IrisI clicked on the picture that popped into my phone and almost shouted out loud when I saw my mom’s blindfolded pictures.“Isak! I called out before the message came in.“Don’t tell anyone unless she dies!”I felt my heart beat while I clamped my mouth shut! This cannot be real!“Who are you, and what have you done to my mom?The text was left unanswered for seconds, and I felt my heart sink to my stomach in fear.I realized that I was panicking badly, then I started paving the floor. Why had they informed me not to tell anyone?Another message popped up, and it was the name of a restaurant! What would I use this information for? Was she there?“Come alone by 2:00 p.m., and I’ll know if you tell anyone.”I felt my mouth dry completely as I held the phone in my hand. What just happened now? Who was this, and why had he asked me to come alone?I felt the heaviness of my stomach as a reminder that I was carrying another human ab sank to the seat behind me.“You called me! Isak came i
IsakI pushed my weight firm against the door, but it suddenly unlocked, and I stood aside as she pulled the door open.“Are you okay? I tried to hold her, but she took a step back from me with a bloodshot eye.“Iris! I called and am now worried as hell! What had happened to her? I had heard her scream, and I thought maybe she had fallen or something.“Is the baby okay? I bent over to examine her stomach, but she just stood there in tears without saying a word.“Please, talk to me. What happened? I stared at her and waited for an answer, but she wasn’t ready to speak.I rushed into the bathroom to check what was wrong, but I just saw her laptop on top of the toilet seat!“Iris! Please talk to me. What’s wrong? I asked, emerging from the bathroom, to see her still standing there in tears and staring into space.“I’ll get hold of the doctor,” I said, rushing over to the bed to grab my cellphone, but her voice stopped me midway from dialing the number.“How…could you?! Her voice broke as
IrisI stopped to glare at my few clothes on the bed. I had returned to the hotel to gather my things, but I was still in shock.I sighed, then sat right back at my messy cloth. I still couldn’t get my head strong after what I had discovered.Was Ian behind my mom's kidnapping if that's that's what he stands to achieve?I covered my face with my palm and forced myself to think, and then the message beeping on my phone got my attention.I picked up my phone from the bed to check the message.“I’m back!” The message read that it came from no other person than Ian.He was here! He was here to take me with him. I should be happy. But why am I feeling this sadness?And as I dressed for dinner tonight with Ian, I felt a form of resistance in my heart; there was something happening.And I felt the need to ask him to clear up the doubts I’m having because I might be wrong. Maybe it was a clear misunderstanding from my side.And as I tried to clamp the hook of my necklace, I kept on failing du
IrisI stood and stared at the stack of books that I had left in months.I have lost the motivation to find out the truth. I had given up, but something about these recent issues made me want to reopen the boom.To find out those hidden things that I have left hidden.I traced my finger on the dusty books while sipping my coffee slowly. What will happen when I retake the case again?This time it was for Ian, but for my sanity. I had to know; there was a lot to find out.The police were still on my mother's case, and they haven’t found anything for weeks now, and there have not been any notes from the kidnappers.So whoever this person was doesn’t want money but something else.And that morning I found myself seated back on the table and going through all my notes that I have left in ages.All the places I had scribbled down notes were still there, and as I reread them, it just made perfect sense, and questions I'd never asked myself came to me.“Carlos couldn’t have everything planned
IrisI wanted desperately to shout at his face, showing how brutal a liar he was. I had clear proof that, after he left, that’s when the camera stopped working.“But this will mean that he was behind my mom’s kidnapping!I choked on the thought as I grabbed a bottle of juice and gulped it down in one minute.This was too much for me to take in, and I know I have to be careful with how I make assumptions and if I am to provide any proof to the police.I’ll have to have enough proof to do that. And as I looked down at my note, where I had tossed it after writing,.Only for me to realize how scary the content in it was! I was getting closer to the truth, and it was scary!“It is very surprising for you to come and visit me, Iris.""He faked a smile as he sat, looked away, and focused his gaze on something, maybe in the air.I felt pain ripple through my chest, with my fist clenched tight in anger.“I’m sorry, Isak. I never want to do this! I waved my arms in the air.“What exactly, huh? H
Iris“Are you okay? He took a step toward me, and I instantly backed away until my back was pressing against the car.“Iris! He reached and touched my face softly. I felt the urge to take to my heels, but my feet seemed to be rooted at the spot.“I’m… I’m good” I stuttered as a bead of sweat slid down from my forehead.We stood outside until two policemen stopped by in front of the house.I just stopped myself from yelling, “Danger! I gripped my sweatshirt tightly and kept muttering different prayers.“Did you see anyone walk in or anything? The female policewoman asked while his colleagues went straight into the house to investigate.“No, I just drove my fiancée back only to find the door open.”I swallowed at the mention of “fiancée.” I felt a sudden tightening in my chest as tears welled up in my eyes. How could he? Does that mean...?I couldn’t answer any of the questions that jammed up in my head.“You live together? The policewoman, with her eyes still focused on her book,.I wa
