From The Ashes We Rise

Chp 40: Desperation

Months went on peacefully. We were getting closer and closer to the end of the year. Our final year exams were also around the corner. Nothing much had been going on between me and Ariff, other than our usual friend stuff.

Aside from that, we had started our study sessions again after quite a long break. We couldn't find the time to do so during our mid-year exam period as the both of us couldn't really leave our respective homes then. It was nice to spend time together in the library again, studying and working on what we were weak in. It was all fine until something horrible would break the energetic, goofy and obnoxious boy I knew.

One day, I was busily caring for the younger orphans in the living room because Mdm Li had to run some errands. I was watching over them as they played soccer in the garden when I received a phone call from Ariff. Thinking it was another one of his pranks, I ignored it then silenced my phone. After that, I started cheering on one of the teams as they were about to score a goal.

A few minutes later, my phone vibrated. However, I didn't feel it so much as I was too into the game. When the kids got tired, I escorted all of them back indoors and kept their ball in the storeroom. That's when I took out my phone and placed it on the dining table.

I heard the phone vibrate again as it rang on the table. I went over to check it. Ariff was calling again. I was confused; usually, he would call once and if I didn't answer, he wouldn't call again. I was forced to pick up.

Why you never answer when I called you twice?!

Ariff was practically yelling at me on the phone. My head was filled with many questions as to why he was acting like that. Additionally, his voice sounded shaky and he was sniffling a bit.

"Wait... what's wrong?" I asked. There was a brief silence before he answered.

Ariana... she... she got kidnapped.

"Shit..." I went to sit down.

And...  and they are demanding a ransom.

"Who?"

Her kidnappers lah! Who else?

This was serious. I ignored him twice thinking he was playing pranks, but I should've known better.

"I'm coming over," I assured. He thanked me before he hung up.

I called Ian. "Can you take care of the others while I'm gone? I need to do some things."

He nodded and saluted me. I chuckled then ran up to my room to change.

•••••••••••

I arrived at Ariff's house and knocked on the door. Ariff opened it for me. His eyes were puffy and red, and his face was tear-stained.

"How much have you been crying?"

"None of your business," he murmured, wiping his tears then leading me to the living room.

His parents were sitting on the sofa. His mother was sobbing hysterically into her husband's shoulders.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Ariff went to sit down. I grabbed a stool nearby and sat in front of the family.

"So basically, I was going to pick Ariana up from school, like I always do. Everything was normal but when I was just coming, I could see two big men dragging some kid into a van parked at the side of the road. When I got closer, the kid was actually Ariana," he explained.

"Did you try to chase it?"

"Yeah. I was fast, but the van drove faster. I was calling her name repeatedly while crying a bit. I lost the van at a junction but I remembered the license plate."

"We should call the—" I was about to suggest but I was cut off by his father.

"Cannot. She'll die if we call the police."

"Well, how would they know if we did?"

He only shrugged. "If the police found them before we give the money, Ariana will be killed. I don't know how that works."

I sighed. This was really difficult. I wasn't into critical thinking so much but I was forced to solve this.

I glanced at Ariff. He looked at me with his characteristic sad eyes. I walked up to him and sat beside him. I wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"It's okay, it's okay. We'll get her back," I whispered, trying to reassure him.

"How can we do that when there's a high chance she'll be killed?" Ariff sniffled, his voice cracking at mentioning the last word.

"I don't know, but we'll figure this out. Don't worry."

I turned to his parents. "How much is the ransom, and by when are you supposed to give it?"

"$200 000 by this Saturday."

I covered my face with both hands and groaned. That was a lot of money to be given in two days. However, I remembered Ariff telling me his parents earn around $15 000 a month altogether. It would be possible to do so in that case, but it was gonna affect their savings.

I glanced at Ariff again. His head was resting on his hands. He looked sullen, less lively than his usual self. The temporary loss of his sister was really taking a toll on him.

"Ariff," I began, "wanna discuss in your room?"

He blinked a few times and raised his head to look at me. He tilted his head slightly.

"What? I wasn't listening. Sorry," he apologised.

"You wanna discuss in your room?" I repeated.

He thought about it for a while before nodding. "I guess that'll work," he sighed.

"Okay. You go up first," I told him.

He acknowledged and climbed up to his room. I, on the other hand, had to inform his parents that we were gonna devise a plan upstairs.

"Why not here?" Ariff's mother asked.

"We prefer to do things without other people interfering," I replied.

She glanced at her husband then looked at me again. Ariff's father sighed then allowed us to think of what to do upstairs.

I left them in the living room to do whatever they thought was necessary. I really pitied them; it was heartbreaking to lose one of your own children. I bet that was how my dad felt when he found out I was gone.

I knocked on Ariff's door then entered the room. I sat in front of Ariff as he sat cross-legged on his bed.

"You ready to think of a plan?" I asked, holding his hand.

He nodded weakly. "Whatever's best for my sister."