Chapter 23
1767 Words
Chapter 23
Lily's Call
Third person pov:
Ana followed the van while the little girl beside her explained through trembling breaths, “My name is Lily, and my friend’s name is Jiya. We’ve been together since we were very small. We lived with Granny—she took care of us until last year… until she died due to bad health.”
Her voice cracked, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Since then, it’s just been me and Jiya. We take care of each other. Today, she told me she met an uncle two days ago. He helped her when she fell and even gave her money to buy food. Yesterday, she met him again and talked to him. She said she wanted to meet him today too. I followed her because Granny always said we shouldn’t trust gifts or money from strangers. They may have good or bad intentions. I told Jiya, but she didn’t listen.”
Lily swallowed hard, her body shaking.
“He gave her something to eat… she was about to eat it, and then suddenly she looked scared. When she tried to move away, he covered her mouth with a white cloth. Then she stopped moving… and he took her.”
Ana’s heart twisted. Something about the girl’s story hit a part of her she kept buried in her past. She forced her voice to stay calm for Lily’s sake.
“In situations like that, you should ask for help from adults, Lily. If something happened to you too, who would be there to save you?” she said gently, rubbing the girl’s back to soothe her.
---
The van ahead of them turned off the main road and into an abandoned, isolated area. Ana kept her car at a distance. Inside the van, the kidnappers were talking—voices carrying in the quiet of the evening.
“Why did you use chloroform?” one man hissed.
“She saw the g*n and was about to scream. I had to stop her,” the other replied.
“Fine. We need to hurry. The police are already searching for missing kids. The boss said we’ve collected enough. After picking up the rest from the house, we’ll leave by night and deliver them at the shipment point.”
Ana’s fists tightened on the steering wheel.
---
The van finally stopped near an old, broken house hidden between trees. The door creaked as two of the men stepped out, carrying the unconscious girl inside.
Ana parked her car and turned to Lily.
“Stay here. Don’t get out, no matter what.”
The little girl nodded, fear making her eyes glossy.
Ana crept towards the house and hid behind a rusted water tank. Through a broken window, she saw nearly 'ten terrified children' huddled together. Five men moved around them, discussing routes and shipment details.
She assessed the situation. With only her strength, she couldn’t take five grown men at once. She had to be smart.
Returning to the car, she searched frantically for her phone. Lily looked up with hope.
“Sister… is Jiya okay? Is something wrong? Tell me if she’s hurt.”
Ana forced a reassuring smile.
“She’s fine, Lily. I promise I’ll help her. I’ll help all of them.”
She finally found her phone, but there was barely any signal. Calls failed again and again. She managed to send Jenny a short message:
“Call me ASAP. Emergency.”
Nothing went through to the police.
“Sister, let me help. I’m not scared. I can do something,” Lily said bravely.
Ana cupped the little girl’s cheeks.
“No. If you’re in danger too, there will be no one left to help you. You’re the most important part of the plan now.”
She quickly taught Lily how to call the police if the signal returned, then pointed her back toward the road.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers began loading the children into a larger truck. Ana snapped photos of their faces, the vehicle, and its license plate, saving everything on her phone.
“Lily, listen carefully.” Ana’s voice was firm.
“I’m going to follow them. Take my phone and walk back toward the main road. When you get signal, call the police. Tell them: ‘Kids are kidn*pped and kept in a house. My sister went to help them. Please save her.’ Understand?”
Lily nodded, tears brimming but determination shining through them.
Ana hugged her tightly for a second before sending her off.
When the kidnappers weren’t looking, Ana slipped into the back of the truck, hiding herself behind crates and old tarps. The vehicle door slammed shut.
Around her, children cried softly. The kidnappers barked orders, threatening them to stay silent.
The truck engine roared to life, heading down a narrow forest road, deeper into darkness—towards the shipyard.
Ana held her breath, body tense, mind racing.
''She had no weapon. No backup. No guarantee of survival.''
But she had to try.
Because no child deserved to disappear into the dark.
Because Lily’s hope was now her responsibility.
Because once, long ago, she had needed someone to save her too.
:
---
**9:00 PM**
After nearly twenty minutes of walking down the dark road, Lily’s call was finally connected to the police.
Lily: “H-Hello… police? Please… please help my sister. P-Please save her…”
Police: “Hello? Who is this? Calm down and tell us your name.”
