Scene: The Dark Cellar
In a cold corner of Moscow, far from the city's clamor, stood an old warehouse once used for food storage. Inside, amidst shelves crowded with boxes and rusted metal crates, Ahmed sat shackled with iron chains to a heavy metal pillar.
The place was frigid, the lighting dim, and the scent of dampness hung heavy in the air. Ahmed had not eaten for two full days. His head was bowed, his body exhausted, and his hands were weighed down by iron cuffs he could barely move. The warehouse was heavily guarded, with men stationed at every entrance.
He lifted his head with great effort and whispered to himself:
"Why me?"
"Why did they kidnap me?"
"Did I do something wrong… or am I caught in a problem that has nothing to do with me?"
He sighed with deep fatigue.
"Now, the priority is to escape… but how? I am drained… I can't even loosen these chains."
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to gather whatever remained of his strength.
At the Manager's House
At the same time, Abu Ahmed arrived with the Russian manager, Alexei Volkov, at his home in Moscow. To their shock, Irina was not there.
Alexei said anxiously: "Do not worry, Mohammed… we will find her. Ahmed's safety is now my responsibility."
Abu Ahmed sighed and said: "I have an idea… can we track her phone?"
Alexei thought for a moment, then said: "A good idea… I will ask for help from a friend who specializes in this."
He called his friend. "Hello, Sergey, how are you?"
"I am fine, what do you need?"
Alexei said seriously: "I need your help… I want to locate my daughter through her phone."
Sergey replied: "Send me her number, and I will try to track the location."
"When?" Alexei asked urgently.
"Within six or seven hours… I have some work now."
"Alright, thank you."
He hung up and turned to Abu Ahmed. "We must wait a little while." Then, trying to ease the tension, he added: "What do you think of visiting the sweets shop we opened years ago? Or you can rest here… my home is your home."
Abu Ahmed sighed: "I am worried about Ahmed… but I will trust you."
At 그 moment, the manager's wife appeared. She was a woman of calm features named Natalia. She smiled in surprise when she saw the guest.
"Mohammed?! It has been a long time since I last saw you."
Abu Ahmed smiled despite his worry. "Yes… many years. How are you, Natalia?"
She said kindly: "I am fine… and the business is fine too. I will go prepare some tea for you."
The First Confrontation
At that very moment… Irina had arrived at the warehouse where Ahmed was being held. She entered slowly. This was the first time she had seen him since the hospital incident many years ago. She stood before him for moments, staring at him with eyes full of rage and tears.
She said in a trembling voice:
"How are you… you traitor?"
Ahmed raised his head with difficulty. "Who… are you?"
In an instant, her anger exploded. She kicked him hard in the stomach. Ahmed doubled over in pain, spitting a little blood.
She screamed while crying: "You betrayed a woman who loved you with all her heart!"
Ahmed looked at her with tired eyes. "I… I don't know you."
She stepped closer and this time kicked him in the face. Blood gushed from his nose. She quickly pulled out her phone and showed him an old photo of them together in the hospital.
She screamed, sobbing: "Do you remember now?!"
Ahmed looked at the photo with half-closed eyes. Memories began to surface… a car accident… a crying girl… a hospital.
He said in a weak voice in English:
"I remember... some things. I saved you... from a car accident. You... are the daughter of my father's friend."
Before he could finish his words, his eyes rolled back. He lost consciousness.
The Message
Irina stood watching him in long silence. Then, she took out her phone and sent a message to her father.
She wrote:
"I will marry Ahmed. If you do not agree… I will kill him. You have three days. His life is now in your hands."
The Shock
Hours later, Alexei opened his phone and read the message. His face suddenly turned pale.
Abu Ahmed asked anxiously: "What did she say?"
He read the message with a trembling voice. Silence fell. Suddenly, Alexei gripped his chest. His blood pressure spiked violently… and he collapsed, unconscious.
Abu Ahmed shouted: "Alexei!"
He ran toward his wife, Natalia. "Call the ambulance, quickly!"
She called immediately. The ambulance arrived within five minutes and rushed him to the hospital. Abu Ahmed and Natalia went with them.
Haruki's Call
In the hospital corridor, Abu Ahmed stood worried, then pulled out his phone and called his friend Haruki.
Haruki answered quickly. "What happened? Did you find Ahmed?"
Abu Ahmed sighed and said: "The problem has become much bigger."
"What do you mean?"
He said: "The manager's daughter is the one who kidnapped Ahmed… and she wants to marry him. If we don't agree… she will kill him within three days."
Abu Ahmed asked in despair: "What do I do, Haruki?"
But Haruki said with a sudden, strange calm:
"I am coming to Moscow."
"What?!"
"And I will bring Misaki with me."
Abu Ahmed was stunned. "This will only ignite the problem further!"
But Haruki said confidently: "No… I have a plan to get Ahmed out. I will arrive in Moscow tomorrow."
Then he hung up.