• The room was dark;the only noise was from the city streets below. Mystique was in a feedle position in the middle of the room, crying. What had she done to deserve this? If she was involved, it had to concern her father. Of course, it always was about her father, even when her life was possibly being threatened.
    A knock cracked at the door which made her jump. A tall man walked in holding a knife.
    "So, are you gonna tell your daddy to cough it up?" he threatened. "Or will he have to adopt another child?" he added holding the knife at her.
    "You'll never get your money!" Mystique screamed.
    "Oh, i'm not getting the money," he corrected. "Sir!" he called.
    Mystique stood, mouth hanging when another man walked in the room and toward her.
    "MR. DONACELLI?!?" she gasped.
    "Surprised to see me?" Mr. Donacelli greeted.
    "How...how?" Mystique stuttered. "How could you?"
    "Oh, I should take all of the credit," Mr. Donacelli replied. "Antonio was the brilliant mind behind this. Smart boy; raised by the best." He boasted.
    Mystique shoved him. "I don't believe you!" She screamed. "He would never...!"
    Mr. Donacelli grabbed her by the throat very lightly before she could finish. "Of course not," he laughed. "He just settled for earning your trust, then pulling the rug out from under your nose."
    "No...no..." she whispered.
    Mr. Donacelli let go of her, then headed toward the door. "If your father doesn't give me what I want in two weeks," he started, grabbing the knife and pointing it toward her,"you won't have to see Antonio or anyone else again!"
    Mr. Donacelli and the tall man left, and Mystique started crying again. Antonio would never do this,she screamed in her mind. The she doubted,Would he?
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    A week later...
    Antonio arrived at Mystique's house after returning from his trip to Puerto Rico. A tearing woman opened the door.
    "Mrs. Dorado?" Antonio gasped. "What happened?"
    "Oh, Antonio," Mrs. Dorado sobbed. "Mystique....Mystique..."
    "What happened to Mystique?" Antonio demanded. "Is she hurt? What happened?"
    "She's...she's been missing for a little over a week. She's been held for a ransom." Mrs. Dorado started to cry.
    Antonio was already in the car and driving away when Mrs. Dorado closed the door. He burst through the door of his house a few minutes later in hysterics.
    "DAD!! DAD!!!"
    His father was sitting in the living room. "Yes, son?" he said just so calmly.
    "We have to call the police! Mystique's missing!" Antonio screamed, reaching for the phone.
    Mr. Donacelli got to the phone before him. "Why would you care?" he asked, distracting him. "It's not like she cared about you."
    "Don't you EVER say that!" Antonio screamed.
    "Face the facts, Antonio! She never loved you! For all we know, she was probably planning on stealing what little money we have!"
    "You're LYING!"
    "Am I?"
    Antonio ran to his bedroom. He told himself not to believe, that it was all a lie. But she was the daughter of a professional hotel manager! Would she really do that to me?
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    The next day....
    Mystique stared outside the window of her prison. The street sign said 42nd street. The road was crowded with cars and taxis.
    "Wait a second," Mystique whispered. "I know this street..."
    A door opening stopped her mid-sentence and she turned around. Standing there was Antonio and Mr. Donacelli.
    "Hello, Mystique," Mr. Donacelli greeted. Antonio looked at him, then at Mystique, and back again.
    "It was YOU?!?" Antonio gasped.
    "LIKE YOU DIDN'T KNOW!" Mystique screamed. "You were planning on stealing money from me anyway!"
    "What?!?" Antonio yelled. "You're such a hypocrite!"
    "Now, now kids," Mr. Donacelli interrupted. "I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do. I'll just leave you alone." With that, he left.
    Antonio and Mystique glared at each other for what seemed like hours. Finally,Antonio spoke.
    "Look," Antonio said, trying to control his anger. "I'm not happy with what my father did, but I can't say that you don't deserve this."
    "Whatever," Mystique said quietly.
    Antonio turned to leave. "I can't believe I fell for a golddigger," he whispered as he opened the door.
    "WHAT?!?" Mystique screamed. "How dare you!"
    "Well, apparently it runs in the family!" Antonio screamed back. "Just ask your golddigging FATHER!"
    Mystique grabbed the lamp on the nightstand and threw it at him. Antonio dodged at just the right moment and the lamp crashed against the door.
    "I never want to see you again!" Mystique yelled.
    "The feeling's mutual," Antonio angrily whispered as he left.
    Mystique sat on the ground and started crying. How could he do this to me?she thought.
    Antonio sat the ground in the hallway. How could she do this to me?he thought.

    To be continued...