TRAPPED: Hideo Colombo Book 1

YSOLDE’s POV

I just silently cried while sitting on the sofa in the living room. Until now, the overwhelming fear that my heart feels has not disappeared. The man who abducted me was outside the sliding door-on the lanai, and he was talking to someone on his phone. I’ve been thinking of running out of the house to escape, but what’s the point of me running out if he catches me too? What’s the point of me running out if I have nowhere to go because the sea surrounds his house?

My God! If only I had listened to Giuseppe and not insisted on running away from home, I wouldn’t be going through all this now. But still, I’m thankful that I ran off from home last evening because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t know that the two people I love the most were being unfaithful to me. Until now, I will not know what Shiloh and Zakhar are doing while I am at home, hiding because someone is trying to kill me. But I’m not thankful that I’m here today in the place… I don’t know in which corner of the world this man’s place is. I don’t even know if I’m still in the Philippines or in another country.

“Хороший! Мы поговорим о продуктах, по которым мы договорились, в другой день».”

I heard the man say to the person on the other line, But I did not understand what he said because he uses an unfamiliar language.

“Спасибо! Спасибо!”

The man said again, then he hung up and let out a deep sigh before turning in my direction. I immediately looked away from him. Later, I heard his footsteps approaching me. My heart is beating fast again because of so much fear.

“I told you earlier to stop crying.”

I couldn’t help but close my eyes tightly when I heard his rough and baritone voice. Just then, I was too scared… my heart was beating too much. What if he does something bad to me? Please, God! Please help me! I hope Papa is looking for me now… and Giuseppe, too.

“Stop crying, Ysolde.”

I suddenly lifted my face, and I frowned as I stared at him. Does he know me?

Even though my vision was blurry because the tears were still flowing in my eyes, I tried to look at him. His black eyes are scary.

“D-do you know me?” I stuttered and asked him.

But he didn’t speak immediately, instead he sat on the single couch that was on the other side of the sofa I was sitting on.

“Why not?” he asked. He sat down and rested his elbows on the armchair, and intertwined his fingers.

Tears welled up in my eyes again. “W-who are you? Why did you kidnap me?”

“Well, let’s just say that… your dad owes me a lot.”

I frowned as I stared at his face. Papa owes a lot to this man? How did that happen? Our family business was doing well, and Papa had no problems, especially with money.

I shook my head because of what he said.

“Papa never had a problem, especially about money.” I said firmly.

He laughs foolishly as he lets out a deep sigh. And after a while, he became serious and gazed at me.

He just stared at me, but I could already feel my hair standing up all over my body. His eyes are very scary.

“Your father locked you in your mansion, so you don’t know that he is suffering and is already buried in debt and problems.”

My eyebrows met even more. What is this man talking about? Does he know who he is talking about now? Papa is well known in the business industry. And the company he built since he was a young man has continued to thrive in the business industry for decades. So, how did my papa have an issue with this man? How did my papa owe this man so much?

“If what you say is true that Papa owes you a lot, is that the reason you kidnapped me and brought me here?” I boldly asked him.

I saw a small grin on the corner of his lips. “Yes!” he answered my question without hesitation.

I suddenly went soft again because of fear. Later, I looked away from him.

Papa, help me! I secretly prayed that papa would find me soon, even though it seemed very impossible for that to happen.

I lowered my face, and my shoulders shook because of the sobs I was trying to prevent from escaping my throat.

“Stop crying, Ysolde.”

I didn’t look at him, but from the tone of his voice, I knew his gaze was sharp on me now.

“From now on, train yourself that you are here on the island, and you are with me. Because from now on, this will be your home.”

“No!” I yelled at him when I raised my face again. I also gave him a sharp look while shaking my head. “No! You can’t lock me up here. Take me back to my Papa.” I told him with a mixture of anger and begging. “Please! I want to go home.”

When he stood in his place, I immediately stood in my place, too. Even though I was terrified now, I dared to approach him and without saying a word; I grabbed one of his hands.

He turned to me in shock because of what I did.

I knelt in front of him in tears. “Please! Please, I want to go home. Take me home to my Papa. I would rather not be here.” I begged him.

Furthermore, I didn’t get an answer from him-instead, he just looked at my hand in his, then looked me in the eye again.

“Please, mister. I would like to go home.” I begged him again and again. “Please let me go.”

“I can’t take you back to your father. You will stay here. With me.”

He said firmly before he violently withdrew his hand that I was holding. Because of what he did, I almost fell to the floor.

“Stop crying, Ysolde. Your tears won’t help you, either.” He said and quickly left the living room.

I started sobbing again as I collapsed on the floor.

***Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I was standing on the side of the sliding door while looking outside the house and watching the sun set in the west. I don’t know what time it is now because I’m not wearing a watch, and I don’t see a clock in the living room of this house.

I’m just standing here as if I’m waiting for someone to come and help me get off this island. Even though I could feel the pain in my feet and legs, I didn’t leave where I was standing. I felt a little calmer earlier as I watched the small waves on the beach. Somehow, my heart full of fear was relieved because of that man.

As I let out a deep sigh, the icy breeze hugged my whole body again. I hugged myself.

“Are you not hungry?”

I flinched slightly when, from behind me, I heard his voice. I automatically swallowed. My heart, which was gradually calming down earlier, was once again pounding due to fear.

I didn’t answer him. Instead, I squeezed through the glass door.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him come out and take his place on the lanai.

“What I hate the most is that I will ask questions but not be answered.”

But I still didn’t speak. I don’t care about him. He can talk as much as he wants.

Later, I saw him pull something from his side. And suddenly, my eyes widened when I saw his shiny gun.

I was once again struck with overwhelming fear. I also slightly backed away from where I was standing.

He looked at the gun in his hand for a moment and stared at me again.

“Are you not hungry, Ysolde?”

I could clearly see the tension in his jaw and his more frightening eyes.

Because of so much fear, I couldn’t immediately answer his question.

“Ahhh.” I screamed when he fired his gun, pointing outside the house.

I felt like I was suddenly deafened by the force of that shot. In all my life, I have never heard a gunshot, so suddenly my whole body trembled with fear.

He stood up from his seat and walked closer to me. Because my knees were shaking with fear, I couldn’t move from where I was standing.

We are only one step away from each other. He stared at me.

I felt the heat in the corner of my eyes again.

“The next time I ask you, answer me right away,” he said firmly. I saw his jaw clenched.

Instead of answering him, tears suddenly came to my eyes

“Do you understand me, Ysolde?” he asked. “Do you understand me, Ysolde?” he asked angrily again.

“Y-yes! Yes!” I suddenly answered when he yelled at me.

“Good.” His voice softens while still staring at my face.

His hand went up to my head and gently stroked my hair. “Be a good girl to daddy, so I don’t get mad at you,” he said. “Now, go to the kitchen and eat.”

I feel like I was hypnotized by his eyes and immediately followed what he said. Even though my knees were weak, I moved from where I was and sauntered towards the kitchen.