Megan had founded a new and progressive makeup and skincare brand. "Today we're launching our new product," she announced. The launch of the brand was successful and soon, she was invited to an interview with the TV crew to share her secret towards her success.
"I put my heart and soul into these makeup products," she said. "And I do it for those like me: women who follow new trends. What's important is that my products aren't tested on animals. We're a cruelty-free brand."
"I've heard you founded this brand to honor 2 of your friends, is that true?" one of the reporters asked.
"Yes, my brand was born and is thriving thanks to them," Megan said in between tears when interviewed. "I believe that one day they will return to us unharmed." As a matter of fact, 2 years prior, Megan's 2 friends, Sammi and Lorraine disappeared one after another, their disappearance which was reported by Megan. Despite their best efforts, the police could not find any links to their disappearance and so, the case went cold. At first, Megan became withdrawn, and her boyfriend Marco was her only source of support. Eventually, she started to move on and one day, she came to Marco with some cosmetics.
"Sammi and Lorraine loved makeup, and before their disappearance, we have planned to open a cosmetics company together. I decided to found my own brand, to honor them. They'll be so happy when they come back," Megan announced. She worked day and night to create perfect formulas for her products, and she soon managed to launch the production of her first line. With her hard work and Marco's support, Megan's brand quickly became popular and she gained the fame she had sought. "Now that you're popular, this is your chance to find your friends," Marco said. "Yes, definitely," Megan replied.
However, Marco felt that her behaviour was getting stranger by the day. She would often leave the house late at night, claiming she needed to go to the laboratory for some tests. One day, Megan once again claimed that she needed to go to the laboratory.
"Let me give you a ride," Marco suggested. However, Megan declined his offer. Her laboratory was a secret place, which she never let anyone enter. "All this seems so strange," Marco thought to himself as Megan walked off. Even though he tried not to think about it, he could not shake off the feeling that something was wrong, so the next evening, when Megan said she was going to the laboratory again, Marco decided to follow her to her said workplace. "I hope she's not lying to me or cheating on me," he muttered under his breath. The laboratory indeed existed. Marco hid behind the door and saw to his shock that there were 2 women being locked in a cage. Megan released them from the cage and said, "Well, let's begin another test." Marco could not believe his eyes. "Who were these 2 women?" he thought to himself. He walked into the laboratory to confront Megan.
"What are you doing here?" she asked angrily. "I told you, no one's allowed to enter my lab."
"Who are these 2 women?" Marco threw the question.
"Oh, they," Megan replied nonchalantly. "Well, meet my 2 friends, Sammi and Lorraine."
"Sammi and Lorraine, aren't they your very friends whom you reported missing 2 years ago?" Marco asked, still unable to believe what was going on. Sammi and Lorraine were unrecognizable. Their faces were red and covered in blisters. "Save us," Sammi said, with tears in her eyes.
"Oh no, Megan, what's going on in here?" Marco asked. "Why don't you call the police? They both need to see a doctor."
"They love it here," Megan lied without batting an eyelid.
"No, that's not true," Lorraine replied, her voice barely above a whisper. At that point, Marco was not sure who to believe.
"What's all this about?" he asked.
"She's kept us here for 2 years," Sammi said. "To be exact, she kept me here first, then Lorraine. Call the police. We can't do this anymore." She then recounted what had happened 2 years prior.
It turned out that at that time, Megan forcibly locked Sammi in the laboratory. Sammi had pleaded with Megan to let her out, but the latter vehemently refused, saying that it would be her home for the next 10 years.
"What have I done to you? Why are you doing this to me?" Sammi asked.
"You ruined my secondary school life," Megan said angrily. "You are always so full of yourself." Back in secondary school, Sammi was quite popular, while Megan was quite an outcast. Because of that, she dreamed of being like Sammi. One day, she took Sammi's lipstick without the latter's permission and applied it. However, it backfired. When Sammi appeared and saw her, she laughed at Megan's appearance and made inappropriate remarks. Lorraine, who had already been Sammi's friend, stopped her from those rude remarks, and apologized to Megan on Sammi's behalf. Hearing Megan's grudge against her, Sammi apologized to her. "That was in the past," she said. "Lorraine had already told me off and I've now regarded you as a friend." However, Megan was implacable.
"I don't care at this point," she said angrily. "I'm going to create makeup for all girls and women. Even for ordinary ones. And you're going to help me."
And so, Megan tested her products on Sammi, products in which their formula had not been tested on anyone. Lorraine subsequently found out about Megan's misdeed when she happened to see the latter walking on the street late and night and followed her out of concern for her safety. When she saw the sorry plight Sammi was in, she tried asking Megan to stop, but the latter refused to listen. To prevent Lorraine from revealing what had happened, Megan locked her up in the same laboratory where she had kept Sammi captive. Whenever Lorraine tried to stop Megan from testing her products onto Sammi, she would be subjected to the same cruelty. Daily contact with various chemicals negatively affected both Sammi and Lorraine's health, but Megan was unstoppable. Subsequently, Sammi and Lorraine developed redness on their faces, and it did not take long for their faces to be covered with painful blisters.
"I've learnt my lesson. Please let me go," Sammi pleaded tearfully. Lorraine also interceded on her behalf. However, Megan refused, saying that the humanity needed them, and that she had been making amazing products with their help.
Upon hearing both Sammi and Lorraine's stories, Marco saw red. "Megan, you're mental," he said angrily. "What you're doing is inhumane, especially when Lorraine spoke up for you back then when Sammi bullied you." However, Megan insisted she had done nothing wrong.
"If you love me, leave right now and keep your mouth shut, unless you want to end up like Sammi Ching Suet-fong and Lorraine Lam Lai-man. We'll talk at home," she said. Marco seemingly agreed, but he immediately went to the police and told them everything. The police went to the laboratory, where Megan was arrested and both Sammi and Lorraine were taken to the hospital. After many months of treatment, Sammi and Lorraine recovered to the point where they could be discharged. Megan got what she deserved and ended up behind bars while Marco was glad that he chose to trust his gut feeling, which helped him save 2 lives.
