A ransom letter series

November, 5, 2021

It brings me great trouble to do this. Do not notify the police. I am in need of “mysteriously” coming into a great amount of money, and if you would like to see the girl again, you will pay the price. In the meantime, I plan on using her for any errands I need to be done. In the next eight days, I am asking for $1,500. I hope she will be of great use to me this time. Remember that with each day I wait, more work will have to get done. 

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November, 8, 2021

I am writing to drop the price of the girl from $1,500, to $1,250. She is lazy and struggles to do the simplest tasks — getting words out when speaking, controlling emotions, patience, and looking bearable. I asked her to cook us a simple dinner: a sandwich, and soup. As she served the plates, she let them fall to the floor and broke glass everywhere. Instead of sweeping it up, she cut her finger and got blood on the carpet. That was only after making a complete mess in the kitchen. Yet this was only one of the tasks that she made difficult for no reason. She is hard to tolerate and is not worth the extra $250. Keep in mind that her life is on the line the more time you waste.

November, 10, 2021

I want my money quickly. I cannot take being around this girl for much longer, and am urging you to take her back soon. She makes even the simplest tasks seem difficult and is overdramatic about everything. It’s a burden to have to be alongside her. This turned out to be more of a punishment for me than to whom this letter may concern. As I had a simple conversation, she continued to let herself be talked over and taunted, not standing up for herself in the slightest. She holds no attitude that she even wants to leave and she adds nothing to the space. It’s like she is invisible. I would not pay a dime to have this child returned to me, nor be in such a hurry, but desperate times call for desperate measures and I want my money soon. To encourage you, I will lower the price to no less than $700. I cannot wait much longer, this will be my last threat.

November, 12, 2021

I do not blame you for not being in a rush, I would not be either. Today, I asked why she would not even try to escape or bargain to leave. She didn’t even seem to believe anyone would pay the money to return her. I got the sense that she has no expectation for anyone to go through the trouble of paying her ransom because of how low she holds herself. She has been no fun and has earned the title of the most useless hostage. You have one more day to trade me the money for the girl. At this point, no amount of money is worth the company of such a good-for-nothing hostage. 

It’s only been a week, and I can tell so much about her character. She lacks confidence and doesn’t know when to stand up for herself. She is much less be pleasant to be around. She has no confidence and does not see a drop of value in herself, so she wonders why anyone else would. If she sees herself with no worth, then neither will I. The price has dropped to $0, and I’m releasing her to roam free. 

Bethany Soto