Iris“I walked in to see his body still on the cold floor.” I started.I lay quietly on my bed after the interrogation with the police.The thought of it left me with a bitter taste in my guts, despite how much I fought my mind to forget.It was unfair to watch my life crumble before me. I had not believed Isak when he was telling me.I had trusted Ian more and had broken a perfect relationship.I swallowed a hard knot on my throat and just closed my eyes, wishing that everything would change the moment I reopened my eyes.But I was still faced with the truth the moment I reopened them.Isak was no more, and this was the most painful time of my life, just a few weeks after the birth of the baby. I rubbed my stomach slowly in pain and fear of what I'd face next.But then the door opened, and the last person I wanted to see was standing by the door.Are you okay? He asked as he made a step to walk towards me, but all the will to pretend in front of him was gone.“Why?! I muttered, subdu
IrisI follow the route with a trembling hand as I drive quietly.He had asked me to follow this path, but at some point all I saw were trees; the canopy provided enough hiding spots for people.I could hear my heartbeat as I drove on, and at some point, the silence was more than threatening.“Mummy will get us out of this.” I started speaking just for some sort of motivation, because I was afraid!I was trembling despite knowing that I was not alone in this; my heart beat was enough to drum me out, but I kept driving. I kept talking to my daughter.“Your dad loves you so much... Isak. He was the one that stayed, the one that looked after you, so he’s your father.The one I’ll talk to you about when you grow up. You know, baby, mummy can’t wait to see you. I can’t wait for the day when I’ll hold you in my hands.The day that I’ll get to hear you for the first time... I stopped, then took a deep breath to calm my aching heart before continuing editing.I hope this journey will come to
IrisI follow the route with a trembling hand as I drive quietly.He had asked me to follow this path, but at some point all I saw were trees; the canopy provided enough hiding spots for people.I could hear my heartbeat as I drove on, and at some point, the silence was more than threatening.“Mummy will get us out of this.” I started speaking just for some sort of motivation, because I was afraid!I was trembling despite knowing that I was not alone in this; my heart beat was enough to drum me out, but I kept driving. I kept talking to my daughter.“Your dad loves you so much... Isak. He was the one that stayed, the one that looked after you, so he’s your father.The one I’ll talk to you about when you grow up. You know, baby, mummy can’t wait to see you. I can’t wait for the day when I’ll hold you in my hands.The day that I’ll get to hear you for the first time... I stopped, then took a deep breath to calm my aching heart before continuing editing.I hope this journey will come to
Iris“I walked in to see his body still on the cold floor.” I started.I lay quietly on my bed after the interrogation with the police.The thought of it left me with a bitter taste in my guts, despite how much I fought my mind to forget.It was unfair to watch my life crumble before me. I had not believed Isak when he was telling me.I had trusted Ian more and had broken a perfect relationship.I swallowed a hard knot on my throat and just closed my eyes, wishing that everything would change the moment I reopened my eyes.But I was still faced with the truth the moment I reopened them.Isak was no more, and this was the most painful time of my life, just a few weeks after the birth of the baby. I rubbed my stomach slowly in pain and fear of what I'd face next.But then the door opened, and the last person I wanted to see was standing by the door.Are you okay? He asked as he made a step to walk towards me, but all the will to pretend in front of him was gone.“Why?! I muttered, subdu
Iris“Are you okay? He took a step toward me, and I instantly backed away until my back was pressing against the car.“Iris! He reached and touched my face softly. I felt the urge to take to my heels, but my feet seemed to be rooted at the spot.“I’m… I’m good” I stuttered as a bead of sweat slid down from my forehead.We stood outside until two policemen stopped by in front of the house.I just stopped myself from yelling, “Danger! I gripped my sweatshirt tightly and kept muttering different prayers.“Did you see anyone walk in or anything? The female policewoman asked while his colleagues went straight into the house to investigate.“No, I just drove my fiancée back only to find the door open.”I swallowed at the mention of “fiancée.” I felt a sudden tightening in my chest as tears welled up in my eyes. How could he? Does that mean...?I couldn’t answer any of the questions that jammed up in my head.“You live together? The policewoman, with her eyes still focused on her book,.I wa
