Chapter 5

It has been three whole weeks since I kidnapped the princess. I haven't left the hideout during those weeks, and I knew I should go to town to check on things. By now, the people in the palace must be freaking out. A little sleuthing is in order. Nobody would ever guess that I did it. But still... I needed to be sure. Early that morning, I left Talia without saying anything about my plan and drove to the nearest town. It was a 2-hour drive but I didn't mind it since the scenery was great and it gave me time to think. I was confident that Talia wouldn't be able to escape. The security system in place was too sophisticated. The princess didn't know the art of hacking like I do, so she was stuck in that place. Too bad for her. I soon reached the town and parked the car outside a resto. Once I did, I took the phone from my pocket and dialed my adoptive parent's number. Got to call on the folks or they might haul me all the way to England because they miss me too much. Mum answered on the first ring. "Iris! Where have you been munchkin? Your father and I have been very worried about you. You haven't called for 3 weeks." I could almost imagine my mum shaking her head at me while wagging a well-manicured finger. She was always one for theatrics, that woman. But I did love her with all I've got. Dad too. They gave me everything when I was stripped to nothing. "Sorry mum," I mumbled. "You know I've always wanted to live in this place. I guess I got too sidetracked to even think of calling. I'll make it up to you and daddy." "Aww honey," mum said wearily. "Why don't you just come back here in England? You have everything you need right here. You don't have to search for your real parents. Your father and I are more than enough. Once we die, we'll leave everything to you." I sighed. "Don't say such things mum. You're not going to die anytime soon. And once I finish everything I need to do, I'll come home to you and daddy. Until then, just wait for me." In addition I said, "Please don't make the butler pick me up. I really need to do some stuff here." "Okay," she said in agreement. "But if you don't call me for weeks like this, I can't promise about the butler. Oh, here's your father. He wants to talk to you." "Iris," my daddy said in his loud intimidating voice. "Where are you pumpkin? Your mother is worried sick about you. No emails, no calls. What is happening to you? Do you want me to send in the butler?" Oh blimey! The butler again. "No daddy, please don't send the butler." Heaven knows I have too much to handle right now to think about the annoying butler who always made it her business to snoop on me. "I hope you're not partying there and getting high on coke," he said with a hint of regret in his voice. "We raised you to be a respectable member of the community and your mother and I will be disappointed if you take drugs." I rolled my eyes at no one in particular. "Seriously daddy." I said in a scolding tone. "You should relax. I'll never do anything to disgrace you." On a side note, I did kidnap the princess of this country. That would be more than a disgrace. It would be death penalty for me. But I didn't tell him that. My parents didn't have any idea of my crimes. "It's just that we miss you honey," he said sadly. "The mansion has been very quiet without you around." I felt a pang in my chest. My adoptive parents truly loved me as their own. "I miss you too daddy," I replied. "But I need to find my own way. Tell mum I love her okay? Bye..." I pushed the call end button and tossed my mobile to the passenger seat. My parents have always been supportive of me. When they adopted me 12 years ago, they gave me everything I could wish for. Imagine having nothing at all and being adopted by two oddball millionaires who didn't have a child of their own. They made me live in a huge mansion with my own butler and servants to cater to my every want. They gave me the best education that England had to offer. Love and affection were a non-issue because they always treated me as their own. I was well-cared for and everyone knew it. Even me. So why then did I kidnap the princess of this country? Because I had to, that's why. It was a mission that I should do. Even if it means that she'd hate me. Even if they tried and killed me for it. Even if I hurt myself for doing it to her. I would only be whole again if I carried out my plan. Until then, I'd continue being a shell of my former self. And that wouldn't be enough. At least not for me. My phone vibrated on the leather seat, giving me a jolt. I quickly snatched the thing and checked the number on the screen. Who is this unidentified person? "Hello?" I said after accepting the call. "Iris, it's me." "Brooke? I told you not to call me yet." "Yeah I know. But I was worried sick about you. Besides, your parents keep on bothering me. They threatened to send that freako butler of yours if I don't keep tabs on you," she sighed. "That's why I went all the way to that country to check on you," she finished sheepishly. "You're here?" I gasped while looking outside the car for any signs of her. "Yeah," she replied. "Where are you right now Iris?" I told her the town where I was currently held up. "Bummer," she said. "That's a one hour drive from here. Whatever, I'll come to you. Wait for me. I'll call again." "Sure." I ended the call and tossed the phone on the passenger seat again. Oh God. Brooke being here was not good at all. Don't get me wrong. She was a good friend of mine from college. Like me, she was also raised by a prominent family. She wasn't adopted though but she didn't mind that I was. Brooke was as gorgeous as they could get. Sun-kissed skin, lips that were on a permanent pout, slender figure, ebony hair, and all that. She did tell me that she had a thing for me in college. But since I was busy plotting my kidnapping agenda, I knew that I didn't have time for love. I told her truthfully that I had no interests in such things and we ended up as good friends instead. It was a good thing too since I needed to tell someone about my plan. That's right. She knew that I'd kidnap the princess. But my reasons were unclear to her. She just had to accept that I wouldn't divulge that to anyone. Anyway, it was bad that she was here because when things go to hell and don't go according to plan, she might be deemed as an accomplice. She was too good a friend to end up dead because of me. I needed to convince her to go back to England as soon as possible. A check on my watch told me that I still had 40 minutes till she arrived. Until then, I needed to read the newspaper and ask the locals about the princess.