T. N. - Chapter 2

“Where are you taking me?” I asked, but my question is only met by silence. “Hello? Are you guys deaf or something?”

“Silence, Ms. North,” said somebody beside, and I felt the cold metal of a pistol press up against my cheek. “You’ll speak with the Tiger once we reach our destination. Until then, keep your mouth shut. I don’t want to gag you along with your blindfold.”

The Tiger? Never heard of him before, and I’m usually very up to date about these sort of things. Either he’s a sneaky rat sneaking under the radars, or he’s just a little fish trying to make it in the ocean of sharks.

I sat back against the fake leather seats as comfortably as I can with my hands tied behind my back. I’m surprisingly calm, considering I just got kidnapped. But then again, Grandfather had always trained me to stay cool and collected in the face of danger. He said it was expected of a young heiress to be under threat 24/7. Yet another reason why I don’t like being the third grandchild and only daughter of the prestigious North family. I just want to be normal! Sure, there are advantages to being wealthy, but the number of dangers that comes with it usually outnumbers all of those benefits. I’ve received death threats, avoided kidnappings and assassinations, managed to fend off those awful suitors that follow me around like a bunch of puppies…hooray for being Grandfather North’s favourite grandchild.

I’m still mentally beating myself up for being stupid enough to let my guard down on the way to the hotel. I had thought that being there at 6 in the morning would help to not attract attention to myself. Of course, that plan backfired when no one was there to witness the kidnapping. I don’t know how I couldn’t have seen these conspicuously odd men in black suits standing beside a black car with tinted windows. It was so suspicious, it stank.

The vehicle came to a sudden stop, and I heard the doors open. Two pairs of hand roughly grabbed my arms, dragged me out of the vehicle, and pulled me along. I stumbled, then righted myself. I heard waves, and seagulls crying. So we’re near the water. Something in front of us slowly creaked as we approached it. I supposed it’s a door, and a rather large one at the pace that it’s going. When we passed by the large creaking doors, I could tell that the sound that we’re inside of a building, as our footsteps echoed.

After a few approximate meters in, we stopped, and I was seated in a rather uncomfortable chair. My arms are placed around the back, and I sensed the presence of the two men who brought me in right beside me. I’m surprised they didn’t tie my legs down too. My blindfold was lifted, and my glasses placed on my face.

I blinked a couple of times to get used to the sudden brightness. We’re in what looked like an old run down warehouse. There’s a figure directly in front of me, seated comfortably with one leg crossed over the other in an old, red velvet armchair. He had his fedora cocked to shield his face from view, had a black blazer on, and jeans. He was wearing, surprisingly, a pair of bright red converses.

“Why hello, Theodora North. I do hope your ride was comfortable.” The man pushed up his hat, and I’m surprised to see that “The Tiger” appeared to be 19, my age.

“Please,” I said, “call me Theo.”