"One week has passed since high school student 'XXX' was reported missing from the neighbourhood in Pemford on the 25th of this month. Police see this as a possible kidnapping and have advised everyone to take safe routes when going to your destination."
The small television glowed white, illuminating the corner of the cramped room. In front of the screen were two figures – a man in his early twenties and a seventeen-year-old girl.
He donned a stretched jacket over a shirt and wore a face mask that covered his mouth. A cough would escape once a while disturbing the news broadcast.
The girl sitting beside him had snow-white hair that ended below her shoulders and had a bandage tightly warped around her head.
She pulled on the man's jacket as she pouted her lips forward in annoyance. "Look! They're talking about me on the news. But what's this about a possible kidnapping? You were just saving me."
"That's right, but it's true that I kidnapped you."
"Which I am grateful for. You're helping me hide from my parents, and you're even giving me a place to stay."
She lifted her head and turned around to look at the unfamiliar world she was in. The blinds above the single bed were shut, there were no dirty dishes in the sink, and the table was spotless from dust.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
On the walls of the studio apartment, however, were collages of photos. Photos of herself in various different angles and shots which covered every inch of this stranger's room.
"Yes, which resulted in your kidnapping. But there's something strange that I don't understand. Why do you trust me, your kidnapper, so much?
She rested her chin on her crouched knees and contemplated.
"Well, you have a wall covered in photos of me. If you love me that much, you won't hurt me."
"All of those photos were taken secretly without your permission though."
His words, however, were ignored as her attention was fixated on the television. "We want our daughter to return home safe and sound. We're so worried that we can't even sleep at night."
He stared at her, especially towards the areas of purple bruised over her delicate arms and knees.
"My parents are only saying that for the public. All of these wounds were inflicted by them. It's funny right?"
She turned her face to the side, switched to resting on her cheeks, and glanced towards him. "Since I appeared on the news, will you be arrested?
"If the police find me, then yes."
She lifted her finger up in a playful manner, "In that case, do you want to play a game?"
"A game?"
"A game where we must both escape, from the police, and from my parents."
Then with a cheeky smile that made her pink, she said, "If we escape, you and I will get married!"
He stayed silent for a moment. His eyes remained unfazed and only when he stared into her eyes did he reply, "And what happens if we don't escape?"
"If that happens, then we'll die together. Since you'll be in jail and I have to be with my parents, then isn't it better to die?"
"I see, you're right. Then I'll have to give it my all so that we'll definitely escape."