The Kiss that Sparked it All

Balfour finally, with a weight in his heart that felt like a sack of potatoes, gave a solemn nod. “Don’t worry, Mr, Lewis, my word is my bond.”

“Good, with your word, I can rest easy,” Elton replied, his voice a mixture of relief and

concern.

The die was cast, and Victoria, despite her fierce resistance, could not stop their

movements.

Balfour and Elton tiptoed to the large window at the back, working to pry off the wire mesh quietly, while she kept watch.

She held her breath, afraid to make even the slightest noise that might wake the two thugs snoring like freight trains outside the door.

“Hurry up!” Victoria whispered urgently.

Balfour and Elton were drenched in sweat. Despite the task being manageable, the need to be silent made it torturous.

“Thud-”

Elton accidentally hit the window frame, sending a sharp sound into the air, freezing all three of them.

Victoria’s gaze locked onto the two kidnappers, praying they wouldn’t wake up and ruin everything.

Fortunately, the kidnappers had been drinking earlier and it was the dead of the night, their sleep was deep; they didn’t stir.

The duo sped up their efforts, and it wasn’t until the wire mesh was lifted enough for Balfour and Victoria to crawl through that they stopped.

Elton and Victoria switched places.

She looked at her father through tear-blurred eyes. Balfour had already crawled out and was waiting to help her through the window. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Elton’s eyes were red too. He pretended to casually wipe them and waved at her. “Go on.”

Balfour kept silent, his furrowed brow revealing the turmoil inside. He wanted Victoria to move faster but nudging her now felt too cruel- this farewell could mean they’d never see each other again.

In the end, it was Victoria who steeled her resolve. Biting her lip, she determinedly climbed through the window.

“Dad, take care,” she whispered.

1/2

Elton didn’t reply. He knew that this time, his promise might be broken.

Once they had disappeared from view, Elton crept past the two thugs and ran towards the courtyard gate. Just before he made it to the exit, he paused inside to count seconds in his head, ensuring they had enough of a head start before deliberately making a noise.

“Who’s there?” The two thugs, groggy and disoriented, sat up, “Was that a rat?”

One yawned and rubbed his eyes, “Noise? You must’ve heard wrong.”

“Damn it-they’re gone!”

Sleepiness vanished from their eyes, replaced by stark wakefulness.

They were left with the sole charge of guarding, and now all three had vanished into thin air.

How were they going to explain this to the Boss?

Their faces turned pale, and they scurried back inside the dilapidated house, finding no trace of the three.

“Where did you hear that noise just now?”

“It sounded like someone kicked a can, right by the front door! We were drinking last night and tossed all the trash there, planning to clean it up tomorrow.”

“Quick, chase them! They must’ve gone this way, wake up the Boss. Hurry!”