On the boat.
"Whew~"
The warm sea breeze blew, but Vika felt a chill in his heart. It’s too much, he actually got ignored, thinking he had a share in this pot, but it turned out they were just teasing him.
Brother!
Consider human rights a bit.
Next.
The tall captain appeared, a naive smile on his face. Vika’s heart skipped a beat, this smile was too deceptive; who knows if it might turn into a devil the next mont.
"Want to eat?" The voice had a tempting tone.
"Hmm."
Vika nodded vigorously.
"Then... sing a song, sothing cheerful." The captain smiled.
"..."
Vika was speechless, sing a song? Cheerful one? I’m freaking kidnapped by you guys, how can I be cheerful? Not crying would be good enough, but looking at their expression, if I don’t sing, I probably won’t eat.
Gritting his teeth.
"Okay."
I’ll sing.
All for the food.
Then.
He unleashed his karaoke prowess and sang a pop song, feeling extrely ashad inside. In the past, he sang at special occasions or when making love, expressing joy.
Now.
He was a hostage.
"Facial expression, watch your expression, more professional."
"Right."
"Smile."
"Hmm."
"Just like that."
"..."
Vika resisted the urge to toss in the towel but persisted. He played like this many tis before, except back then he was holding money and the opponents were beauties.
Body.
Appearance.
Skill.
All top-notch.
However.
What happened just days ago now seed like ages.
"Here."
After the song ended, Vika received the ’fruit of his labor’; this mode of food exchange was akin to street performing, though Vika suddenly felt a bit happy.
After hard work, the reward gave a sense of satisfaction, faintly erging.
Finished eating.
Not full.
"Want more?"
"Hmm."
"Keep singing."
"..."
No way.
For food, Vika was like the girls, who would flaunt for his money, using every trick in the book, while his aim was rely overlooked food from before.
Karma exists.
Life.
Really is filled with... shock!
Song after song.
Vika earned food through ’labor’. Finally, before dark, he was half full, yet still yearning, but the food was gone, and he thought he’d spend the night here, unexpectedly.
"Get up."
"Disembark."
The captain shouted.
"Where to?"
"Naturally, finding a safer spot; floating at sea, how can we call for ransom? Just talked about calling earlier, but didn’t; if the satellite tracks us, wouldn’t it be disastrous?"
Upon hearing.
Vika was helpless, such... foresight.
Only.
Looking at the distant dark woods, Vika shivered. Would these people deal with him there? Probably not, if they wanted him dead, tying a stone and tossing him into the sea would be more thorough.
No better grave site than the ocean.
Sigh of relief.
A leap.
"Tap."
Vika jumped onto a raft, rowing toward the shore not far away. As he stepped onto the beach, Vika felt excited; after a night adrift and half a day on the boat.
Being grounded felt so good.
"Let’s go."
"Okay."
With flashlights on, the group walked the mountain path. Ahead, Vika noticed occasional flickering lights, like a highway. The rugged path took nearly an hour.
Finally.
They reached the roadside.
At this mont.
An idling minivan sat there; the dirt road, with few vehicles passing by, dashed Vika’s hope of rescue, as for running? Forget it, the next mont he might dash into a tree.
The night was too dark.
Approaching.
The captain chatted with soone on the other side, jabbering.
Local dialect.
Vika couldn’t understand a word. Many dialects in Malaysia were unintelligible, let alone Indonesia, he could only make out so sounds, gathered from Indonesian girls.
Too bad.
Just a few phrases, touching, but useless.
Finished the talk.
The captain turned, grinning at him: "Kid."
"Huh?"
"You’re in luck."
"???"
Vika was puzzled, in luck? What luck, could it be they’ve rediscovered their conscience and evil thoughts vanished? However, the captain’s answer, as always, shocked Vika.
"The stereo in the van is broken, you can perform again on the road, don’t worry, there’ll be food."
Upon hearing.
Vika’s mouth twitched.
Ha!
Haha!
Where’s my... knife?
That night.
Vika was shattered, singing for hours, leaving his vocal cords hoarse. He vaguely realized why they made him sing, not because of talent but to damage his voice.
Rember.
He once made a girl sing like this too.
For hours.
Vocal cords ruined, nearly irreversibly damaged.
Just.
Why? What reason? As kidnappers, they should know to ask for money from the victim’s family, but he couldn’t even confirm identity once voice is gone.
Can’t just take a photo, right?
Morning.
He woke up in a room.
"What?"
Vika was dumbfounded.
Chair.
Video recorder.
Masked.
"..."
At this mont, he felt devastated, scene too familiar, like when so people challenged the United States or demanded a ransom, often coincided, emotions not of photo but video.
Also.
Brother!
Why hold the knife?
I’m scared.
"Sit down."
The captain masked, pointing to a chair, comforting:
"Rest assured."
"Just a video recording, cooperate a bit more, best with fear, despair, yes, just like that, hold it." Heard that, Vika inwardly cursed his ancestors.
Geez.
Knife tip touching my face, how could I not be scared? With this handso face, though beaten swollen, it still outshines most, can’t afford any scars.
"Hmm."
"Begin."
Then.
"Cough, cough."
Coughed twice.
"That..."
"Oh, what’s your na?" The captain asked.
"I... Vika."
Vika helpless.
"Good."
The captain nodded.
"Vika, Vika, got it." Then spoke to the cara, "Vika’s family, listen well, this kid is under my control, if you want him well, pay up."
"Otherwise."
"Splash!"
Behind.
Unprepared, Vika got soaked with cold water.
"Ah!"
Jumped up directly.
Moreover.
What should have been a scream turned into a roar, his throat hurting, dual stimulus, twisted Vika’s face, dude, could you give a heads-up, I’d cooperate willingly.
Also.
Using the knife rely for show? Frightening a bit not better than sudden ice water effect, "Seen it now? Pay up obediently, no police, we only want old U.S. dollars."
"Ten million."
"Three days to prepare."
Very brief.
Vika wasn’t allowed a word, only hoping the family could trace his location from the video source and rescue him, huff, a million dollars, his worth far surpasses that.
But.
All you lowlifes, not qualified to spend.
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