Missing
1053 Words
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the warehouse.
Heavy.
Steady.
Unhurried.
Every kidnapper instinctively straightened.
The chatter that had filled the room moments earlier disappeared.
No one spoke.
The large metal door groaned open.
Several figures entered one after another, their faces hidden beneath black masks.
The air inside the warehouse changed immediately.
Even the men who had carried out the k********g stood a little straighter.
One of the masked figures stopped a few metres from Ada and Tobi.
His gaze rested briefly on the bride.
Her white gown was crumpled from the long night, the bouquet she still clutched no longer neatly arranged. Tobi's suit was equally untidy, but there was no doubt they had been married only hours earlier.
He slowly turned his attention to the photograph in his hand.
Then back to the couple.
Silence.
The photograph was folded carefully and returned to the envelope.
No anger.
No shouting.
Just a long, disappointed silence that was somehow more frightening than rage.
Finally, one of the kidnappers stepped forward.
"We confirmed their identities after we arrived."
Another continued quietly,
"They're not the couple we were sent to bring."
The room remained still.
No one rushed to defend themselves.
No one dared.
The masked figure walked slowly across the warehouse.
Then stopped.
Without looking back, he spoke with annoyance in his voice.
"Explain everything from the beginning."
No one spoke.
The silence stretched for several seconds before one of the kidnappers stepped forward.
"It started exactly as planned," he began. "The reception ended later than expected, but our surveillance team confirmed the target's convoy was leaving."
"The convoy consisted of two black SUVs," another added.
"We knew that," came the calm reply.
"We were instructed to intercept the second vehicle before it reached the expressway."
"And?"
"We intercepted a black SUV leaving the venue."
The masked figure remained silent.
"The number plate wasn't visible. The wedding ribbons covered part of it, and we... assumed it was the right vehicle."
The warehouse grew still.
"You assumed."
No one answered.
"We followed protocol until the interception."
"We blocked the road."
"The occupants were secured."
"The vehicle was moved."
"The wedding car was relocated to the storage site."
"The driver?"
"We brought him too."
A long pause followed.
Finally, the masked figure asked,
"Why?"
The kidnapper hesitated.
"He saw everything."
"So you decided to kidnap an innocent driver as well?"
"...Yes."
Another long silence.
The man slowly clasped his hands behind his back.
"Months of planning."
No emotion.
"No shortcuts."
No raised voice.
"Every movement rehearsed."
He finally turned to face them.
"And all of it..."
"...undone by an assumption."
No one could meet his gaze.
One of the younger kidnappers swallowed nervously.
"We realised our mistake as soon as we confirmed their identities."
"And the real targets?"
"We've lost them."
Those four words hit harder than any shout.
The room became unbearably quiet.
One of the masked figures who had arrived with him stepped closer.
"The police will soon discover the wedding car."
"It has already been hidden," someone replied quickly.
"The decorations?"
"Removed."
"Phones?"
"Collected."
"Luggage?"
"Moved with the vehicle."
He gave a small nod.
"Good."
It was the first sign that something had gone right.
Then his eyes shifted toward Ada, Tobi, and the driver.
The three of them sat quietly, listening to every word.
Ada held Tobi's hand so tightly her fingers trembled.
The driver stared at the floor, afraid that if he looked up, someone might notice him.
The masked man studied them for a long moment.
"So..."
he said quietly,
"The operation failed."
No one disagreed.
"But the situation has changed."
He took one slow step toward the captives.
"We cannot undo what has been done."
He stopped a few feet away.
"So from this moment..."
"...no one acts without my instruction."
Every masked head nodded.
No questions.
No arguments.
The warehouse fell silent once again.
Ada looked at Tobi.
For the first time since they had been kidnapped...
She realized this nightmare wasn't ending tonight.
Thousands of kilometres away...
The turquoise waters surrounding The Muraka shimmered beneath the late afternoon sun.
From above, the villas looked like pearls scattered across the Indian Ocean. Gentle waves lapped against the wooden walkways as staff made their final preparations for the day's arrivals.
Inside the famous underwater suite, everything was exactly as planned.
Fresh orchids rested on the bedside table.
A welcome basket of tropical fruits had been arranged with care.
Soft music drifted quietly through the luxurious living room while colourful fish glided gracefully past the floor-to-ceiling glass walls beneath the sea.
Every detail had been prepared for one special couple.
Mr. and Mrs. Tobi.
A guest relations officer glanced at her tablet and smiled.
"They should have arrived by now."
Another member of staff looked up from the reception desk.
"The airport host hasn't checked them in yet?"
She shook her head.
"I'll call and confirm."
A few minutes later, she returned, her smile replaced with a puzzled expression.
"Their flight landed on schedule."
"And?"
"Our airport representative waited at the arrivals lounge."
"They never came."
The room fell quiet.
"Perhaps they missed the transfer?"
"The speedboat captain waited for over an hour."
"They weren't there either."
Another staff member frowned.
"Have you tried calling them?"
"I have."
"No answer."
She tried Tobi's number again.
The automated voice responded politely.
"The number you have dialled is currently unavailable."
A brief silence followed.
The guest relations officer opened the reservation details once more.
"An emergency contact was provided."
She looked at the name.
Dara.
She picked up the telephone and took a slow breath.
"I'll give her a call."
Thousands of miles away.
Dara's phone, resting on her coffee table, suddenly began to ring.
The screen displayed an unfamiliar international number.
She frowned.
"Maldives?"
For a brief moment, she smiled.
"Maybe Ada wants to surprise me with a video call."
She answered cheerfully.
"Hello?"
A gentle voice came through the line.
"Good evening. Am I speaking with Miss Dara?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Good evening. My name is Sophia, calling from The Muraka. I'm calling regarding the reservation for Mr. and Mrs. Tobi..."
Dara's smile widened.
"Oh! Have they finally checked in?"
There was a brief pause.
"I'm afraid... that's why I'm calling."
The smile slowly disappeared from Dara's face.
- Writer
