Chapter 2

Daisy woke up in the hospital, her stomach bandaged, she felt a sharp pain down there and couldn't move, she could hear voices, her mother was seated beside her crying and seemed to have been praying as well.

“ Aisha", she finally said, her mom looked at her with so much concern and worry.

“ God Daisy, how are you feeling?"she said, checking on her daughter.

“ I am fine mom but Aisha isn't, Aisha has been kidnapped by one crazy psychopath, he shot me and took her away, mom we need to save her", daisy pleaded with tears in her eyes, she tried to get up but the pain was deep, she shouted.

“ don't get up sweetie, the police are going to find Aisha okay, for now you need to rest", her mom said trying to calm her down.

“ Mom, you don't get it. If we don't save Aisha now, he will harm her okay”.

The police entered then with Aisha's parent, Aisha's mom rushed to hug her,

“ Are you okay?"she asked, concerned.

“ Yes, I am, aunt but are you", she asked worriedly.

“ I am sure Aisha will be fine", she replied with tears threatening to fall out of her eyes.

“ I feel bad I couldn't help her and I allowed him to take her away", she said.

“ there was absolutely nothing you could do, just rest okay".

“ Please find Aisha, I beg of you", she pleaded with the police.

“ yes we will, we just need you to cooperate with us okay", the police assured.

It has a months, the search for both of them has been futile, Aisha was more frustrated than ever and she looked haggard, she looked as if she hasn't eaten for days and her body was weak, Daniel was equally frustrated, he didn't know what to do to make her cooperative and he wasn't willing to let her off the hook easily, Aisha thought of ways to go out of that place and nothing keeps coming that she could easily have done, the only way out she thought of was to get his trust, she decided to flow with him.

The morning was bright and beautiful, Aisha woke up, she looked around to see if he was there but he wasn't, she didn't know if he went out for his morning stroll or not but she hoped she didn't get to see him until much later in the evening.

The door opened, she turned around to see him standing there, she tried to smile at him which he felt was odd, he wasn't sure what she was planning but it felt good that she was smiling, she adjusted for him to come sit with her, he was suspicious about the whole thing but it was a starting.

“ I don't know what you are planning but it won't work", he stated as matter of fact.

“ I am not planning anything, can't you see I am weak and tired and I have eaten for days, I am really hungry and I am willing to accept you and your love", she explained.

“ Finally, you have no idea how long I have waited for this, for you to accept me, I promise you we would be happy", he said joyfully hugging her tight, she shrieked in pain.

“ Oh sorry", he apologized.

“ No, it is fine, is there food", she asked.

“ Yes there is, I'll go get you something", he said, rushing to the kitchen.

Though Aisha felt irritated, she knew this was her starting process to her freedom and she was going to do whatever to make sure she escapes.

Daisy wasn't herself anymore, she was depressed and sad and determined to find her best friend, she was willing to do absolutely anything to make sure of that, the whole world around her tries to make it a normal day for her but she felt their choking presence and didn't want it, she didn't like the look of pity and sadness people welcomed her with and she wasn't willing to accept that Aisha was gone.

She started making research and trying to find out things about Daniel, she had a secret room she does all her work to avoid prying eyes, that was the only thing that kept her sane, she felt like she was closer to the truth, she came pulling out clues and connecting dots, pictures from his childhood, his medical records, his kind of obsession and sport and they all pointed to different things, she went to every place she felt he could be or have gone to, not one single day did she give up hope.

Dora was there as a loving friend consoling her in the best possible ways and trying to help her get her mind of it as much as she can, her parents surrounded her all the time to make sure she doesn't do anything silly, she just wanted space from everyone.

As the time flew from a month to two and then three months, Aisha managed to gain his trust and be balanced, she had plotted out her mission to make sure she escapes from that place, she had tolerated him enough and couldn't take it anymore, she numbered her days with him and bade her time.

The day came for her as she has planned it, on this day, Daniel would leave for the market to get food stuff for them locking her inside all alone to avoid her going outside, she already mapped out what he would do and the time it would take for him to be gone before he gets, as usual, Daniel did this, making sure that she wasn't able to escape first before actually leaving, she could hear the sound of the car engine as it went farther and farther before disappearing into the woods, she quickly check to see properly that he wasn't there before setting her plans in motion.

She stood up from the bed, under it she has been gathering pins tools, she took a wedge and tried breaking the lock to open, after so many attempts she finally did it, the lock fell down, she repeated it for the two other locks there before finally getting free after what seemed like an hour or so, she stepped outside, the sun almost blinded her, she hasn't seen the sun for a while now and it felt good, she didn't know how to leave there but she wasn't going to stay there either, she looked around, the path was clear, it shows where Daniel usually takes to the market. She walked towards that path with hopes that she was going to get back to her family and friends and…she stopped for a while.

DAISY…..

She wondered if daisy was still alive or dead, her heart was broken into many pieces but she didn't want to break down here,she summoned courage to go as she continued, she walked for awhile, the sun was scorching, she was tired and hungry, she wanted to rest but the thoughts of Daniel coming back anytime soon made her more willed to go away, to keep walking.

Speaking of the devil and he appeared, she could hear the sound of the car once again, it was coming back without a thought of where she was headed, she ran through the bush path, trying to get away from him.

Daniel unsuspectingly drove past her, she saw his car get lost again in the path before she came outside, without hesitation took to her heels, she realized it won't be long before he gets home and doesn't find her, he would immediately turn back and would catch up to her.

