Chapter one: The dark alley

Betty Humphrey walks home from work, walking down the street hoping to get a taxi but the road seems empty of vehicles and only few people were on the streets, she wondered why it was that way since she passed the streets earlier in the morning and it was filled with happy people going about their activities and it’s barely 8pm, of course, Splinter Town was well known for its nocturnal activities. She keeps walking, waving off the thought from her mind. She reaches an alley, the alley is dimly lit and seems shorter than the usual but she was lost in thought, thinking about her break up with her boyfriend.

As she walks down the alley, she hears a strange sound and turns back, Betty feels scared but ignores the warnings and buries her fright until she hears a louder sound from a dark corner, this time she felt very scared and walks faster but it was already too late now, a hand from the right drags her into the shadows and clamps her mouth. Betty struggles but her attacker was too strong, a foul chemical smell fills her nostrils and her vision blurred.

When she gained consciousness, she finds herself in a luxurious car, her wrists and ankles were bound in duct tape. In her weakness, she sees a man seated beside her well dressed in black suit, with her vision still blur, she couldn’t see his face clearly.

“Who are you?” Betty managed to ask in a weak voice, the man remains silent.

“Where you taking me to?”

“Miss Betty Humphrey, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you” the man speaks in a courteous tone

“You’re going to be our guest for a while” Betty could hear him in her weakness, she tries to place the voice as he spoke but it was unfamiliar, she strained her eyes to see his face but the darkness of the night and her blur sight made it impossible, but even in the darkness she managed to see the outline of his strong jawline, the features of his face were not clear enough for recognition, she had no strength in her to put up a fight for her escape, her mind was racing in fear.

The car stopped and Betty was pulled out, the duct tape was removed from her ankles, her legs wobbly beneath her, she stumbled but the man caught her, his grip firm but not unkind. As they enter the mansion, Betty’s eyes widened in amazement, “so magnificent” she thought within herself. She had no idea who had kidnapped her or what they wanted from her. She saw different men all dressed in black suit either with a suitcase or a pistol, she became extremely scared that she found it hard to breathe, she knew she was in trouble, whatever reason a poor girl like herself was kidnapped by a gang so organized it was never good. The man led her to a lavish bedroom, she looked round at the expensive furnitures and interior, he grabs her hands and removes the duct tape on her wrists.

“You’re safe here” he says in a soft tone.

“Do not fear, you’ll be taken care of”

Betty’s gaze met his and for a moment she saw something in his eyes that gave her a pause, something that can never be seen in a killer’s eyes, it was almost……..kindness, but before she could process it in her mind, he turns and leaves, leaving Betty in a state of confusion. Betty used her free time as an opportunity to explore the room. The room was a luxurious room with cream-colored walls, plush carpeting, and elegant furnishings. A large, ornate bed dominated the space, and a private bathroom offered every amenity. But the lack of windows and the locked door made it clear: Betty is a captive, not a guest.

She noticed a small note on the bedside table, it read “you’ll meet the boss soon, be prepared”. Betty’s heart sank. What did they plan to do with her? and who is the boss?.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and the man from earlier stood before her. “Get ready”, he said “the boss awaits you”.

Betty’s eyes locked unto his and she saw a flicker or something there, something that made her wonder what her captor had in mind for her.

Walking down the hallway with the guard to see the boss, Betty's eyes noticed something familiar on the left hanging on the wall, a painting caught her attention. It was a black canvas with a single, bold image: a black angry bear with its face filled with rage and its teeth exposed ready to devour anything on its part, it’s eyes filled with hate and bitterness. Betty's heart skipped a beat as she felt a shiver run down her spine. The bear looked eerily familiar, reminiscent of a painting in her family house.

She couldn't shake off the feeling that this was more than just a coincidence.

She approached the painting, her eyes locked on the bear's face.

“Pa’s painting, el oso” She whispers

The guard turns to her as she walks closer to the painting, looking at the bear with a sense of familiarity, the features all same, the scars seemed to be in the same pattern as the bear in her family's painting. A sense of unease settled in her stomach as she wondered if this was some kind of coincidence or a mirage.

Betty's mind began to whirl with questions. Was it a coincidence?.

As she stood there, frozen in thought the guard walks up to her, Betty turns to him, a hint of curiosity blend with excitement in his eyes.

“Find something interesting?" he asked, his gaze drifting to the painting.

Betty's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. "Where did you get this painting?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The guard’s expression turned enigmatic, and he took a step closer to her. "Let's just say its a symbol, it has sentimental value and I didn’t…it was the boss," he said, his voice low and mysterious.

Betty's heart pounded in her chest as she felt a sense of trepidation. She knew it was going to be a very long night.