The other trail
From Create Your Own Story
You decide to explore the other trail, the one that doesn't lead back to your hotel. You walk up to the jungle and go onto the trail.
After a few yards, you wonder if this is such a good idea. The jungle is thick and dark. You can barely see a few feet in front of you. The trail you are on is barely wide enough for you. If someone attacked you, no one would be able to help you.
Just when you decide to go back, you see something white in front of you. You stop and examine it. It is a small bag, attached to a palm tree. You take the bag down and open it.
It contains two items: A piece of cloth and an envelope. It is too dark to tell anything about either the cloth or the envelope.
You take the bag back to your room.
When you are in your room, you lock the door, close the curtains, and open the bag. You start with the piece of cloth.
Now that you have enough light to see, you recognize this white cloth as Mindy's strapless bikini top. Something is odd about it. You soon realize what. The back strap is still tied, but the front is split, cleanly, as though someone cut it off.
Concerned, you now examine the envelope. It is addressed: "To the girl in the black bikini." Heart pounding, you open it.
Inside is a single sheet of paper, with text on one side and a picture on the other. You start with the text.
The note says: "We have your friend. So far, she is mostly unharmed. However, her future safety depends on your actions from this point. Stay in your room and wait for our phone call. Do not go to the police. Do not go to the hotel management. Do not look for us. Do not look for your friend. Remember, if she lives or dies is up to you."
Feeling sick, you next look at the picture. It is picture of Mindy. She is wearing only her bikini bottom. She is sitting in a hard wooden chair. There seems to be rope around her shoulders, chest, waist, and legs. She has a piece of tape over her mouth and bruises on her belly, both breasts, and her face. She looks frightened, which is what convinces you this is not a joke or a prank on Mindy's part.
What do you do?
