Green Grass

They lay on the patch of green grass in a small clearing of a forest near their house, looking into each others’ wrinkly eyes lovingly. They were reminiscing on their past, how they met, how they fell in love and got married despite the number of obstacles they have faced. They laughed and frowned at the memories.

Suddenly, they heard a rustle in the bushes. They looked around in alarm looking for the source of sound. Then, they saw a pair of brown eyes peeking through a bush. They cautiously approached the pair of eyes.

“Hello, who is there? Come out,” beckoned Adrian.

The pair of brown eyes blinked a few times before slowly emerging from behind the bush.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but when I heard both of you talking about your story, I was simply enthralled. Your story is amazing, like right out of a romantic movie. I couldn’t help but feel curious and that tempted me to continue eavesdropping. I am so terribly sorry. I will not say a word to others about your story. I promise,” said Samantha.

“It’s okay, dear. Do you want to sit with us and listen to our story? We would be thrilled to be in the company of a young lady like you,” Julia invited with a warm smile on her lips and Adrian nodded encouragingly.  

Samantha thanked them and introduced herself. After exchanging pleasantries, the old couple continued their story.

Just then, they heard another rustle from a different direction. Samantha joked that it could be another person like her who was interested in the couple’s story. The couple beckoned the stranger to come forward and join them. It was a young man. Like Samantha, James apologized before joining them. The couple continued their story.

Suddenly, Samantha’s nose and mouth was covered with a piece damp cloth from behind. She did not see who it was. The cloth was dampened with chloroform. Samantha fainted.

She woke up light headed tied up to a chair. She looked around. It looked like an abandoned small house. The furniture is old and the floor was dusty. She tried calling out for help, calling for the old couple, hoping that someone might hear her.

The door creaked open, in walked the couple. Samantha was overjoyed and quickly asked them to help untie her. Alas, her joy was short-lived. James then walked in behind the couple holding a piece of damp cloth.

Samantha tried to process what she had seen; trying to understand what was going on. She panicked. 

“Adrian, Julia. What’s going on? Why am I tied here?” questioned Samantha, hoping to prove she was wrong.

The old couple smirked and slowly laughed louder and louder. Samantha was right. Her worst fear was confirmed.

“Why are you doing this? Do you know James beforehand? Why did you capture me?” asked Samantha as tears streamed down her face, afraid of what would happen to her.

The couple simply continued laughing as James approached her. Touching her face and hair and looking at her body, he said “Her skin is pretty good. She has beautiful hair too. As well as a good figure although she isn’t very tall.”

Samantha demanded to know what was happening, all the while struggling to free herself from the ropes used to tie her.

“Sammy, stop wasting your energy trying to free yourself. It’s no use,” Adrian said.

“Why are you doing this? How could you act this way? Aren’t you a kind person?” Samantha asked.

“Young lady, when did I ever say that I am kind?” Adrian asked with a glint in his eye.

“But your story you told me just now. Your love story…” replied Samantha.

“You believed us? Old man, we are great actors! We should go film a movie!” teased Julia.

“Actually our names aren’t Adrian and Julia. We made that up,” the old man cackled with glee.

“No, No! Let me go! You wretched old man! Let me go! What are you going to do with me?! Let me go!”

“Oh, honey. Haven’t you ever heard of human trafficking?” the old woman hinted.

Samantha was horrified. She struggled even harder. She shouted and yelled as loud as she could. Then, James covered her nose and mouth with another chloroform dampened cloth.

The three kidnappers laughed among themselves loudly.