Piper’s POV
“Madam, madam,” Ken exclaimed as he dashed from the front porch into the living room. I was sitting in the living room watching television while enjoying a cup of tea and a freshly baked blueberry cake.
I hurriedly put the cup on the table. I saw that Ken’s face was very different. He was scared, like he had just seen a ghost.
When he stood in front of me, he didn’t speak right away. He looked down while panting. Sweat covered his face and body. Lily, who was in the kitchen, rushed out and approached us. She stood next to me.
“Ken, what’s wrong with you?” Lily asked worriedly.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Ken was still trying to stabilize his breathing. I asked him to sit down until he was ready to talk.
A few minutes later, with shaking hands and a stammering voice, he said, “The twins.”
“What’s wrong with the twins? Where are they?” I asked. I felt bad. My mind imagined many dangerous possibilities.
“They’re not at school,” Ken replied.
“Ken, don’t joke around. Tell us clearly,” Lily pleaded.
Ken stood up and in a louder voice, he said, “Madam, someone or some group kidnapped the twins. A cafeteria employee had seen them walking after a strange woman. In all the decades she has been selling at the school, she has never seen such a beautiful woman. I think we should call the police now.”
Hearing this, my knees suddenly went weak. The image of Daisy’s body, the baby who was swapped with Jessie, instantly appeared in my mind.
No, I didn’t want that to happen again. The twins are my soul. If something bad happened to them, then I couldn’t live anymore. There was only one time when I had ever felt the loss of the baby I thought was Jessie.
I collapsed to the floor. Lily and Ken screamed, so the waiters who were working rushed over to us. They all looked scared. If I had just fallen without being physically or mentally injured, I might have been able to get up and sit back in the chair with my remaining strength.
However, the opposite was true. Either panic, fear, or worry caused my stomach to ache and cramp. Pain that I rarely felt during the pregnancy process.
And Lily and the other maids were shouting. I could faintly hear their screams and Ken’s voice asking someone to call an ambulance and Jay. Their voices grew smaller and then disappeared into silence and darkness.
I felt someone or something pulling me into the bottomless darkness. I tried so hard to wake up, but the energy in my body seemed to disappear into nowhere, so all I could do was sit alone in the darkness while waiting for someone to wake me up.
Someone help me! Wake me up. Argh my stomach hurt, it hurt so much. After that, I knew nothing else and when I opened my eyes; I saw the ceiling of the room which differed from the ceiling in my house. The room lights were brightly lit, and I heard the voices of several people talking.
My stomach didn’t hurt anymore, it was just that I hadn’t regained my strength. I turned my head to find out who was near me.
I saw Jay, Nick, Ken and Tom, the chief of police in our town. They were talking so seriously that they didn’t realize I had opened my eyes.
I tried to get out of bed as I called, “Jay!”
Suddenly, everyone in my room turned around, and they rushed over to me.
“Piper, thank goodness you’re awake. Are you still in pain? You scared me, especially when you fell to the floor and fainted,” Jay asked as he hugged me tightly. His hand stroked my back gently.
“Jay,” I said.
Jay released his hug and replied, “I’m going to look for the twins. I’m as shocked and scared as you are. Leave everything to me. I’ll bring them home safely.”
“Umm, I’ve asked your mom to come to our house to keep you company while I go look for the twins. Is that okay?” he asked.
Our eyes stared at each other. Suddenly, tears streamed down my eyes and face.
“J-jay, where are they?” I asked as I cried.
Jay hugged me again. “I don’t know. All we can do now is hope that they’re okay. I’m sure Jansen will contact us.”
“What if he can’t contact us? I’m afraid someone will hurt them. I can’t live without them,” I stammered. My whole body was shaking. My feelings were sick, my mind was in turmoil.
“Do you think I can live without you guys? Trust me. I’ll bring them back to you,” Jay replied.
We hugged while sobbing. I didn’t know where to look for them and it was like walking in a dark, directionless fog. I wanted to run and scream their names all over the city. But I knew it was impossible.
Jansen, Jessie. Hang in there, Mom and Dad will look for you even if you have to cross the ocean.
“You don’t have to worry. We, the police, will not remain silent. We will do our best to investigate this case. Since yesterday, my men have been at the school and are investigating the CCTV and testimonies from everyone who was at the place and time of the incident. I hope you are strong and patient in facing all this,” Tom said.
Jay turned and looked at Tom. “Thank you, Tom. I’m counting on you. If you need anything, let me know.”
“Ok, Sir Adams. Then I won’t bother you anymore. Any news I receive, I will let you know.”
“Ok,” Jay replied. With that, Tom left.
Three days later, the doctor allowed me to go home. Nick carried my things, Jay pushed my wheelchair while Mom walked beside me, holding my hand. The warmth of her hand made me feel a little comfortable. I needed to be strong with the support of the people who loved me, and I needed to be sure that Jansen and Jessie could be found as soon as possible.
Megan’s POV
“Zac, let’s pick up the phone. That sucks! At a time like this, he’s hard to reach,” I muttered.
Finally, after a few ringtones, Zac answered, “Yes. Can’t you just be patient for a minute? Why do you have to call me so many times?”
“I’ve been patient since before, but you’re so hard to reach. How is our mission progressing? Is it safe?” I asked, while playing with the ends of my hair.
“Safe. I’m on a ship heading to where the twins are being held. Come here. One of my assistants will accompany you if you don’t mind,” he replied.
“Where are you keeping them? Just lock them up and don’t hurt them,” I asked.
“On a small island at the tip of Valdirra, surrounded by fierce predatory sharks. I hear a few people get there safely,” he replied.