recorded perfectly by my phone.

Hiding in the pitch black, my muscles were so tense they ached. I could barely breathe.

What should I do?

Call the cops? But they were just outside the car. I hadn't been physically harmed yet. What would I tell the dispatchers? That my cat told me they were bad guys?

Who would believe me?

In my desperation, a name flashed in my mind.

Marcus Miller.

My next-door neighbor. A serious-looking defense attorney.

Two weeks ago, I ran into him in the lobby. He had glanced at Austin, who was with me, and said in a very cautious tone, "Chloe, when you make friends, you should really look into their backgrounds. Some people look nice on the surface, but aren't."

At the time, I thought he was just being nosy and felt a bit annoyed.

But looking back, he was trying to warn me!

He definitely knew something!

He was my only hope.

While Austin and Mia were searching the other side of the car, I unlocked my phone with shaking fingers and found Marcus on Snapchat.

What could I even say?

My fingers hovered over the screen. In pure panic, I typed just a few words.

[Marcus, please help me. Danger.]

Then, I sent him the one-minute audio recording I had just made, along with my live location.