News Of Missing Children
"Ethan, it's been a while since I've seen you," Andrea said while she observed the boy in front of her. "You've grown taller!"
"Aunt Andrea, it's good to see you too," Ethan replied. He wasn't able to keep a straight face because Andrea's swimsuit was just too sexy.
The first time Andrea met Ethan was during a charity event at an orphanage. His mother was a very generous person and would always donate to charitable institutions. Back then, Ethan was only ten years old. He didn't stand out from the crowd and looked like a normal teen you could see anywhere.
After a few more chance encounters, Andrea and Ethan's mother became good friends. Although they weren't able to meet often, they kept in touch whenever there was an opportunity. Ethan would be brought along from time to time so he became familiar with Ciel's mother.
"Please tell Lily that I miss her." Andrea patted Ethan's head. "I'll come and visit her before we return to the city."
"My mother would be delighted to see you, Aunt Andrea," Ethan replied. "Should I tell her that you're going to visit or should we keep it as a surprise?"
"Let's keep it as a surprise. I'd like to see her reaction when I come knocking on her door!" Andrea chuckled.
Ethan chuckled as well. He could already imagine his mother nagging at him for not telling her that his Aunt Andrea would be coming for a visit.
"Aunt, please bring Ciel as well," Ethan suggested. "I'd like to introduce him to my Mother as well."
"Good Idea! Let's do that!"
"Let's!"
The two sealed the promise with a handshake. While the two of them were talking, Ciel was lying on a bench near the pool. After Ethan made his declaration, he felt a bit drowsy so he decided to rest. Chloe went to see her mother to discuss hiring an instructor to teach her how to swim.
Kate and Claire were having a swimming contest. The current score was 3 wins for Kate and 2 wins for Claire. Both of them have a competitive spirit, so they were enjoying their competition.
A bell was heard in the distance and Heinz appeared with a few maids pushing food trays. It was time for lunch and the group gathered at the circular table that was propped up near the poolside.
Kate was seated on Ciel's left side, while Chloe was seated on his right. Claire was seated beside her sister. Ethan took this opportunity and sat beside Kate. Andrea and Elizabeth sat on a separate table away from the children.
They wanted the kids to have fun, so they left them alone. Both of them knew from experience that kids became more lively when there were no adults watching over them.
"That boy, Ethan, seemed to like Kate." Elizabeth had an amused expression on her face. "What do you think? Does he have a chance?"
"Ethan is a good boy," Andrea replied. "I don't have any objections if the two of them become a couple."
"Oh? I thought you would object. Aren't you going to pair her with your son?"
"Of course not. Kate is my adoptive daughter. Even though she doesn't share our last name, I want her to grow up to be an independent woman. Someone who can make decisions for herself. Whoever she wants to marry in the future, I will support her all the way."
"Hoh?" Elizabeth propped her chin using the palm of her hand. "Sometimes I envy you. You are able to decide these things without thinking about the consequences."
Elizabeth really admired Andrea's way of living. She was oozing with confidence, and charisma. Even though she was no good in the intelligence department, she had people that would gladly clean up her mess for her.
She sighed and remembered her husband. If he didn't die in that car accident, her life would be spent raising her kids with love and care. Although she did her best, the company took most of her time. The only time she was able to see them was before going to work, and coming home tired from work.
Her only consolation was that Vincent didn't allow her to work during the weekends. He insisted that she should spend that time with her daughters and make sure that their needs were being met
"Although I say that, I believe that it's still too early for them to enter a relationship," Andrea said while glancing at the children. "After all, they're still kids. At most, what they're feeling right now is puppy love."
"I feel the same way." Andrea nodded her head. "At their age, it is natural to be attracted to the opposite sex. However, we both know how puppy love ends up."
Andrea smiled but didn't say anything. She just wanted Ciel and Kate to be happy. As long as both of them lived happy and fulfilling lives, that was all that mattered to her.
-----
"Mark, you should visit us more often." Alice gestured for the maid to start serving them lunch. "Make sure to bring your wife, Emily, as well. The two of us haven't seen each other for months!"
