The Woman He Will Never Forget

"Dante, I'm scared. What's happening? Why are those armed men waiting for us? Are they going to kill us?" Julia whispered, eyes darting, her gaze fixated on the floor.

The chilling screams and frantic cries of passengers echoed in her ears. Is this it? Oh my God! Is she going to die here? What kind of cruel fate has brought her to this moment?

Today should be filled with love and celebration; instead, she fumed silently. Victor had an emergency, and his parents wants her to come over, and now a bus full of joy was overtaken by heartless men. What terrible fortune!

Dante's eyes pierced hers, a hushed urgency in his tone. "Lower your voice. Don't provoke them. They don't have conscience, they'd kill without a second thought. I'm not sure why they've ambushed us—perhaps money, as they always do," he breathed, glancing around nervously.

She nodded slowly, her mind racing with possibilities. Robbery? Kidnapping? The thought raced through her. But who would pay for her, an ordinary girl with no wealth? They must know that—if only the air would reveal their motives.

The shadows shifted, voices overlapping, but how many men lurked beyond her view? The weight of anticipation pressed down on her; the unseen danger felt overwhelming.

"Please, don't do this to us! Take our phones, our money! Just don't kill us!" A desperate voice broke the silence, an elderly passenger's plea echoing through the oppressive atmosphere.

Startled, Julia and Dante exchanged glances as laughter erupted from the group. "Fools! Do you think we're destitute? We have more money than you! We don't need your pitiful offerings!"

A frown etched itself onto Dante's face, mirroring her confusion. If it wasn't robbery, then what did they want from them? The question hung heavy, filling the air with dread.

"Please, just let us go! We won't say a word to anyone! We promise!" Voices rose in unison, a chorus of desperation pleading for mercy as fear painted their faces.

A few passengers rose abruptly, fear pushing them to flee, but the armed men erupted with fury. "I said no one moves! Are you all deaf?" The deafening gunfire shattered the moment, silencing the chaos.

The dull thuds echoed around them, bodies crashing heavily against the bus floor. Julia's face drained of color; she couldn't see, but were those innocent passengers dead?

"That's what happens when you can't follow simple instructions. You pests! Now, find that woman!" The leader's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding, directed at his crew.

A gasp escaped her lips, shock rippling through her. They were hunting for a woman? What crime had she committed to provoke such fury?

The men swept their eyes over every seat, narrowing in on the women. The men were invisible to them; their search honed in on a single target.

"She's not here, boss! These women are ugly. Boss said the woman is beautiful, had a smooth skin, right?" A voice rose in frustration, dismissing the others with disdain.

The boss shot a nod, eyes flaring. "Yes, beautiful! She has fucking good skin! Keep searching. I'm sure she's among them!" His voice seethed with irritation.

Dante's gaze locked onto hers, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Could it be you they're seeking? They said beautiful, smooth skin. You're the prettiest among here."

Julia's heart raced, confusion swirling within her. A compliment in dire circumstances. She shook her head vigorously. "It's impossible they're after me. I'm no threat to any syndicate—my life is simple, and I'm not wealthy. It must be someone else," she insisted, her voice laced with disbelief.

They'd gain nothing by targeting her, she reasoned, her mind racing.

Dante's eyes reflected trust, yet her heart raced as one man moved closer, fear sending tremors through her knees.

A man, gun drawn, loomed over them. "Hey, you woman, stand up." His voice dripped with menace, a command that left no room for defiance.

Her teeth ground together, a struggle to hold back panic. Yet, she recalled Dante's advice—compliance might keep them alive amidst the mounting terror.

"Are you single? Married? You're pretty. Smooth skin. You must be the woman," the man grinned, eyes sparkling as if he had just stumbled upon a hidden treasure.

Before she could respond, Dante interjected, voice steady. "She's my wife."

Surprise flickered across her face, but his expression was calm, a silent reassurance that urged her to place her trust in him.

The man scowled, his enthusiasm dampening. "Tsk! I wasn't speaking to you. You, is he truly your husband?" He gestured dismissively toward Dante.

