Trapped in the Underworld

My heart was beating fast. I didn't know why they were following me. It's hard to tell who they are, but they have guns with them. They are looking for me, and it looks like they want to kill me. I need to run away. I can't be found. I don't have any money with me to pay off the debt.

I'm sick and tired of this life. I just want to die. I'm tired of this workload. I hid behind a car. My heart wouldn't stop racing. I tried to control my breath, but it was hard. I feared they might find me through my heartbeat. It felt like my heart would fall off my chest. I held my purse close to my chest.

My body was wet from the rain. I didn't know they were waiting outside for me. I didn't realize it until I came out and saw them looking deadly with their guns. I tried to check if they were watching me, but they were looking in the other direction. I thought I could run away without them noticing.

I tried to get up and peek to see if they were watching. When I saw the coast was clear, I threw myself to the other side. "THERE SHE IS!!" someone yelled. I messed up. I should have stayed hidden. Now they saw me, and they were after me.

My legs were failing me. They were tired from running, but I tried my best. I was running as if my life depended on it. It felt like terror. It was hard to continue running, but I had to, or they would kill me.

I stumbled on a stone and fell face-first. I hit my forehead, and it hurt badly. I groaned in pain. There was no way I could escape. I gave up. I tried to get up, but my legs failed me. They were shaking badly, and my head throbbed in pain. My eyes were filled with unshed tears.

The pain I felt was unexplainable. "You think you can escape this time?" a gun was cocked on my forehead. I knew I was doomed. There was no escaping this. I took a deep breath and said, "Kill me if you want to. I don't have money to give you. Just kill me already."

Suddenly, I felt a slap on my face. I groaned in pain. The pain on my forehead intensified. I was finding it hard to see clearly. "You don't have the right to talk until I say so," the leader said.

I wondered how no one was seeing what was happening. Why couldn't they call the police? I didn't blame them; this was a small town, and anything could be done without anyone getting caught. What a messed-up town.

"What do you want me to do? I don't have any money on me. I don't know how to get that money. I don't even have a good job," I cried out. "I'm sick and tired of this chase. Just end my life. I'm useless. I'm miserable already. I have nothing to lose if you kill me, so do it already."

I was met with another slap on the face. I could taste my blood in my mouth. I spat it out. The pain was too much to bear. I was groaning in pain.

"I'll kill you when I want to, not when you want me to. I'll give you two hours to look for that money. I know where you live, princess. I know where your house is, so don't try anything silly," he said to me.

I groaned but couldn't talk. The pain around my body was too much to bear. It was hard to move my body. I found it hard to see clearly.

"Please... please... just kill me!" I was pleading badly. I just wanted to die. I couldn't continue to live like this. I couldn't continue to live in fear. Adriana might be hurt because of me. I didn't want that. I just wanted to die and be done with it.

"You're not dying now, princess. Your fate will be determined in two hours' time. You'd better find that money, or else your friend will die instead," he threatened.

My ears perked up. "No... no... no, don't kill her. Kill me instead. Please... don't do anything to her. Kill me instead."

He smirked. "Then do the needful if you don't want her dead. Find the money and bring it to me. I don't care how you do it; just bring the money to me. If you refuse, then I'll have to kill your friend."

My heart was in pieces. "Please... don't do this to me. I beg of you. I didn't even use the money you're asking for. I didn't know anything about the money," I cried out.

He chuckled. "Your boyfriend did, and he ran away with it. You're the only one close to him, so you'll suffer for it."

I cried out, "Please don't do this to me."

"You destiny is in your hands. Do the right thing and be free," he said, grabbing my cheeks. "You're such a pretty lady. I won't mind if you use your body to get that money. You should be glad you're attractive, so use it to your advantage."

I felt dirty when he said that. I felt so dirty. I wanted to hit him badly for even suggesting something like that.

They left me there in the middle of the road. I was all alone and in pain. I tried to get up but found it hard. I dragged myself to the nearby bench for support. I grabbed the bench and used it as support to get up. I sat down and was crying terribly. I didn't know where to start. I only had two hours. I needed to do something, or else they would go after Adriana. I wouldn't let them touch her. I wouldn't let them.

I bent down to pick up my purse. I brought out my phone, which was ringing furiously. It was Adriana calling. What was I going to do? I needed to act smart. She needed to leave that house, or else they would go after her.

I picked up the call and tried to act normal. "Where did you drop your phone? I've been so worried about you, Amber," she said. Her calm voice made me want to cry. How was I going to tell her that her life was at risk?

"Please talk to me, Amber. I know you're crying. Please tell me what the problem is," she asked sadly. I wiped away tears and tried to talk normally, but it was hard. The tears wouldn't stop pouring down.

"Adriana, you need to leave the house this minute. I need you out of that house. You need to go somewhere safe," I found the courage to say.

"What's going on? Please tell me what the issue is. Are they after you again?" I nodded, realizing she couldn't see me. "They're threatening to kill you if I don't bring the money to them. What am I going to do, Adriana? I'm confused. I have only two hours to bring the money to them."

"Where are you? We need to think fast. Please come home so we can run away," she suggested. I shook my head. We didn't even have the money for a flight. We'd been running from one apartment to another because of this issue.

"If only I knew it would be this bad, I wouldn't have gotten you involved. I'm so sorry... please forgive me."

"Please don't make me cry. Come on, let's think together. Are you hurt? Where are you? I can come get you?" She was so worried about me. What had I done to deserve such a nice friend?

"I'm at the park. I'm sitting on a bench. My head hurts badly. My foot feels weak. My eyes are blurry," I said to her with tears in my eyes. "I'm tired of this life. I'm tired... I just want to die."

"Please don't say that. I can't stand the fact that you're in so much pain. I'll be there with you. Just wait for me."

I didn't know what else to say to her. "Please be safe," I said to her. "I'll be with you in a minute."