A lost slumber

XVII

I entered the factory from the south side and headed to the supposed managers office. I tried to breathe but the air was too musty. I covered my face with my shirt. I headed up the stairs to the manager's office and the stairs creaked. So much for stealth. I hear shuffling and I think that I am too late. 'What if they came back when I was talking to my dad?' I think. I try to breath in and out but again that doesn't work , so I slap myself. I have no time to panic right now. I turn the rusted door knob and that's when I see her. The only piece of furniture inside of the room was the chair she was sitting in. Her clothes seemed to have aged for over a week. The room was covered in a thick moldy stench. I felt so bad for her.

I mutter out , " Ezme" under my breath , feeling my voice break.

" Celeste?" Ezme calls out. " What are you doing here?"

" I'm here to rescue you." I say.

" How did you find me?" She asks.

I started to say, " I-" but I was cut off by the sound off of footsteps. " I don't think I have enough time to explain." I stand there for a second contemplating if I should hide or wait for them.

" Hide." She whispers. " They might find you."

I stood there shocked, here this girl was tied to a chair defenseless and she was worried about me. " Fine, but take this." I whisper as I put a pocket knife in her hand. I head to the closest , and hide. I take out my phone and I start recording.

" Get up." A hoarse voice says. I think it must be the kidnapper.

" How am I supposed to get up if I'm tied to a chair?" Ezme asked fiercely.

" How funny." The voice says. I hear footsteps going farther away from the closet and I hear a creak coming from the chair that Ezme's in. " You know that's not what I mean. But it's always a pleasure to know you're awake." The hoarse voice bitterly spat out.

There's a numbing silence followed by the opening of the door. I heard two sets of footsteps enter the room.

" How come she's not removed from the chair yet?" A male voice.

I hear a gasp escape from Ezme and I realize who's voice it is. " Renzo." Ezme says , her voice becoming shaky.

" Hey babe~" He says flirtatiously.

' What the hell.' I think to myself. How could he get her kidnapped? I thought he liked her. I suddenly feel disgusted as I think back to all the times I picked on Ezme about liking him. Damn I knew popular people weren't to be trusted but doing this is going too far. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Ezme cry out , " Why?"

" It's nothing personal babe. Just business." He says calmly.

" And what business would that be?" Ezme asked bitterly.

" Confidential business." He says.

" Does that confidential business having anything to do with the pretty little lies you told me ? Or does it have anything to do with how you kissed me? Or does it have anything to do with how you said you felt when-" Ezme asked getting cut off by Renzo.

" Don't. That was private." Renzo says desperately.

" Oh?" Ezme asked , satisfaction filling up her voice. She knows she must have hit a nerve. " Why should I stop if it was never personal?"

" You know I love a good lovers quarrel, but we really don't have time for this." The hoarse voice said .

" You're right Danielle." A female voice ,that I was familiar with, calls from the other side of the room.