Chapter 1:

Summer vacation, no class. And during this time of the year,  Zed will always spend time in the countryside with her grandparents on the paternal side. Traveling by bus for almost 4 hours would not tire her. She is excited as always. She makes sure to sit on the last row and open the windows to feel the breeze of fresh grass and enjoy the rustling sound of the trees. She loves to travel from the city to the province alone and mingled with locals. “Someday, I will be also traveling the world after I graduate.” she thought showing a slight smile on her face.

After 2 hours of traveling, the bus had finally stopped over the small market for a couple of minutes. Zed then took the chance to urinate in a nearby public toilet. It is not a surprise to her that the public toilet is so clean and neat unlike the ones in the city. After using the toilet, she grabbed her hand sanitizer and left. 

The market was crowded as it was not a few years back. Right now, it has changed so much. There are many stores that opened. When she was about to take a step on the bus, a hooded man overtook her and she fell on the ground.

 “What the heck! Are you crazy? Can't you see I am about to…” 

“ I'm so sorry. I'm in a hurry!`` The man interrupted and went ahead and took the seat on the last row. Zed had stood up from falling and heard a loud commotion behind her back. 

“What is happening? Why are those people so crazy and causing ruckus?” she said. And then she gets on the bus. When she was approaching back to her seat, the man who crashed into her earlier took her seat. 

 “ Woah this man got some nerves! Hey, that is my seat and you just stole it!” The man seems like he is not hearing anything from the furious Zed. 

“Hey, I said that is my seat!” she repeated but the man did not respond to her and just continued closing her eyes not even moving an inch. No choice, so she sat down on the next seat in front of it and said to herself.  

“There are so many idiots in this world that took chances on others. What kind of man is he? He is even wearing a hoodie and a mask? Is he a criminal or something?”

After settling down to her seat, the driver started the engine and went on the road. She put on her headphones and listened to the music she likes on her playlist. She looked back years ago when she first visited her grandparents on a summer vacation. Back then, she remembered she always had a hard-boiled egg with her and ate it during the long hours of travel. Since she was so young at that time, she was accompanied by her grown-up cousins on the maternal side, Lina and Diego.

Passing every house along the road reminds her of her youth and how the place has changed as the years go by. Before, there were so many vacant areas that didn't have houses and filled with sunflower gardens. Now, there are so many big houses with high gates. Most of the houses are newly built with modern style. When she thinks of it, it was not the province she used to remember. Anyway, she is almost home. She is so excited to see her grandparents after a year. She bought some red wine with her to celebrate her grandmother's discharge from the hospital due to high blood pressure and a bouquet of flowers. 

Finally, the bus had arrived. Zed stood up, grabbed her medium-sized luggage and a sling bag. Then she gets off the bus. On a waiting shed, she sat and dialed a number on her phone “Hi grandpa, I am here at the waiting shed and it looks like it's about to rain. Can you come and pick me up?” she said. After talking to her grandpa and ending the call, she noticed a man standing behind her. 

“ Gosh is this the man earlier on the bus? What should I do? Maybe he is really a criminal or a kidnapper?” she thought.