Criminal Butterflies

“If she’s kept you smiling since day one, take a chance on her.”

- Kirsten Corley



CHAPTER ONE ~

Celina Belov fluttered her eyes as she starts to regain consciousness, her head still hurting from the hard blow she received while she was being kidnapped.

Kidnapped.

The word was enough for her to fully open her eyes and scanned her surroundings but only to be met by utter darkness, panic began to set in when she realized her situation.

Bound to a chair that she has no idea how to be free of and an impending torture or death that awaits her.

She can’t even find her voice to scream, she is still in disbelief.

All she can remember was that she was out for a jog at 6AM in Grandia Park like she always does when a man ran beside her, she did not think about the oddness of that situation at first but when they entered a trail he forcefully grabbed her, and as she resisted another man came out of nowhere and hit her at the back of her head, that unexpected force had caused her to hit the ground, and as her consciousness is slowly fading away they carried her and yanked her inside a car.

But first, why the hell was she kidnapped?

She can’t think of any reason why would anyone would dare to.

She’s not rich and certainly not a criminal.

So why?

She kept going in circles trying to find an answer but no avail. Her mind is blank.

When suddenly she heard the door being opened which made her heart pound expecting who is behind this kidnapping but she was momentarily blinded by the sudden surge of light inside the room. Blinking, she assessed where she is being held captive and one light bulb is enough for her to know where her captors are holding her.

And that is inside a goddamn shipping container and when she realized it, she screamed like a mad woman.

She continued to scream, and tried to free herself from being tied to a chair but her efforts are useless. She know she’ll just tire herself but she don’t care, she can’t just be sitting here while armed men entered, aiming their weapons at her.

When she thought her lungs would collapse from screaming, Someone had splashed cold water in her direction and it was enough to make her stop and gasped for air. The cold immediately settled in making her shiver.

She is helpless. And all she can do was sob.

A screech of a car was heard outside and she saw that it made the armed men tense and based on their reaction, it doesn’t take a genius to guess that someone important and scary must’ve arrived. Wondering who the hell is it that his mere presence can literally instill fear on these men.

The door of the shipping container opened once again and she noticed that it was sunny outside. If she was kidnapped at 6AM and the sun is still shining now, then only hours have passed since her kidnapping.

A man in a tailored suit appeared and as he walked in her direction the door closed behind him, and the closer he gets the clearer the object he was holding.

She swallowed hard and whimpered. He stopped 4 feet away from her and pointed a gun aiming at the center of her head, she looked at the face of the man who would take away her life.

And knew right in that moment that it is also the last face she’s seeing because the towering rage and wrath that can be seen in his whole being, with eyes ready to kill, tells her that any moment now he will pull the trigger.

“What did I do?” I blurted out and widened my eyes because even I was surprised that those words came out.

And it also made the man cocked his head on the side and looked at me intently.

Confusion passed his eyes but still he held his ground.

“I uhh- thinking why would you want to kill me when I don’t even know who you are.” I took a deep breath as I continued to plead for my life.

“I am a law abiding citizen and never even jay walked before! Well, I might have once, okay maybe more than seven times but less than thirty times.” I bit my lower lips realising how stupid I sound but my subconscious thoughts are taking over me so I continued to blabber what sounds like nonsense to this man.

“I don’t have a police record and I don’t do drugs even if my friends do so occasionally, I am not rich and have no money to pay for a ransom, so if I am going to die now, I want to know why for me to find peace in the after life.” - I breathe when I finished but I am shaking inside.

He blinked and and a sly smile crept his face.

One second he was facing me, the next he was shooting the five armed guards with no remorse who are as surprised as I am as they slumped in the floor.

My eyes widened and I am absolutely horrified with what I have witnessed. I can’t find my voice and no scream came out of me.The scene was paralyzing and my brain can’t even handle it. This man, whoever he is just shot five men in cold blood and if it’s not the meaning of evil incarnate and dangerous, I don’t know what is.

And I am at his mercy. I swallowed hard with that understanding.

“Are-are they d-dead?” I choked looking at the bodies lying on the floor and blood dripping and soaking their clothes.

