12 SAVE MY DAUGTHER

NELSON' S FAMILY

It was a sunny Friday morning, everyone was in a rush preparing to set off for the Cultural heritage program at Radiant Star International but Aims was lazily sleeping her head off.

Solidad scanned the whole house like a satellite in search of Aimscious but didn't see any sign of her.

" Have you guys come across Aims anywhere? –we're getting late" She asked and everyone shrugged with the exception of Betty.

" I'm sure she's in her room, I'll go bring her down in a minute " She replied with a giggle and run off towards Aimscious' room.

Bang! bang! bang!!

Aimscious felt a hit on her head from an unknown source which made her cried out from sleep.

" Wake up and get ready we're getting late" A voice invaded. She opened her eyes and slowly turned towards the direction of the voice.

" Ouch , Betty " She howled on noticing her. "What was that for? –It badly hurts" She groaned, wearing a frown as she held her head. "Let me sleep a little longer." She pleaded to which Betty smiled.

With the said of that, she tossed back to bed , covering her whole body with her blanket. Betty pulled the blanket, sending her rolling on the floor.

" Have you forgotten what day today is? – It's our school's cultural heritage day and if we get there late, you won't be able to partake in the dance." She teasingly replied which made her sprung out of bed.

"Oh, no! , I almost forgot – oh God i'm damn late!

Betty you should have woke me up earlier."

She exclaimed with her back fading into the bath room. Betty returned to the hall, laughing.

" Crazy girl" She teased.

In few hours, Aimscious joined them downstairs, all dressed and ready to roll.

"Hurry and finish with your breakfast, dad will be here with the cab soon" Solidad announced to which she sat to her food. Just then, they heard a knock on the door.

"I'll get that– i'm sure is dad" Nicole raced off to the door. He pulled it opened and smiled.

"It's Mart." He announced from the door as he welcomed him in.

"Mart?–What's he doing here this early, I thought he might already be at school" Aimscious wondered.

"Come in" Nicole led him in and he mumbled his thanks.

"I wanted to join you for the Cultural heritage program so I came to check if you guys were ready" He explained his mission with a smile which in turn, cleared Aimscious' doubts. Yet still she felt a bit nervous with his presence. After a while, they heard a horn outside.

"It's time to go" Nelson called from the cab, with that, the hall was thrown in ruckus. They soon joined him outside and they all set off to the venue.

RADIANT STAR INTERNATIONAL

Their cab soon pulled over at the gate, Lilia was waiting at the gate as usual–Aimscious on seeing her, hurried down and hugged her.

Lilia became angry when she realized Mart came with them but didn't make it obvious to Aims' notice. She faked a smile and pulled her towards the hall.

" Come , come –They're starting the program " She mumbled.Betty, Mart and Nicole laughed at the scene and led their parents to the hall.

Soon, the program was set in motion. Everybody present was enjoying the drama. It's was almost time for the dance when suddenly, Lilia came to call Aimscious.

"Principal is looking for you" She said.

" Why and what for– I'm next to go on stage" She asked.

" I don't know Aims,I think its urgent." Lilia replied with a sneer in her voice.

"It's almost time for the dance and i'll be going on stage soon–Can't it wait, why now?" Aimscious murmured her concern.

"I'm sure you'll be back before time. Let's go and stop wasting more time." She urged her.

" Alright , where is he."

"At the restroom" Lilia replied and Aimscious rose to her feet.

"I'll be back soon"

Aimscious told her family and left with Lilia. Halfway to the restroom, Lilia excused herself .

"Um, Aimscious, sorry but I forgot something at the hall so I've got to go check it– You'll have to go alone , will see you later." She said.

"Okay Li, don't worry, i'm fine. Will be with you soon." Aimscious replied.

When Lilia saw that Aimscious was far from her, she hid at a corner to make sure her plan worked.

She instinctively glanced through the empty hall with a furrowed brow – there was no sign of the Principal anywhere.

"I thought Lilia said he was here" She wondered. After noticing she may had missed the right info, she turned to leave but suddenly felt a sharp pain

at the back of her neck which made her scream out in pain and fell to the ground– her vision became blur and she fell unconscious.

THE SCHOOL HALL

The rest of the family waited for her but it seems she had taken longer than they had expected.

"Why is she not back?" Betty mumbled. "Aims is keeping too long over there–It's their turn to perform but there is no sign of her anywhere."

"Don't worry Betty– she'll be here soon. " Nicole and Mart assured her.

"No , I'm having a bad feeling about this– let's go look for her." With that, they all left the hall in search of her.

RESTROOM

Lilia watched Aimscious who was lying on the floor unconscious and sneered.

