Chapter: 523
Her eyelids remained partially open, exposing the whites of her eyes laced with faint bloodshot veins.
It was evident that Monica had fought desperately before this moment.
A profound sense of dread overwhelmed Alicia.
Was Monica injured? What horrors could she have faced? What was her current condition?
Alicia couldn't sit idle any longer. She considered calling the police, but then a message arrived. "I've hacked your phone. If you contact the authorities, I'll cut off one of her hands immediately."
She realized she couldn't act impulsively.
This was her first encounter with such a terrifying situation. It took considerable time for her to regain her composure.
Another message appeared, providing an address and demanding that she come alone.
Alicia didn't have a moment to devise a plan, because she received a video right after that.
In the video, Monica had regained consciousness.
She was suspended in midair over a cage filled with vicious dogs.
The dogs snarled and barked at her. Saliva dripped from their jaws.
They looked both terrifying and repulsive.
Monica's screams echoed in terror.
The camera panned to reveal a man's face.
He wore a sinister smile, laced with cruelty. "Did you get the address I sent? I expect you before nightfall, or your friend will be the dogs' dinner."
Alicia stared at the screen, her face ghostly pale.
Another video followed immediately, this time showing Monica being lowered closer to the dogs. One leapt up and sank its teeth into her leg.
Blood seeped from the wound, and Monica's screams echoed in the air.
Tears streamed down Alicia's face as she clutched her phone tightly, shouting desperately for the man to stop. Her defenses crumbled with each second.
The man's earlier threat echoed in her mind. Monica would die if anyone else got involved. She couldn't risk calling the police or alerting anyone.
In a panic, she grabbed whatever self-defense tools she could find and rushed out.
Winter nights fell quickly in Warrington.
As time slipped away, the sky darkened steadily. Fear crept over Alicia, and with trembling hands, she pressed down on the accelerator, driving faster than she ever had.
The address led her to a desolate mountaintop.
The drive was long and grueling, but she finally arrived.
A lone figure stood in the distance.
The surrounding darkness and absence of lights made the silhouette appear even more terrifying, like something out of a nightmare.
Alicia jumped out of the car and ran toward the figure. Her voice was hoarse as she screamed, "Where's my friend? Where is she?!"
The man stepped forward without a word. He swiftly covered her eyes and dragged her inside.