Stolen Freedom

The van stopped abruptly, and two men stepped out, dragging Xin Yi with them. She stumbled, feeling the rough ground under her feet as she glanced around in fear at the dense jungle that loomed all around, cloaked in darkness. Her heart raced as she pleaded, "Please… where are you taking me? What do you want from me? I don't know anything! I'm innocent. Please… let me go!"

The men exchanged glances, showing no remorse as they ignored her pleas, forcefully blindfolding her. Her breaths grew shallow, and she struggled against them. "Please, don't do this. I swear, I don't know anything. Just let me go… please…"

They tightened their grip, dismissing her words with silence. Xin Yi could only hear the crunch of leaves and the whisper of the wind as they dragged her forward. Finally, they stopped, and she heard the sound of an iron gate creaking open. Fear took hold of her as she thought, What are they going to do to me?

Desperation flared, and with a surge of courage, she twisted and bit down on one man's hand. He yelped, loosening his hold just enough for her to wrench free. Blindfolded, disoriented, but determined, she broke into a sprint. Her breaths came in gasps, her steps uneven on the unfamiliar ground, but she wouldn't let them capture her so easily.

But barely a few steps in, she collided with a hard chest. Hands wrapped around her arms, steady and strong, preventing her from escaping.

"Running away is useless," a voice drawled, smooth but sharp.

"Good thing you caught her," came another voice behind her, "She's feisty."

The fear in Xin Yi's chest grew as she sensed the danger in their tone.

Inside the warehouse, they forced her down onto a chair, tying her wrists behind her back. Xin Yi's voice trembled as she continued to plead, "Please… please let me go. I'm just a student. I don't know anything about whatever you're looking for…"

Her words fell on deaf ears as her captors worked in silence, tying the knots tighter until her wrists stung. Her only hope now lay with her friends, who were likely still on the island, looking for her.

***

Mei paced back and forth, worry creasing her brow. "It's been almost two hours now. No sign of Xin Yi anywhere! Has anyone seen her?" she asked the small group of students.

"No," Lan replied, eyes wide with worry, "We've searched everywhere. She was right with us a minute ago."

Mei's voice cracked, "What are we going to do? She's out there all alone, and it's getting dark…"

One of the locals approached them reassuringly. "Don't worry. The island has many similar-looking paths; people often lose their way. We'll find your friend soon."

Their teacher joined them, scolding the group, "I told you all to stick together! This is exactly what I was afraid of!"

Mei sniffled, clinging to hope. "Please… I just hope she's safe."

***

Inside the dimly lit warehouse, the blindfold was ripped from Xin Yi's eyes, and she squinted, temporarily blinded by the harsh lights. As her vision adjusted, she saw a tall figure in front of her, standing with one hand resting over his eyes in a posture that emanated authority. His sharp features were only partly visible under the lights, giving him an intimidating presence.

Yi Chen's gaze flicked up, locking onto hers, and then, turning to his men, he barked, "This isn't the actress. This isn't the one I asked for!"

He threw a cold, pointed look at his men, who visibly flinched under his scrutiny.

One of them spoke up hastily, his voice shaking. "Boss, we swear. She had the black suitcase. We're telling the truth…"

Before they could finish, Xinyi's voice broke in, desperate and trembling. "It's not mine! I don't even know what you're talking about. Please, just let me go."

Her words were barely a whisper, "Please… please let me go. I have nothing to do with this."

Yi Chen leaned in close, inspecting her face. She could feel his intense gaze scanning her, and it made her heart race. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look directly at him. "Look at me," he commanded, his voice icy.

Tears welled in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about. I've done nothing wrong. I just… I was at the festival. That's all…"

Xin Yi's voice cracked, "Please… I'm innocent. I'm telling the truth."

One of his men interrupted, "Boss, maybe she's connected to the actress. She could have been paid off or…"

"Yes, Boss," another man chimed in nervously, his eyes darting between Yi Chen and Xin Yi. "We saw her with it. She's lying to save herself."

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes at Xin Yi, his voice laced with menace. "So, you think you can lie to me and walk away? Tell me, how much did she pay you? What did you plan to do with that suitcase?"

"I swear, it's not mine!" Xin Yi protested, her voice cracking with fear. "I found it… I didn't even know what it was…"

Yi Chen's eyes flashed, and he gripped her face, holding her cheeks firmly. "This isn't some cheap drama where you get to lie and cry your way out," he murmured, his tone dripping with restrained anger. "I don't have patience for your games. Keep up this act, and you'll regret it."

Xin Yi's tears blurred her vision as she struggled against the bindings, her voice trembling with desperation. "Please… I don't know anything. I'm just a student—why are you doing this to me?"

Yi Chen's expression remained unreadable, his fingers gripping her chin with enough force to make her wince. "I don't tolerate liars," he said coolly, each word laced with menace. He leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers. "One last chance. Tell me who you're working for."

Her voice broke as she whispered, "No one… I swear, I don't even know why I'm here." She saw no mercy in his eyes, only a cold, calculated stare that made her insides twist with fear.

One of Yi Chen's men stepped forward, holding the empty suitcase. "Boss, it's the same suitcase, but clearly, she isn't the actress."

Yi Chen frowned, looking thoughtfully at the empty case, then at his phone, where he studied a blurry image of the actress wearing a mask, a suitcase in her hand. The pieces didn't add up.

"Check every CCTV feed from the market area. I want answers," he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "And bring me every piece of information on her. I don't want mistakes now."

Yi Chen regarded Xin Yi with a cold, calculated gaze. "We're done here. Leave her in the warehouse."

"But Boss…" one of his men hesitated, glancing at Xin Yi, who sat wide-eyed and terrified in the chair.

"If she's as clever as she pretends, she might survive the night," he said, a cold smirk barely curling his lip. "If not, then she's just another casualty of her own deceit."

Xin Yi's voice rose in desperation as they turned to leave, leaving her tied up in the dark warehouse. "Please! Don't leave me here! I'm scared of the dark! I don't know anything, I swear…"

The lights switched off, plunging the warehouse into complete darkness. Xin Yi's cries echoed through the empty room, her voice trembling with raw fear. Her heart pounded, breaths quickening, each second in the darkness making her feel as though the walls were closing in, as if she'd been buried alive. Her desperate whispers faded, swallowed by the silence, as she sat alone, shivering in fear, wondering if anyone would come to her rescue.

***

Taijun's phone buzzed with a notification. He opened the voice message, and the actress's voice filled the room, dripping with menace.

"Don't think you can just toss me aside like that, Taijun," her voice hissed. "I'll expose everything you made me do. If you throw me to the wolves, I'll make sure Yi Chen knows you orchestrated the whole scheme… and I have proof."

Taijun's grip tightened on his phone, and he slammed it down on his desk. "That two-bit actress thinks she can threaten me?" He turned, yelling for his secretary. "Get in here, now!"

The secretary scurried in, visibly startled. "Yes, sir?"

Taijun's gaze was cold, his voice low and dangerous. "Find her before Yi Chen does. I want her alive. I won't be threatened by some actress. She's going to learn what it means to cross me."

The secretary nodded, darting out of the room to carry out his orders, leaving Taijun seething, plotting his next move.