Riding a bicycle, Mark Reed took the road out of the city under the kidnappers' fingerprints, avoiding the crowded provincial highway, and exclusively traveling on the bumpy and dilapidated countryside paths.
The sky slowly darkened. Having spent the whole day on the move without rest, Mark was exhausted. He drank some water at a farmhouse, washed his face, and continued on his way.
The kidnappers only instructed Mark to follow this road forward without giving a destination, leaving Mark unsure of when the end would come, feeling inevitably anxious inside.
He hadn't received a call for five or six hours, fearing he might have taken the wrong path, and considered calling the kidnappers. As if knowing his thoughts, the kidnappers called him first.
"There's a fork in the road ahead, take the left one."
Before the kidnapper hung up, Mark hurriedly shouted, "Let Valentine answer the phone."
He heard nothing, the call had already disconnected.
