Chapter 1: The day Luna disappeared
It was Luna's sixth birthday, and her family had planned something special. After saving for months, Victor and Margaret finally had enough money to take their children to an amusement park for a memorable day.
Before they entered the park, Victor reached into his pocket and brought out two matching bracelets.
“Here, Ethan. And here, Luna,” he said, handing one to each child. Their names were carefully engraved on the bracelets.
“These are for protection. May God always guide you back to me, no matter where life takes you. As long as you wear these, remember that you belong to us. Wherever you go, you will always be our children.”
Luna's face lit up with excitement. She threw her little arms around her father.
“Thank you, Daddy! I love you!”
Victor laughed and hugged her tightly.
“I love you too, my princess.”
For Luna, it was the happiest day of her life.
She spent the afternoon riding the carousel, laughing so hard that she developed hiccups. Margaret bought her cotton candy, which left her little fingers stained pink, while Ethan teased her playfully about how much she loved sweets.
Everything seemed perfect.
But sometimes, a single moment is enough to change a family's life forever.
Later that afternoon, a sudden commotion erupted near the park entrance. Gunshots rang out, sending visitors into a panic. Screams filled the air as frightened families rushed towards the exits.
“Luna! Hold my hand!” Margaret shouted.
She grabbed Luna's little hand while Victor held Ethan close to him. But as the crowd surged forward, people pushed against one another, separating families in the chaos.
Margaret's grip slipped.
“Mummy!”
Luna's tiny voice was almost swallowed by the noise.
Margaret turned immediately, reaching desperately for her daughter.
“Luna!”
But another wave of people pushed her away before she could reach her.
Victor tried to get to his wife and children, but the crowd forced them in different directions.
“Margaret! Ethan! Luna!”
He shouted their names, struggling to make his way through the frightened visitors.
By the time the commotion began to settle, Victor had found Margaret and Ethan.
But Luna was nowhere to be seen.
“Where's Luna?” Margaret asked, looking around frantically.
Victor's expression changed.
“What do you mean? Isn't she with you?”
Margaret stared at him, her face draining of colour.
“I was holding her hand. I swear I was holding her hand!”
“LUNA!” Victor screamed.
There was no answer.
“Mummy! Daddy! Ethan! Where are you?”
Some distance away, Luna wandered through the nearly deserted park, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I'm scared,” she sobbed. “Why did you let go of my hand?”
She looked around desperately, hoping to see her mother's familiar face or her father's outstretched arms.
But everywhere she turned, she saw strangers.
She clutched the bracelet on her wrist, remembering her father's promise that it would always guide her back to him.
“Daddy said I belong to them,” she whispered through her tears. “So why can't I find them?”
As the park gradually emptied, the carousel continued turning, its cheerful music playing to an almost empty space.
And beneath its glowing lights stood a little girl, alone and frightened, clutching the bracelet engraved with her name.
She didn't know where her family had gone.
She didn't know how to find her way home.
All she knew was that she wanted her mummy and daddy.
And she wanted them now.
---
Meanwhile, Victor and Margaret were falling apart.
Victor stood with his hands trembling, staring at the place where he had last seen his daughter.
“I don't deserve to be a father,” he cried. “I couldn't protect my own baby!”
Overcome with guilt, he struck his palm against his forehead.
Margaret could barely stand. Ethan held her hand as she wept uncontrollably.
“It's all my fault,” she sobbed. “I let go of her hand. I let my baby go!”
Ethan, who was only a child himself, lowered his head in shame.
“Mum, Dad, I'm to blame too. I didn't protect my baby sister. I'm such an i***t!”
Margaret immediately pulled him into her arms.
“No, sweetheart. Don't say that. You're just a child. This isn't your fault.”
She held him tightly, tears falling onto his shoulder.
“It's Mummy's fault,” she whispered. “My poor baby. Wherever you are, please be safe. Mummy loves you so much, and I promise I will never stop searching for you.”
Victor wiped his face and forced himself to stand upright.
“We're going to find her,” he said, his voice breaking. “I don't care how long it takes. We will find our daughter.”
They searched every corner of the amusement park, calling Luna's name until their voices grew hoarse. They questioned visitors, pleaded with security officers for help, and reported her disappearance to the police.
The authorities began investigating the incident, but amid the confusion and fear surrounding the gunshots, no one could tell the family where Luna