Trembling slightly, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Y-Yes. We're married."

"How many years?" he pressed, eyes narrowing with scrutiny.

"T-Two years now," she managed, anxiety threading through her words.

"Tsk!" The armed man rolled his eyes, dismissing her as unworthy, and shifted his focus to the other passengers.

A sigh of relief escaped her, though nerves still coiled in her stomach. "T-Thank you, Dante."

He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry. I'll protect you. It's your wedding day; this can't end in tragedy," he promised, determination firm in his voice.

Despite the sweat glistening on his brow, she couldn't help stealing glances at his handsome face. He was not only striking but also exuded bravery that filled her with a spark of hope.

"She's not here, boss! Maybe that woman boarded a different bus!" one of the henchmen shouted, frustration lacing his voice.

Smoke seemed to billow from the leader's nostrils as rage flared within him. "That's impossible! This is the right bus! The intel is correct. I'll search myself; sometimes you're all so fucking stupid!" he snapped, baring his teeth in frustration.

A chill slithered through her as the leader approached, his eyes locking onto her. He grinned wide, his voice dripping with intrigue. "This woman is pretty. She must be the one we're looking for."

He seized her arm, yanking her to her feet. The panic within her surged, a tidal wave of dread crashing over her.

"W-Wait! Where are you taking my wife?" Dante's voice trembled, his eyes wide with concern as he glanced between them.

The leader's brow furrowed, confusion battling his focus. "Hey, take that guy with you too!" he barked, catching on to what he hadn't expected.

The others yanked Dante forward, forcing him along beside her. Julia's heart sank as her gaze met his, regret evident in her eyes, wishing silently for his safety.

"Don't hurt my wife!" Dante's voice cracked, desperation threading through each word as he fought against his captors.

Julia blinked in disbelief, her heart fluttering. Had she not just met him, his fervent plea might have felt like love, a genuine wish for her safety.

"Don't worry! You won't get hurt as long as you can prove you're really married!" The leader cackled malevolently as they dragged her away, the laughter chilling.

"Don't call the police, or speak a word about this, or I'll ruin your lives!" The leader's threat rang cold, as he shot a glare toward the driver and passengers.

The passengers peered through the bus windows, fear etched on their faces, watching helplessly as the darkness swallowed them. Yet, no one dared intervene.

She understood their silence, fear gripping them.

They yanked her arm roughly, her feet barely keeping stead. "W-Where are you taking us?" she stammered, her voice quaking with fear.

They dragged her and Dante into a thick patch of grass, surrounded by towering weeds and shadowy plants. Darkness enveloped them, illuminated only by the distant glow of streetlights and a bright moon.

"Stop asking questions!" a voice barked, slicing through the night air impatiently.

Minutes slipped away as they marched, each step thick with tension, until they halted at their "hideout." They bound them to a sturdy tree, igniting a fire with ominous intent.

Her eyes met Dante's, fear coursing through her veins. He leveled a serious gaze at her, urging silence and caution, but how could she remain calm when dread enveloped her?

Once the fire crackled to life, they perched on jagged rocks nearby, rifles trained on them. Ten men loomed with weapons drawn, a harrowing contrast to the two of them—bound and defenseless.

"W-Why are you doing this? What do you want from my wife and me?" Dante stammered, desperation creeping into his voice. "We're not rich. We're just ordinary people," he pleaded.

"Like you, we're just trying to survive. We do this to put food on our tables. It's nothing personal; it's just business." The leader's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing them. "So, I'll ask... are you really married?"

"We're really married! Why doubt it? Am I so ugly you'd think she will never choose me?" Dante shot back, a forced bravado behind his desperation, trying to turn the tide.

The leader exhaled smoke, a smirk spreading across his face. "Not at all. You're handsome, and she's beautiful—nothing impossible there. But here's the truth; your 'wife' was the only one worth noticing on that bus," he chuckled darkly.