"I'm sorry bestie, but no one takes what belongs to me and go scot free" She stated and turned to the girls. "Finish the job." She added with a sinister smile.

They were about to pour the acid on her when they heard footsteps coming towards their direction. They instinctively fled from the scene.

Aimscious! Aimscious!! Aimscious!!!!

Mart, Lilia and Nicole called but had no response.

"Where could she be ?" Mart asked worried.

They opened the door of the restroom and was marvelled at what they saw.

"Aimscious!!! " They screamed and knelt by her lifeless body.

"What happened to you?– who did this to you? " Mart asked shaking her violently.

"Call the ambulance!!– Someone ,please!! " Betty howled in tears and turned her attention back to her sister. "Aims please hung in there" She cried. Nicole on that rushed to call their parents and Mart carried her on his back, rushing off to the gate.

HALL

On closing up on her parents, Nicole fumbled.

"Mum!, Dad!– come , Aims " He cried, pulling them out. Solidad who wasn't clearing getting his point shouted.

" Why !– what's wrong with Aims"

" She is dying–Aims is dying " He stuttered.

" Where ?– Take us there now. Let's go." Nelson exclaimed.

"At the gate!!!"

Nicole together with his parents, teachers and other parents and students rushed to the gate.

GATE

Mart and Betty stood at the gate impatiently with Aimscious, waiting for the ambulance which finally arrived .

"Betty, I'll go with the ambulance– wait here, when your family comes ,then you come with them to the hospital." Mart said.

"No, I'll go with you, please." She insisted.

"Betty please understand, let me go with them. Don't worry, I'll make sure Aims is safe– Trust me".

Mart convincingly replied to which Betty finally agreed.

The ambulance soon speed off, leaving Betty at the gate in tears. She watched the tail of the ambulance disappear from her view with a depressed and frustrated gaze– Their parents and Nicole got there to meet their absence.

"Where is Aims –where is she ,where is my daughter?

Solidad cried with tears choking her. Nelson and Nicole held here consoling.

"At the hospital now" Betty soaked in tears.

"Let's go now, I want to see my daughter....!" Solidad pressed and the rest agreed.

Not wasting anymore time, Solidad, Nelson , Betty and Nicole stopped a cab nearby and set off to the hospital.

HOSPITAL

The ambulance arrived and Aimscious was rushed into the emergency room. Mart followed them but was stopped at the entrance.

" Please wait here" The nurse uttered and faded in.

Mart stood at the waiting base, restless. Soon, Betty and her family came running towards him.

“Where's she ? – How's she ? They asked.

“In there" He answered, his face flushed with worry as

he points towards the direction of the emergency room. They stood at the hall impatiently, praying.

“God please save my baby” Solidad prayed.

Just then, they suddenly heard the emergency room door, open. They rushed towards the door.

“She's out of danger now" The doctor announced which swept relieve through everyone.

“Doctor, please tell us – what happened to her, why did she faint?” Nelson asked.

“She suffered from internal bleeding due to a strong hit on the neck but she is fine now. We'll keep her here for today– You can go and see her now but please don't disturb , she needs to rest. ” The doctor replied and left.

They went in to see how she was doing. She was sleeping when they got in so no one woke her up.

“Since she's out of danger now, I think you should go home with Betty and Nicole. I'll stay here and take care of her.” Solidad told Nelson to which he agreed.

He called Betty and Nicole and left with them with the exception of Mart who stayed back.

“Mart?" Solidad called.

“Yes, ma'am” He answered.

“You can also go home now, your parents must be worried about you.” She said but he stubbornly refused.

“ No, mum, i'll stay by Aims for a while.” He replied.

In an hour time, a nurse came in and announced

“Mrs . Nelson– the doctor wants to see you.”

“Okay, I'll be there in a minute ” She assured and turned to Mart who was sitting beside Aimscious with her hand in his and said.

“I'll be with you in a while.” He nodded and Solidad left.

THE NELSON'S HOME

Nelson and his children got home exhausted. Betty left for her room to take her bath and Nicole helped his dad prepare supper.

Betty stood in her room thinking about what happened at school. She picked her phone to call her mother but then she heard her father calling.

“Betty! Betty !!– Come down, food is ready"

“Okay dad, I'm coming”

She sighed, put the phone on the bed and joined Nicole and Nelson downstairs. After their meal, they all prepared for bed.

Betty was in her room reading a novel when she heard a sound coming from the window. She got to the window but did not see anyone there. She turned to leave but then, she noticed a shadow flash by which made her flinch.

“Who's there?" She shouted but no one replied.

She felt she was just imaging things–Little did she know that it was a death trap been set for them.