Chapter 1
A buzzing night wrapped itself around the city, the streets alive with vibrant lights that danced across the towering skyscraper dominating the skyline. It was the kind of view that sparked big dreams in anyone who looked at it, yet for me, it always stirred a quiet fear—the hesitation of someone still learning to take her first real leap. I often wondered if I would ever be brave enough to finally let my guard down.
“Hey, Sara, did you hear about this morning’s road accident?” a voice called out behind me.
I turned to see my boss, Glyndon. Despite her small frame, her presence commanded a room effortlessly.
“Yes, Ana have the details, and we’re working on a report,” I replied with a short nod.
Ana and I weren’t just colleagues—we were best friends. We met back in college while studying telecommunications, two dreamers with ambitions far bigger than our campus could hold. It’s been four years since we started working at the media company, and every day brings its own challenges. But maybe that’s what keeps me going—it keeps my mind busy.
By the time I reached home that night, the city had quieted. My mother and I live in a small apartment downtown—the kind we can afford, the kind that reminds you to be grateful for what you have.
“Mom? Where are you?” I called out, slipping off my shoes.
“In the kitchen,” she answered.
She stepped out with a timid smile, wiping her hands on a towel. My mother—my anchor. If she hadn’t fought for the life we have now, I would have slipped into the darker side of the world far too young.
I was eight years old when we arrived in this city, carrying more hope than luggage. She worked two jobs to keep me in school, determined to give me a future she never had. As I grew older, I took part-time jobs to save for university, easing her burdens little by little. Ever since I started working full-time, she’s finally been able to spend time on herself.
“So… are you going out with your friends tomorrow?” I asked as I walked out of my bedroom.
“Yes,” she said, though worry softened her expression. “Will you be alright by yourself?”
Lately, my nightmares have been getting worse, dragging me back to pieces of the past I try to forget. Her concern isn’t misplaced. Still, I force a smile.
“I’ll be fine, Ma. And tell Jenny I miss her.”
She nodded. “I’ll be back in two days. Call me if you need anything.”
I laughed gently. “Come on, Ma. No need to worry. It’ll be nice having a weekend alone—no one to nag me.”
She tried to look stern but failed, and I nudged her lightly. “Please, Ma. Just go and enjoy your trip with your friends.”
We were sitting together, sharing a quiet moment while she absentmindedly packed for her trip. Clothes, chargers, tiny bottles—all carefully tucked into her suitcase as if she were trying to distract herself.
“Sara,” she said suddenly, her voice drifting as though her mind were far away, “I wanted to tell you something important… but I’ll say it after my friend leaves.”
I laughed lightly, trying to keep the mood easy. “You’re going to leave me in suspense until then?”
But even as I joked, I could feel it—something was off. Something was weighing on her.
Later, when the lights were off and the room had fallen still, the thought of her unfinished sentence kept circling in my mind. It took me a long time to fall asleep, turning over possibilities, wondering what she hadn’t said.
The next morning, when I stepped into the office, my phone buzzed.
A message from Ana “You should check this.”
My brows knit together as I opened the picture she’d sent. Three bodies—lifeless, cold, horrifying. A chill ran through me.
By the time I reached my desk, Ana was already there waiting, arms folded, face tight with worry.
“Hey,” I greeted softly.
“Thank God you’re on time,” she said in a rush. “Last night we were trying to dig up more information about the accident. But when I asked around, this strange guy approached me. He mumbled something—something like ‘they took the girl.’”
I stared at her, confused. “But you said it was a road accident. Over speeding. Three people died—the parents and a young girl.”
“Yes,” she insisted. “That’s what I told you,may he is probably some crazy guy ”
Before I could respond, a sharp knock on the door interrupted us.
Our boss, Glyndon, stepped inside. “Sara, the new CEO is arriving today. As you know, Stephan has been trying to finalize the appointment for over a month.”
“We’re aware,” Ana and I said together.
“I want you “she continued, looking directly at me, “to write a feature on him for our company’s upcoming magazine.”
By the time I finished all my tasks, the clock had already slipped past six. A wave of relief washed over me, followed by a flutter of excitement. Finally. The weekend stretched ahead—quiet hours with a good book and the promise of comforting food. I could almost taste the peace waiting for me at home.
I stepped into the cab and leaned back against the seat as the city lights blurred past the window. But my mind refused to settle. It kept drifting back to Ana—her tense voice, the look in her eyes when she mentioned that strange man.
They took the girl.
The words echoed again, unsettling in their vagueness. Was it really just the rambling of a stranger? Or was there something morez, something the official report about the “accident” wasn’t telling us?
I stared out into the evening haze, my fingers tapping restlessly against my bag.
Could there actually be someone who took that young girl?
