The Rhyme of the Depositary

FORTY

Step by step was like an oath of death that drew closer to Alice. Two people dressed in dark clothes, wearing a type of black skibo hat trapper covering part of their faces were rushing towards the car where Alice was.

Alice's breath was heavy every second. He was like watching a movie roll with thrilling effects. Unfortunately, he himself became the main character. The main character who has somehow been considered the object of the hunt.

Alice's hands trembled as she began to shift on the seat next to her. Alice's joints were difficult to coordinate. He was like a broken doll that needed special care.

Bumbling, Alice opened the car door and gathered all her power to run. The spirit of survival is still burning. He refused to give up at this time.

Alice began to take the first step, escaping as far away from them as possible. He walked down the sidewalk on the side of the road, passing through the area of shops that began to close.

This area is not a major area where people pass by. It could be a suburban area. Alice was not too sure of her guess. He had driven two hours earlier through the deserted streets until he finally arrived at this place.

It's getting late. Alice did not pay too much attention to the time.Maybe it has entered the middle of the night, or already headed into the early hours. I don't know.

Alice's feet ran full of energy down the road. The two people behind him chased Alice blindly. Alice is getting upset. Short thoughts began to form in his mind.

Are they robbers? If they're robbers, they shouldn't be chasing him anymore. Alice's car and bag she left in the car. Wouldn't it make more sense if they ransacked her car and forgot Alice's whereabouts?

Alice did not carry any valuables in hand. The only thing he brought was a cell phone and a few bills in fractions of a dollar. What was the purpose of pursuing him? Could they have raped her?

Oh God. Many beautiful women are available, why should he be the victim? They are not the ones who lack. Not a bum either. It shouldn't be hard for them to buy other women who are worthy enough to accompany their nights.

Speculations are starting to get more and more absurd. Alice's breathing sounded rough, trying to quickly pump air into her lungs. His feet still ran into the hallways of the shophouse. Things are getting quieter. Only the sounds of the night wind accompanied him.

Alice was sure this was no coincidence. It was impossible for him to be a random victim of someone who clearly had ill intentions. But whatever happened, the main thing he had to do now was to escape. The further the better.

The two people behind them were getting closer. The sounds of feet stomping on the ground clearly rang out to each other. Alice's breathing began to disorganize. While they seemed to be completely unperturbed by this pursuit. Maybe they are professional people, have good physicality and stamina to carry out this mission.

That bad. Really bad. Alice never realized there were parties who wanted her hunted like this. He has maintained the best possible relationship with his colleagues and employees. Why are some of them still able to do this?

Alice's legs began to weaken. His body was shaking uncontrollably. His lungs were pumping air with exhaustion. He cried out in frustration, finding it hard to continue this escape.

Behind him the sound of footsteps drew closer. It emits a very strong danger sign. Alice's life seemed to be counting down from this second. Seconds after seconds is like an endless shadow of the end.

There was a small passageway between the abandoned shophouse buildings on a street corner. Alice walked down the small hallway with growing panic. He tried to scream for help. Niente. Almost no one heard his screams, except for the two perpetrators who were right behind him.

Alice heard her pursuers yelling at each other to stop. Under these conditions, they tried to scare Alice, making her like a helpless cornered beast.

Alice screamed in frustration. The hallway he took turned out to lead to a deadlock. A concrete wall loomed strong before him, imprisoning him from freedom. Alice turned around, staring in fear at the two dark-clothed people who were now encircling her. Behind their coverings, Alice finds a triumphant grin.

...

Alice blinked a few times. He felt a lot of pain in his neck. Both his hands and feet suddenly went numb. The last events began to repeat themselves in his brain, forming a new memory that was very surprising. Alice gasped awake, opening her eyes full of curiosity.

He woke up in a room about six times seven, much like an abandoned warehouse. Alice saw many dus and some unused furniture scattered irregularly. This room smelled musty, as if to prove it had been unused for a long time. There was only a dim light illuminating this room. A small bulb with a dim light, like it was ready to die at any time.

Alice felt her body parts were attracted in an uncomfortable way. His two hands were tied very tightly in an iron chair. A finger-sized chain surrounded both the arms of his hands and feet, locking his movements. A large padlock at the end of the foot patented the bond that was wrapped around it.

Alice pulled her hand blindly. He shouted out loudly, trying to break free with all his might from the chains that were shackling him. But no matter how hard he tried, the chain still stuck to him.

Alice's arm was injured, scratched due to the pressure of the chain she was roughly pulling. Alice was getting frustrated.

Alice started screaming loudly. His vocal cords are about to break. Hoping that if anyone heard his screams, anyone within earshot would be willing to help him.

But it looks like the kidnappers have arranged the conditions very closely. He was held captive in an unused barn with his mouth not silenced. It was likely that they would have found themselves in a building far from the crowd. It might be on the edge of town, or it might be on the edge of the woods, or it might be in the basement. I don't know where he is, which is clear he's stuck here without a hint.

Alice realized she was no longer wearing her favorite blezer. That means they must have successfully checked his phone and may have thrown it away somewhere. They are too good at committing this crime. The question is, why is he the object of evil? What motives do they have?

It seemed like they had no intention of robbing considering that the pursuers were not tempted to take the car or its valuables. Instead, they were busy chasing him blindly.

Could it be that they intended to ask him to negotiate and ask for a huge amount of money? After becoming a widow, Alice succeeds in inheriting all of Kendrick's wealth. There must be many who know about his fortune and may, somehow, intend to make a deal to take over some of his possessions. That motive sounds very reasonable. If that was the case, Alice would definitely do whatever they wanted as long as she could regardless of this condition.

Money is not everything. As long as he had a life, he could seek out more abundant new wealth. While his life is only one. Of course he would make a fair bargain to them.

Alice was busy with the many guesses that passed through her brain when suddenly the door in front of her creaked open. A silhouette of a large tall man looked domineering. He walked slowly, full of confidence towards the iron chair holding Alice back.

Alice observed a gallant man about mid-sixty years old. He was wearing a short-sleeved black shirt, revealing his bulging belly. A snake and scorpion-shaped tattoo is clearly visible on both arms of his large hand.

The man's face looked perfectly rounded. A powerful killing aura emanated clearly in both of his eyes. Indifferently, he carried a weapon in his hand. The man's smile rattled, displaying his teeth flat.

"Hello, Alice."

Alice's heart was beating fast. Both of his eyes stared horror at the two weapons that the man was carrying. His brain seemed to remind him that his life might end soon.

...