"We were paid to ruin her life." The leader leaned closer, his voice a menacing whisper. "Now... if you're really married, what's your wife's name? One slip-up, and I'll make sure you die."

Julia's throat tightened, terror gnawing at her insides. Oh my God! Please, save us from this peril! she prayed inwardly, heart racing.

"Her name is Kisses Romano," Dante blurted out, the words tumbling fast. "We've been married for two years, but we don't have kids yet," he added, a nervous hitch in his voice.

Kisses? Who on earth is Kisses?

The leader shifted his focus to Julia, a piercing gaze demanding. "You, what's that guy's name? And when did you marry?"

"D-Dante. Dante Romano," she stammered, fear lacing her words. "We got married in January 2022," she managed, trembling beneath his scrutiny.

The leader fired further questions, and to her relief, their responses flowed smoothly, her nerves briefly subsiding as she found her voice amidst the chaos.

Moments later, a henchman approached the leader, phone in hand, whispering urgently, "I've found a signal, boss. Look at this." Julia caught the words, a chill racing down her spine.

The leader's gaze darkened as he leaned closer to the phone, fury igniting within him. In an instant, he lunged forward and slapped her fiercely across the face.

Pain exploded in her jaw, a sharp sting radiating through her head. "Don't fucking hurt her!" Dante's voice rose, filled with desperation and rage.

Ignoring Dante, the leader leaned closer, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "You're a clever one. You've dragged others into this mess. You... you're the one we've been hunting," he hissed, revealing his dark gums.

Terror gripped her heart. They were seeking her? Who could possibly want her harm? She had no enemies, no vendetta against anyone!

He yanked her hair violently, pain lancing through her scalp. "You made us suffer, you filthy piece of trash, but don't worry." His voice dripped with malice. "We'll make you wish you were dead, just like the one who sent us."

A wave of numbness washed over her, paralyzing her senses. "W-Who ordered this?" she managed, her voice trembling with fear.

"That's a secret—you don't need to know. Don't worry, you'll love it; you're so beautiful…" His breath hot against her skin, she felt his hand graze her legs, sending jolts of revulsion through her.

Her eyes widened in horror, the urge to flee coursing through her. "P-Please don't do this to me! Don't, I'm begging you!" she sobbed, panic rising in her chest.

Dante seethed with fury from the sidelines, voice shaking with anger. "You fucking son-of-a-bitch! Can you truly do this to a defenseless woman? Let her go! Hurt me instead if you want!"

"D-Dante…" Her voice quivered, tears spilling down her cheeks from overwhelming terror.

"Boss, sorry. Let's just kill this annoying brat," two henchmen piped up, eagerness flashing in their eyes.

The boss silenced the man with a hand over his mouth. "Don't kill him. I've got an idea." He turned his gaze to Dante. "You called me a son-of-a-bitch, huh? She's defenseless, right? Well, fine. Untie that guy,"

"Yes, I'm sure. Besides, if he tries to run, I'll kill him and this bitch," he chuckled darkly, a wicked glint flashing in his eyes.

The two men loosened the ropes around Dante's wrists. Julia's gaze bore into him, an urgent plea to escape. She hoped he could flee before any innocent lives were harmed.

As Dante flexed his fingers, the leader lounged against the tree, smirking. "Since I'm feeling generous today, I'll give you some credit for your courage. Now, you've got choices, man. First, my ,em and I will have our fun with her. Or second… you do it to her, and we won't interfere. You're 'married,' right?" he taunted, enjoying every moment.

Dizzy with terror, Julia's mind raced at the horror unfolding around her. "And what if I don't choose?" he managed not to stammer, while Julia's heart pounding relentlessly.

The leader shrugged nonchalantly, malice dancing in his eyes. "I'm easy to talk to. If you don't choose, I'll kill her and then you. I'll wipe out her family and your entire clan. So what are you waiting for? Think it through. One minute to decide. Tick… tock… tick… tock…"

A collective gasp escaped both Dante and Julia, eyes wide with fear and disbelief. What fate awaited them in this dark, twisted game?