Chapter 23: The Kidnapping

A couple of days has passed since I met Satoshi and I put my business life on hold to focus on something else. That something else was my education.

Our exams were fast approaching, Noelle was way behind in studies and we thought about what we could to help her catch up.

She was far behind in the curriculum and all we did at cram school at that point were revision questions, so we both reasoned how we could help her get prepared in time.

After contemplating for a long we both came to an agreement and we decided that she would be taking overnight classes at my place.

I was perfectly fine without studying, i already used Render a long time ago to accurately write out the exam questions and I'd studied them very well.

I considered giving them to Noelle, but I figured she would feel much better if she actually got her admission on her own.

And besides, I remembered vividly that in my past life, she had one of the top scores in the entrance exams so I wasn't bothered by her too much, she was making decent progress anyway.

She lied to her parents that she would be staying at her friend's place for a while and they accepted. So everyday after class, we would spend most of the night studying.

She would sleep on the bed and as usual, being the gentleman that I was, I would take the couch. During the days I wasn't exactly sure where she went.

I'd go for my morning jog, then for gym and martial arts classes and by the time I would get back home, she'd be gone. I never bothered to ask where was going anyway.

She packed some things from home before coming, the necessities, a change of clothes, underwear and we were both comfortable as we were practically living together.

I especially enjoyed her company as after cram school every night, even though we didn't go home together not to around suspicion, she would always make dinner.

We never sat down together during class and everything seemed normal, except for the fact that some of her friends would tease her about the fact that she was staying over at my place.

Her cooking was lovely and I enjoyed her food very much. I cooked too once in a while, and she would laugh whenever I made mistakes always encouraging me to do better.

I began to look at her as something like a younger sister, or even my daughter. My mind had not fully adjusted to me being in a younger body, and I still felt like an adult.

Alas, I could not feel anything romantic for her, my feelings for her were very platonic, nothing more. I really hoped she felt the same way too.

One faithful morning, once again I got up before her and went on my morning jog round the neighborhood.

She was a sound sleeper and I never liked to wake her up from her sleep. I rounded my neighborhood three times before returning home, as I turned the last corner and began jogging straight towards my apartment.

As I turned the corner and approached my apartment, I instantly knew that something was wrong. The door was left open and I ran inside immediately I saw this.

I entered my apartment and saw that the whole place was in chaos, and instantly knew that a struggle had taken place while I was away.

"Noelle!" I screamed as I ran to the room to check for her. Nothing.

I searched all over the apartment but there was no sign of her. And then I began to get flustered.

My heartbeat was elated and I couldn't think straight as I scanned the room with my eyes, desperately searching for any clue of her whereabouts.

Then my eye caught something. It was a note! And it was pasted to the back of the door.

It read thus:

"We have her, who are are and what we want doesn't matter. Originally it was you we wanted but we took our chances. If you ever want to see her again, come to the designated location we give you and come alone, oh and no funny business. If you try to call the cops. She goes bye bye. Be expecting a call from us pretty soon. Have fun, Damon."

As I finished reading the letter I analyzed the situation. Whoever these people were, they knew who I was and they wanted me as hostage.

'Why would they want me as hostage? I have no memory of this ever happening in my first life.' I thought.

Things were changing rapidly from how they were in my first life, and I began to realize that slowly.

The first thing I did was calm myself down, I knew I wouldn't be able to think straight if I kept this up. So I sat in a chair and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths.

I cleaned the room and the mess they created and I scanned for any sign of something they could have left behind, but found nothing.

Whoever these guys were they weren't pros, and they wanted me, not Noelle.

The fact that they knew where I lived was what baffled me the most.

Only a handful of people knew where I lived, and I didn't know anyone who could've hated me so much as to want to kidnap me.

'Who could it be?!' My thoughts were racing as I tried to identify what could've happened, to no avail.

As I thought and thought I waited for about an hour for a phone call, anything, and when nothing came I headed out to the gym to clear my head.

I couldn't concentrate as I did my reps and my trainer noticed this. Thinking I was sick, he advised me to go home and get some rest.

I protested saying I was fine, but he was adamant and made me go home.

I got home and once again I had hit a brick wall. I could only sit and wait for the call to come in from the kidnappers.

As I waited expectantly I was reminded more of why i didn't need to establish ties with anyone, as I would just be putting not only myself but them in danger.

The path I walked was an unsafe one and I decided from then onward to walk it alone.