4 years ago Sydney Cameron was kidnapped. She was able to escape but nobody believes her story. What happens when more children begin to go missing? Will anyone believe her?
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As the final bell rang, Sydney and Claudia joined the flow of students spilling out of the school. They walked side by side, navigating through the bustling sea of kids eager to head home or hang out with friends. The chatter and laughter filled the air, but Sydney felt distant, her mind lingering on the conversation she'd had with Claudia earlier. They reached the front of the school, where they stopped to say their goodbyes.
"Thanks again, Claud. I don't know what I'd do without you," Sydney said, offering her friend a grateful smile.
"Don't mention it, Syd. I'll call you as soon as I talk to my mom. We'll figure this out, okay?" Claudia reassured her with a tight hug before heading toward her mom's car.
Sydney watched Claudia drive off before turning toward the bike rack. Unlocking her bike, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and began pedaling down the street. The skies were overcast, and within minutes, tiny raindrops started to fall. The cool droplets kissed her face, and the quiet rhythm of the rain accompanied the sound of her bike tires rolling over the wet pavement. The streets were nearly empty, creating an eerie calm that only deepened the loneliness Sydney had felt all day.
As she rode on, she kept her head down to shield herself from the drizzle, but something caught her eye—a familiar black van parked on the side of the road. Sydney's stomach churned with unease. It was the same van she had seen just days ago, the one that had given her a bad feeling. But now it was parked, and a man emerged from the driver's side, stepping onto the sidewalk directly in her path.
"Hey, kid!" the man called out, waving at her with an exaggerated friendliness. His voice sounded rough, but he forced a smile as if trying to appear harmless. "Have you seen a wallet around here? I dropped it and can't seem to find it anywhere."
Sydney slowed her bike to a stop, glancing around the street. She didn't see anything resembling a wallet, but the man looked hopeful, his eyes trained on her as if expecting her to help.
"Sorry, sir, I haven't," Sydney replied, unsure. "But I could help you look for it."
The man's smile widened. "That'd be great! Thank you, thank you so much! I swear I'm always losing things," he laughed, though the sound didn't quite reach his eyes. He gestured toward the sidewalk, where a few parked cars lined the curb. "I think I might've dropped it when I got out over there."
Sydney leaned her bike against a nearby metal fence, scanning the area around the van. She felt a growing sense of unease gnawing at her gut, but she pushed it aside, not wanting to be rude. After all, it was just a wallet, and she didn't want to overreact.
Within seconds, she spotted the wallet lying near the rear tire of the van. Bending down to pick it up, she held it out toward the man with a small smile. "Here it is."
"Ah, there it is!" the man exclaimed, taking the wallet from her hand. "Thank you so much, I swear I'd lose my own head if it wasn't attached!" He let out another laugh, then reached into his coat pocket. "Hey, since you helped me out, how about I show you a quick magic trick? I'm a part-time magician, you know."
Sydney hesitated, glancing at the sky. The rain was beginning to pick up, and her gut told her she needed to get home. Her mother would be furious if she was late again. "Thanks, but I really should get going. I don't want to be late."
The man's smile didn't falter. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice smooth and coaxing. "Oh, come on, just a quick one! It's the least I could do after you helped me. Won't take more than a minute, I promise."
Sydney shifted on her feet, feeling an uncomfortable tug at the back of her mind. She should leave. But the man seemed so insistent, and she didn't want to be rude. Against her better judgment, she nodded reluctantly. "Okay... sure. But just one trick."
The man grinned wider, too wide, and reached into his coat. He pulled out a small metal canister and shook it in front of her. Sydney blinked, confused, expecting maybe some silly string or confetti. But the man's movements suddenly turned sharp and quick.
Before she could react, he grabbed her arm, his grip like iron, and sprayed a strange mist directly into her face. Sydney gasped, her eyes widening in horror as she struggled to pull away. The spray had a bitter, chemical taste, and as she tried to scream, her voice came out strangled and weak. Panic surged through her veins, and she fought with all her might, thrashing and kicking, but the man was stronger, much stronger than she had anticipated.
Everything was happening too fast. The world around her blurred, her legs growing heavy and her head spinning. She could feel her strength fading, her limbs going limp as the chemical took hold of her senses. Her vision began to darken, the sounds around her fading into a distant echo.
"No..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath as the man yanked her toward the open door of the van. Sydney tried to resist, but her body no longer obeyed her. She was powerless, a prisoner in her own skin as the man shoved her into the back of the van, her mind slipping further into unconsciousness.
The last thing Sydney saw before everything went black was the slam of the van door, sealing her fate.
