The following morning, there was a ringing at the doorbell of Kris's house.
"Who is present at this time?" Muttering with a frown, she was frustrated that she couldn't even complete her tea.
She unlocked the door and saw a stranger standing before her. He looked untidy, with a messy beard and a low hat covering his eyes.
The man proceeded without being invited.
The moment the door opened slightly, he forcefully pushed past Kris to enter the room. Kris stepped back, her eyes growing wider in surprise and bewilderment.
"What is your identity? She demanded, "Why are you here?" while trying to steady herself.
The man's face stayed hidden, yet his eyes were stern and unfaltering. He gazed at Kris with a disconcerting tranquility. His cryptic statement, delivered in a low and menacing tone, suggested that I should focus more on the reason for his presence.
Kris felt her heart racing as she stepped back, reaching for her phone without thinking. "What is it that you desire?" she inquired, her voice quivering slightly.
The man did not respond right away. Instead, he surveyed the apartment with a calculating stare, his expression indecipherable. "Simply put, I'm here for work," he responded, his voice lacking interest as he walked deeper into the room.
Kris's thoughts raced, anxiety escalating into fear when she grasped the seriousness of the situation. You can't simply enter here in this manner. "I will be contacting the authorities!"
Before she could get to her phone, the man quickly reached out and grabbed her arm tightly. "I would advise against that if I were in your shoes," he warned, his voice turning icy and ominous. "You will not have a good outcome."
Kris looked into his eyes, showing a combination of fear and defiance on her face. She asked desperately, trying to break free, "Who was the one who sent you?"
The man responded with a grim smile playing on his lips, yet remained silent. His grasp on her arm became firmer, increasing Kris's discomfort. The scenario had shifted from confusing to perilously menacing, and she was completely unsure of what may happen next.
Kris felt her heart pounding as the intruder's hold grew tighter on her arm. She attempted to free herself by kicking at him. "Release me!" she yelled, her voice filled with fright and rage.
The man remained composed while deflecting her kicks. "Cease the conflict," he sharply remarked. "You will not come out of this situation in a favorable way."
Kris continued to have difficulties. She aimed a punch at his stomach, but he evaded it and seized her shoulders. She begged him to just tell her what he wanted while attempting to push him away.
The man's expression hardened. "I informed you." It's not about my desires. It pertains to what is approaching.
He pushed her against the wall before Kris could react. She felt dizzy and unsteady after the shock. Attempting to stand, she was struck in the face by him. The intensity of the pain caused her to collapse on the ground, with little ability to maneuver.
The man lifted her and she felt her limbs weighed down. She attempted to resist, but her efforts were feeble. Her sight became unfocused and then everything turned black.
He took her outside and placed her in the back of his car. He carefully placed her body inside and checked the surroundings to ensure nobody witnessed. Happy with the outcome, he closed the door and settled into the driver's seat. He drove away, leaving the apartment behind, with the car engine roaring to life.
The man sat comfortably in the driver's seat, his face lit up by the lights from the dashboard.
With intentional actions, he retrieved his phone and swiftly dialed a number, his fingers moving quickly across the screen.
He maintained a stoic expression while waiting for the phone to ring.
The telephone was picked up with a crackling sound. "Is that so?" inquired a voice on the opposite side, brimming with anticipation.
The man's mouth formed a sardonic smile. "Yes, I have secured the parcel," he said, speaking in a steady yet icy tone.
There was a momentary break while the individual on the opposite side took in the information. The man could nearly sense the agreement in their quietness.
Great. Ensure her safety and verify that there are no errors," the voice advised.
"I understand," the man responded. He skillfully ended the phone call, returning his phone to his pocket. He kept his emotions hidden as he concentrated on the path ahead, his mind already contemplating the following actions in his mission.
Cole was at his desk, taking occasional glimpses at the clock hanging on the wall. With each minute that passed, he became increasingly restless, constantly checking his watch. He lifted his phone and called Kris's number for a second time, anticipating it to start ringing.
Kris's voicemail answered after the phone rang multiple times. Cole became more and more frustrated. After ending the call, he drummed his fingers on the desk, his expression clearly indicating annoyance. He ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to brush away his concern.
He rose and started walking back and forth in the room, checking the time and then his phone. "Kris, where are you?" he whispered, growing more and more worried. The meeting they had scheduled was crucial, and her nonattendance was causing him to feel anxious.
Cole's jaw became tense as he glanced at his phone once more, wishing for a notification or message, but the display remained blank. "Her lateness without informing me is not common," he remarked with worry evident in his tone.
Cole made the decision to figure out the situation, so he grabbed his coat and went towards the door. He had a determined look on his face as he got ready to go to her apartment.
Cole paused outside Kris's apartment, his finger lingering above the doorbell. He inhaled deeply and pushed it with force. The sound reverberated within, yet no reply was heard. He stood there, looking around the hallway with increasing anxiety.
Pressing the doorbell once more, his face tensed with worry. "Kris, this is Cole." "Are you present?" he shouted, his voice showing signs of worry. He struggled to listen for any noise coming from inside, yet the flat stayed quiet.
While he waited, uncertainty started to seep into his thoughts. Suppose Kris chose to depart from the town after receiving the money. He walked back and forth, with his mind filled with fast-moving thoughts. "He whispered to himself that it didn't make sense." He understood that Kris was very concerned for her father and wouldn't abandon him during his ongoing treatment.
He quickly looked at his watch and then turned his gaze back to the door. He became more concerned as he thought about the chance that something could have happened to her. He shook his head in an attempt to dispel the disturbing thoughts.
She wouldn't simply leave everything behind. "There has to be a problem," he stated, with his frustration and worry evident in his voice.
Cole pressed the doorbell, however, no one answered...
Cole pushed the door open, causing it to creak a little bit. Upon entering the apartment, he quickly observed the untidiness. The furniture was flipped over, and a broken lamp was laying on the ground. He looked shocked as he observed the disorder.
"Kris?" he shouted once more, the sound of his voice bouncing around the walls. With his heart beating rapidly, he ventured deeper into the room, scanning his surroundings. There was a chair knocked over and a shattered vase with flowers scattered on the ground that he noticed.
Crouching down, he inspected a worn rug with hands that were trembling slightly. "He muttered to himself, his brow creasing with worry, that this situation appears unfavorable." His eyes swept the room, searching for any indication of Kris, his expression a blend of concern and irritation.
More evidence of a fight emerged as he clenched his jaws, spotting a knocked-over coffee cup and a ripped clothing item on the ground.
Cole realised Kris was not alone and that there had been a struggle here.
"Who dares kidnap my wife!"
Even though their marriage was fake. He was not about to let anyone touch his belongings.
"I'm coming Kris."