Sliding the curtains of my bedroom, I welcomed the gentle morning rays as they bathed the room in a warm glow, casting a serene ambiance over the space.
With a quick change into my gym wear, I laced up my trainers and eagerly headed out the door, ready to tackle my morning workout.
The refreshing session left me feeling invigorated, and I couldn't resist flexing my muscles in the mirror before indulging in a relaxing bath.
Call it vanity, but I can't help but admire myself—it's a love affair with my own reflection.
Emerging from the shower, I slipped into my casual attire and sighed contentedly, only to be interrupted by the unmistakable grumble of my stomach.
Hunger pangs reminded me of the most important meal of the day.
Descending the stairs to the kitchen, I sensed something amiss.
The usual aroma that greeted me was absent, replaced instead by the sterile, mechanical scent of the air conditioner.
The warmth that usually enveloped the room was absent. Peering into the empty kitchen, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over me.
It was as if the space had lost its soul overnight, leaving behind an eerie emptiness that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Sir, I've ordered a standard morning breakfast for you as Mrs. Chloe has taken an emergency day off, and she also requested you to call her once you're free," Keith's voice echoed through the empty house, breaking through my thoughts.
"Emergency day off? Did she leave any other words?" I inquired, a sense of concern creeping into my voice as Keith shook his head in response.
Without wasting another moment, I dialed Mrs. Chloe's number, my heart pounding with apprehension as I awaited her response.
"Mrs. Chloe, is everything alright?" I asked as soon as the call connected.
"Oh, Zephyr dear, I—" Her voice faltered, interrupted by a sudden outpouring of sobs, each one laden with anguish and sorrow.
I waited patiently until she was able to regain her composure, the silence on the line feeling heavy with anticipation.
"It's Mia, she went missing. I don't think the police are of any use. I-I need your help, Zephyr," Mrs. Chloe finally managed to choke out, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.
"I'll be right there," I promised without hesitation, already formulating a plan of action in my mind as I ended the call.
.
.
.
"Any damn information?" I roared, frustration boiling over as I hurled the papers across the room.
"No, sir. All we know is the intruder came around midnight. He knew the right window to Mia's room, tied her brother to the bed, and wore grey sweats with a black mask covering his whole face. He took her with him in their family's old truck. That's all we've found, sir," Keith responded, his voice kept low in an attempt to diffuse the tension.
"That's what the police found too! It's been three days, three freaking days since she went missing, and you can't find one damn thing!" I slammed my fist onto the table, feeling utterly powerless in the face of Mia's disappearance.
Snatching my car keys, I stormed out of the room, my anger fueling each determined stride as I made my way to the garage.
The open road beckoned, offering a temporary escape from the suffocating weight of uncertainty.
As I drove through the lanes, the sun setting on the horizon painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, casting an ethereal glow over the landscape.
Slowly, my tense muscles began to relax, until my attention was abruptly drawn to a familiar figure walking along the pathway—Kate, entering a nearby restaurant.
Parking my car hastily, I followed her inside, hoping that perhaps in her presence, I could find some semblance of solace amidst the chaos of Mia's disappearance.
"Zephyr, I still can't believe you had time to roam around the city and spot me," Kate said, pulling out a chair for me.
"I just needed some distraction," I replied, absently drumming my fingers on the table.
"Is everything alright?" Kate's concern was evident as she reached out to rub my arm.
"Mrs. Chloe's granddaughter was kidnapped three days ago, and we still couldn't find her," I explained, watching as worry clouded Kate's eyes.
"That's so bad, like really bad," Kate murmured, taking a moment to process the gravity of the situation.
"Hey, don't worry, okay? She must be fine. We'll find her soon," I reassured her, noticing her zoning out.
"I know, I know how it feels," she replied slowly, her gaze fixed on something in the distance.
"You know? What do you mean you know?" I asked, trying to keep my voice low.
"I was kidnapped when my parents were out of town, That guy wore blue casuals, cut the phone lines, he locked my sister, Grace in the cupboard , blindfolded me and took me away. He assaulted me , bathed me, clipped my nails, brushed and flossed my teeth . After a few days he left me somewhere near my home blindfolded and wrapped in a garbage bag, I was only twelve Zephyr , I was one of that. (sigh) Mr.Cruel's victim" She spoke as her eyes didn't move an inch but I could already see the freshly building tears in her eyes.
"Heyy, its okay its all in the past, all that matters now is you are safe, having a happy life" I held onto her hand rubbing smooth circles with my thumb. She gave a nod and looked up trying to control her tears.
But for some reason, I felt the case of Mia was quite similar. Kate's sister was locked in the cupboard, Mia's brother was tied to the bed .
The intruder wore casuals and Mia's brother said he wore a mask.
"Kate, by any chance did that Mr. Cruel guy wear any mask or did you see his face?" Kate shook her head as a no.
"I could only see his eyes , his face was fully covered" and now I could connect the dots , Mia was also a little eleven year old girl .
Just when I was about to raise another question I got a text message from Keith . It was a picture of a little girl wrapped in black garbage bags being rescued by a group of police .
He also sent a message which read
"Mia is found, she is safe"
and now everything made sense, whoever this Mr. Cruel was , he is back.