The Kidnapping of Scarlet James

I don't know how I got away with murder. Nor do I know how I got on this operating table. I always wondered if I would become someone's freak accident. Upon examining my charts, I learned that I was an orphan. Honestly, I don't remember much. It's funny how we end up right where we are meant to be. I feel like the nurse knows me. Just by the way, he speaks in such a hopeful tone. I recognize his scent, which is odd because I don't remember much. Yet somehow, he feels like I am at home. He reaches out for me in my dreams and screams my name, "ELLA!" or at least I think that is my name. No known kin, which means I am alone. Other than this man with fiery red hair and crystal blue eyes. I know he means something.

Shift change begins, and I ask the raven-haired nurse who he is; however, she tells me no one is my nurse. Do I imagine him? How could that be? I can smell his scent—hints of sandalwood and frankincense. No one smells it but me. The nurse inserts a needle in my veins. She tells me this is to help me sleep. When I ask her what it is, she tells me it is nothing to worry about. I think they're poisoning me. When I look at the news before drifting off, I see my face. Hefty, bold letters say, "Missing: Scarlet James. Blonde hair and blue eyes. Last seen in a black velvet dress in NYC on New Year's Eve. Reward: $2,000,000.".

How am I missing? Who would pay that kind of money for me?! Better yet, where am I?! I go to scream, but nothing comes out. Finally, my head nods and the room starts to spin. Suddenly everything turns black. I awake groggily, stumble to the bathroom, and splash cold water onto my face. Was it a dream? Or did I get drugged the night before?

The room smells like rubbing alcohol, and there is a small mark on my arm. I am sure I am not supposed to realize this. The man walks in again and greets me with a soft smile.

"Good morning, beautiful.", he says in a mesmerizing voice. "Did you sleep well?" he asked curiously.

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" I ask in a terrified tone.

"Oh, sweetheart. I am your husband. The doctor warned me that you would not remember me. Here…", he says as he offers me a photo album. "It's all here. Our wedding day, vacations, and even our high school graduation."

The problem was he got the location wrong. Was I not supposed to remember?

"Oh, yes," I replied, pretending to go along with it. "Wasn't this Rebecca?" I ask him curiously.

"Yes! Very good!" he encourages me. However, he was wrong. That was Jennifer. What is going on here?! Who is this man? Who am I?

"Ella, this is normal. I know you're scared." He reassures me. However, I am not Ella! I am Scarlet. Scarlet James!! Who is Ella?!

"Who's Ella?" I mumble.

"Hmm?" he says while chewing his breakfast.

"WHO IS ELLA?!" I scream.

"NURSE!!" he screams. "She isn't herself again. She needs her sedative." He insures her.

"No. Please! Don't!" I beg.

"Shhh. It'll be okay." He says with a devious grin. "See you in a while.".

He walks out as the nurses strap me down. I scream and beg for help. However, it doesn't seem to help. Instead, I feel a sharp stab in my arm.

"Please don't do this to me." I cry as the nurse slowly pushes on the syringe. The medicine feels hot. Like lava is being inserted into my veins. Then, the room begins to spin, the voices begin to be silenced, and everything goes black.

My eyes flutter open as I become conscious. One thing I know for sure is I remember my name. But, on the other hand, I don't remember who this man is or why I am here. I even begin to question the death of Alvin.

ALVIN!! He isn't dead. I know who this man is and why he is poisoning me. In September of 2005, I was hired to murder a man named Alvin. Alvin is the mafia boss in Sicily, Italy. The latter was unaware I was his assassin because I was instructed to seduce him until I lured him to the bedroom away from his mafia members. He was celebrating the birth of his only son. Alvin was known for murdering his daughter because he felt that a man should run the mafia once he was dead and not his daughter. Isabella was only seventeen and had no idea that her father ran the mafia or that he would cause her death.

Isabella was at the top of her class, and I was supposed to protect her from her untimely death; however, the flight was delayed, and I was a minute too late. I still blame myself for her death.

BANG!! The door slams shut to my room. Alvin approaches me with flowers and dinner.

"Hello, gorgeous.", Alvin says with a big grin.

"Hello. Who are you?" I ask, playing dumb. "

"Oh, sweetheart. I am your husband. The doctor warned me that you would not remember me. Here…", he says as he offers me the same photo album as before. "It's all here. Our wedding day, vacations, and even our high school graduation."

"Please help me remember. I don't remember anything. What happened?", I ask pretending to be terrified. "Who are all these people?" I ask. Alvin lets a devious grin surface, and I pretend not to notice. He sits on my bed and flips through the photo album as I imagine how I can finish the assignment I was sent here to do.

"Sweetheart?" he repeats.

"Oh my, I am so sorry. I am just so tired. I am trying to focus. I swear." I reply.

"It's okay, love." he replies " I was telling you that this is your best friend Jennifer. You two went to nursing school togehter.".

This time he got the name right. However, the school was wrong. Which only means Alvin will make sure I only remember what he wants. I wonder what his intentions are. I can't help to think that he is going to kill me. He knows too many personal details. So this means Jennifer is in trouble and I am on this hospital bed hooked to who knows what.

"How long have I been here?" I question him.

"Well it is November of 2021 so you have been in a coma for sixteen years and two months." he replies. However, I feel uneasy about his reply. He is hiding more.

