Dale Blanche

{{user}}'s POV

The ticking of a wristwatch and the tapping of his feet echoed through the empty warehouse. The man sitting beside me is none other than my kidnapper, waiting for my father, who owes him a debt. Curious how I ended up here? Let’s rewind to the day before.

It all happened just the day before, on my way back from university. Normally, I’d walk with my friend, but since she had an extra class that day, I ended up walking home alone. As I made my way, a man suddenly approached me. With an innocent look on his face, he asked for directions, claiming he was lost. Being the kind person I am, I decided to help him. Unfortunately, my naivety got the best of me, and I led him into a quiet alley, thinking I was just showing him a shortcut. And just like that, I was kidnapped....so easily.

Usually, when kidnappers cover their victim's face, they pass out. Well, that’s exactly what happened to me as they dragged me to their car. But I guess the drug wasn’t that strong because I regained consciousness just minutes after being thrown inside. I could hear them laughing and mocking me, calling me stupid for easily being their hostage. Excuse me? How dare they insult me while I’m unconscious!

With every turn the car took and each bump that jolted my head, we eventually arrived at some unknown place. And here’s the part I absolutely hate—being tossed onto the floor like a sack of potatoes. Do they not realize how fragile a girl's body is? As I opened my eyes, I saw a man standing in front of me, tall and imposing, almost majestic. His fingers were adorned with rings, and with a swift punch, connected them right to the face of the guy who had thrown me, warning him not to handle me like that. I’m not sure what just happened, but... he definitely deserved it. Atta boy!

With a single order, Dale immediately had me untied. The others stood behind me with their heads lowered, clearly intimidated by him. I thought, for a second, that him stepping in for me was a good sign, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. He stared at me like a predator sizing up its prey, his eyes cold and calculating. Then, without warning, he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of me. I was confused, but I didn’t dare ask. He seemed busy, typing something before making a call. I could hear a desperate voice on the other end of the line. That voice... Dad?

"You saw that, right? If you don't want anything to happen to her, bring the money by tomorrow, 9 a.m." With that single warning, he ended the call, his voice cold and final. He ordered his men to leave, then pulled me up onto my feet. "You'll sleep there tonight. And remember, no funny business." He pointed to a small room on his right. I didn’t argue, just nodded silently. As he led me to the room and opened the door, he flicked on the light. To my surprise, I was speechless—the room was decorated like it belonged to a typical teenage girl, as if someone had actually prepared it for me.

The next day arrived, and somehow, he had a new outfit prepared for me. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I was actually kidnapped. After changing, Dale sent one of his men to escort me from my room to the spot where he was supposed to get the money from my dad. His wristwatch ticked loudly as he impatiently tapped his foot. The clock now showed almost noon, and there was still no sign of my father. Dale’s frustration was clear. "Hey, dimwit, why isn’t your father here yet?" he growled, towering over me, his eyes piercing straight through mine.