ADMIRER

Prologue

Three bodies are hugging tightly together as the helicopter they are boarding we’re spinning around frantically.

“Hon, our son..”

“I’m so sorry, baby..”

“Daddy, what is happening? I’m scared, I want to go home.”

“Yes, baby, we’re going home..”

The man hugged both his wife and his child before kissing their forehead and closing his eyes as he listened to his two pilots trying to gain control of the helicopter.

“Mayday, mayday! This is Benavidez Helicopter, we lost control and are experiencing a severe failure with our aircraft! Requesting immediate assistance! Repeat, mayday!”

“Sir, Ma’am..”

“Do what you must to keep my wife and child safe”

The two pilots can only breathe shakily as they try to gain control. They also try contacting the tower a few times, only to receive a long static sound then silence.

*****

“Breaking News. Benavidez Family Involved in a Fatal Helicopter Crash. A tragic helicopter crash has claimed the lives of prominent business tycoon, the Benavidez, shaking the foundations of their vast empire. The accident occurred around 10 in the morning. Details remain hidden, but early reports indicate that—”

“AAARRGGHH!!!”

A loud crash can be heard from the living room, making the helpers rush to where the sound was and find a teenager throwing things around.

A lamp—crash

A throw pillow—thrown

A glass table—shattered

Remote control—

“Young Master! Calm yourself!” a middle-aged man, the family butler, came to him and snatched the picture frame, his small family picture, away from him before he could throw it at the marble floor.

“That’s just the initial report that we need to release to the public. We haven’t found your sister’s body”, the teenage boy looked at him with red eyes.

“She’s alive, right?” he held the butler’s shoulder and shook it desperately.

“We are not certain, but there’s a big chance that she’s alive” the butler said and held the teenager’s hand before helping him sit on the long sofa.

The boy was breathing heavily as he stared at his reflection on the flat-screen TV. His red hair was messy, his baseball uniform was not tucked in properly, he was even wearing his shoes that he used when playing baseball on a field.

“Mom would yell at me if she saw me wearing my shoes inside the house” he murmurs while leaning down to remove his shoes and looking at their butler, who was only looking at him the entire time.

“Sir Bruce, let’s look for my baby sister, please?” he said while fighting his tears to fall.

“We’re doing it right now, Young Master. But you can talk to our personal rescue team for further information. While they are looking for the Little Princess of this Manor, the head of our rescue team is inside your father’s office waiting for you” Sir Bruce motioned his hand the way to point where the head of the rescue team was.

*****

What would a child do in a place she’s unfamiliar with? At her age and in the nature of her upbringing, she’s supposed to cry and look for her parents, even for her older brother. But right now, she's hiding from the bad guys who’re trying to eliminate the ‘only’ child of the family.

“Mom, dad, don’t worry. I won't let the bad guys get me and threaten my brother” she closed her eyes, her little hands clasped together, and prayed.

But it seemed like her prayers couldn’t be heard as someone from behind grabbed her and put a towel on her face. Her vision became blurry and the only thing she saw was an emerald necklace that she grabbed from someone she couldn’t recognize.

“Mom..”

~~

AnnieHearthe | A. H.