Forehill International School
8:10 AM
A Japanese girl around sixteen years of age is jogging up the steps of the Forehill International School as the final bell for the first period rang through the halls. "Good morning Miss Higaki." Mr. Henry Stocks, the principal greeted her with a nasty grin on his face. "I'm sorry Mr. Stocks, I missed the bus trip and so I took the subway." Ritauro or better known as Eunice, explained. "You're still late and you know for a fact Ms. Higaki that I'm austere in punctuality. This wasn't also your first time but because you're one of my top excellent students, this is my last warning of such behavior. Do I make myself clear?" This is one of the many well-memorized sermons of Mr. Stocks every morning. "Yes sir." She responded. "Good. Now, go to your first class and tell your professor that I have excused you today." The man said. "Thank you sir. Have a nice day." She then sped off to her first class.
4:30 PM
"What a day huh?" Celene Garret, Eunice's one and only best friend said. "Yeah. First, I got a morning lecture – oh, not really a lecture, from Mr. Stocks for being late again then the arrogant, Mr. Nelly gave me an A Minus for not knowing the exact time of the Napoleon Bonaparte's death. He's crazy, you know! As if he also knows. I bet my grades are better than his way back on his high school years." Eunice laughed and so did Celene. "Oh, before I forget, are you coming to dinner with us?" Celene asked. "Tonight?" "You forgot huh?" Celene shrug. "No. Of course not. Count me in. I'll be there." Eunice replied. The two took the bus going home.
Higaki Residence
5:45 PM
(In Japanese) "Ritauro, you're going to be late for the Garret's dinner. Come on now." Mrs. Higaki called from the kitchen. "Just a second Ma." Eunice called back. After a minute, Eunice finally came down wearing a pink silky dress with purple linings and a pair of silver flats that she and Celene bought in an auction store last week. Her hair was neatly tied and secured with a chopstick. "You're absolutely gorgeous sweetheart." Mrs. Higaki commented. "Thanks Ma. Why aren't you dressed?" Eunice asked. "Oh, I'm not going. I've shifted in for extra dollars to baby-sit Mr. and Mrs. Cook's son." Her mom said. "Ma, why did you do that?" "Do what?" "You cannot not go to Mrs. Garret's birthday dinner." Eunice said. "I'm sorry sweetheart but we need extra money. Our tofu and noodle business does not click that much now that summer is approaching. Don't worry, I already called Mrs. Garret and explained to her and she understands. They're a good family sweetheart. Anyway, I want you to bring these to them and that'll serve as our gift for Mrs. Garret. Okay?" Mrs. Higaki handed her a box wrapped in blue gift wrapper with a white bow tie topping the gift. "Okay. I won't stay late anyway. I'll go now." "Okay. Take care of yourself and call me when you get there. I won't be leaving the house for an hour yet." The two bid goodbye and Eunice left the house and started walking the block corner until she finds herself a cab.
Inside the cab
6:15 PM
"Where do you say we're going again Miss?" The cab driver asked. "To 55 Street, East Avenue, sir." Eunice answered. "Are you a Chinese?" The driver asked again. "No sir. I'm a Japanese." Eunice answered again. "What's your name?" The driver looked at her with interest. She did not reply. She pretended that she didn't hear him asked. She could feel something bad is going to happen so she decided to stop the cab. "But we're not yet in 55 Street, East Avenue Miss." The driver said. "It's okay. I remembered I'm not actually going there. Here. Keep the change." Eunice handed over a paper bill and tried to open the door but it was locked. "Sir, will you please open the door?" Eunice asked worriedly. "Oh no. You're not going anywhere." The driver hit the gas and drove off. Eunice immediately reached for her cell phone in her purse and dialed 911. "Please help me. The cab driver I'm riding right now is kidnapping me. I'm on the North approaching the Times Square. My name is Ritauro Higaki. I'm-ah!" Eunice became unconscious. The cab has now two passengers. One was Eunice, the other one was with the driver who hid beside the driver's seat. "Hello? Miss Higaki?" An operator voice echoed from the phone then the associate man threw the phone out of the window along with the gift Eunice brought with her.