Lily: “They kidn*pped my friend. My sister went to save her. Please help! Please!”
Her voice cracked as she cried, fear and desperation heavy in every word. The officers stiffened, immediately understanding the severity. 'Children. Kidnapped.'
Police: “Listen carefully, sweetheart. Where are you right now? Can you see any signboards?”
Lily: “I-I don’t know… I don’t know this place. Please come fast! Please save her!”
Her sobs echoed, making even the experienced officers pause.
One officer quickly signaled to another, and within seconds the call was being traced. In the bureau, Alex and his friends overheard the chaos through the line. More officers tried to pinpoint the signal location.
Lily: “Sir… they are powerful men. My sister went alone… please hurry…”
She spoke in broken breaths, hiccups shaking her voice.
Police: “We’re coming, baby. Don’t cry. Stay where you are. We’re on the way.”
They tried their best to soothe her before rushing to their vehicles.
Alex was already moving. “David, Zack—goes with the nearest patrol. I want updates every second.”
Nick was at his side, strategizing as they mobilized. It would take at least thirty minutes to reach the signal point.
Meanwhile, inside the van, Ana silently listened as the kidnappers spoke—each sentence tightening a knot of dread in her stomach.
“They’ll let us in through the shipyard’s back gate,” one man grunted. “No questions. No checks. We’ll load the kids the moment the shipment arrives.”
“The ship docks around eleven-thirty,” the other replied. “Boss wants everything ready. This is the last batch—we’ve got enough to trade. After tonight, we’re gone.”
The words sliced through Ana like a blade.
' Fifty… nearly fifty children.'
Her chest tightened. 'How can anyone be this cruel? Selling children like objects?'
She swallowed hard, bracing herself. 'Even if it’s impossible, I have to try. If I can stall them… even a minute… maybe police will reach in time.'
She closed her eyes and prayed the rescue team would find them.
---
The police reached Lily just under thirty minutes later. Alex and Nick stayed connected through video calls with David and Zack, watching every step from the other end.
They found Lily trembling near the roadside. She ran to them immediately.
“She… she followed them to save us… please save sister…” Lily cried, her words tumbling out in fragments. Alex and Nick exchanged stunned looks.
'Who risks their life to save someone else’s child?'
In a world like this… almost no one.
Lily guided them back to the abandoned house. Officers searched the rooms for clues while others traced tire marks in the dirt.
David crouched, fingertips brushing the deep tracks. “This is a heavy vehicle. Big enough to carry at least ten, maybe more.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “The closest exit route is the shipyard. If they want to disappear fast, the sea’s the easiest escape. Alert every checkpoint and shipyard in the state. No vehicle leaves unchecked.”
Orders shot through radios like bullets.
Some officers sped toward the shipyard; others blocked the highway exits.
David, Zack, and a small squad followed the trail into the forest path.
Lily walked between them, clinging to David’s sleeve. She cried silently, unable to speak, until Zack knelt in front of her.
“We’ll save them,” he said gently. “We’ll save her.”
She nodded, wiping her tears, holding onto those words like they were the only light left in the world.
10:30 PM
The kidnappers had reached the destination an hour earlier. The children were kept inside a large van—two men stood guard while the others left to confirm the ship’s arrival. Ana observed quietly from her hiding place. One guard was scrolling through his phone, playing music, and the other was gaming with headphones on.
A few minutes later, one of them stepped out to smoke. Ana slipped out of the trunk silently and followed him, grabbing a metal rod she found nearby. Her heart pounded violently, her hands trembling.
In her mind, only one thought echoed:
“If anything happens, it’s not just my life… fifty children’s lives depend on me. I have to be brave.”
She took a deep breath and moved forward.
---
On the other side, David was driving fast, Zack in the passenger seat with Lily. Police vehicles trailed behind them. The video call with Alex and Nick remained open; they were coordinating the officers branching out in different directions.
Suddenly, Lily’s phone started ringing.
They exchanged confused looks—none of their phones were ringing. Zack grabbed Lily’s phone and answered.
Meanwhile, Ana crept up behind the man. Just as he leaned against the wall, distracted by his game, she struck him on the back of the head with the rod. He collapsed with a grunt. Her hands shook harder now—but she didn’t stop. She grabbed his phone and immediately dialed her own number.
“Please work… please…” she prayed, pacing anxiously. The call connected.
- Writer
