The holiday was almost over. Cedar Heights felt like a distant memory, replaced by the quiet streets of our neighborhood. For the first few days, I tried to cling to normalcy—laughing with my siblings, sipping cocoa with Maya during our sleepover, and trying not to think about Eden's family. But the memory of that dinner—and the secrets I had overheard—never left my mind.
It was a cloudy afternoon when the first sign of danger appeared.
The ArrivalI was in the kitchen unpacking groceries with Maya helping me, laughter filling the room. My siblings were in their rooms, playing video games, oblivious to the outside world.
The doorbell rang sharply, echoing through the house. Mom wasn't home; she had gone to the store. Dad was out for a quick errand.
"Strange," I muttered. "Who could that be?"
Maya shrugged, standing a little closer to me. "Maybe it's… a delivery?"
Before I could answer, the door burst open. A tall, cold-eyed man in black entered, moving with the precision of someone trained to be lethal.
"You're Aisha Williams?" His voice was low, steady, chilling.
I froze. Maya stepped in front of me. "Who are you?" she demanded, trying to sound brave, though her hands were shaking.
"I'm here on… business," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "You've been listening."
ConfrontationMaya's eyes widened. "Listening to what?"
The hitman's gaze narrowed. "Don't play innocent. The cameras at Eden's house caught you. You know too much."
My stomach dropped. I realized immediately—the CCTV… Eden's family… they knew.
Maya grabbed my hand. "You won't take her. I won't let you!"
The man smirked, stepping forward. He moved faster than my mind could react, grabbing me by the arm and yanking me backward. "Move, or she gets hurt."
Maya tried to push him, but he slapped her hard across the face, sending her sprawling against the wall. I screamed, but his grip didn't loosen.
The VanBefore I could react, the man threw me into a sleek black van waiting outside. Maya tried to climb in after me, tears streaming, anger in her eyes. "No! I'm not letting you take her!"
The man turned, his fist colliding with her cheek with a sharp crack. She fell back, dazed and bruised, as the door slammed shut behind me.
The van roared to life, tires screeching against the pavement. The world outside blurred as we sped away, my heart hammering in my chest, every instinct screaming danger.
Inside the VanThe interior of the van was dark and cold. I tried to pull away, but the man's grip was iron-strong. He didn't speak, didn't smile, just glared at me, and every second felt like an eternity.
I glanced at Maya through the rear window as we drove past—her hands raised, trying to shield herself from the reality of what just happened. She looked terrified, but also determined, refusing to give up.
I shivered. "Where… where are we going?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"To the company headquarters," he said flatly. "Your friend's bravery won't save her. And you… will answer questions."
Maya's CaptureThe van lurched, turning sharply, and I felt my stomach drop. Maya had tried to fight back again, and the hitman's hand shot out, grabbing her hair and yanking her inside. She screamed, struggling, but it was useless.
He threw her beside me, bruised and trembling. "Quiet," he commanded. His eyes were steel. "No heroes today. You two follow instructions, and you'll be unharmed."
I could feel the panic rising in my chest. My hands shook. I wanted to scream, wanted to run, wanted to vanish into thin air, but the man's presence was like a wall of ice.
The SuspenseWe drove for what felt like hours. The city lights blurred past, and every turn of the road made my heart leap. Maya's hand found mine, squeezing tightly. Her eyes were wide, desperate.
"We'll get out… we have to," she whispered, trying to steady both of us.
I nodded, but deep down I knew—we were at the mercy of someone trained to be unstoppable. Someone who would follow orders without hesitation.
And somewhere inside, I realized this was only the beginning. The holiday was ending… but our real nightmare was just beginning.