The Journal [A Sequel To Maya's Diary]

Chapter Five

I laid on my bed, rolling and cuddling myself with Molly. I still had her, my teddy bear.
I didn't want to get up. I wanted to shut my eyes and go back to dream world. Rays of sunshine, dispersed in their millions on reaching my glass window. Despite the blinders I had that was intended to restrict them from entering, few stubborn beams still did.

"Maya," Lisa barged in, calling as she leaned against my wooden door. She was still on her pink nighty, and her disheveled hair further confirmed that she had just woken up.

"Did you not learn how to knock?"

"You need to see this," She replied, practically ignoring my question.

Her expression, was so sullen that it made me get up immediately.

"What's wrong?" I asked, a bit concerned.

"Tess has been kidnapped."

Sudden cold, still parallel shivers ran down my spine. It was swift, and soon it disappeared.

"What do you mean by Tess has been kidnapped? That doesn't even make any sense," I dramatically rolled my eyes, and let out a laughter before adding,

"She has full-time body guards, it's probably n-"

"I think you need to see for yourself," Her reply, cut me shut. I noticed her eyes glittering already, at the appearance of tears. She was a big fan of Tess's.

I slowly got up, feeling a sharp piercing pain, below my abdomen. My mind silently got to work, calculating. Maybe I was just hungry.

I followed after her, descending the steps, one at a time. She stood right in front of the television, as she had the day before, and turned on the television set. I listened as the reporter replayed the events, from the last night's performance. He added after the short video had been played, that according to reports, Tess had excused herself to the ladies restroom, and that was when the kidnapper saw his chance.

All I heard, was too much to take in at that point. So many questions lingered in my head, pleading answers.

Whatever happened to decorum, tight security, privacy?

The hour hand of the clock, hit nine. While the minute, hit twelve. It was only then that I remembered it was Christmas and that I had an appointment scheduled by ten.

"Merry Christmas," I uttered within cold breaths, and hurried off to get prepared. I didn't want to set a bad impression, on my first day at work.

"Maya, won't you say anything about this?" My mum called at my heels. "What can I say? There's nothing that could be said here, that will change anything out there. We need to go on with our lives mum. Sooner or later, their demands would be met, and she'll be freed."

I hadn't known myself, to be that honest. It didn't quite disturb me, I couldn't explain why. I noticed my mum, exchange a gaze with Lisa, then back to me. I couldn't care less anymore. "Merry Christmas once more," I said, not that it mattered at that moment, but as a means of indicating that I was leaving.

❇❇❇

(Repeated knocks on the door)

"Who's there?"

"Open the door, Would ya?" was the faint response behind the door.

"Hey Daniel!" It was Sofia. Definitely not the person he had intended seeing then.

"Sofie, What are you doing here?" He asked. He wore a teal colored inner singlet, and a loose pair of checkered shorts.

"This is my brother's house," She replied, exerting her body's weight unto one feet.

"Well, I'm your brother."

"So?"

He let out a breath, he wasn't sure, for how long he held it. "Come in," He managed to say.

"You should have said this minutes ago."

She stepped in, drenching out the remains of the liquefied snow, on the floor mat she saw. Her eyes, narrowly appreciated the good looking furniture it could see. Clear full length posters, of some highly recognized footballers, on one end of the room.

"So, why are you not in school?" Daniel replied, pouring himself a hot cup of coffee, and dropping what remained in the jug, on a side table.

"What can I possibly learn at school, that I cannot teach myself?" Daniel peeked through the steaming cup, and gave her a raised brow, before she continued.

"Besides, It's Christmas. FYI, Schools don't commence till after the celebrations. Was it a bad idea, deciding to spend Christmas with my beloved brother?"

"Wait, that's it?"

"Of course not, I need money. Why else would I be here? Mum said no money for me because they sent some last week, so I'm broke."

"Sofie, you really have to stop being so extravagant."

"Your cologne smells nice, you were about going out?" She inadvertently changed the subject of discussion.

"Well, Yes. For lunch."

"Great I'm starving, I'm coming with you."

"I'd be going with someone, so you can't come along."

"Abigail is in Britain. I guess there's someone else Huh?" Sofie smirked.

"Well, remember that one time, you told to meet the girl I loved? I didn't. I ran into her days back, and I'm willing to set things straight. But there's a problem. She's married, well engaged."

"Whatever happened to my good brother? You want to say that, to someone's wife?"

"Love isn't only for lovers."

"Yeah spare me. So while you would be away, what will I do."

"Here," Daniel reached for his suit's breast pocket, bringing out some currency notes, and handed it over to her. "Get yourself something, while I'm away."

"Can I invite Molly over?"

"What? So you both can throw a mini party, in my penthouse? Nope, not happening and that's final."

✳✳✳

Maya's POV

I rushed into the Daily Times main office, colliding with a bunch of others I saw. They were concentrated on the entrance door, so I pushed my way through, to get in. Different scents, from different people, clouded my lungs. I realized they all attended to one thing or the other.

I found the secretary attending to a call, when I arrived. I waited impatiently for a few minutes, before she ended the call. She rolled her eyes around me making me suddenly self conscious. Her full glossed lips, slightly opened, and she finally spoke the words, I needed to hear that very moment.

"How may I help you?"

"I'm Maya Anderson, I'm here for the interview."

"Interview?" She asked, in a not so polite way. I wondered if she was this inhospitable towards everyone, or it was just my guts.

I looked down impatiently at my leather strapped watch, I was running late.

"I'm sorry, no interviews today."

"I was sent an email, that I should be here, for an interview," I replied, almost in a panic.

"What's going on here?" I heard, noticing someone walk in. I turned to the guttural voice, and noticed it was a man, that couldn't be less than fifty years. The way he spoke, restoring sanity within minutes of his arrival, inferred respect, so I supposed that he must have been the head.

"You are?" He turned to me, to ask.

"I'm Maya Anderson."

"Maya Anderson, for the interview?"

"Yes, that's me," I replied excitedly.

"I've been expecting you," Those words, lit up my heart.

I followed steadily, treading his footprints literally. I returned one last look at the secretary, searching for her expression, but I missed it. I swiftly followed after, shutting the door behind me.