Scary Strangers

"Good morning, Mom and Dad." I sat at the table and smiled at my parents.

"Morning, princess." Dad smiled.

"Where's granny and Ellerie?"

"They're out for a walk." Mom said.

"I'll be back home early today. Our classes will end at midnight because of an interschool football tournament." I chewed my sandwich.

"That's good. Your granny has an appointment with the doctor today so I'm going with her and we can't take Ell with us. So try to come back early, honey."

"Ellerie can stay with Dad for a while in his store. I'll take him with me on my way back home. I was planning to watch the game with my friends."

"Sorry, princess. I was also thinking about that but I've got to go outside of the town for some important business." Dad gave me a sad look.

"Oh,,, it's ok. Don't worry. Then I'll come back within 12." I smiled.

"We're sorry honey. You've to miss the moment with your friends for us. But next time you won't miss it I promise" Mom said with sorrow.

"It's ok, mom." I kissed Mom's cheek and headed to school.

School went very well today because we had few classes. Everybody was gathering beside the football field as it was already noon and the game was gonna start within a few minutes.

Marjan and Reema asked me to stay for a while but I had to go home so I told them to enjoy it. I was walking toward the main gate when I saw Fardinn standing there with his friends, dressed up in jerseys and shorts.

"Hey, Natalia!" Fardinn ran toward me.

I ignored him and walked fast.

"Hey! What happened? Why are you ignoring me?"

"Go and ask your girlfriend. Don't ever try to talk to me, Fardinn. Please." I looked away and started walking.

"Wait. Delilah did something, didn't she?"

"Just go and ask her." I walked away.

"Wait, Natalia! I'm sorry! I'll talk to her!" He shouted as I walked out of the school gate.

I couldn't understand why he was caring about me suddenly. It was confusing.

I took a cab and ten minutes later I finally reached home. I paid the cab driver and entered my house. Ellerie was watching Tom & Jerry alone as Mom and Granny were already out.

I went upstairs and took a quick shower. I slipped into grey jeans and a long-sleeved black blouse. I brushed my wet hair and left it open to dry naturally.

Then I came back downstairs and sat on the couch beside Ellerie. I saw my phone's battery was down so I plugged my charger into an outlet and slid the smallest part into my phone as it opened and beeped.

A few minutes passed and my phone buzzed. It was Mom calling.

"Yeah, mom."

"Are you already home, honey?"

"Yes. I arrived half an hour ago."

"Oh, I wanted to call you earlier but thought you would be in the class. Can you go to a nearby store to buy some groceries? I've messaged you the list. There is some money kept in my closet. We'll be late. So you have to prepare dinner."

"Ok, mom. No problem."

"Thank you, honey,,,, see you." Mom cut the call.

"Ell, get ready. We're going out to buy some groceries."

"Really?! Yay! I'm gonna eat chips, chocolates, and ice cream!" Ellerie started dancing and ran upstairs.

I laughed and went to my room put on some lipgloss, mascara, and sunscreen, and took my black sunglasses because it was sunny outside.

"Are you ready, Ell?" I pocked Ell's room.

He was standing in front of the mirror and brushing his hair. He took his sunglasses and put them on.

"Yeah. I'm Ready, sis." He grinned.

I grabbed my purse, and mobile though it was barely charged and anytime it would die, keys and then went outside. I locked the door and tossed the key in my purse. I grabbed Ellerie's tiny hand and started walking down the street.

"Talia, aren't we taking a cab? My legs will hurt." Ellerie huffed.

"We don't need a cab because we're going to the nearest store. Let's go." I bowed down and kissed his cheek.

We walked for about ten minutes but every nearby grocery store was closed due to lunchtime.

We walked another ten minutes and reached the supermarket. Ellerie was blabbering the entire time and talking about some rowdy kids whom he had met this morning. Luckily he didn't complain about walking for twenty minutes.

We kinda enjoyed this walk because the weather was awesome and the streets were lifeless.

I bought all the groceries following the list and chips and muffins for Ellerie. I went to the counter and paid the money then we stepped out of the shop.

It was already 1 pm. I looked around and looked for a cab. I couldn't call a cab as my phone's battery was down.

Cold breezes were blowing as I took a deep inhale. I pulled up my sunglasses shoved them over my head and started walking forward.

"Talia, sis, I want more chips." Ellerie flattered his eyelashes.

"What?! You already finished two packets. I can't give you another one. You'll catch a stomach disease and mom will blame me for that."

"Okay, I'm gonna pee in my pants right here."

This felt like someone punched me in the face.

"What?! Are you kidding me?!"

"No, I'm serious." He frowned.

"No I can't give you another packet." I shook my head.

"Okay then I'm peeing."

"No, wait. Here." I huffed and gave him the last packet that was in the bag with groceries. I couldn't believe this kid. God!

We turned left and walked down a calm street. Nobody seemed to walk around in this street as it was very calm and cool. Heavy wind was blowing although it was not stormy weather. It was so refreshing.

But suddenly we halted as a black BMW stopped ahead of us.

Two big tattooed muscular men stepped out of the car. They were looking so scary around 6'4 tall, whereas I'm only 5'3 feet.

In the black jeans with the te shirt one's left eyebrow, rs, and bottom lip were pierced. His neck and arms were covered in tattoos that made him more scary. The grey jeans with black shirt one h a few tattoos on his neck and arms but only his left ear was pierced.

I stepped back and looked around but there wasn't a single creature in the street. My heart started racing fast as I panicked.

"W-what do you want?" I gulped the lump in my throat.

"Sis, maybe they're lost. So they want to ask you the directions. But they are looking so scary." All whispered though it was loud, placing a palm beside his mouth.

"You're wrong, kid. Get into the car." The man in a black shirt uttered with a strong foreign accent.

"W-what?" My heart was hammering hard like it would explode at any moment.

"Are you a deaf or something? He fucking said to step into this motherfucking car!" I flinch as the man in a white shirt shouts with the same foreign accent.

My blood boiled because of how he could curse in front of my baby brother. I slowly lifted Ellerie with my shakey hands as he wrapped his tiny arms around my neck and bound his leg around my waist. An incredible idea pocked up in my shitty brain.

"Look! Who got into the car!" I shouted.

As soon as they looked behind I started running. It wasn't very tough actually because I was wearing my comfortable sneakers, neither Ellerie nor the bag with groceries in my hand was heavy. I heard them curse loudly but I didn't look elsewhere, I just ran and ran.