Help get safe part #10

My mind is racing as I pack my bags and prepare to leave. My family and I are moving from California to New York. It was supposed to be a fresh start for us, a new beginning. Little did I know, it would turn into a nightmare.

As I finished packing and got into the car with my wife and our youngest son, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was something off about this move, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. But my wife was excited and our son, Marcus Danell Jr., was thrilled to be moving to the big city. I tried to push my doubts aside and focus on the road ahead.

It was a long drive from California to New York and as we reached the city, I couldn't help but marvel at the towering buildings and bustling streets. My son was busy taking pictures, capturing every moment of our arrival. But as we pulled up to our new home, my wife let out a gasp.

'Where's Marcus? Where's his car?' she asked, panic creeping into her voice.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized she was right. Our son's car was not in the driveway. I quickly dismissed it, thinking that he had probably driven around exploring the city. But as the days went by and he still didn't come home, I began to grow more and more worried.

I tried to call his phone, but it went straight to voicemail. We went to the police station to file a missing person's report, but they said that since he was 19, he could have left on his own free will. But I knew my son, he would never just disappear without telling us.

Days turned into weeks, and we had no trace of Marcus. My wife was inconsolable, constantly crying and pleading for our son to come back to us. I tried my best to stay strong, but deep down I was terrified. The thought of losing my son consumed me, and I couldn't function properly.

One day, I received a strange message on my phone. It was from an unknown number and it simply said, 'Help get safe.' It gave me chills, and I knew that it had something to do with my missing son. I immediately called the number back, but it was disconnected.

The next day, I went to the police station again, this time with the message. They brushed it off as a prank and sent me away. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was not right. That night, as I lay in bed, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about the message and what it could mean.

It was then that I remembered Marcus mentioning a friend in New York. His name was Jack, and I knew that they had been in touch since we moved here. I decided to reach out to him and ask if he had seen or heard from Marcus.

Jack seemed hesitant to talk about Marcus, and my gut told me that he knew something. Finally, after much persuasion, he confessed that Marcus had gotten involved with some dangerous people. They were involved in illegal activities and had threatened Marcus to keep quiet.

My heart sank as Jack revealed that Marcus had been kidnapped and taken by these people. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My son had been taken, and I had no idea. Jack said that he had tried to reach out to Marcus but his phone was always off.

I knew I had to act fast. I called the police and gave them all the information I had. They finally took me seriously and launched a full-scale investigation. The message I received was traced back to a payphone in a dodgy part of the city, and the police were able to track down the location.

With the help of the police and Jack, we were able to locate Marcus. I can't even begin to describe the relief I felt when I saw my son again. He was badly beaten and traumatized, but he was alive.

It turned out that Marcus had stumbled upon some information about the illegal activities of the people he was working for. He had tried to back out, but they didn't take kindly to that. They kidnapped him and held him captive, threatening to harm our family if he spoke up.

As I held my son in my arms, I couldn't help but feel guilty. I should have known something was wrong, I should have seen the signs. But all that mattered was that he was safe now.

The people involved were arrested, and we were able to return to our normal lives. It was a terrifying experience, but it brought our family even closer together. We decided to stay in New York, and with Marcus' help, were able to build a new life and put the past behind us.

As I sit here now, watching my son laugh and play with his brother, I can't help but feel grateful. Grateful that we were able to get him back safe, grateful for the love and support of my family, and grateful for a second chance at a new beginning.