Sane

chapter 15

August 14,2016
Brookhaven, New York

Niya POV

I wake up the next morning, my mind immediately drifting to graduation. It's supposed to be a time of celebration, but all I can think about is how she was supposed to be there. My sister should have been in the audience, cheering me on with that proud smile of hers. The thought of her absence stings, leaving an ache in my chest that I can't seem to shake.

I lie in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling, trying to muster the energy to face the day. Everything feels different now, like a piece of my world is missing. I know I should be excited about finishing school and moving on to new things, but I couldn't.

I got dressed for school and decided to text Dezmon.
**Good morning! I'll see you in first period.** I hit send and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the heaviness in my chest.

Dezmon always had a way of making things feel a little lighter, even when everything felt so heavy. I hoped that seeing him would help distract me from the pain of missing my sister. As I walked out the door, I reminded myself that I needed to stay strong—not just for me, but for her memory too.

I'm walking to school, my mind still heavy with thoughts of graduation and my sister's absence. Suddenly, a car pulls up and they ask if I knew Dezmon.

"Yes I know him why wassup?"

After that all I remember is two men getting out the car and everything going blank.

————

Dezmon POV

Damn, first period has already started, and I still haven't seen Niya. She's usually here by now, and her absence is unusual enough to raise alarm bells in my mind. As I sit in class, my worry grows, and I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong.

I pull out my phone and check for any messages from her, but there's nothing. My heart sinks a little more. **Where could she be?** I start to replay our last conversation in my mind, searching for any clues I might have missed. Did she mention anything about her plans today?

The more I think about it, the more anxious I become. I glance at the clock, willing the minutes to move faster, but they seem to drag on. **What if something happened?** The thought sends a chill down my spine. I can't just sit here and do nothing.

I decide to text her again. **Hey, are you okay? Where are you?** As I hit send, a sense of dread washes over me. I need to find her—something doesn't feel right, and I can't shake the feeling that she might be in trouble.

As I sat in class, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. I glanced at it, expecting maybe a spam text, but my heart dropped as I read the words: **"We have Niya."** Panic surged through me, and my mind raced with fear and confusion.

**What the hell is going on?** I thought, trying to keep calm as adrenaline coursed through my veins. My first instinct was to call her, but I knew that wouldn't help. Instead, I needed to think clearly and act fast.

I quickly got up from my seat, ignoring the teacher's questioning glance, and headed out of the classroom. My thoughts were a whirlwind—who would do this, and why? Was it connected to me somehow? The thought made my stomach churn.

I knew I had to figure this shit out immediately. As I rushed down the hallway, I started to think hard ,thinking about every second counted in getting Niya back safely.