Franklin felt a sense of hopelessness growing over him. Day after day passed with no chance of escape, and every attempt to involve Amanda's men in his plans ended in failure. This time, Franklin tried again when they delivered food to him.A man with a stocky build and hard face walked into the gloomy room, carrying a tray of unappetizing food. Franklin saw this opportunity and approached the man with cautious steps."Hey, listen," Franklin began, his voice a whisper despite his efforts to sound convincing, "I know you don't get paid enough for this. Amanda may be paying you, but I can give you double. Don't you want more than just this?"The man looked at Franklin with cold eyes, not a hint of interest showing on his face. "Double?" He chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "You think I'm that cheap?"Franklin tried to suppress his frustration, realizing that this direct approach might not work. "It's not about cheap or not," Franklin tried again, this time his voice more pleading, "I
Franklin sat in the corner of the room, feeling a deepening sense of hopelessness. For days cooped up in the cold, cramped room, every escape plan he tried failed. Amanda's men were too loyal, too experienced, and he had no reliable resources or allies to help him. Failure after failure exhausted her, both physically and mentally.Her eyes glanced around the room. There were only a few items available there-a few tableware, a single ceramic plate, a glass of water, and a metal spoon lying on the small table beside her bed. At first glance, everything seemed useless. However, in this state of urgency, Franklin began to think of all possibilities, no matter how extreme.His mind began to race. He knew that Amanda's men had rejected all of his offers. Money, promises of protection, even threats didn't work on them. But there was one thing she might not have tried - inflicting serious injury on herself. If she managed to injure herself badly enough, they might have no choice but to take h
Franklin limped down the dark and deserted street, each step feeling like an unbearable weight. The night wind blew cold, piercing his scarred skin and weakening his already fragile body. She knew, beyond the darkness of this night, there was danger lurking. Amanda's men could be looking for her, chasing her mercilessly. The thought kept looming over him, forcing Franklin not to stop, even though his body was about to give out.He didn't know where he was going, there was only one thought that kept pushing him: to get as far away from the hospital as possible. Every shadow, every little sound around made him jump, like a ghost hunting from behind. Franklin kept walking, sometimes almost tripping over tree roots or rocks along the way. His legs had long been numb, and the pain in his arms was getting unbearable, but he didn't care. He had to keep moving, keep walking, despite the darkness covering him from all directions.The path he walked on turned rougher, filled with twigs and dry
Amanda received the report with a tense face, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. Someone had let her down, and anger was starting to creep into her. Her men who had been assigned to keep an eye on Franklin in the hospital had failed, and now, Franklin had disappeared without a trace."How could this happen?!" exclaimed Amanda in a sharp voice, her eyes staring intently at the man giving the report. Her men stood before her, trying to hold back the tremors of fear that crept through her body."We... we don't know, Ms. Amanda," the man stammered. "When we went back to check, she was gone. We searched around the hospital, but there was no trace of her."Amanda stared at him with a piercing gaze, as if she could burn him with just her eyes. "You guys dare to disappoint me so much," she said coldly. "This isn't just a failure. You've made a big mess!"The man felt the coldness of Amanda's anger, and he lowered his head, not daring to look directly at the woman. Amanda was someone who
Gita had just gotten off the public transportation when she saw her family's small but warm home in the distance. She took a deep breath, feeling the cool village air fill her lungs, a feeling she always longed for whenever she was in the city for college. It was the day she had been waiting for, when the semester break arrived and she could finally go home.As soon as she took her first step on the porch, the front door opened and Pak Gunawan, her father, appeared with a big smile on his face. "Gita, son! Have you arrived?" Pak Gunawan called with a warm voice that always made Gita feel comfortable."Daddy!" Gita exclaimed as she ran to him, hugging her father lovingly. "I miss you so much. It's been a long time since we last met."Pak Gunawan patted Gita's back gently. "I missed you too, son. Come on, come on in. Mom has prepared your favorite food."However, as Gita stepped into the house, she suddenly stopped. Her eyes fell on a man lying weakly on the living room sofa. The man's
After a few days, Franklin began to feel better. His body, which had been weak, slowly regained its strength. Meanwhile, he also began to feel a heavier burden on his heart. Despite being under the protection of Gita and mr Gunawan's family, Franklin's thoughts kept drifting to his family who must be in deep grief right now. His fake death, which had been arranged by Amanda, had left them grieving, and he felt guilty for letting his family continue to believe that he was dead.One afternoon, as the sun began to set in the western horizon, Franklin decided to talk to Gita about his true situation. They both sat on the back porch of the house, enjoying the cool afternoon breeze. Pak Gunawan was busy in the fields, while Gita faithfully accompanied Franklin."Gita," Franklin began in a soft voice, looking at the girl with deep respect. "I have to tell you something."Gita, who had sensed from the start that Franklin had something to say, looked at him attentively. "What is it, Franklin?"
Franklin was confused when he saw the change in Pak Gunawan's attitude. Previously, Pak Gunawan seemed so friendly and caring, but now there was something strange in the way the man looked at him. Pak Gunawan approached him with slow steps, as if he was carrying a heavy burden."Franklin," Pak Gunawan began to speak in a soft yet firm voice, "You said you wanted to return to the city, but I'm afraid if you return too soon, it will be dangerous for you."Franklin frowned, not understanding. "Mr. Gunawan, I truly appreciate your help and hospitality. But I feel quite recovered, and my family must be very worried. I need to go back."Gunawan nodded slowly, as if considering Franklin's words. "I understand, Franklin. But before you go, let me tell you something."Franklin looked at the man seriously, waiting for what he would say."We live in this village away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here, life goes on peacefully, and people look out for each other," Pak Gunawan said as he
Franklin approached Gita with slightly heavy steps. His mind was constantly filled with the desire to return to the city and find out what had happened to his family, especially Clara. However, Gita and Pak Gunawan's increasingly alarming demeanor made him feel compelled to speak directly with Gita to ensure that they understood her true situation."Gita," Franklin called softly as he approached the girl in the backyard. Gita turned her head, and her face momentarily looked cheerful before she quickly put on a forced smile."Franklin, what's wrong? You should be resting," Gita said in a worried tone, though in her heart she hoped Franklin wouldn't bring up the idea of returning to the city."I feel much better now. I know you and your father are very kind to take care of me, but I really need to go home. My family must be very worried," Franklin said, trying his best not to offend Gita.Gita's face changed instantly. She tried to hold back the disappointed expression that crept onto h