Chapter 71
Little Lucia's POV.
I woke up to a slight headache.
I could feel my head pounding, I opened my eyes and surveyed my surroundings.
I was in a very small room which was similar to a storeroom.
There were empty cartons of goods and some spear parts.
I was tied to a chair with some thick white ropes.
How did I get here? I thought.
Then I remember what happened earlier.
It was a Wednesday which was a sports day in my school as usual.
At first, I was feeling a little reluctant to go to school as I wasn't feeling too well but I decided to go since I don't have my mom worrying too much about me.
The day went on normally and when it was time for sports I went downstairs with my other classmates to the sports ground.
Later I felt a little pressed and decided to use the bathroom.
I went to the lady's room and after I had finished doing my business, I went out.
I was about to head back to the sports field when I saw a man.
He called out to me, I didn't want to answer at first but when he kept on calling I decided to just answer him.
He claimed that he wanted to make inquiries and asked me for directions.
I was reluctant at first but I later accepted and directed him, I was about to turn back when I felt a sharp pain in my neck and that's the last thing I remembered.
I wished I didn't listen to the stranger then this wouldn't have happened.
Looking back at myself, I realized that I had probably been Kidnapped.
But why?
Who would dare kidnap me? And for what reason.
Then I remembered, I checked myself and was a little relieved to know that my sportswear was still intact.
So how long was I out? 
Because judging from the brightness outside, it seemed like morning.
I looked around to see if there was any bottles or knife around but there wasn't anything.
So I have no choice but to wait, I just have to wait and see what happens.
****
Stella's POV.
It's been 24hours since my daughter was kidnapped and there was still no news about her.
The Tracker Watch had already been disposed of by the kidnappers making it difficult for us to locate where Lucia was.
What am I going to do? 
What if my daughter is in danger?
What do those kidnappers want? 
What's their motive for kidnapping Lucia? 
I had been thinking it was probably My ex-boyfriend, Rick that kidnapped her but what if he isn't the one? 
What if those that kidnapped her are human traffickers? 
What if they wanted her dead? 
What if they are terrorists? 
What if? What if? 
With all these thoughts going on in my head I couldn't think straight.
I don't know what to feel.
I have lost my appetite for food and water.
After being discharged from the hospital I haven't left my room.
I want to go in search of Lucia but where would I look? 
If she was truly kidnapped how will I know where to look for?
Perhaps I am being a bad mother by not looking everywhere for my daughter but something tells me that it will be of no use.
Lucia darling, where are you?
Why can't we locate or find you anywhere? 
Why? 
Then I heard my phone ringing with an incoming call.
It was from an unknown number.
I hesitated a little before I picked it up.
" Hello? " 
" Oh, oh, Nice to meet you, Stella, how are you doing? " 
" Cut the crap, Rick! Where's my daughter Lucia? " 
" You've got an attitude, I like it but have you forgotten that she's my daughter too? " 
" Your daughter? Didn't you reject her when she was just a fetus? So why now? What do you want? " 
" It doesn't matter whether or not I rejected her before but the fact that she's still my flesh and blood remains the same! Now listen to me carefully, Stella if you want your daughter alive then you'll have to do as I say, got it? " 
" Yes. " 
" Good, now you will go to the bank and withdraw a sum of 10million USD and then you'll bring it to the address I'll send to you now and note, no one must know about this, no one if you want to see your daughter Alive. "
" 10 million USD??? Are you crazy? Where will I get that from? " 
" Oh really? Do you think I am not aware of how much a simple cleaner of Quinn's group gets monthly? And you aren't just any employee but the assistant to the Ceo so cut the crap and do as I say if you want to see your daughter Alive or do you want to see her dead body instead? , The choice is yours to make you know, darling. " 
" You bastard! How dare you do this! Don't you have a heart at all? " 
" You have one minute left to speak or your daughter will be dead. " 
" How should I believe that my daughter is really with you? What if you are just making all this up to swindle money from me? " 
" Oh? Do you think I am a child to play childish games? Anyways if that's what you want then.... " 
Soon, muffled crying sounds were heard, though it was very low, Stella could still recognize her own Daughter's voice.
" So you don't want to let your mom hear your voice? , Hit her harder! " Rick's Vicious voice was heard from the other end followed by a slapping sound.
Still, Lucia refused to scream, her cries were still muffled.
Hearing this, Stella's heart ached, she understood why Lucia didn't want to cry out, the latter didn't want her to be worried about her but how could she not worry when her only Daughter is in Pain? 
How? 
" She's still not screaming, hit her harder till she ---- " 
" Stop it! Please stop! I'll come and give you the money, please let my daughter go!, Please! " I begged, Tears were streaming down my face uncontrollably but I was too occupied to care.
" Good, I see that you are very smart, I'll send the address to you soon and remember, tell no one or your daughter will be silenced forever. " 
" Okay. " I nodded though he couldn't see me.
The line went off and I soon got a message with an address.
658 candlewood lane, Cabot cove Country A...