Blind Date Turned Proposal

She followed the sound of the voice with urgency, and she saw a woman in the corner of the basement. “Laura!” Josie shouted as she sped towards her.

Josie knelt down to see how she was doing.

Hopelessness etched on her face as if the world had crumbled upon her.

As soon as she saw Josie, her eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. “Josie,” she whimpered.

Josie could feel her tears welling up as she looked at Laura’s back. Laura’s clothes were torn, and her bare skin was covered in red marks.

The crisscross of bloody marks was a testament to the brutal beatings she had suffered.

Josie was frozen in place, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “Laura…

Arnold’s forehead wrinkled in disgust at the ghastly sight. “Zach must be crazy!”

As he looked around, he saw an array of weapons used to abuse her. Arnold felt a shiver run down his spine as he saw some of them stained with blood.

Josie tried to lift Laura up. “Let’s go. I’ll take you out of here. We’ll go see a doctor. You’ll get better, Laura,”

Laura said breathlessly, “I can’t leave now.”

“Why not?”

“It’s Summer’s birthday today. Zach wouldn’t let you get away with taking me out of here.”

worry: “What do we do

including reporters. She can’t go out now,” he responded, taking out his phone. T’ll get someone here

body was still shivering. She couldn’t

Andy to get a doctor in

you mean Laura can’t leave this place?” she blurted,

cracking.

in here at any time. We can’t take her out

Arnold’s suggestion. “He’s right. I can’t leave today,” she muttered,

plan was the only one that

efficient. He had the doctor disguise themselves as an employee of the Carter Group and

difficult to ignore Arnold’s atypical behavior.

his eyes tracking Arnold’s secretary, Andy, as he rushed

ordered, “Have someone keep an eye on

“What about us?”

“We’ll stay put.”

the medical supplies from his bag and said, “Ms. Brandel, I can’t administer anesthesia under these conditions. I’ll need you to bear with the pain.”

out from the excruciating pain when he placed the gauze pad soaked

her in pain. She turned around and quickly wiped away

He lifted his hands but paused midway. Eventually, he patted her on