A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"Ah!" Anna uttered a great cry of pain, but with lips tightly shut, she refused to tell the men where Beryl was.

Puzzled by her refusal to cooperate, the men frowned in anger, then one of them viciously kicked her hard in the chest. Gasping in pain she spewed forth a stream of blood.

Hiding behind the statue, Beryl watched the scene of abuse in helpless terror. Frighted out of her young mind, she almost let out a scream of horror, but she covered her small mouth with her hands, holding back the expression of fear. She could not risk being found by the thugs again, and tears of desperation beaded her marbled cheeks.

Anna seemed to be aware of Beryl being in sight of the drama, and she looked in her general direction, silently mouthing, "Go, go..."

"Anna..." Beryl murmured choking on her tears.

She wanted to save Anna but she knew with certainty that it would be futile, as she was too small and weak to fight off the muscled bandits. If she tried to help, she would simply be caught again.

Finally, she then accepted that she couldn't save Anna or her mother if she was caught by those men.

With a grim little swallow, she looked into Anna's worried eyes and, gritting her teeth, turned to run away.

'Anna, I promise I'll find Dad and he will save you!' she vowed solemnly in her little heart.

She ran as far as she could, her chest hurting from the breath burning her lungs. Not knowing how far she had come, she could only hope that it was out of reach of the bad men. Her legs trembled with exhaustion and she panted for breath.

Finally able to breathe a bit better, she looked around and found herself at the side of an unknown road, and the realization struck home that she was hopelessly lost.

What should she do now, to find her father?

After all, she was only five years old, and despite having a good memory, she hadn't been everywhere in Jingshi City, and she had no idea where she was now.

There were no passers-by around to ask for directions either.

She stood staring blankly at the black road with cars speeding past, and looked with longing at the head-lights that flew past only to dim on the horizon. Fatigue made her eyes ache and she felt weak.

Before she completely despaired, she suddenly saw a familiar black luxury car. Fixing her eyes on it she saw her father, Jacob, sitting in the back.

'Thank goodness. Daddy's come to find me!'

Excited at the thought of being rescued, she ran towards the car as fast as she could, yelling, "Daddy! Please stop! Daddy! Daddy!" She finally screamed in desperation.

hear her as the car was traveling at

faster to catch up as she continued

car, and she didn't stand a chance on her shortened

with her knees. Pain lanced through the scraped and bruised joints. Holding her bleeding knees Beryl began crying

"Daddy...

hear me?" she

she didn't notice the minibus driving up behind her quietly. A man with a mask stepped out and

to her feet she

pungent odor which invaded her nose and throat. Struggling like a frightened deer under the hunter's cross-hairs achieved nothing, and she soon lapsed into an anesthetized

carried her to the vehicle. The balaclava hid his face and the cruel scar of a smile. Getting into

which were bright with

was driving the car, quickly answered,

ominous presentiment came into Jacob's mind. He frowned and commanded, "Stop the

He dared not ask the reason. Since Jacob's solo returned to Jingshi City from D country, he had become even more secretive and his motives were a mystery. Even his face remained a studied mask which revealed none of his

determination he walked back and looked around

he seem to have

in his ears again

ahead of him and the steady stream of traffic, but saw no-one

remained standing still in one spot, with his eyes roaming about, but found nothing. Feeling confused he finally returned to the car. Once seated inside, he lifted his hands to press at his throbbing temples and closed his eyes for a moment to ease the aching

weak and that he had

a ridiculous feeling! I'm Jacob and I have no

me, that is weakness. Letting someone in, is weakness. I won't let it happen, ' he thought, rehearsing

...

was still unconscious as the minivan reached the suburbs. Looking about to be sure that no-one saw them, the man

She is beautiful and lovely. I

approvingly, "She's a real beauty. I

anesthetic. Take it easy.

"Okay."

reproachfully, but breathed a sigh of

dazed and didn't know where she was. Then, as her vision cleared, she saw the

her head,

whispered, "Because we're going to be sold. Everyone here is