Black is the Color of Beauty

Chapter 19

NiNi's POV 

JFK Airport, NY

July 11, 2019 

5:15 p.m.

       " Bo, you have to tell me if Shanghai is our final destination? I don't like surprises." I roll my neck as I speak to him. He glances at me briefly for a moment, then goes back to looking at his phone. Damn it, did this n-... man really just ignore me like that. A few moments of silence pass by, before Bo starts talking to me. " I am going to grab some food, would you like something to..... " he stops midway in his sentence. A petite Asian woman with creamy skin and long jet black hair walks by us. Bo freezes up for a moment and glance in her direction. His eyes seem different.... like alive... his usual black marble eyes were now like cooling lava. Black on top, but warm and hot under. My stomach begins to flip flop. Is this what he wants? As soon as the moment starts, its gone. His eye returns to onyx and body relaxes. " something to eat?," he finishes the question as if no time has passed since he initially asked it. "Where are you getting food from?," I ask to get my mind off that moment. Bo looks around for a few seconds and point over his shoulder to the his right. My stomach sinking..... that's the direction that pretty girl was walking in. "No, I'm ok," suddenly my normal endless appetite vanishes. I go sit back in the waiting area by our gate with the luggage and Bo walks away.

   " Listen to your instinct baby girl. Its never wrong," the voice echoes in my head. It was a part of a conversation I had with my grandmother years ago about my stomach pains and weird things happening. She was the told me about one of our ancestors having 'psychic' abilities. After that conversation, grandma and I concluded that my stomach pains signal something bad is about to happen. Ping . I wonder who could be texting me. It showed an unknown number. " Don't say anything. If you do I will kill her," the message read. Kill who? Three bubbles appear at the bottom of the screen showing me that the person is typing out a response. Instead of a text message, I get a picture message. "Fuck, it has to download!!!! Ugh, I hate my bullshit ass phone service." I huff out. As I wait for the picture to download, a navy blue folder in the seat next me catches my eye. It is were Bo is keeping our plane tickets and his itinerary for when we get to our destination. 

    One little peek wouldn't hurt? Would it? I look around to make sure that Bo is nowhere in sight. Then, I flip the folder open quickly. My eyes frantically scan across the pieces of paper. What the fuck? In the folder is three tickets, one for Bo and two for myself. The first set of tickets is a non stop flight to Shanghai, which I expected. But, the third ticket was for me to go to show Beijing. So, we flew from Cleveland to NYC, then Shanghai to Beijing. My eyes begin to sting a bit at the thought of Bo lying to me. I asked earlier if Shanghai was our last stop, and he never responded. He knew I wanted to see Ty on her birthday. The other papers to follow send a ripple of pains in my stomach. There was a copy of my passport, birth certificate and medical record. Then, on the last page in the right pocket of the folder was a security detail and itinerary for me once I land in Beijing. I would have a 24/7 baby sitter while taking one on one Mandarin and Chinese culture classes. At the bottom of that page, Bo scribbled down " Need to find time to see NiNi, while helping Lei find...". My phone vibrates signaling me that the picture finished downloading.

      Ty?!?! It was a picture of Ty laying in a bed sleep with a gun pointed at her. How? When? What? My breathing becomes uneven.... my head starts to spin. "Do you want her to die?",another text message read. That message sober me up real quick. NiNi, calm down. " What do you want?," I reply. Almost immediately, "To follow my instructions and not warn Bo about this message." NiNi, I don't know if this is a good idea the voice inside my head say. It isn't, but what choice do I have. "Ok," that is all I could type out. " Ok, if you follow my instructions. I will not kill Ty and if you behave. I won't hurt you other little friend too.," the message read. I have to do it, or they will find Day. " Where are you?" the message read. "JFK Airport," I reply. "Perfect, I need to tell Bo you have to go to the bathroom and leave the airport. Make sure you have your passport. I will message you again in an hour with more instructions," the message read. "Ok," again is the only thing I can think of replying. I look down at my phone and notice that 15 minutes has passed, Bo will be back soon. I open up his carry on bag and make a beeline to the side pocket. "Sorry Bo," I say out loud but to myself. I grab some of emergency stash money. I'll leave my carry on bag, all I need is my passport and cash. Leave my cards because he will track them. I glance into the folder one more time, then something clicks. Bo's scribble. He knew that Ty was kidnapped. The thought of him keeping this away from me feels as though I have an elephant sitting on my chest. It hurts so much, so much that I can't even breathe. I stuff the money in my pocket and dash away from the our gate. After running for about five minutes, I trip and fall. As I get up, I catch a glimpse of myself in a nearby window. For some reason, the reflection doesn't even look like me. Inky black waist length hair, sharp bangs, a long whimsical skirt.... with dead eyes. Is this what you want, Bo? My mind briefly wanders back to that petite women from earlier. I can't bring myself to answer that question because I know that the answer will break me.