Finn's Home.
Finn was busy with some things at home when his phone started ringing. He quickly set aside what he was doing and reached for his phone.
Upon answering, he noticed it was Rosemary calling.
"Hello, baby! What's up? Have you gotten home?" he said, a smile spreading across his face.
"Hello, Finn? I'm not okay here... it seems like something is wrong!" Rosemary's voice came through the phone, sounding deeply troubled. Finn pulled the phone away from his ear, wondering what could be wrong, then put it back.
"Rosemary, are you alright?" he asked, hearing her heart pounding and her voice visibly shaking.
"No, I'm not, Finn! Do I sound like I am? Please come over to my place right now; I need you here," she replied urgently. Finn immediately grabbed his car keys and shirt, ready to see her.
"Okay, I’ll be on my way, but please calm down and tell me what's wrong. Is it about John again? I told you I would talk to him; you don’t need to worry too much," he reassured her as he hurried out of the house and headed toward his car.
"Of course, you did, but it’s too late! I just got home, and I can’t find my sister anywhere. She’s not here, and I’ve searched all around!" Rosemary responded, panic evident in her voice. Finn quickly started his car and headed to her place.
"Okay, I’m on my way. But what do you want me to do?" he asked.
"Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear everything I said? My sister is missing, and you’re still asking what you should do!" she snapped.
"We're going after John to make him tell us where my sister is. There’s no doubt about it—she must have been kidnapped by him," Rosemary replied, her voice sharp.
Despite her harsh tone, Finn was still eager to help. He understood that anyone in her situation would react the same way.
"Alright, I’ll be there shortly. Just wait a few more minutes," Finn responded before hanging up and accelerating the car.
                       
                     • At The Forest •
Sam and Roseline lay on the bed, having just finished making love. As Roseline kissed his chest, they began to talk.
"I'm so glad, Sam. I'm really happy that it was someone I love deeply, and who loves me back, that finally took my virginity. I’m just so glad to be with you," she said softly, pressing her lips against his.
After a few moments of silence, Sam took a deep breath and whispered, "Yeah, I have loved very few people in this world. I became a monster to some of them. I’m grateful to finally love someone who is willing to love me wholeheartedly, without using me and then pushing me away."
They gazed deeply into each other's eyes and smiled.
"You know, I was with Mr. Adam, the popular politician," Sam continued. Roseline's mouth dropped open in shock. Not everyone had the chance to meet such an icon. Mr. Adam was a hero in the city, a man who listened to the people's opinions.
"Wow, you met him...? You must be so lucky! How did that happen?" she asked.
"That's a question I used to ask myself too. How is it possible that I met that monster? He was the first person I encountered in the city," he replied. Roseline immediately sat up, unhappy with his description of Adam.
Adam had been a great gift to society and had done many good things, which Roseline herself had benefited from.
"Why would you call Adam a monster? How did you meet him, yet you're hiding here in the forest? Why didn’t you tell him about your problems? He could help you! He’s the only one in that position, and he’s a good man," she said, looking concerned.
Sam smiled at her and sat up as well. "You seem upset because I called him a monster, don’t you?" he asked.
"Why should I? The man has been kind to the people, and I wouldn't let you speak ill of him. Instead, I suggest we change the subject or just sleep for tonight and hope for a better tomorrow," she said, visibly dissatisfied with Sam. She didn't want to create tension between them, especially since she already loved the handsome boy, if it were another person that said it then it would have led to an immediate brake up.
"What if I told you that he is my problem?" he replied as she attempted to lie back on the bed. This made her pause; she turned to gaze at Sam before sitting up again.
"Excuse me?" she said, trying to grasp what he meant. How could he say Adam was his problem when he was here in the forest while Adam was out there in the city, changing lives?
"Yes! I know you might not believe me, just as I thought no one would believe me. That's why I chose not to share my problem with anyone unless I trusted them. I think I trust you now, and that's why I'm telling you about Adam. He is not who you think he is; he is more evil than you can imagine," he explained.
Rose was left speechless, staring at him in shock. She wanted to be upset with him but then realized Sam wouldn’t lie about someone who had nothing to do with him. That was more reason why he chose to stay in the woods. She remembered begging him to come to the city with her, and he had refused. It seemed insane to choose the wilderness over the city, but Sam wasn’t insane. Something must have gone wrong—something must have happened.
"You see, when I met him, it was on the highway while I was heading to the city. He was passing by with his crew, stopped, and called out to me. He asked me so many questions, and I foolishly shared things I should have kept to myself. I told him things he wasn’t supposed to know."
"Then he took me in. I thought he was a perfect gentleman until he asked me to help him win the ongoing election by doing something terrible—something I can't bear to talk about. In exchange, he promised to be like a father to me and provide everything I needed until I found my real father. He promised me a house and other things as well," he said, while Rose forced a dissatisfied smile.
 
"Why do I feel like you’re telling the truth, yet at the same time, it feels like pure lies—more than I could have ever known! I doubt you even know Adam. I shouldn’t mention him; Adam doesn’t need anyone’s help to win elections! He’s the people’s choice, and they would vote for him," Rose said as Sam chuckled.
"Yeah, you’re right, but you don’t understand political games! He needed to be the people’s superhero to gain their trust. It’s not just about winning the election. Well, I agreed to do what he asked me to, and then I continued living with him. But one day, I fled from his home and ended up here. Do you know why?" he asked, and Roseline shook her head.
"Because he shot at me—several times. He wanted me dead, and I was lucky enough to escape," he said, while Roseline stared at him in disbelief. Could Adam really be capable of such a thing? Or was Sam lying to her?