Kidnapped: Welcome 'home'

Chapter 4: Kidnapped

Guess who's back with another update! It's been two weeks since my last update and I'm sorry to keep you waiting 😢

We've got a good chapter today though 🙃🤭

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Three days later was Sunday; it was the only day of the week that Aby took off from work, that is why my parents decided that we all went out shopping in Oxford Street.

After two long hours of preparation we managed to get into the car. During the ride to Oxford Street, I stared out of the window and wondered if I'd be seeing Mr Businessman again. I prayed that I wouldn't and that everything would go smoothly, continuously reminding myself that I was with my parents and that they protect me no matter what. There was nothing to worry about.

Slowly working our way up the iconic shopping street, I kept looking around searching for the familiar stalker of mine that went by the name of Mr Businessman, but, alhamdulillah, I did not see him at all. This must mean that he was now a problem of the past; I no longer had to worry about him. Seeing him multiple times must have really been a crazy coincidence after all!

By now, we had spent just under an hour shopping and were still walking up the shopping street. I trudged behind my four family members keeping an eye on Aby so I didn't get lost. It was easy to spot him: scruffy polo shirt and large scraggly beard. I made sure that I was a little behind them today: I liked my solitude and could never seem to manage to walk at the same pace as them, plus there were large crowds today. We walked past the dark alleyway of which I don't remember when a hand reached out and grabbed me. I began to scream out loud and another hand covered my mouth.

"I've got her!" someone screamed in my ear.

"Bring her then. Hurry, hurry, hurry!" someone yelled back.

There was a sense of urgency in their voices but I didn't care. I had my own sense of urgency. I tried screaming and kicking the person holding me captive but it didn't work: he was too big and too strong. Squirming in his grip, I felt extremely uncomfortable. Of course I was: a man was holding me! It felt wrong and inappropriate. It was wrong and inappropriate. Astaghfirullah. To make matters worse, he was running!

Panic and fear spread through me like wildfire in dry woods. A range of questions sprinted through my head: Was he alone? Where was he taking me? What are they going to do with me? Why me? I cowered at the thought of what they could do with me now that they've kidnapped me... a tear escaped from my eye.

NO. Asmaa, don't cry! Be strong! You can find a way out. Pray. Remember Allah! He is always there, by your side, He can save you and protect you, with or without reason.

I calmed down at that thought. I was going to be okay. They can't do anything to me unless Allah wishes for it to happen. This is all Allah's plan. My heartbeat that was racing just seconds ago out of fear and panic slowed down, my heavy breathing steadied. I can do this - with Allah's help that is.

I began to focus and looked around, hoping to see someplace I recognised. What confused me most was that I couldn't spot a single person. This is London, for crying out loud, one of the busiest cities in the world! The guy who was holding me had stopped. Another guy walked up to me with a piece of cloth in his hands as the guy who held me slowly removed his hand from my mouth.

"Uh uh. Oh no! No, no, no, no, NO!" I protested moving my head vigorously. The gag was shoved onto me instead. I made a noise of disapproval as he walked off to the front of a white van and grabbed two pieces of rope. This is when I realised that we were: stood at the back of a van with both its back doors wide open. My eyes widened in shock. Great. Just great. In South London, these are the vans known to be used by kidnappers and the back was where they stowed all the kidnapped children.

I turned back to the guy with the two ropes who was now smirking, amused at my reaction. He handed the guy that was holding me a rope and moved towards my feet. No. He was not going to tie up my feet. I kicked my legs to make it difficult for him to tie me, but didn't notice my hands getting tied. Once my hands were tied, the guy who held me went to help his colleague tie my feet. He held my feet together while the other tied them, then lifted me off the ground and threw me into the back of the van, slamming the doors shut.

Ouch!

Pain soared up my spine, I had landed on my lower back, and I was left lying there, paralysed.

Okay, let's think this through: I was out with my family when I got kidnapped. These two were both wearing black T-shirts, black trousers and black shoes. It's broad daylight so they're not going to blend in much. The guy who was holding me was tall, bulky and bald. He looks like your typical security/bodyguard. As for the other guy, he was shorter, skinnier, with short cropped hazel hair, small eyes and ears that slightly stuck out. Now you are tied up in the back of a van in the dark.

I liked the dark, but not in this situation. What if there were other people in here? What if...?!

My thoughts were interrupted by someone speaking.

"Are you sure she's the right one?" a voice questioned.

"Positive" a deep, gruff voice answered.

"But..." complained the other.

"No buts. Boss gave us a full photo. Here. It's the same girl!" the deep voice responded in an angry, condescending voice.

That voice must have belonged to the guy that was holding the earlier – the guy I decided to name Kidnapper 1 and the other guy would be Kidnapper 2.

After a long silence, Kidnapper 1 spoke: "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what she's hiding."

I scoffed, disgusted. Did he not understand that I was under age? If I could. I would have been gone right now. I will not stay with them for any period of time! Then it dawned on me: Kidnapper 1 said 'boss'.

Why would a whole team or group of people have to come together to kidnap me? I wasn't some sort of royal, or the daughter of a billionaire-

"I really don't understand what he sees in her." Kidnapper 2 admitted.

"I don't understand what he sees in you." Kidnapper 1 muttered.

Oooooooh. This might be an interesting ride. I mentally face palming myself. You're not supposed to be enjoying this, stupid. You have just been kidnapped!

"But..." continued Kidnapper 2.

"BUT WHAT?" roared Kidnapper 1.

"SHE'S A MUSLIM! Can't you tell from the thing on her head!" yelled Kidnapper 2. Was I meant to be offended by that?

"I don't care what she is, Boss told us to get her and no one else. We have one job to do and that is to get her to him. He sees something in her that you don't see. Now shut up!"

"Mmhm" I subconsciously replied. Kidnapper 2 was getting on my nerves. Then I realised what I did and immediately wished I could take it back, I didn't need to interact with them in any shape or form.

"Even the girl agrees." Kidnapper 1 muttered victorious.

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Kidnapped and talking to her kidnappers as if they are her friends? What on earth could be in store for us?

I'll see you all in the next update (in shaa allah).

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