“They’ll live if they’re lucky.” He answered callously and pointed back the gun at me causing me to hold my breath.

“You’re not Margaret Rousseau” He stated almost as if he were sure and I immediately nodded my head.

“My name’s Celina and I am seriously relieved that my name is not Margaret, but whoever she is oh... bless her.” I blabbered and grimaced when I realized what I said.

He looked amused but still calculating what he would do to her.

“You’re right, you’re not Margaret”

“But aren’t you just unlucky to be sitting where she’s supposed to be?”

“Wh-what do you mean?” I asked nervously.

“Wrong place, right time”

“W-wait what? How’s that on me?” Is he seriously blaming me that it’s my fault I have been kidnapped? Because I was in a wrong place but the right time?

“That’s why they paid the price” he said looking at the men he just shot.

“A mistake on their part, but that makes you a collateral damage” - He said and cocked the gun in my direction.

I looked up to him wide eyed trying to comprehend but he just shrugged.

“No hard feelings darling” He said and offered an apologetic smile which is not apologetic at all.

“I don’t want to die” I softly said while staring at him; my tears automatically streamed down my face as I accepted the fact that there is no way out of this.

Yes. I wasn’t the one he was going to kill, but still I saw them and it will make me a witness and they can’t risk that. I am not dumb not to understand how crimes work.

“Aren’t we all?” He murmured and pulled the trigger.

I immediately closed my eyes and waited for the bullet to pierce through me. I don’t know if it will hurt or If I’ll know that I’ve been shot but nevertheless I know I’ll die.

A chuckle brought me back and I instantly opened my eyes. Relieved that I am still alive but bewildered on how can he play with someone like this.

“I just had the scare of my life and you have the audacity to laugh?” I shouted while glaring at him with my nerves shaking.

Amusement was dancing in his eyes while looking at me.

“Oh darling Celine, What am I gonna do with you?” He asked almost like to himself.

“L-let me go?” I offered dumbly.

The amusement he had awhile ago was instantly gone and his expression became deadly as he looked at me hard as if calculating.

Then with a stern voice he said,

“I’m afraid, that is not an option.”

---

I blankly stared at the food which is in front of me thinking how this day was full of surprises.

First, being kidnapped.

Second, Witnessing a shoot out.

Third, sitting on a private plane that is 33,000 feet above the ground and flying to God knows where.

But only the man sitting in front of me enjoying his meal can tell me about it.

“Where are we going?” I asked looking at him.

“If you know, I’ll have to kill you” - He sarcastically said and flashed a vicious grin.

“Eat” - he sternly said and I didn’t think twice, I picked up the fork and stuffed the pasta into my mouth.

“Are you afraid of me?” He asked out of nowhere.

I blinked, surprised by his question but I nod from which he laughed.

“Then chew your food, or else you’ll choke in front of me.”

I didn’t realise I was not chewing my food but just swallowing it.

I exasperatingly exhaled and meet his eyes.

“After witnessing you murder those five men in cold blood? I must be crazy not to be afraid, in fact I am terrified of you. I don’t know what you’re thinking, For all I care, you’re plotting how you’re going to kill me. And maybe the reason that you flew me is that so you can throw me out the plane and end up dead.” I said and pinched myself because I can’t seem to hold my thoughts.

“You and your imaginations, darling” he said and had a sip of his wine. Then continued,

“Aren’t you overstepping your importance? Why would I waste my plane’s fuel just to murder you when I could have done it hours ago by just putting a bullet in your head?” He paused and the next thing he said dumb founded me.

“Besides, your pretty mouth will get you killed sooner or later if you don’t shut up.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes and his brow raised, challenging me to retort back. But I know better.

“Can I atleast know where are we going?” - I asked

He looked at me intently and I averted my gaze. I can’t look at his piercing eyes because I feel like it goes through my soul and I stiffle a cough with my realization that scare the hell out of me.

“Somewhere where no one will find you.” He said casually and drank his wine while my mouth gaped.

__________

A/n:

Tealuvs,

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See ya in the next chapter!