IrisI wanted desperately to shout at his face, showing how brutal a liar he was. I had clear proof that, after he left, that’s when the camera stopped working.“But this will mean that he was behind my mom’s kidnapping!I choked on the thought as I grabbed a bottle of juice and gulped it down in one minute.This was too much for me to take in, and I know I have to be careful with how I make assumptions and if I am to provide any proof to the police.I’ll have to have enough proof to do that. And as I looked down at my note, where I had tossed it after writing,.Only for me to realize how scary the content in it was! I was getting closer to the truth, and it was scary!“It is very surprising for you to come and visit me, Iris.""He faked a smile as he sat, looked away, and focused his gaze on something, maybe in the air.I felt pain ripple through my chest, with my fist clenched tight in anger.“I’m sorry, Isak. I never want to do this! I waved my arms in the air.“What exactly, huh? H
IrisI stood and stared at the stack of books that I had left in months.I have lost the motivation to find out the truth. I had given up, but something about these recent issues made me want to reopen the boom.To find out those hidden things that I have left hidden.I traced my finger on the dusty books while sipping my coffee slowly. What will happen when I retake the case again?This time it was for Ian, but for my sanity. I had to know; there was a lot to find out.The police were still on my mother's case, and they haven’t found anything for weeks now, and there have not been any notes from the kidnappers.So whoever this person was doesn’t want money but something else.And that morning I found myself seated back on the table and going through all my notes that I have left in ages.All the places I had scribbled down notes were still there, and as I reread them, it just made perfect sense, and questions I'd never asked myself came to me.“Carlos couldn’t have everything planned
IrisI stopped to glare at my few clothes on the bed. I had returned to the hotel to gather my things, but I was still in shock.I sighed, then sat right back at my messy cloth. I still couldn’t get my head strong after what I had discovered.Was Ian behind my mom's kidnapping if that's that's what he stands to achieve?I covered my face with my palm and forced myself to think, and then the message beeping on my phone got my attention.I picked up my phone from the bed to check the message.“I’m back!” The message read that it came from no other person than Ian.He was here! He was here to take me with him. I should be happy. But why am I feeling this sadness?And as I dressed for dinner tonight with Ian, I felt a form of resistance in my heart; there was something happening.And I felt the need to ask him to clear up the doubts I’m having because I might be wrong. Maybe it was a clear misunderstanding from my side.And as I tried to clamp the hook of my necklace, I kept on failing du
IsakI pushed my weight firm against the door, but it suddenly unlocked, and I stood aside as she pulled the door open.“Are you okay? I tried to hold her, but she took a step back from me with a bloodshot eye.“Iris! I called and am now worried as hell! What had happened to her? I had heard her scream, and I thought maybe she had fallen or something.“Is the baby okay? I bent over to examine her stomach, but she just stood there in tears without saying a word.“Please, talk to me. What happened? I stared at her and waited for an answer, but she wasn’t ready to speak.I rushed into the bathroom to check what was wrong, but I just saw her laptop on top of the toilet seat!“Iris! Please talk to me. What’s wrong? I asked, emerging from the bathroom, to see her still standing there in tears and staring into space.“I’ll get hold of the doctor,” I said, rushing over to the bed to grab my cellphone, but her voice stopped me midway from dialing the number.“How…could you?! Her voice broke as
IrisI clicked on the picture that popped into my phone and almost shouted out loud when I saw my mom’s blindfolded pictures.“Isak! I called out before the message came in.“Don’t tell anyone unless she dies!”I felt my heart beat while I clamped my mouth shut! This cannot be real!“Who are you, and what have you done to my mom?The text was left unanswered for seconds, and I felt my heart sink to my stomach in fear.I realized that I was panicking badly, then I started paving the floor. Why had they informed me not to tell anyone?Another message popped up, and it was the name of a restaurant! What would I use this information for? Was she there?“Come alone by 2:00 p.m., and I’ll know if you tell anyone.”I felt my mouth dry completely as I held the phone in my hand. What just happened now? Who was this, and why had he asked me to come alone?I felt the heaviness of my stomach as a reminder that I was carrying another human ab sank to the seat behind me.“You called me! Isak came i
IrisMy hand trembled violently while I gripped the counter and tried to steady myself against falling. He wouldn’t do that to me!My chest tightened, and I struggled to breathe. Was that a sort of way to pay me back since I didn’t go back to him?Whatever happens, I won't allow my relationship to ruin it!“Iris! My head snapped up to see my mom standing on the stairs. Thank God! Ian has left. I sighed in relief as my eyes averted to the door, then back at him.“What was that noise? She asked as she walked down. I rubbed my hands together just to force them to be steady as I walked over to meet her.“Nothing! I blurted out, hoping that my fear was not visible for her to see, but there was doubt in her eyes as I responded.“It was nothing; I was just talking to myself.” She walked into the kitchen to see the wet floor, then turned curiously and looked at me.“How did this happen?“Ummm… yeah… I thought I had a noise outside, and when I opened it to check what the rattling was all abou