Various thoughts and guesses flashed past Nathalia's head. She felt the giant claw suddenly tightened its grip and hurt her heart. She gasped silently, a hand covering her mouth.

Spencer patted her shoulder gently and showed her what he wrote on a piece of paper. It said, keep him online as long as you can.

​​

Nathalia nodded. She took a deep breath, and in a calm and confident voice, she asked, "Who is it? Can I speak to Sophie?"

The man sneered. Nathalia could even feel the iciness of his voice. "Don't be naïve, Nathalia Davidson. It's up to you if your friend lives to see the sun tomorrow or not."

Nathalia closed her eyes, bit her lips, and stifled her scream of pain. It was what she had been worrying about. The last and worst possibility had turned true.

She swallowed her pain and anxiety, took another deep breath, and calmly, she replied, "Tell me what you want."

The man laughed triumphantly. "Hahaha. Now we are talking. If you want her to live, bring ten million to Miami cruise port, alone. Remember, ALONE. AND DON'T call the police. Or you will never see your friend again."

Spencer shook his head, frantically. He almost shouted, but Nathalia covered his mouth with her hand just in time.

"Alone?" she questioned.

The man sounded confident, "Yes. Alone. In one hour. If I don't see you, your friend will be dead. She will be tortured slowly to death." He said every word clearly. His voice sent a shiver down Nathalia's spine. Her face went pale.

"I have to confirm that she's with you." She said plainly.

A few seconds later, there came Sophie's panicking, trembling voice. "Nathalia, help me! I'm so scared, Nathalia..." She was in tears, terrified.

'Slap! Slap!'

"Ahh," Sophie screamed.

The man threatened, "Nathalia Davidson, come alone, or your friend will be dead." It followed by the sound of tearing cloth and Sophie's sobbing, "No! No! Help, Nathalia, help me..."

It was the sound of despair. It pierced Nathalia's heart. "Stop! I will do whatever you say. Don't hurt her!" she screamed, her body trembling. Bastards! She cursed silently.

"Hahaha." The man laughed evilly and hung up.

Spencer held her shoulders, looking terribly worried, "You can't go. I don't allow you. I will help you find her, but you can't leave the house."

It was obvious that the man came after Nathalia. It was Nathalia that he wanted to hurt. And it was exactly because of that, Nathalia knew she had to go.

"I have to, Spencer. If anything happens to Sophie, I can never forget myself. She's Lisa's only daughter!"Nathalia reasoned. I don't have a choice.

Spencer held her tight. He shook his head, determinedly, "No. I can't lose you. I can't let anything happen to you."She's my only one. I would rather give up the whole world than lose her.

Nathalia felt the giant claw gripping her heart tighter.

She pushed Spencer away hard. She looked at him into his eyes with such intense love. "I have to go. You can't stop me." She said clearly.

"What if, what if I lock you in our room, or, or I knock you out..." Spencer even tried threatening her desperately.

She's too stubborn. She won't be persuaded. I love her to pieces, and I wouldn't change anything about her, but now I wish she could just be like other girls and be soft for just once and leave it to me. Spencer thought helplessly.

On hearing so, Nathalia glared at him and moved a few steps away from him. "Don't you dare? I will never forgive you if you do." It wasn't just a warning, it was a statement. She meant it.

And he knew that she meant it.

Spencer was so angry and frustrated. "Is she more important than me? Huh?" he questioned.

Pouting her lips, Nathalia took Spencer's hand and pressed it on her heart. She said gently, looking at him into his eyes, "No. You are the man I love the most. You are the most important person in my life. Sophie is my friend. I can't save her. Both you and her, love and friendship, are irreplaceable to me."

She wasn't making an impulsive decision. She just knew that she had to save her friend, or she would regret it for the rest of her life. She wasn't a saint; neither was she dumb. She knew there was great danger, but she had to take the risk.

She would rather do and fail than regret, not trying at all. There's no regret in life. She believed.

"If it were you that was in danger now, I would do the same. Do you understand?" She took a deep breath and said clearly. And may it never happen. She prayed.

Spencer felt his anger slowly fading away. He was just sad and worried. "But it's too dangerous." He muttered helplessly.

Nathalia stood on her toes and pecked a kiss on his cheek. "Then, let's think of a plan to outsmart them, and I trust you can." She suggested softly. The kiss took away his sadness, and it was replaced with determination and confidence.

He hugged her tight. "Promise me that you will be careful. Remember, you once said that you would go through life and even death with me. We, you and I, when you live, I live; if you die, I follow you."

Tears filled Nathalia's eyes. "I promise you. I will come back to you."

"Let's think of a plan. We need to save time." Spencer said encouragingly.

***

At the port

The moon had hidden behind the clouds tonight. The wind was blowing. Silence and tension filled the air.

Nathalia was getting close to the requested destination, driving slowly. Her phone rang.

"Turn left. Leave the phone on." The voice demanded.

After a while, "Now, turn right." Two minutes later, "Stop."

Nathalia had arrived at an area that was pitch dark. The headlight of the car was the only illuminator. She saw an abandoned warehouse right in front of her.

"Bring money. Get out of the car and come into the warehouse." The voice demanded again, then hung up.

Nathalia got out of the car, carrying the case of cash. She stood in the dark for a little while, allowing her eyes to adjust. A cold wind blew. Her body shivered slightly under a black jacket.

She gently, elegantly put her hair behind her ears, and with a smile, she walked steadily towards the door. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.