So many unanswered questions. Where is Jennifer? What has happened to me, and was the coma induced or an accident? My thoughts are interrupted by JENNIFER?! I attempt to sit up until I feel a firm hand holding my shoulder down. It's Alvin. He knows I know something is off.

"Darling, Jennifer was so happy when she found out you are alive. However, you didn't tell me that we weren't telling her we are married!" he says, acting mad.

"Leave her be! She has been in a coma for sixteen years!" Jennifer snaps.

"And where were you, Jennifer, when she was in a coma? You never visited her while I stayed endless nights waiting for her to come back to me." he says, slightly hurt. I don't understand. Alvin seems genuinely hurt by the confrontation.

Are we married? Does he...love me?! Number one rule is not to fall in love with the target. What is he doing? He notices the look on my face.

"SEE?! You're upsetting her! You need to leave!" he snaps.

"Look...I'm sorry. I didn't believe that you married her. She never spoke about you. She was single before her coma....or so I thought. I guess I know her as well as she knows me right now." she says as her voice cracks.

"Jennifer...." I say in desperation. She recognizes the look in my eyes; however, Alvin steps in.

"I want you to leave our house! You have disrespected my wife and I in our own home." Jennifer sighs and begins to walk out as Alvin escorts her out.

She looks over her shoulder and I mouth, "Help me!".

Alvin motions the nurse to come in. I struggle to avoid the needle; however, she is stronger than me. I realize that this poison is just enough to keep me weak. My eyes slowly shut, and everything went black.

Upon awakening, I do not see Alvin, the nurse, or Jennifer. I feel an uneasy feeling in my stomach as I search the room. At this point, I find myself tied to the hospital bed with leather straps. Before I can panic a man, I do not recognize walks in. He speaks in a low, calm voice, "Scarlet." he mutters before Alvin arrives.

"I told you I am here for the girl, not you. Do not make this harder than it must be. Hand her over Alvin!" he suddenly shouts. He notices I am startled when he comes towards; however, Alvin puts his arm between the stranger and me and snaps, "And I told you, over my DEAD BODY!". The stranger chuckles and says, "That can be arranged brother.".

At this point, I feel more confused than the night before.

"Who is this man Alvin and why did he call me Scarlet?" I ask with curiosity. Alvin glances over at me with anger in his eyes and glares back at the stranger.

"You called her what?! Johnathan, I thought I was extremely clear with how you address my wife," Alvin snaps with the tone of betrayal in his voice. Johnathan looks at me with heartbreak and longing.

"Please Alvin let her go. I promise I will stay away from her." Johnathan begs. At this point, I feel a sense of confusion wave over me.

"Alvin, I don't feel well. Please get me some water." I ask weakly.

"Of course, my dear." he replies, eyeing Johnathan as he grabs the pitcher of water and hands it to Alvin.

Alvin slips something in my water, and I pretend not to notice. "Thank you darling. I am so weak. I think I need a nap." I assure him.

"Anything for you Ella." Alvin replies as he gets up, "Drink up. We can not have you dehydrating.". I glance over Johnathan, frantically shaking his head no as I meet the cup to my lips. However, he and Alvin have no clue that I have no plans of drinking it. Alvin notices me looking over at Johnathan, and he gets up to lead him out. As his back is turned, I quickly pour the water into the flowers on the nightstand near my bed. Johnathan begins to talk loudly, pretending to not notice.

"Alvin," I call out, "Please will you take my cup. I am feeling exhausted. I think I need a nap.". A sly smile crosses Alvin's face as he inches towards me to get the cup. "Anything for you, darling.", he replies as he picks up the cup and takes it with him. I see the nurse in the hall, so I pretend to be passed out. "Don't worry about her shot today. I took care of it in her water. However, please remove her restraints. She will be too weak to move for the rest of the night and I don't want her to be stiff in the morning. We have a big day tomorrow." he whispers to her in the hall.

When the nurse opens the door, I fake being asleep. This could be my only chance at getting free. The nurse approaches and gently releases my restraints. As she is turned around, changing out the flowers for fresh ones, I gently slip her phone out of her scrubs pocket. After slipping the phone under my back, I switch it to silent and return to my original stance. She quietly tiptoes out of the room and shuts the door, careful to not wake me. I guess she doesn't trust that Alvin poisoned me enough. I open her phone; however, I am not sure who I should call. Calling 9-11 could put me in more danger than before. I also don't know if I can trust Jennifer.

My thoughts are interrupted by Johnathan barging into my room in a hurry. He immediately notices the phone in my hand. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. He has Ashley's phone tapped. Shit. I shouldn't have mentioned her name. Now I will have to kill her after I save you.". He looks at me softly when he notices the terror in my eyes.

"Sorry. No. I will leave her be if you wish but we really must get you out of here. Can you walk?" he asks as he inches towards me.

"I-I dont know. I dont know how long I have been her or how long this has been going on for. What does Alvin want with me?". I ask in terror.

"Alvin needs a son to run the mafia. He thinks you are his best bet however he needs to have complete control over you." Johnathan informs me.

"Has- Has he....you know?" I ask, terrified.

"THAT?! Oh god no. He hasn't had the chance. He claims you are not weak enough and you will fight it." He replies. As I am sitting there processing what is going on, Johnathan picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. "We really dont have time for this." he whispers.

It's dark in Alvin's home, and I can't see what is in front of us. Johnathan seems to know exactly where we are going. However, I am still so weak I pass out while trusting him to return me to safety.