Chapter 3

Natalie glanced over to see a young man in an Air Force combat uniform who had dark skin and a slim face. Beside him sat another man in a similar uniform, but his bore five-pointed stars and an array of medals, indicating a higher rank. What stood out even more was his stern face. With a high nose, a tight-lipped expression, and a well-defined jawline, he exuded rugged handsomeness. Dressed in that Air Force combat uniform, he was exceptionally striking amid the crowd of ordinary passengers. Natalie couldn't help but steal another look. Unexpectedly, the man's sharp gaze turned toward her. It felt intimidating, so she quickly averted her eyes. He was hot but clearly fierce. After hours on the train, Natalie was starting to feel restless. The cramped space and hard seats made her back ache, and her legs felt swollen. She decided it was time to get up and stretch her legs. As she stood up, the strap of her canvas bag tugged at her shoulder, pulling her down. The bag was heavier than she expected. She opened it to take a look and found that Lilian had packed a stainless steel military canteen filled with water. No wonder it felt so heavy. She set the canteen on the table and left her seat with her bag. A pair of eyes followed her retreating figure. Smiling, the man spoke to the person beside him. "Captain Locke, that young woman is quite astute. She didn't fall for the recruitment opportunity from Art Corps. I was worried she might actually believe it and end up getting conned for her money and body." Jasper, sitting upright, shot him a sideways glance. "Then why didn't you swoop in to save the beauty?" The young man's smile widened. "Well, she figured it out herself, so I didn't need to intervene. But Captain Locke, I didn't expect you to recognize that young lady's beauty. I thought you had trouble distinguishing faces." As he thought of something, he chuckled mischievously and encouraged Jasper, "Captain Locke, I honestly think you and that young lady are a perfect match. You're both good-looking. Just imagine how cute your kids would be. How about you give it a shot?" Jasper raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "I didn't realize you had a matchmaking hobby, Zachary Stone. Are you that bored? I should increase your training regimen when we get back." Zachary felt a chill run down his spine at the sound of his full name. He quickly backtracked. "Please, no. My training's already packed to the brim. "I'm just looking out for you. With our line of work, who knows when disaster could strike? It's good to think about leaving something behind. It's just like this time. If it weren't for your timely parachute jump..." He trailed off, but Jasper understood. This time, he had escaped death. What about next time? He couldn't count on luck forever. An unexpected sadness seeped into the air. Zachary raised a hand and smacked his lips. "Alright, alright, enough of my rambling. Back to business. I heard from the instructor that your love life has turned into a political mission. You have to sort it out this year. "You don't fancy the Air Force Art Corps' star, and you didn't seem interested in that lady from earlier. So, what's your type, Captain Locke?" The previous somber mood vanished like smoke. As Jasper adjusted his sleeve, a cold smirk played on his lips. "You really have too much time on your hands." … After stretching her limbs, Natalie walked back from the junction between the carriages with her bag slung over her shoulder. Having felt the hot pilot's intense gaze before, she learned her lesson this time and walked past without a glance. She was determined not to look at him again. Zachary noticed her approach and nudged Jasper. "Captain Locke, that lady really is something else." When Jasper ignored him, Zachary continued to analyze, "Those women from Air Force Art Corps all lit up at the sight of you. But that lady over there completely ignored you. Isn't that intriguing?" "Shut it." Irritated by his chatter, Jasper stood up. "Hey, where are you going?" Zachary asked. Jasper just offered him his back as he walked away. Natalie returned to her seat, only to find that Kevin was gone and that middle-aged woman was now occupying his spot. She shrugged it off. As she pressed her lips together, she noticed her lips felt dry. She grabbed her canteen from the table, unscrewed the cap, and poured a little into the lid before sipping it slowly. As the train traveled north, she could feel the air growing drier. The more Natalie drank, the thirstier she felt. Before she knew it, she had already finished half the bottle. Something didn't seem right. Why was the canteen starting to look blurry? Was she seeing things? In her daze, the woman across from her waved a hand in front of Natalie's face. When she saw there was no response, she immediately slid into the seat next to Natalie and wrapped an arm around her. "Girl." Natalie's heart raced. Something was wrong with the water. She bit her tongue hard enough to taste blood to jolt her senses back into focus. Just then, the woman blocked the seat's exit and gripped Natalie's arm tightly, preventing her from getting up. Natalie jumped up suddenly and shoved the woman aside as she shouted for help. Unfortunately, a louder male voice drowned out her plea. "Honey, please don't be mad at me." Kevin, who appeared from nowhere, stepped forward to grab Natalie by the arm and addressed her affectionately. Beside them, a woman spoke up. "Come on, we're family. Let's talk things over instead of threatening to leave. Come back home with Kevin." She was one of the women who had just been surrounding Kevin, asking him questions. "Yeah, let's go home and sort this out. Don't cause a scene on the train," the first woman chimed in. The three of them surrounded Natalie from all sides, pushing her toward the carriage's exit. The conductor was announcing the next stop, and passengers were bustling to the door, hauling their luggage. The entire carriage was in chaos. To the onlookers, Natalie's frantic struggle seemed like nothing more than a family dispute. But Natalie knew she had fallen into a trap. She cried out desperately, "Help! These people are human traffickers! He's not my husband!" Curious glances were cast her way, with some even stepping forward to ask questions. Kevin, however, remained calm and collected, saying, "My wife's just upset." The middle-aged woman added, "Yeah, it's just a quarrel between a couple. What kind of traffickers would try to abduct someone on a train?" "No! They're lying! They're working together! Call the police! Please!" Natalie protested loudly, but her voice was soft and feeble due to the drug. It barely cut through the surrounding noise. Those around who seemed ready to help hesitated. They were unsure of whom to believe. Natalie felt her strength waning. Dizziness clouded her thoughts, and her legs trembled beneath her. The exit was less than six feet away. Soon, there were only three feet left. With another push, they would force her off the train.