"Calmed down first. Take a breath." After hearing him take some breath, I continue talking. "Greg, now tell me, where did you last see Vince?" I spoke calmly, even though worry was building up inside me.
I don't know why, but it reminds me of the uneasiness I felt before when Mr. Jimmy and I were on our way to Conflagro City. It was only after finding out about the death of my family that I understood why I felt uneasiness and heartache at that time.
As Greg took a shaky breath, I couldn't help but sense the undercurrent of fear and distress in the air.
"Greg, focus. Where did you last see Vince?" I repeated, my words measured to maintain a facade of composure. Inside, however, a storm of worry and memories threatened to engulf me. The echoes of past losses reverberated in my mind, intertwining with the present uncertainty about Vince's whereabouts.
His response came in fragmented sentences, a mix of anxiety and confusion. "We were... near the park... chatting... and then he said... he needed to go... somewhere. I thought... he'd be back soon... but it's been hours... I checked everywhere..."
"Where are you right now?"
"I.. I am here in the park."
"Okay. Just stay there. I'm coming." I hurriedly took my bag and left the class without even asking for permission from my teacher.
My heart is racing, and I can't calm down. It's as if another tragedy is bound to happen in my life.
When I get near the park, I see Greg sitting, his face showing deep worry. His eyebrows are drawn together, and there's a sad, troubled look in his eyes. He is fidgety, shifting around as if trying to find comfort.
His gaze darts around, searching for any sign of Vince. Every passing moment without news makes his worry more visible. It's like the weight of concern is etched on his face, and he can't shake off the unease. His eyes, usually filled with theatrics, now mirror genuine vulnerability that strikes a chord within me.
"Greg," I called out, trying to sound calm.
When his eyes met mine, he runs towards me, hugs me, and cries out loud.
"Brother Blaze, Vince... I can't see Vince! Let's search for Vince. Help me search for Vince. Come on! Let's look for Vince!"
"We will! We will look for him. Calm down first." I gently pat his back, trying to soothe him, though my words are not just meant for him but also for myself.
"We'll find him, Greg. Stay calm. Let's figure out where he might be, and we'll solve this together." I try to sound reassuring.
He lets go of me from his embrace when he somehow manages to calm down.
But when I look at him, there's profound sadness in his gaze, as if the mere thought of losing someone he considers family is almost unbearable.
Just as we sit down on the bench, I open my backpack and get my laptop. I hacked the CCTV footages around the area, replaying it to the scenes where Vince was still around.
The footage shows us that Vince was about to enter the ice cream shop when a car stops near him. Two people get out and grab him. They shove him inside the car and leave.
I zoom in to see the plate number of the car. Then try if I can able to track down its owner.
Greg's eyes widen in surprise when he sees the faces of the couple on my laptop screen.
"It's them! The rich couple who adopted us. Brother Blaze, what are we gonna do? Vince... We need to save Vince." His voice is trembling while he's clenching his fists.
My brows furrow, and my eyes flicker with a mix of anger and fear. It's like a whirlwind inside me, making my usual calm expression crumble.
In the past month of living with them, I always find them annoying. But only now I realize they somehow managed to enter my life and made me care for them. That explains the fear and anger I'm feeling right now.
The last time I tried to search for the information of that rich couple through their phone number, I find out the number is no longer in use. It was only used that day when they brought Greg and Vince here in Sparks Country.
There were no messages saved on that phone; it seems they only communicate through calls. So I didn't able to find out their information, especially because the number isn't registered.
Trying to keep my composure, I continue tracking down the whereabouts of the car they used when they kidnapped Vince. Luckily, this time the car was actually registered to their real name. Finally, I managed to find its location.
It is currently parked in the private property of a well-known scientist of Sparks Country named Dr. Klein. I hacked the CCTV cameras there and saw the car being parked inside the garage. I tried searching for the whereabouts of Vince, but I cannot find him.
Beads of sweat started to flow out from my forehead. I'm starting to lose my composure. Time keeps running, and I'm starting to lose hope.
Then I saw a red light flicker at the ground near where the car was parked. It seems there is an underground passage there. I tried if I can hack through it, but the firewall is quite strong. I needed to be near that area to gain access to the security of that hidden passage.
I pack my laptop and suddenly get up. I see Greg's eager eyes looking at me. "Brother, did you find him? Are we going to see him now?" His voice is laced with worry and anticipation.
I want to tell him to stay here or better go home. But the expression on his face changes my mind. "Let's go and bring back Vince home."
Luckily, there were no guards around; it seems the owner has full trust in the security system installed in his house. Unlucky for him, I can get through his firewall and gain access to it.
I was able to open the secret passage inside the garage, and we entered it. I tried hacking for footages inside the passage, but it seems there are no cameras around there.
Damn it! I won't be able to know where Vince is. I don't even know how many people are inside.
While holding a stun gun in my hand, we silently move forward. Our every step is full of caution. As we get near the door where lights were emitting from inside, we heard voices of people talking.
"Where's the money? We already agreed that once we bring a kid here you'll pay us." It was the voice of a man who spoke with agitation.
The windows in that room were covered by curtains, but there was a small gap in one of the windows. We tried to peek inside. What we see are apparatuses and instruments used for experiments.
Then we saw a man standing near the door; it seems he's the one who just spoke a moment ago. They seem to be quarreling about something related to money, but we can't see the other people inside.
As we look around, we see Vince lying down on a somewhat operating table, unconscious.
The fear of losing someone I cared about again grips me, twisting my gut into knots, as thoughts of what might happen to Vince plague my mind. It's written all over my face – the widened eyes, the furrowed brows, and the subtle quiver in my lower lip. Every line on my face tells a story of concern and anxiety, an emotional storm that I can't contain.
Fists clench tightly, fingers pressing into palms, ready for action. The relaxed jawline becomes sharp and defined, signaling a newfound strength fueled by the burning desire to protect Vince at all costs.
The strong emotions I'm feeling right now make me ignore the consequences of my actions. I'm ready to barge in, but suddenly someone knocks me unconscious from behind.
As I open my eyes, I see the face of Dr. Klein smiling at me. I'm now lying on an operating table where my hands and feet are tied to the bed.
"You're up. Great, you truly fascinate me. You're the one I've been looking for. The perfect test subject for my experiment. I will make you into my greatest masterpiece."
His face twists into an eerie grin, eyes gleaming with malice, as a wicked laugh escapes from his lips, sending shivers down my spine.
Fear creeps in inside me. But when I remember Greg and Vince, I look around, but I can't see them.
Where are they being held? What am I gonna do now? Is this my end? But I haven't gotten my revenge yet.
While I'm immersed in my thoughts, Dr. Klein injects something into me. My eyes turn dark, and my mind goes blank.