Chapter 21: Dark Shadows

Orely

My thoughts become muddled and I feel a wave of confusion wash over me. In the blur, I can make out silhouettes, all in black but blurring and blending with the colors of the room. The sounds of nearby noise become indistinct and the brightness in the kitchen slowly fades. I feel myself slipping, as if the ground were falling away beneath me.

The faces of the people around me distort and their voices fade into a distant whisper. My body and my eyelids become heavy and in that suspended moment, I no longer understand anything, I feel swept away in an endless vortex of darkness and I faint.

When I open my eyes, my vision is impaired and in a state of disorientation, a sensation of vertigo clouds my senses. I stand up slowly, my head weighing down like a potato sack weighing over a hundred kilos. The outlining of the real world seems blurred, as if a thick mist envelops my mind. I try to concentrate, to gather my scattered thoughts, but they slip away like sand through my fingers. Scanning my surroundings, I realize I'm in an isolated room, lying on a worn mattress. The walls are painted of a dull color, a beige that has lost all luster, and dark stains dot the surface, indicative of a neglected area.

The stale, musty smell wafts through the air, adding to my unease. I sit up slowly, my numb muscles protesting with every movement. Beside me, an old, half-ruined piece of wooden furniture holds a few odds and ends: a chipped mug, a book with yellowed pages, and an alarm clock that seems frozen in time. Dim light filters through a small, dusty window, creating dancing shadows that seem to play on the concrete floor.

"How did I get here," I murmured, scanning every nook and cranny of the room for clues to my situation.

Suddenly everything becomes clear, and memories of the day before come flooding back. I remember that, after Diego's dream, I'd gone into the kitchen to make myself a cup of hibiscus tea, helping myself to some chocolate chip cookies, when, unprepared, I felt a hand with a sudden gesture violently knock me down. I find myself in a sequestration scene orchestrated by kidnappers, my hands are bound by rough ropes and I become aware that I've been abducted.

"But why?! And on top of that, the damp smell in this room is making me nauseous," I exclaimed in anguish.

I wince slightly at the dull pain in my head. Faced with the horror of the situation, fear creeps into me as I hear footsteps behind the door, accompanied by foreign voices speaking in a language I don't understand. It's as if I'm in a faraway land. I try to keep calm at all costs, even though tears are welling up in my eyes. But my heart speeds up, beating wildly in my chest as these rough-sounding whispers become louder. I stand still, holding my breath, my senses on the alert. The footsteps come closer and it's then that the door opens slowly, creaking on its rusty hinges. A light enters the room, dazzling me for a moment. I squint to get used to the sudden brightness.

In front of me stand two men in black, with faces of monstrous hardness and indifference. One of them, taller, stares at me with a cruel smile, while the other seems more nervous and aggressive to the point of shooting someone at any moment. I feel a surge of adrenaline, aware that my survival depends on my behavior with these parasites.

"Get up and follow us!” demands one of the burly men in a deep, authoritative voice.

I'm content to obey them so as not to attract too much attention after the single blow I received, enough to knock me out.

"Get a move on, bitch!” orders the taller one, grabbing my right arm roughly.

I mumble an annoyed expletive. Who does he think he is, this lump of junk? With a considerable effort and the help of these two, my legs all trembling, I approach the door at the end of the corridor. As I walk along, the place looks like a sewer. You could hear the sound of water droplets falling on the floor over and over again in an infinite cycle. It was unbearable. After uttering a word, which sounds like a code to me, the door opens and there stands a man with an imposing build and a shaved head, looking like a bodyguard. He beckons us in. I find myself in a contemporary office, luxurious and elegant but darkly decorated.

The walls are painted a deep black, enhanced by polished metal accents that catch the subdued light of designer lamps. Abstract works of art, in dark colors and mysterious shapes, adorn the walls, adding an intriguing dimension to the space. A thick, soft grey-green carpet covers the floor, absorbing noise and creating a hushed ambience. In the center of the room, a man is seated in a vast black leather armchair, whose elegant curves seem to hug his body with disconcerting ease. He holds a glass of whisky, its amber liquid glistening faintly in the light, like a hidden treasure. This man exudes an aura of confidence and dominance, with a piercing gaze that inspires respect and awe.

He's dressed in a sophisticated get-up with a touch of extravagance. He's wearing a tailored suit in midnight blue, with high-quality fabric for a luxurious look. Curved, it enhances his figure with an imposing build. My attention is drawn to his luxury watch, a Rolex, by its brilliance. From his pocket he pulls out a neatly folded silk handkerchief, which he undoes to wipe his nose lightly. These two executioners force me to sit down and tie me to the chair. Meanwhile, the man lights a cigar and gets up from his luxurious armchair. He approaches me, sitting half on the table.

"So, Orely, we haven't yet understood," he said.

Taken aback by the tone of his voice, I struggle to swallow my saliva as he brings his cigar to his mouth. He inhales deeply before releasing a cloud of smoke, blowing it into my face, causing me to cough uncontrollably.

"Oh sorry, how clumsy of me." He chuckles teasingly.

The bastard did it on purpose.

"What do you want from me?" I asked in a low, hesitant voice.

"M.R., do these initials mean anything to you?"

"Mi..Miguel Ri..Rivera?" I stammered.

"Well there you go! you're a lot smarter than I gave you credit for. He wants you to sign your land over to him. He's willing to buy them at any price. Isn't that wonderful?"

"That's why he had my husband murdered." I said bitterly.

"I'm sorry for your loss, dear, but it's not right to accuse without proof," he says wryly.

"Yeah right, make fun of my asshole's face," I monologue, feeling my blood boil inside me.

"These lands are not for sale. It was my husband's last wish before he died."

Without warning, he slaps me hard, making my face turn sharply.

"Negative answers are non-negotiable. Don't play hard, you're wasting your time. What's more, you won't leave empty-handed. Make the most of it."

The thing is, my lands are under the protection of the law. Miguel Rivera can do nothing against me even though he had Diego killed. He didn't expect that the territory was already in my name, and that's why he's using the hard way to get it in his possession, whatever the price.

"You're very tough to deal with when it comes to business but you don't make it easy for me. I'm going to have to take drastic measures. Take her away!"

I don't answer, and in this luxury sanctuary, time seems suspended. Every gesture of the man who works under this criminal's orders is imbued with calculated grace, every sip of his drink a silent assertion of power and control. The atmosphere is charged with tension, foreshadowing imminent revelations. We can't help but wonder about the mysteries hidden behind that imperturbable face, about the stories that are woven in the shadows of this modern office.

"I feel paralyzed, I can't utter a word. What will he do to me?"

Frightened, I let my mind wander. Whispers and disturbing thoughts run through my mind. Only this workspace remains a silent observer of unfolding events. I let myself be dragged along by my two kidnappers, thinking I was on my way back to my cell. Every step I take echoes in the corridor, like an echo of my despair. As I gradually move away from the office, I can vaguely hear this man talking on the phone, sounding annoyed. I suddenly think of my mother. She must be in quite a state with me missing from the house.

Has she alerted the authorities? I hope she's found another way to, otherwise she's endangering herself.