124: Where Is She

124: Where Is She
ALMA

I knew it was stupid and I shouldn't be here alone but what else could I do?! Linda had threatened to harm her if I told anyone. I'd rather get hurt in her place as long as nothing happens to my daughter!

I parked the car and looked up ahead at the building. No one lived there and the whole thing looked like it would fall apart at any moment.

My heart thumped in my chest when fear gripped me and the possibility of all the bad things that could happen flashed before my mind. I closed the car door immediately I stepped out, my hands balled into fists.

I'd rather die than have anything happen to Velma! Oh, god! Oh god! Agatha, too! I desperately clung to the hope that she had nothing to do with this, and that she was safe, just as Velma was.

The video replayed in my head in an unending loop and I almost burst into tears.

My baby. My little girl was fucking tied to a chair. I was going to kill Linda! I was going to rip her to shreds the moment I set my eyes on her. I swallowed hard and approached the building though my heart had already leaped to my throat.

I feared I was too late.

I feared I was going to lose her and the thought of it drove me mad. My hand was stained with rust the moment I touched the gates and I pulled it open. It gave a loud creak that pretty much served as an alarm for whoever was inside. I was utterly frightened and my body wouldn't stop quaking.

I was walking into a trap, I knew that much but what better way was there for an unhinged mother to save her child? I'd do anything to see Velma and be in her place right now. I didn't care what I needed to do. The building seemed like an abyss though I remembered it like the back of my palm.

It was the same house my father had married Linda's mother and she conceived of her just a few months after the wedding. My stomach clenched as I stepped through concrete and tried to navigate. It was unusually quiet in here and one would hear a pin drop. There wasn't a sight of Linda or anybody else.

I opened my flashlight and walked through the dark hallways. "You want me and I'm here now!" I yelled. The echo came rushing back to me and a chill raced down my backbone. "Linda! I'm here now! Let my daughter go!"

No response. Fuck! My phone vibrated and it was Carl. He'd been calling but I couldn't pick up, not right now. He must be so worried but I wouldn't make it if I didn't set my eyes on my daughter tonight.

"Linda! Stop being a coward, come out here!" I threw my hands out, yelling at the top of my lungs. My voice was hoarse from all that crying. "Lind—"

The impact of a hard material against my head stole the words from my mouth. The pain shot up my brain and my body hit the floor with my eyes wide open as I stared at the blurry silhouette of the person hovering over me.



I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. My head hurt and something trickled down my head and it ached! Blood? Where was I? It was stuffy inside here and the walls were closing in on me.

I panted, trying to understand what was going on. I can't breathe. I can't breathe! Velma? Where was she? I tried to rub my forehead but found that I couldn't. My hands—

My visions cleared out completely. "What?" I muttered.

I was in a car, tied to the steering wheel. Panic set in as I realized I was helpless. Next to me, Velma lay unconscious, her tiny body slumped against the passenger door. No! No!

"No. No! Velma—" I tried to reach for her. My wrists felt like they'd break if I tugged harder! "Velma, wake up! Please, wake up, sweetheart. Mama is here. Mum is here now, please wake up! Wake up!"

I screamed and screamed, but my cries were met with silence. The deserted road stretched out before us, eerily quiet. Where the hell was this? "Somebody help! Help me! Anyone! Somebody help, please!"

I frantically tried to loosen my restraints, but they were too tight. I yelled her name over and over, but she didn't stir. Tears streamed down my face as fear consumed me.

Suddenly, two figures appeared in the front seats. My heart sank as I recognized Linda and the next person...Agatha? My mouth fell open. "Agatha?" I croaked, "Agatha, you?? You!"

"Bingo!" She smiled, munching on a gum as she walked closer. "God, Alma. You're so gullible! How could you trust so easily? Have you learned nothing?"

My eyes began to water. This was way too much to handle! This wasn't happening. I didn't dwell on Agatha for too long, though my heart was inked with hate for both of them. "Linda. Linda, please! Please let her go." I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. "Please let her go! It's me you want. I'm the one you want.. she's done nothing!"

"Oh really?" she tilted her head and eyed Velma. "Who knows, she could grow up to be a homewrecker just like her mother! She's not the only one who deserves to die!"

My stomach hurts. My eyes stings! My head aches! I felt like I was dying slowly. Pain painted my chest and the entirety of my body. "Not Velma, please! Not her.. she's done nothing wrong! She's done nothing wrong to anyone. Do whatever you want but leave her out of it!"

"I'll decide that." She leaned closer, lifting my chin up with her index finger. "This is for everything you've cost me, Alma. I hope you burn in hell."

No matter what I tried, I couldn't break free. "Agatha. It's Velma. Y-you like Velma. You...know her, you know she doesn't deserve this! Agatha— please! Please!" The body shuddered as I sobbed. "You know her! Agatha, please!"

"Shut up!" Linda slapped me and my cheeks burned. Agatha erupted into a sardonic laughter and tears spilled from my eyes.

"I never gave a fuck about you or your family!" Agatha spat, "The pay is good...that's all I fucking care about so shut up and stop being so pathetic!'

"Alma. Alma. Alma. Ever so perfect."  Linda's eyes gleamed with malice as she taunted me, her words cutting deep. "I can imagine poor Carl...sitting by your grave and crying all day long. That's my gift to you, Alma. Go to hell."

"No, Linda, please. Linda! Please, she did nothing wrong!"  I protested, but she just cackled and started the engine. The car began to move on its own, and I was trapped.

Terror gripped me as I struggled to break free. I had to save my daughter! But no matter how hard I tried, the restraints held firm. The car sped up, and I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.

The honk of another vehicle had my attention and I shot my gaze there. I was blinded by the headlights, but it was a damn big vehicle, coming for us at full fucking speed.

"Velma! Wake up!" I cried, losing whatever was left of my voice. "Please! Carl! Anyone!"

The vehicles wouldn't stop!

It was a truck! "Velma! Wake up!"

Was this the end of it all? Was this it? My daughter. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break free! "Velma!"

The crash came suddenly, and everything went black once more.



ONE WEEK LATER.

I woke up with a gasp. My vision wouldn't quite clear out. The walls were blinding white and the lights did nothing to help. Where was I? A certain beeping tone resounded through the entire room and I struggled to sit up.

"Call the doctors!" I heard a familiar voice cry out. I couldn't quite place my finger on it. "She's awake! Doctor! Call the doctors!"

My head spun and my entire body felt heavy. I felt like I'd been sleeping for so long! What happened? I couldn't...remember anything!

"Alma! Alma, look at me," His hands cupped my cheeks and I saw the tears in his eyes.

"C-carl...?" I muttered through gritted teeth. Speaking was hard, and sitting was hard. My back fucking hurts!

"Yes. Yes! Thank God!" His arms embraced me, "Thank God! You're okay..." He pulled away and looked at me. He was crying.

W-why?  

What happened? I felt like I'd dropped from a different planet.

My eyes widened when the memories started to rush in. "Velma! Where's my daughter!? Where's she??!"