Mai sat, stretched out on a park bench.
It was a beautiful summer's day. The sun was shining bright up ahead in a perfect blue sky. There was a soft, cool breeze and Mai closed her eyes and began to drift away. The park was so peaceful on a Sunday, hardly anyone came out and it was the perfect place to relax in the middle of the day.
Mai suddenly felt someone grab her from behind and cover her eyes. She sprang awake and tried to claw their hands away. Mai took hold of the pair of hands and turned around. She looked and saw that it was Serenity; dear, sweet Serenity.
Mai stopped struggling and smiled.
"Jeez, Serenity, you scared me."
"Sorry about that Mai. Just wanted to surprise you. What are you doing here all by yourself?"
"I just like to relax every now and then. I like the cool breeze, the sound of the birds chirping. It's much better than being in the city."
"Well I dunno, Mai. Wouldn't you rather be shopping or something?"
"That's not all I think about Serenity." Mai giggled. "Although often it is."
"Do you mind if I keep you company?"
"Of course not. You're always welcome."
"Thanks."
Serenity sat down next to Mai, closed her eyes and breathed in the refreshing cool breeze.
"That feels so good," said Serenity. "Actually I'm glad I found you because there's been really worrying reports on the news lately."
"Oh, what?"
"There's this mob going round abducting people and then selling them on to some slave traders. Have you not heard? It's everywhere."
"No, I hadn't heard. That sounds really bad."
"Yeah I was a bit worried, but I knew I'd be pretty safe around you. I mean, you're a pretty tough lady."
Mai laughed. "Oh Serenity, stop. But of course, if any mobsters tried to sell you off, I'd bash them in."
They both laughed.
Mai and Serenity continued to sit and chat until it got cold. They decided to and sit inside and have a coffee. They began walking the path leading out of the park when suddenly two large men in black suits and sunglasses approached them.
Mai and Serenity ignored them at first not thinking anything of it, but then one of the men grabbed Serenity by the wrist. She yelled out.
"Ouch, let go, let go," she screamed.
"Quiet, girl," said the man. "You're coming with us."
The man began dragging Serenity away. She screamed but there was no one else around. A limo pulled up in the car park about 100 metres away. The other large man took hold of Mai's shoulders and held her securely. She struggled, but couldn't get away.
"Stop it! What do you think you're doing, let go of Serenity right now!"
"Forget it!"
Serenity looked at Mai anxiously. She was scared and didn't know what to do. The man pulled out a cloth from his pocket and placed it Serenity's face. The smell of chloroform made her drowsy and dizzy. Her world started to spin and she quickly fell unconscious.
The man picked her up and began carrying her away. Mai was struggling more viciously now to get out of her attacker's grasp. She elbowed him in the stomach and he let go. She watched on helplessly as Serenity was carried towards the limo. She had to stop them.
Mai ran behind the man and kicked him in the back. He fell forward, dropping Serenity on the ground. Another man then came running out of the limo towards Mai. Mai went over to check on Serenity who was still unconscious.
She then noticed the other man running towards her. She knew she had to leave Serenity and make a run for it herself. She hoped she'd be ok. But before she could run away, the man grabbed her round the waist. He took a cloth out of his pocket intending to put Mai to sleep the same way Serenity had been. Mai couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't let that happen.
Mai couldn't allow herself to become the victim of some slave-trading mob. She had to get away and she fully intended to. Mai caught the man in the face with a hard elbow, which broke his sunglasses. She then stamped on his foot and he released his hold on her. As soon as she was released, Mai backhanded the man right in the face.
It left a nasty red mark on his face and he fell to the ground clutching his face. Mai turned around to see if Serenity was still all right. There she saw one of the men pick Serenity's body up off the ground as he cradled her in his arms.
"Serenity!" Mai cried out.
She tried to run towards them but another man grabbed her from behind. He quickly placed a chloroform soaked cloth over her nose and mouth before she could get away. Mai fought as hard as she could but the man held her strong. Her vision was hazy and she could see Serenity being carried to the limo. She couldn't allow herself to have the same fate. She had to escape from his grasp.
"There ain't no escaping, girlie-girl, just breathe it in." The large man said.
Mai couldn't believe that she was being insulted like that. She wasn't going to stand for any taunts.
Mai reached up and tried to grab and scratch the man's eyes, but he moved his head out of the way and Mai was left with her arm dangling in mid air. Mai elbowed the man in the stomach, but her hits no longer had any effect, she was much too weak now. The man simply laughed at her pathetic strikes.
The chloroform took its effect and Mai finally accepted defeat. There was no possible way she could get away and she now just wanted to drift off into a nice peaceful sleep. Sleep felt good.
Mai's eyes closed as she went limp in her captor's arms. The man reached down underneath Mai's thighs and scooped her up into his arms in one fluid motion. He then carried Mai over to the other men, one of whom was still carrying Serenity.
"Wow," said the man holding Mai. "For such a tough girl, she sure is light."
The man smiled.
"Come on, we've got them now. Let's just get out of here. Our work is done."
The men placed Mai and Serenity into the back seat of the limo. They dusted themselves off and got in as well.
The limo speeded off.