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.

car didn't hear her as the car

faster to catch up as she continued screaming and crying, "Daddy! Daddy, stop the car! It's me,

the speeding car, and she didn't stand

fell to the ground, hitting the gravel next to the road with her knees. Pain lanced through the scraped and bruised joints. Holding her bleeding knees Beryl began

"Daddy...

you hear me?" she wailed

driving up behind her quietly. A man with a mask stepped out

powerful set of arms which grabbed her from behind. Struggling to her feet she was swiftly incapacitated by a handkerchief soaked in a powerful drug that covered her mouth

cross-hairs achieved nothing, and she soon lapsed into an anesthetized unconsciousness. Closing her eyes, the expression of desperate horror fixed on her beautiful face.

her up like a discarded toy, he swung her limp, rag-doll body over his shoulder, and then carried her to the vehicle. The balaclava hid his face and the cruel scar of a smile. Getting into the driver's seat he

which were bright with remembrances, and he asked,

was driving the car, quickly answered,

ominous presentiment came into Jacob's mind. He frowned

the reason. Since Jacob's solo returned to Jingshi City from D country, he had become even more secretive and his motives were a

determination he walked back and looked around as if searching for someone.

he seem to have

faint but echoed in his ears again and again.

looked down the long road ahead of him and the steady stream of traffic, but saw no-one that could have called out. Was it just

eyes roaming about, but found nothing. Feeling confused he finally returned to the car. Once seated inside, he lifted his hands to press

weak and that he had missed something important.

a ridiculous feeling! I'm Jacob

me, that is weakness. Letting someone in, is weakness. I won't let it happen, ' he thought, rehearsing the words like a mantra, as if secretly trying

...

to be sure that no-one saw them, the man with the mask

about this kid? She is beautiful and lovely.

woman looked carefully at Beryl's delicate little face and nodded approvingly, "She's a real beauty. I think she will fetch a high price. But why does she still

easy.

"Okay."

woman shook her head reproachfully, but breathed a sigh

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

sat up suddenly, ignoring the spinning sensation in her head, looked around

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