Francisco, taller and more muscular than the others, exuded an aura of dominance that was impossible to ignore. His noticeable veins hinted at the strength and power that lay beneath his imposing exterior. He surveyed the room, his eyes cold and calculating, taking in the terrified faces of the girls who had become unwitting pawns in his dangerous game.
In a disdainful tone, Francisco issued a cold command that sent a chill down the girls' spines.
"Take all the girls on the ship now."
The captive girls, gripped by fear and uncertainty, clung to one another as they faced the grim reality of being forcibly taken away.
Francisco had signaled to his men to use force, and they were not going to be allowed a choice.
One of the masked men, his impatience growing, barked at them as he forcefully grasped a girl's arm.
"Hey, there is no time for us to watch you cry."
The girl, tears streaming down her face, continued to plead desperately. "No, please, I don't want to go," she cried.
But the masked man remained unmoved by her pleas, dragging her away without a shred of compassion.
Amidst this harrowing scene, Hazel's voice cut through the tension. When Francisco turned to look, his gaze met Hazel's. There was an enigmatic quality in her eyes, but a fire of bravery burned within her.
Hazel locked her eyes with Francisco and began to speak, "Every offender has the right to express their final wishes."
She sighed deeply and repeated her plea, "So if you would listen to my final request, I know no one will grant my last wish except you."
Hazel lowered her gaze for a moment. Then, with a deep breath, she continued, her tone resolute. "So..."
"Let this girl go, please. She is only fifteen."
The room fell into an uneasy silence. Hazel's plea had been met with disdain and ridicule, but she remained undaunted, her spirit unbroken.
As Francisco tilted his head and cautiously approached Hazel. Hazel, however, remained remarkably composed and unafraid.
There was an undeniable attraction... a magnetic pull... that seemed to draw Francisco towards her.
He couldn't help but be captivated by her presence, her unwavering courage.
Hazel, still looking directly into his eyes, repeated her request. "I am hoping you will fulfill my last request. She has no fault."
Instead of turning his attention towards the girl she had spoken of, Francisco reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against Hazel's face. Her arched brows hinted at her surprise, but she made no move to pull away.
At that moment, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only Hazel and Francisco locked in a silent and profound exchange.
However, their intimate moment was abruptly interrupted when a man burst into the room, his voice filled with urgency.
"Boss, the police are here."
The words shattered the fragile bubble of tension that had enveloped Hazel and Francisco, pulling them back into the harsh reality of their circumstances.
"We need to leave immediately."
"What? How is that possible?" Another masked man questioned him, his disbelief evident in his voice.
Francisco, torn between the need to depart and his desire to linger with Hazel, stood still for a moment. He reluctantly pulled his hand back from where it had grazed Hazel's face, his piercing blue eyes unable to break free from her gaze.
"Boss, we must leave," one of his men whispered.
Reluctantly, Francisco stepped back. Before he took his leave, he turned back to look at Hazel one last time. Hazel's eyes remained locked on his until he left the cabin, disappearing into the unknown.
Police officers rushed in.
"Is everyone all right?" One police officer inquired, his voice laced with concern as he surveyed the room.
A collective exhale of relief swept through the captives as they realized the nightmare might finally be coming to an end. For the first time in what had felt like an eternity, they dared to hope.
The young girl, who had been clinging to Hazel, summoned the courage to speak, her voice trembling with both fear and longing.
"Can I go to my mom?"
Hazel, her heart touched by the girl's innocence and vulnerability, patted her head gently and offered words of reassurance. "Now we can all go home."
The police officers worked tirelessly, providing information and help to each of the rescued girls, helping them arrange to return to their homes. The gratitude that flowed from the girls toward their saviors was palpable.
Parents who had lost hope of ever seeing their daughters again arrived at the scene to embrace their long-lost loved ones.
"Sir, all of those girls were rescued," a man reported to a young officer who had recently joined the force.
The young officer, Rafael, nodded in acknowledgment, "But we failed to arrest those criminals. They simply escaped."
Rafael was known among his peers for his exceptional skills. At just 22 years old, his logical analysis, sharpshooting abilities, and high IQ had earned him the undersheriff post.
Rafael couldn't help but feel the weight of their failure to capture the criminals responsible for the harrowing ordeal.
The speed with which they vanished after the police arrived was disconcerting.
"How did they find out we were here?" Rafael asked his fellow officer.
"I feel the same way, sir. Seriously, they got away so quickly," the officer replied, his frustration evident.
Rafael continued to move around, examining the lifeless bodies of the criminals who had met their end during the chaotic standoff. As he did so, another officer named Freddie approached him, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Why do they kill their own men, sir?" Freddie inquired, his voice filled with bewilderment.
Rafael sighed and knelt down in front of one of the bodies, studying it carefully. He responded calmly, "They are not their men, Freddie. It appears they were in a skirmish with another gang."
Freddie, not one to hold back his thoughts, offered a somewhat grim perspective. "Cool, I wish they fought among themselves and died together. Afterward, the public could have a happy existence."
Rafael couldn't help but smile at Freddie's dark sense of humor. He got to his feet and replied, "Not a bad idea, but it won't happen. Our system is also corrupted. Someone among us might have informed them."
Freddie raised an eyebrow, his gaze locked onto Rafael's retreating figure as he walked out of the factory.