Mark scratched his head. "You know how Emily gets when it comes to her garden. She'd rather stay with her plants and flowers than visit friends and acquaintances."
"It was her hobby since she was young and it only grew stronger as she got older. I guess it can't be helped."
"The last time I tried to force her to come to an event, she threatened that she would hit me with her shovel. I had no choice but to back down. You know how unreasonable she can be at times."
"So you say, but you still married her," Alice said while suppressing a giggle.
"That's because I love her."
"Mmm."
Arthur didn't join the conversation and just ate quietly. Mark, Emily, Henry, Heidi, Alice, and him were part of a group when they were younger. They became quite close to each other and their friendship became stronger as the years went by.
The only time their relationship became strained was when Henry and Arthur had a falling out because both of them liked Alice. This continued for a few years until Henry and Heidi got together. Although he disliked seeing Henry, he felt a weight off his shoulders when he saw him doing well. It seems that he really loved Heidi and both of them were very happy with their married life.
"By the way, have you two heard about the latest news that has been going around in our community?" Mark asked. "This is also one of the reasons why I came to see the two of you today."
Alice and Arthur's expression abruptly changed when they heard Mark's question. The three of them were part of the inner circle of society. They had early access to certain news before it was known by the common folk.
"Are you talking about the recent kidnappings of children below the age of fifteen?" Arthur frowned. This rumor started two months ago, but they confirmed that it was true. The rate of the kidnappings had been increasing at an alarming rate and the authorities were on high alert.
"Yes, and I have more bad news. They have already reached the countryside," Mark said with a grave face. "Jonathan gave me a call yesterday. He said that there were two cases of missing children a few days ago. They started their investigation to look for clues, but they were unable to find anything."
At first, the only ones who went missing were the homeless children in the streets. Now, kids from poor families were being abducted as well. They were afraid that if this trend continued even the children from the middle class families wouldn't be safe anymore.
"Kidnappings happen all the time, but I have a feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye," Mark continued. "I just hope that they're not abducting kids for some kind of inhumane experiment."
"Are you telling me that…" Arthur's hand trembled as he remembered something that happened a few years ago.
Mark's expression was grim. "I'm afraid that I came to the same conclusion as you."
Alice slowly put down the fork in her hand. She heaved a sigh and stared at the ceiling. A memory that had been buried deep within her heart resurfaced. In the past, Alice was a researcher. She was a smart and talented individual. Because of her intelligence, she was invited by a top research institute to become part of a big project.
The project was conceived in order to develop a drug that would increase the immunity of humans against all kinds of diseases. At least, that was what the project was on the surface. Alice thought that she was doing a good thing. It didn't take long for her to realize that the research institute that she joined was backed by a secretive government organization.
They conducted inhumane experiments and their test subjects were criminals that had the death sentence. Although it was appalling, Alice believed that since they were criminals that deserved to die, they should at least offer their lives to benefit humanity.
Months passed and there had been no progress in their research. Then one day, a new test subject was brought inside the institute. It was a ten-year-old-boy. Alice adamantly rejected the notion of experimenting with a child, but her colleagues ignored her opinion.
They went ahead with the experiment, but Alice didn't participate in it. Surprisingly, they were able to gain good results and the funding for the project was increased. She was unable to continue with the experiments and resigned from her position. The institute allowed her to leave, but she was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
With another sigh, she glanced at her husband. Arthur held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He was reassuring her that everything would be alright.
"If it is what I think it is then there's nothing we can do," Alice said with a defeated voice. "The only thing that we can do is to remain vigilant and increase the security that will watch over the kids."
"Now is not the time to call on the members of the Tarot Society." Alice bit her lip as she looked at Mark. "You already know the rules. Unless a member was involved, the rest wouldn't make a move. This was what we all agreed upon."
Mark scratched his head in frustration. He knew that Alice was right. Now was not the time. If the members of the Tarot Society really made their move, then the country would be dragged into a civil war.