DAY 4

KARINA

After changing our sleeping spot, we woke up and started our journey.

"Where are we exactly going?" Cruz asked.

"Wherever we find a road or something like that, where we will be easily found," Pedro replied.

We walked in silence. It felt good honestly. No one is getting on each other's nerves. I was given a piggyback ride by Karlos since my ankle was a bit sprained.

"Cruz wait!" Pedro and others shouted as he ran up to the front.

"I found a road! There is a road!"

We all ran to catch up to Cruz and we saw a tar road.

"Does it lead us out?" Reina asked.

"Not if we try," Cruz replied.

Then...

"COME ON!"

It then started to rain with great intensity.

"There is nowhere to take cover from the rain!" Daniella exclaimed.

"But we can have fun," Karlos said.

He gently put me down and walked to the front.

"Come on, when are we going to have this much freedom if we go back home?" Karlos asked, "Let's enjoy the moment!"

"Karlos, my man, now you are talking!"

As the rain poured, Cruz took out a music player and played a song.

'cause he seems like he's good for you

And he makes you feel like you should

And all your friends say he's the one

His love for you is true

"Oh!" we all exclaimed, as we enjoyed the song, "Thanks, Cruz!"

"Hey! I am your music guy," Cruz said, with a smirk on his face.

Everyone started to enjoy the rain, grabbing a partner to dance with. Karlos came up to me and extended his hand.

"Don't tell me you can't," he said.

"I am limping," I replied, "Would you dance with a girl whose ankle is sprained?"

"Of course," Karlos replied, "Especially when it's you."

"So?"

My favorite part of the song came up.

But does he know you call me when he sleeps?

"Okay," I said, taking his hand and dancing with him.

But does he know the pictures that you keep?

But does he know the reasons that you cry?

Or tell me, does he know where your heart lies?

Where it truly lies

"And we also get a free shower!" Cruz exclaimed, making us laugh.

As the music kept playing, I stopped dancing and faced upwards, raindrops falling on my face.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"Peaceful?" Karlos asked.

"Yeah," I said, "I think if it was up to me, I would choose to live here."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Far from the city, stress, pain..."

"Pressure."

I looked at Karlos, "Yeah, free from the pressure."

We were enjoying the rain and atmosphere - no one fighting, just enjoying ourselves.

"¡SON ELLOS! ¡ATRAPÉMOSLOS!"

We heard someone shouting. Then a truck sped up.

"Everyone, hide!" Pedro shouted.

Making sure we were together, we went deep into the forests again. Men came out following us. We hid closely in pairs of two. Karlos hugged me tightly, pinning me on the tree as he overlooked the situation that was taking place.

"We... lost them, Boss," the man said, speaking over the walkie-talkie.

"Then stay there until you find them!" the person over the walkie-talkie shouted angrily.

It was easy to make out what was being said. Pedro tried walking quietly, wanting to catch him from behind.

"Pedro no!" Daniella shouted, "You are going to get us caught!"

"I will make sure to---"

Pedro ran towards him but his wrist got captured by him. We all gasped.

"I found one Boss."

"Who is it?"

"Pedro Gomez."

"Mmm. Okay. Just make sure to find the three main ones as well - Daniella Diaz..."

"Karlos Ramirez and Karina Hernandez."

"Yes Boss," he said, packing it away, then turning to Pedro, "Tell me, where are the others?"

"Come out guys!" Pedro shouted.

None of us got out.

"It's no point of hiding!"

Pedro looked at the man and continued, "Do you want me to show you where they---"

"PEDRO!" We all shouted, coming out of our hiding place.

"You owe us big time when we get back home," Cruz said, "Traitor."

The man laughed at Cruz, "You think you will be going back home?"

"Won't your Boss be kind to us?" Pedro asked.

"Ha, rich kids who come from rich families? Doubt that."

He then looked at each of us, "Tell me, who of you is Karina, Karlos, and Daniella?"

"Daniella Diaz," Daniella replied, "That's me."

She then pointed over to us, "That... couple there, that's Karina and Karlos."

"Aren't you good helpers?" he said, "Now, come with us?"

"Where to?" Karlos asked.

"To ask your parents a ransom!" he exclaimed in response.

"How much do you want?" I asked, everyone looking at me.

"19 million dollars."

"Consider it done."

I met with Karlos who had a smirk on his face as I walked to the man, "Here is my phone. Call my parents."

With rage, the man pushed me aside along with my phone, "Move away, crazy girl."

With a smile, I went back to Karlos.

"Now move it! To the truck."

We all walked to the truck, which was full of supplies: Food, water, and clothing.

"Gracias!" Cruz said, entering first.

"Naive rich kids," the man said, entering the front seat.

After everyone got in, we sat down, taking in our new surroundings.

"Are we allowed to---"

"Feel free to enjoy," the man said.

Cruz was about to open when I pulled the food supply to myself. Cruz and everyone else looked at me confused.

"Karina, please. We don't need no drama, we are being kidnapped---"

"This food, and water have been poisoned," I said, "I know it sounds crazy, but---"

"She is right," Andres said, backing up my story, "I heard the man himself say, 'These naive kids.'"

"If you don't want to die, don't call death," Karlos added, "We can eat the fruits I got."

We all looked at Karlos.

"You do?"

"Yeah," he replied, giving each of us a banana. I saw a tree of them and took some. Each person will have one banana."

"Thanks, Karlos," I said, opening my banana, which I hadn't eaten in three days.

******************

"You can come out now," the man said, as the car came to a halt.

Opening the truck, our eyes met with the most luxurious place that would ever exist in a forest.

"Woah," Cruz said, "Luxury here we come!"

"No Cruz," Maya said, "Stop goofing around."

Karlos and I exchanged looks as we looked at the mansion in front of us. Camila stood next to me with Rico.

"¿Sabes por qué nos trajeron aquí?" Camila asked.

"No idea," I replied, "But I know it has to do with my parents."

"And mine too," Karlos added, "Their names are written all over it."

"But how is Daniella's and Pedro's family involved in this as well?" Rico asked.

"Beats us," Karlos said.

Approaching the front door, we were welcomed by a fancy-dressed woman, who seemed to be in her 40s, with a smile on her face.

"¡Bienvenida!"

Immediately recognizing her, Karlos and I exchanged looks.

"What's wrong Karina?" Camila asked. "Do you and Karlos know her?"

"Yeah," I replied, lowering my voice.

"Her name is Valentina Gia Martinez. The country's best scientist."

"That's amazing," Camila said, looking at her with curiosity.

What she... and probably others didn't know was...

She is the ally of the Ramirez and Hernandez mafia families.