Chapter 24

Rachael had waited for the sun to go down before clocking out to avoid being seen by paparazzi, and those educational gossipers— journalists. They would have made her day worst than it already was. You just can't tell what those people are capable of, or what they have under their sleeves.

Her phone began ringing as she was about to open her car. After searching through few things that had been placed in her bag, she brought out her phone and answered. 

"Hey, Steve. What's up?" She opened the door and sat down. 

"Nothing much," Steve retorted as Rachael placed her bag on the passenger seat. "Are you free to hang out?" He asked her. 

He didn't want her near Charles. That was why he had been acting the way he was. Rachael knew it. 

Rachael was grateful that her twin had been showing her so much unexpected concern. He had called her more than ten times to ask her the same 'how are you' question. He even passed by twice to check on her, and brought her snacks.

Steve recent gestures were classified as bizarre. 

It's not like he hadn't been a caring brother. But he stopped being the caring brother the moment Rachael refused to breakup with Charles. 

He couldn't blame her because he never give her adequate reasons to breakup with Charles. She couldn't leave the man she loved because her brother wanted her to.

"No. Ashley was supposed to get the package of children clothes that mom bought from Childware for the charity program tomorrow, but she couldn't make it there. So mom asked me to help her get the package," Rachael explained. 

"Did mom ask you to, or you volunteered?" Steve asked her. Rachael was silent for a moment, telling herself that Steve had already talked to their mother. "Mom 'asked' me if I could accompany you to Childware." Steve proved her right.

"And you said yes."

"You want to avoid him, right?" His question was a reminder to what she told him earlier. "And besides, the package is said to be heavy for a lone lady."

She rolled her eyes. He knew there were people to help her carry the package to her car. 

"You already bought your way into this, Steve. There is no stopping you, even if I wholeheartedly want to." She put the key in the ignition hole. "Anyway, I appreciate."

*****

It was strange.  Extremely strange. 

He finally decided to turn the doorknob after ringing the doorbell and getting no response. He walked into the house. 

Where could they be? He asked himself. 

Usually, Jeremy was the one who always greeted him at the door. Jeremy would hug his leg for few seconds before going for the plastic bag—if there was one— and open it, grinning.  

"'Ana alwatan, Jeremy! (Jeremy, I'm home!) Fatima?" His voice was loud enough to reach every corner of the house. "Jeremy, I got you something," she said smiling; shaking the plastic for it to make a sound. 

No answer still.

Seeing the light on in the kitchen, he walked into the kitchen. They weren't there. He opened the untouched box of pizza that sat on the edge of the sink. 

Muhammad started getting worried when he checked their bedroom and didn't see fatima there. Perhaps Fatima was bathing Jeremy, so he headed for Jeremy's room. They weren't there.

Where had they gone? 

Fatima always texted or called him before leaving the house so he could be aware of her whereabout.  Secondly, she had never gone out leaving the front door unlocked neither had she left the house without shutting the power.

He reached for his phone in his pocket and called Fatima's cell number. Muhammed stood in the living room, waiting for his wife to answer. He put the plastic on the chair then held his waist. 

No response. 

Muhammad worries grew ever second as he tried to figure out where the fuck on earth they could be. 

Remembering that Jeremy loved playing in the backyard, he rushed there. The backdoor was locked from inside. Maybe they had gone to the back through the front. That explained why the front door was unlocked. 

The cold, fragrant wind welcomed him outside as he pushed the door open.  He stood on the porch and stared into the darkness. After staring deep into the dark distance, he decided to go back inside. Muhammad took his phone and call again as he locked the door. This time, he heard Fatima's phone ringing from somewhere inside the house. He followed the sound of the phone. The sound got louder as he approached the pantry door. He tried to it but it was locked. 

"Fatima?" He called, but there was no answer. He swallowed hard as fear overcame him. "Fatima." He called her as he hit the door with his shoulder for it to open. 

There was no way he could get anything to open the door because all the tools were in the pantry. 

Suddenly, he remembered he had extra keys in their bedroom. He ran into the room and came back down with the keys. After trying few keys, the door opened. 

His mouth drooped when he turned the switch on and saw Fatima on the floor, tied up. He rushed to her, went down on his knees and untied the ropes then took the cloth from over her mouth. He pulled out the bandanna that was placed inside her mouth. 

"What happened? Who did this to you?"

She stared at him, searching for the right words to say. Her mouth was too heavy for her to speak after it had been tied for hours unknown to her. Her eyes went from one side to another, evidently conveying confusion. 

Muhammed figured she was traumatised perhaps. He lifted her up in a bridal-style and carried her into the living room. Carefully, he placed her down on the unoccupied couch. 

He had so many questions to ask her; however, he couldn't because of her present status that convey fear, confusion, and et cetera.  

"She..." Fatima struggled to say the words. "She. Took. Him." She said the words as if they were separate sentences.  

"Who?" 

"Amira."

Muhammed eyes widen as the name was called. He blinked involuntarily. His mouth was agape. He was filled with disbelieve.  

*****

A/N

Sorry that I haven't been able to update lately. 

The thing is, I'm taking my exams right now. And guess what. I'm taking four tests tomorrow: accounting, physics (my worst nightmare), French(one that I'm grateful for because I love different languages) and Literature(my favorite). Please wish me luck

Also, please don't forget to comment and rate (with five star of course). Your comments keep me going. It was a comment that motivated to post on such on day. So I want you to know I really appreciate. 

Xoxoxoxox