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My heart hurts. Of course I do, which Lars knows. That’s why we’re in the middle of this mess. But I don’t give him the satisfaction of answering. I storm inside, inhaling the deep scent of coffee instead. Now this place is where I feel most at home.
The workday unfolds with the usual chaos of coffee orders and demanding customers. I find myself juggling multiple tasks, all while trying to keep up with the café’s frenetic pace. Lars, on the other hand, seems to have an uncanny ability to charm both customers and staff with his effortless charisma which only winds me up even further. I really do hate him sometimes, which is so annoying, because with his ashy blond hair and bright green eyes, with broad muscular shoulders and bright smile, he’s hot!
But hot isn’t enough to have me falling at his feet. I might be the only one who doesn’t, but whatever. I just find working with him is a daily exercise in patience, endurance, and biting my tongue. I don’t know how long I can keep it up without losing my damn mind.
“What’s up with you?” Lars smirks as he pushes passed me, making the already tight space very uncomfortable. “You have an expression like thunder.”
Scowling, I roll my eyes at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I thought you might have heard the good news.” I snap my eyes towards him. “That I’m leaving you. I won’t be back at work for a very long time.”
“Huh, I wish!” I tease back, but he seems to be serious. “What are you talking about?”
“This is my last day here.” He offers me a one-shouldered shrug. “I’m away on a mission for over a year, which I’m sure will make you miss me. But on the other hand, it means you’ll have a lot of time to get on with your own studies. I’m sure you need that.”
“What?” I exclaim, my voice tinged with panic. “What about Vaughn?”
Lars grins mischievously, clearly enjoying my reaction. “Don’t worry, sweet Mahalia. Vaughn won’t be around either.”
I stop in my tracks, disbelief washing over me. “What do you mean? Where are you both going?”
Lars chuckles, but there’s an unusual seriousness in his gaze. “It’s a secret, Mahalia. A boys-only club, you could say. Something we’ve been planning for a while.”
My heart races with anxiety and frustration. “You can’t just leave me in the dark like this! What’s going on?”
He leans in closer, his voice low and conspiratorial. “Let’s just say it’s an adventure of a lifetime, and neither Vaughn nor I will be reachable for quite some time.”
Is this a joke? I can’t tell with Lars, he’s always so teasing and mysterious. But there seems to be a look in his eyes which makes me think he’s telling the truth.
“Look, it’s only a year. We won’t be gone forever, you’ll get to see me again soon.”
I try to grab him as he walks off, but he slips through my hands like grains of sand. “Wait, Lars, I don’t understand. You’re dropping out of college for a year? You’re leaving this job? For some boy’s club? I don’t get it. I don’t understand.”
I don’t really care about what he’s doing, although I suppose it will be nice to be able to focus on my own work for a while, but I am concerned about Vaughn. It’s only been just over a year since we were supposed to get married, and according to Lars, he’s still struggling. I know he isn’t exactly spending his time talking to me, but it’ll be horrible to not be able to talk to him for a year because he’s… well I don’t even know where.
“Just forget about it, Mahalia,” Lars declares while he makes a sweeping gesture with his hands. “It doesn’t concern you. Just be grateful that you get a year break.”
He isn’t going to tell me. This is typical Lars; he loves having all the control and being able to hold onto information to drive me insane. I just have to not give him the satisfaction of seeing that he’s gotten under my skin. I need to let this asshole think that I don’t care, even if I do…
Finally, my shift is over and I start the walk home from the café. Although I can’t relax, because thoughts of Vaughn and Lars, and their mystery trip is racing through my mind. It’s so weird. Why the hell have I been putting all my effort into Lar’s work, just for him to vanish…
What was what?
All of a sudden, a rustling sound grabs my attention. I stop worrying about the men from my past… Well, and one from my present.
I keep trying to walk, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched, that someone is following me. I quicken my pace, my heart pounding in my chest, but my pursuer remains relentless. There’s definitely someone behind me…
Suddenly, heavy hands clamp around me from behind, and before I can even scream, a familiar voice startles me into silence.
“Mahalia,” the voice says, and my heart skips a beat. It’s Professor Maddox. What the hell? “Come with me.”
I feel a strange mixture of relief and confusion for all of two seconds before a satin bag is placed over my head. Panic sets in as I’m lifted off the ground and carried off like I weigh nothing more than a feather, my world suddenly plunged into darkness. I have no idea where I’m being taken, but one thing is clear – I’m in the hands of my university professor, the one who hates me most of all, and nothing about this situation makes any sense.
Somewhere along the way, my captor switches. The firm grip on my arm is replaced by someone new, someone I don’t recognize. My mind races with questions, but I dare not utter a word. I can hear the professor’s voice, instructing the stranger to round up the others and take me to the meet-up site. What the hell is going on? I might not have had the best relationship with my professor, but I thought he cared about my grades. I didn’t know he was into kidnapping.
As I’m led further into the unknown, my senses become my only source of information. I can smell the earthy scent of green things all around me, the faint rustle of leaves, and the distant chirping of birds. It’s clear that we’re outdoors, but I have no idea where we are or how far from civilization. And most of all why? I really want to ask why.
I remain silent, my mind racing as I try to get my bearings. Panic simmers beneath the surface, but I know I have to keep my wits about me. This situation is bizarre and dangerous, and I need to find a way to escape.
