The Captured

Chapter 23

Happy Thursday folks,

Enjoy today's episode. I warn ya so much drama is about to unfold. Sip on your coffee as you read on ;) I hope you don't forget that Anna & Mariam are still in the car. Don't get too lost in the flashbacks <3

Xoxo

End of flashback

Back then, I couldn't comprehend what was unfolding around me. When I asked Mom why she intervened, she explained that Dad needed to rush to the airport and couldn't afford to be delayed because of me. I wished I could make sense of it all, but it felt like I was caught in a whirlwind of confusion.

Suddenly, the brakes screeched, and I slammed my head against the dashboard.

"Ouch!" I winced, feeling the sting.

"Anna?!"

Mariam's urgent voice snapped me back to the present.

"What happened?" I mumbled, still disoriented from the sudden stop.

Mariam sighed before resuming the music,"Nothing, just a minor bump in the road."

Suspicion crept into my mind.

"Mariam, what's going on?" I pressed, but she remained silent, ignoring my inquiries. Frowning, I attempted to adjust the volume, only to receive a smack on the back of my hand each time I tried.

We both burst out laughing after a few futile attempts.

"Seriously, where were you lost?" Mariam teased, breaking the tension.

I sighed, the memory of my dad's gift weighing heavily on my mind. "I got lost in time, you know. Dad had bought me the same car as a birthday present years ago."

Tears threatened to surface as I recalled the disappointment of having to return the car.

"And your dad had to take it back because of your mom." Mariam added, echoing my thoughts.

I shot her a disbelieving look. "How do you know that?"

"You told me on video call, silly," she reminded me, her words stirring a distant memory.

"Remarkable memory, girl." I admitted, realizing that I had confided in her about the incident.

"Where are we really going?" I questioned, my heart racing as my mind revisited the painful memory.

"First, buckle up." Mariam reminded me, her voice laced with annoyance. As I complied, she continued, "We're going home."

Confused by her cryptic response, I replayed the music and settled back into my seat, but unease gnawed at me. Why was it taking so long to reach home? Before I could voice my concern, Mariam's phone rang, and she engaged in a lively conversation with her mom.

As Mariam chatted away, I glanced out the window, noticing unfamiliar surroundings. Panic seized me when I realized we were headed in the wrong direction. "Where are we going?!" I demanded, turning to face Mariam.

She braked abruptly; her expression horrified.

"Seriously?! We're going home. Are you alright?"

I couldn't formulate a coherent response, feeling utterly bewildered by the situation.

I facepalmed myself as Mariam parked the car on the roadside, the gravity of our predicament sinking in.

"We're going to my house, not yours. You scared me, I thought I took the wrong route." Mariam exclaimed; frustration evident in her voice. "Now, please don't shout again. I feel like I'm going deaf."

My eyes widened in disbelief. This was a disaster. If Mariam took me to her home without permission, my mom would be furious.

I glared at Mariam as she resumed playing the music, the volume even louder this time.

"Mariam, stop the car! I need to get back now; my mom would kill me!"

I shook Mariam's arm impatiently, causing her to slam the brakes and shoot me a puzzled frown.

"Seriously? Are you kidding me!?" Her voice tinged with exasperation. "You're almost sixteen, Anna. You don't need permission slips from your parents all the time. As teens, we can do whatever the hell we want. Just call your mom and tell her you're staying with me."

A sudden migraine pounded in my head, making it hard to argue. Why was I even having this conversation? Mariam's logic seemed absurd, but how could I make her understand? Maybe I should've clarified things before we left the mall, at the same time I can't let my mom control my life any further either.

"Mariam, it's not about being teenagers, it's about my mom. I didn't tell her I'd be staying at yours. We ran into each other at the cinema, and then you dragged me to your car. If I don't show up now, she'll think I'm off with some stranger and she'll freak out. Please, just drop me home. We'll hang out another time. Okay?"

"What's gotten into you? You've never been this uptight before." Mariam retorted; her frustration evident. "Your mom knows me! She won't mind. You're blowing this way out of proportion."

My head throbbed harder. How could I explain without revealing too much?

"Mariam, trust me, it's complicated. I want to be with you, but this is important. Please, just take me back home."

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