Fatima left the coffee shop and followed behind the man who called her. She breathed heavily as she followed him. She looked around, trying to figure out a plan. She looked up and saw CCTV cameras. She stares directly at them as she walks and once she passes them one by one, she looks back and stares at them again before turning around and following the man.
She felt like the world is moving so slow while her heart is beating rapidly. They turned to a corner and noticed a car waiting for them. The man opened the passenger’s seat for her as she walked slowly to the car while holding her arm. She silently entered the car and the man closed the door. It feels as if she is being escorted to the afterlife, or at least where it will end for her.
Once she entered, there was another person in the driver’s seat. The other man who she followed went to the seat beside the driver and shut the door. She heard the lock turn on and she gulped in nervousness. The two put on gas masks and her eyebrows furrowed. Smoke suddenly started in the car and she tried covering her nose. Soon enough, she inhaled too much gas and passed out.
AN HOUR AFTER FATIMA left the coffee shop, she hasn’t returned which makes Nikki worried. She called her brother on the phone in worry and he answered right away. He asked her what’s wrong and how they are in the coffee shop and she said, “it’s been an hour and Fatima hasn’t returned. I’m getting anxious.”
“Where did she say she was going?” he asked calmly and she scratched her head.
“I don’t know, she said she just wanted to get fresh air,” she answered nervously.
“Alright, we’ll look into it,” they said and she sighed before ending the call.
She calmed herself down and continued with what she was doing. A couple of minutes later, she received a call from her brother again. She quickly answered the call. “I’ll pick you up and close the shop, this is more serious than we thought,” he said and she covered her mouth to not panic. She took deep breaths before nodding and saying, “Okay.” Even if she hides it, worry is heard in her voice.
As she waits, it feels like she’s waiting days for him to show up. The amount of anxiety she is feeling right now is immense. She’s not even sure what to feel at this point. Everything is confusing her, stressing her out, making her feel anxious. She can’t help it. Not only she’s worried about Philippe, but she’s also now worried for Fatima who suddenly disappeared as well.
“Fucking hell,” she whispered under her breath and wiped her sweat.
After about an hour and thirty minutes of waiting, he arrived. She stood up from her seat and told him she’s already taken care of the coffee shop so they only need to close it. After a few minutes, they went to his car and she entered the front seat, beside him. She put on her seatbelt and he turned on the engine and started the car.
She clenched her jaw and pushed herself to ask her question because her curiosity is killing her. “You seem to know something that I don’t,” she said and he looked at her before looking back at the road. “Do you know where Philippe is now?” she further questioned him and he clenched his jaw.
“He was taken by four men that we can’t identify yet. We’re still tracking them down,” he answered and her face distorted in fear.
When they arrived at Christopher’s house in which he lives alone, Grian and a bunch of other men are in there talking while examining things on their laptops. Nikki silently watched them as she walked past, going to a spare bedroom to rest in. “Here are sleeping pills if you need any.” He handed her the pills and water.
“Will he be okay?” she asked and he sighed. He nodded his head before closing the door.
He’s a bit afraid of what can happen but he learned to control his emotions. He went back to the living room and sat down next to Grian. “Fatima is also missing,” he informed him and Grian widened his eyes and looked at his friend.
“What? Since when?” he asked, not knowing that she went missing 3 hours ago.
“Earlier before I picked up Nikki,” he informed and Grian grabbed him by the collar and clenched his jaw. He breathed heavily and said, “And you’re telling me this just now?” He let go of Christopher before going on his computer and typing something. They don’t have time to argue now.
“I already asked for the CCTV cameras around the coffee shop,” Christopher said and he looked up. Chris handed his phone to him and looked through the footage and realized that the man called her and commanded her what to do.
“Where can they be going?” he asked and Chris grabbed his phone back and showed another video of the car going on the highway. “A base, maybe? The car is still on the go,” he answered and Grian nodded.

(This is why she should have a phone, fucking hell,) Grian thought to himself as the pressure grew even more. As the other men worked, he rested his head to think. His phone suddenly started ringing and he sat properly and answered it. “William?” he asked the other line since it was him who called. He got William’s number back then because of Fatima.
“You have to help me. Fatima is taken-“ He got cut off.
“How’d you know?” Grian asked and William stopped.
“What?”
“You knew?” Will furthered.
“How did you know?” both of them asked in unison to each other. They both paused till William spoke. “Someone is threatening me using Fatima.” Grian’s eyebrows furrowed. (Is this related to Philippe?) he asked himself.
“How about Philippe?” Grian asked.
“What? He’s missing?” Will wondered and Grian sighed. He massaged his temples and closed his eyes. “I have Fatima’s location. They’re telling me to go there,” William declared and he sat up from his seat.
“Come here right now,” he commanded before ending the call and sending him the address of Christopher’s house.
FATIMA WOKE UP WITH her hands tied up and she tried to free herself. “Where am I?!” she screamed and no one answered. She looked around the dark room and couldn’t see anything. She struggled with the rope around her hand and ankles when every light in the room turned on and almost blinded her.
She blinked a couple of times as she tried to look around again. In front of her is Philippe that’s tied up and passed out. Her eyes widened and she looked at him with worry. “PHILIPPE! PHILIPPE!!” she screamed loudly and he moved a little. “PHILIPPE!” she screamed even louder and he opened his eyes. He tried moving his hands but couldn’t. He looked around the room and it took him a moment to see his sister.
“Fatima!” he exclaimed.
“Are you okay?” she asked and he nodded profusely. Two people in masks came inside, one was a woman and the other one was a man. The siblings looked at the pair with furrowed eyebrows. “Who are you?” Fatima boldly asked.
“You can call me your aunt, or maybe like a second mother,” the woman said and laughed before bending down and holding Fatima’s chin. She moved her head abruptly, making the woman lose her grip.
“I don’t know you,” she answered and the woman laughed before taking off her mask.
“Doesn’t ring a bell?” she asked and Fatima’s eyes widened.
“Mother of..”
“William?”
The woman stood up and smiled before walking to her partner. “What do you want?” Fatima asked her and she squinted her eyes. “My son will obey me. I choose to take you, hostage, since he’s close to you.. and, someone made the request to take you as well so it’s like hitting two birds with one stone.”
“Don’t worry, your brother can be set free if you make a deal with us,” she negotiated.
“Fatima, no!” Philippe shouted and the three turned to him. The man grabbed a rope and put it around his mouth.
“But.. I love playing games and so does the person who asked to get you.. I’d let you go for now,” she whispered in Fatima's ear. The woman looked at her clock and after a few seconds, a big door opened. The pair started running in the opposite direction to a smaller door.
Fatima couldn’t process anything but she heard people calling for her and police surrounding the area. Grian appeared in front of her and started untying her ankles while Christopher untied her hands behind her back. Others also helped Philippe.
“It wouldn’t be fun without some damage..” the woman whispered to herself before clicking a button. Something blew up in the room, and the police didn’t expect it. A single bullet was also heard getting shot but they don’t know who got shot.