“Sixty five thousand dollars! Where can I find such a hefty sum of money?” I questioned myself while wandering aimlessly in Huntington Hospital. I then slumped onto a wooden bench and my mind went blank for a split second. “Sir, you need to prepare sixty five thousand dollars for your wife’s surgical and medical fees.” That was what the nurse said. “I can’t let Marissa suffer like this. I’ve got to get the money by hook or by crook. But…how?” my mind whispered to me. Again, I went to have a look at Marissa in the ICU ward. Tubes and wires were attached to her from the machines. It was as if she was powered by these machines to keep Death away. She breathed with much effort – as though each breathe may be her last. Seeing her in this devastating situation, tears started to well up in my eyes and soon after, they rolled down my rough cheeks generously. I did not know what to do and so I decided to start work and kept this thought at the back of my mind.
I drove my taxi out of the hospital and started my work as usual. Millions of questions kept on flooding my mind, making me unable to stay focused on my driving. Then, I spotted a majestic mansion at the corner of my eye. Instantaneously, I drove toward the colossal mansion and stopped right in front of it. I spent some time gazing at the mansion which may have costs more than five million dollars. Even the garage is much bigger than my whole house compound. “How nice if I could’ve such wealth! Then money wouldn’t be a problem to me; sixty five thousand would be nothing!” I thought.
Suddenly, the wrought-iron gate opened and I saw a girl around her teens, running out of the mansion and hurriedly hopped into my car. “To the Amethyst Residential now,” she ordered tersely. I adjusted the gear and started to head towards the place. I could hear sobbing from behind and it was from the girl. Out of curiosity, I asked her why she cried and she recounted it to me. “My dad disapproves me of having a Max as a boyfriend because he can’t provide me with an opulent life. I think that all business tycoons like Dad are just self-centred!” she expressed her thoughts.
Immediately, an idea propped up in my mind. Kidnap. I changed the direction that I was heading to, my house which was located in a less developed area where people are few. Upon reaching, she must had felt something amiss and then started screaming frantically. Panic-stricken, I brought my car to a halt and grasped a torch light and thwacked her head. The next thing I knew was she blacked-out. The screaming stopped and lucky thing, her breathing did not. When I reached my house, I glanced around if there is anyone there. It was clear – nobody is around. I carried her into my brush house hurriedly. She was tied up and locked in my store room.
Not long after, my eight-year-old daughter came back from school by her bicycle. I hugged Casey, carried her turned her around like I always did. She chuckled like a baby and seeing that made my worries kept away for a brief period of time. I then realised that Casey was clad in a torn uniform and had many patches of cloths on it. Envisaging her wearing new clothes and Marissa treated from her angina sickness awakened me not to gamble again. I promised to work hard and provide a comfortable life for my family after I had taken the money from the girl’s dad.
The eye of heaven settled down and the bright smiling moon rose high up in the glittering sky. I had called the girl’s dad to prepare eighty thousand dollars in exchange with her daughter and meet at the deserted factory near my house. While Casey was asleep, I carried her to my car and went to the factory. There, I waited anxiously and my legs were fidgeting. Cold sweat wetted my forehead. I was hoping that this whole nightmare would be over soon. I then heard footsteps of a person running. My heart pumped erratically and hands started to shiver. I was afraid but I had no choice but to do so in order to save my wife, to save my family from the doom. There, a man strolled in. He looked very calm and my intuition told me that something is not right. I withdrew a small rusty dagger and rested it on the girl’s shoulder as the girl tried to struggle to free herself. I looked into her miserable eyes that seemed to be pleading for help. I pitied her, but I desperately needed money! The man instantly tossed a duffle bag to the ground. With one hand holding firm to the girl’s arm, I used the other to check the content of the bag. I released the girl and a smile crafted on my face. I rubbed my eyes to check whether I was dreaming because right in front of me are fifty dollar notes stacked up in bundles that sum up to a staggering figure of eighty thousand! “My wife is safe,” I thought.
“Freeze! Put your hands up! Pass the knife to us!” It was the police. I obediently obeyed them and chuck the dagger down. One of the police shoved me to the concrete wall and handcuffed me. My effort went futile. My hopes were shattered into pieces. All I wanted was to save Marissa and start a new life again.
Everything that happened went so fast that I was put behind the bars, into the dingy and dank small cell. A few days later, I was called to the office and they broke the bad news to me – my wife had passed away. My heart sank. I should not have gone for gambling that had always made me lose money. I should have kept the money and spend them wisely to provide my family a comfortable life. If I had saved some money, I could have save Marissa from succumbing to her disease. And because of money, I turned myself into a kidnapper. Money caused everything to happen.
