The morning air was cool, carrying the faint scent of dew and fresh earth as Ann stood by the window, watching Davis tug on his school bag impatiently. "Mommy," he said, stamping his little foot. "Henry is waiting. I'll be late." Ann laughed softly, kneeling to straighten his uniform. "You say that every day, and every day you come back before the sun even thinks of sleeping." Davis grinned, showing the gap where his front tooth used to be. "Because I'm fast." "You're smart," Ann corrected gently, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "And kind. And brave." "I know," he said confidently. Henry, the driver, cleared his throat from the doorway. "Miss Ann, we should be leaving now. Traffic might be heavy." Ann nodded. "Of course. Have a good day, sweetheart." Davis waved. "Bye, Mommy! I love you!" "I love you more," she replied automatically, watching them walk out into the morning light. She didn't know then that it would be the last time she heard his voice without fear wrapped around it.
Later that afternoon, Henry stood stiffly in the living room, his cap clutched in his hands.
Ann noticed immediately. "Henry? Is everything alright?" He hesitated. "Miss Ann… I don't want to alarm you."
Her heart skipped. "Then don't hesitate. Please." He exhaled. "On my way back from school today, I noticed a car behind us. A dark one. It followed us for quite some distance before turning off." Ann frowned. "Are you sure it was following you?"
"Yes, ma'am. I slowed down. It slowed. I sped up. It did the same." She swallowed. "Did Davis notice anything?" "No. He was busy talking about his drawing class." Ann pressed her palm against her chest, steadying herself. "It could be coincidence, Henry." " That's what I thought at first," he said carefully. "But… it happened again two days ago." Silence fell between them.
"I don't want to frighten you," Henry added quickly. "I just thought you should know."
Ann nodded slowly. "Thank you for telling me. Please… just stay alert." "Yes, ma'am."
When Henry left, Ann remained standing where she was, her mind racing. Fear brushed against her thoughts, sharp and unwelcome. Still, she shook her head.
Don't imagine things. Not everything is danger. That evening, Oliver returned early from work, loosening his tie as he entered the living room. "You're home early," Ann said. He smiled. "I missed you."
She smiled back, but it faltered. "Oliver… can I ask you something?" "Anything."
She hesitated, then said, "Henry thinks someone might be following Davis' school route." Oliver chuckled lightly. "Henry worries too much." Ann searched his face. "You think so?" "Yes," he said calmly. "Ann, you know how high-profile your family is. People notice. It doesn't mean danger."
"But ...". Listen," he interrupted gently, taking her hands. "If there were real danger, I'd never brush it aside. Davis is my son too."
Her eyes softened. "I know." "You trust me, don't you?" he asked quietly. She didn't hesitate. "With my life." He kissed her forehead. "Then let this go. You've been through enough stress lately." She nodded, allowing herself to relax in his arms. Sge was just worrying too much. Days passed. Nothing happened. Ann began to feel foolish for her fear. She laughed more. Slept better. Even scolded herself for overthinking.
Then came the call. It was midday.
She was in the kitchen when her phone rang.
"Mrs Author?" a trembling voice asked.
"Yes?" "This is Davis' school." Ann's heart tightened. "Is he hurt?" "There's been… an incident." Her world tilted. "What kind of incident?" "There was a misunderstanding at pick-up today. The driver" "My driver was late?" she interrupted. "No," the voice said shakily. "The car… it wasn't his." The phone slipped from Ann's hand. She picked it up again, screaming, "Where is my son?!"
"We don't know," the woman whispered. Ann collapsed to the floor. Sirens. Questions. Chaos. The police filled the house within minutes. "Mrs Author, we need you to stay calm." "My son is missing!" Ann screamed. "How do you expect me to stay calm?!" Oliver rushed in, face pale. "Ann!" She ran into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "They took him. They took our baby." He held her tightly. "No. No, they didn't. We'll find him."
"I should have listened," she cried. "I should have listened to Henry." Oliver stroked her hair. "This is not your fault, I should have listened to you too ", Oliver admitted painfully. The lead officer spoke gently. "We have all units searching. Every exit road is blocked." "Bring my son back," Ann begged. "Please." Hours passed. Ann refused food. Refused water. Refused rest. "Eat something," Oliver pleaded. "You'll collapse." "I don't care," she whispered hoarsely. "If Davis is hungry somewhere…"
She broke down again. Night fell. Still nothing. At dawn, Ann sat on the couch, hollow-eyed, clutching Davis' toy car.
Oliver knelt before her. "We'll find him."
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Promise me." "I promise." Just then, the phone rang again. The officer answered. His face changed. Slowly, he turned to Ann. "We've found something." Ann stood on shaking legs. "My son?" The officer swallowed. "We need you to come with us." And in that moment, Ann felt her soul begin to tear apart.