Maya's kidnap
1193 Words
Chapter Six: Maya's Kidnap
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Anita’s small, cozy kitchen. She moved briskly, buttering toast and filling lunchboxes as her younger siblings sat at the table, still groggy from sleep.
“Maya, don’t forget your science project,” Anita reminded, her tone firm yet affectionate.
“I’ve got it, I’ve got it,” Maya replied, stuffing a folder into her backpack.
Jordan yawned loudly. “Do we have to go to school today?”
“Yes,” Anita said, ruffling his hair. “And don’t give your teacher a hard time.”
Within minutes, they were in the car, Anita maneuvering through the morning traffic. At the school drop-off, she leaned over to kiss each of them on the forehead.
“Be good, and I’ll see you this afternoon,” she said.
They chorused their goodbyes, and Anita watched them disappear into the school gates before heading back home.
---
Across town, Don climbed into his father’s truck, his backpack slung over one shoulder. Jacob glanced at him as they drove, noticing the way Don stared out the window, lost in thought.
“You’ve been quiet lately,” Jacob said, his voice gentle but probing. “Something on your mind?”
Don shifted in his seat, trying to mask his thoughts. “Nothing really. Just college stuff.”
“Hmm,” Jacob murmured, clearly unconvinced. After a pause, he added, “You’ve been smiling at random moments too. Did you meet someone?”
The question caught Don off guard, and he felt his cheeks flush. “What? No. I mean... not really.”
Jacob chuckled, his knowing smile betraying that he saw through Don’s denial. “Whoever she is, I hope she’s worth all the daydreaming you’ve been doing.”
Don tried to laugh it off, but his mind was already drifting back to Anita.
---
Anita spent the rest of her morning hunched over her laptop, sending out resumes and browsing job listings. Her financial situation was tight, and she felt the pressure to find work quickly.
After hours of searching, she stumbled upon a listing for an office assistant position. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was something. Anita applied immediately, setting an interview for the following day.
She leaned back in her chair, exhaling deeply. The thought of starting over in a less prestigious role stung, but her siblings’ needs came first.
---
At college, Don sat with Marcus and Theo in the bustling canteen hall, a tray of food in front of him.
“Alright, spill,” Marcus said, leaning forward. “You’ve been acting weird all week.”
Don hesitated, then decided to share. “I met someone. At the park.”
Marcus and Theo exchanged a look, their curiosity piqued.
“She’s... different,” Don continued. “Older. Smart. Strong. And way out of my league.”
“Wait,” Theo interrupted, his eyes wide. “Is this the same woman who gave you a ride the other day?”
Don nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. Her name’s Anita.”
Before they could press him further, the group of bullies from the quad sauntered over, their leader Derek sneering.
“Well, if it isn’t the park boy,” Derek said. “Still dreaming about your fairy tale romance?”
Don stood up, his calm exterior masking the frustration boiling beneath. “Walk away, Derek.”
“Or what?” Derek taunted, stepping closer.
Without warning, Don threw a punch, catching Derek off guard. The canteen erupted in chaos as tables tipped over and students scrambled to get out of the way. Don’s friends tried to pull him back, but he fought with a quiet fury, determined to end the torment once and for all.
By the time the fight was broken up, Don’s shirt was torn, and his knuckles were bruised, but he stood tall, his reputation as the college’s quiet enigma now cemented in a new light.
---
Back at the school, Maya and her brothers waited near the gates for Anita to pick them up.
“Where is she?” Jordan asked, glancing at his watch.
“She’s probably stuck in traffic,” Maya said.
An elderly woman nearby dropped her purse, its contents spilling onto the ground. Always eager to help, Maya approached her. “Here, let me help you.”
The woman smiled sweetly as Maya gathered the scattered items. But before Maya realized what was happening, a black van pulled up beside them.
“Maya!” Jordan screamed as two men grabbed her and shoved her into the van.
The vehicle sped off, leaving the boys in shock.
When Anita arrived minutes later, she found them pale and trembling.
“Where’s Maya?” she asked, panic rising in her voice.
“They took her,” Jordan said, his voice shaking. “A van... they took her!”
Anita’s heart stopped. “What do you mean? Who took her?”
“I don’t know!” Jordan cried. “She was helping a lady, and then these men came and grabbed her.”
Anita’s mind raced as she pulled out her phone and called the police.
---
Jacob was on his way to pick up Don when he spotted Anita’s car pulled over by the side of the road. She was pacing frantically, her phone pressed to her ear.
“Anita?” Jacob called out, pulling over.
She turned, her face etched with worry. “Maya’s been kidnapped.”
“What?” Jacob’s expression darkened. “Get in. We’ll find her.”
---
Meanwhile, Don stood outside the college gates, his frustration mounting as he checked his watch. His father was late. Again.
Fed up, he ordered a cab, muttering under his breath about the unreliability of everyone around him.
---
The search for Maya intensified as police cars flooded the streets. Anita clung to Jacob’s words of reassurance, but her mind was consumed with fear.
At the precinct, Anita’s former boss Ronald sat under intense questioning. The officers leaned in, their voices sharp.
“What do you know about the k********g?”
Ronald hesitated, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “I’ve been getting threats,” he admitted. “About Ramirez. They wanted me to help get him released.”
“Who’s ‘they’?” the officer pressed.
Ronald shook his head. “I don’t know. They never said.”
The officers exchanged a glance, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together.
---
As the night wore on, the tension in Anita’s car was palpable. Jacob drove with a determined focus, his eyes scanning every street and alley.
“Do you have any idea who might be behind this?” Jacob asked.
Anita hesitated, then nodded. “It has to be connected to Ramirez. He’s the only one with a grudge against me big enough to do something like this.”
Jacob’s jaw tightened. “We’ll find her, Anita. I promise.”
But even as he said the words, doubt gnawed at him. Time was running out, and they still had no leads.
---
To be continued.....
- Writer