Daisy's search was still on, she found another place to go check out If she would find Aisha and Daniel, she drove off.

Daniel reached their cabinet, the whole place was quiet, he packed in front, coming down from the car, he saw that the locked were broken, the horror in his face could not be hidden, he rushed in to check if Aisha was there but she wasn't, he was very furious, he took his gun from it hidden place and rushed out to go find her, it was clearly coming to him why she suddenly changed and how she died him, it made him even angrier and promised himself to deal with her accordingly.

Aisha was running for her life, she didn't want to stop, she felt like she needed to get of the bush path as it would make it easier for him to find her, she was really getting weaker by the moment but she couldn't give up, seconds turn to minutes and then hours, the sun was going down and she still hasn't reached civilization, she was really worn out.

Daniel was also tired, he has been looking all over for her, he decided to pack his car after going up and down the path to see if she was in there but to no avail, he packed his car and enter the woods to find her calling and shouting her name, he fired the gun at intervals, cussing and clearly frustrated.

Daisy was getting closer to where she was going, she heard the sound of gun and here blood went cold, she still wasn't fully recovered from the shock she felt when he had shut her, she quickly turned around wanted to leave, she heard the sound again and moved swiftly to be out of the place, as she drive through the path, something or someone came out of the woods, she quickly braked, she looked up to see who it was, to her utter dismay it was her best friend Aisha, she quickly rushed out to help her, she was faint and couldn't even stand properly, she heard another sound of the gunshots, she realized that Daniel was obviously looking for her, she quickly took her in the car and with the speed of lightning she took off.

She got to the hospital, she already informed their parents of Aisha, they came rushing to the hospital with the police. Her parents were so glad and grateful to her for finding their daughter, she hugged her tightly.

“ Thank you Daisy, you have been a really good friend, thank you for finding my daughter", Aisha's mom said.

“ But next time darling at least let us know what you are going to do, don't be reckless with your health, do you understand this", her own mother cautioned.

“ I promise not to do anything silly mom, I really just hopes she wakes up soon", she said as she silently prayed for Aisha.

Daniel was raving, he realized that she would have manage to escape but he was still in doubt and not totally sure, firstly the path was long and even if she had follow the bush, she won't have survived, all these thoughts bothered him so much, he was tired, he decided to go rest before he leaves again.

The next morning It was all over the news that Aisha has been found, every station carried it and the police went in search of Daniel once again assigning some officer to watch over Aisha should Daniel tried something silly, Aisha's parent and friends were there to support her and watch over her as well, the school organize a prayer for her recovery.

Daniel could sense that something was off, he decided to check the news, his face was over the stations, the police were searching for him, he realized Aisha must have found her way home, he didn't know what to do, he was restless and angry, he began throwing things off their place and scattering everywhere, he needed to run away as fast as he could, he quickly prepared himself to run away but he had one more plans for Aisha, he looked at the window glass,

“ If I can't have her then no one else can", he said leaving the place.

Aisha could smell the meds from the room, her head was in a fuzzy state, she struggled to open her eyes, the lighting was really bright.

“ Mom, she is awake", she heard a voice said, it sounded familiar but she couldn't believe it, she wondered if it was truly who she was thinking of at that moment with the voice.

“ Oh Laura, Aisha is awake", she heard another voice she was familiar with, it was Daisy's mom calling her mom.

She opened her eyes quickly, she was so glad it was her mom and the people she cared about, she looked at Daisy, she couldn't believe she survived after mourning her thinking she was dead.

“ D..Daisy, is that really you", she manage to say

“ Yes baby girl, you ain't getting rid of me so soon yet", she replied jokingly.

They both hugged each other for awhile, their moms felt so proud, they joined in.

“ mom, I missed you,'' she added.

“ I missed you too darling, thank God you are safe", her mom said.

The police followed the leading of Daisy to locate where Daniel could be, as they got to the path, they drove in for an another hour before getting to the cabinet, they surrounded the place, calling out to him but there was no response, one of them entered tot check, his gun pointed towards the door as slowly as possible, they was no one inside,

“ clear", he called out over the speaker on his shoulder

The police decided to take a closer look to gather evidence before heading back to the town.

They arrived at the hospital to give the news to Aisha's mom.

“ hello ma'am", the detective greeted on entering Aisha's room

“ oh hi, ermm….let's take this outside", she said, signalling him to the door.

Aisha and Daisy looked at them for a while before enjoying their conversation.

After what seemed like thirty minutes, her mom entered inside,

“ Mom, what did the officer say?"she asked worriedly.

“ it is nothing sweetie just focus on getting better", her mom replied

“ No mom, it is obviously something, I want to know what the office say, did they arrest him or even find him", she asked again.

“ no dear but the police are doing their best, we don't need to worry about that".her mother assured.

But she wasn't convinced, she felt like something bigger was about to happen, she was restless and scared, Daisy could see it in her eyes and understood immediately, she sat down beside her.

“ First of all you need to rest and heal more than anything, then we will see what to do about it, okay”, she whispered.

She gave her a reassuring look and a smile, Aisha felt light abit, she rested her head on her shoulder.

The week was very slow and quiet for awhile, Aisha didn't know if she should feel peace or anxiety as there was no news at all, she was extremely worried and still happy at the same time. The fact that Daniel didn't come for her was suppose to be a free way for her but she didn't felt free, she felt choked not knowing what he was planning to do or when he would just decide to show up out of the blue, Daisy has tried to convince her to relax and not let him get to her but to no avail, she just made sure, she didn't take a drastic step at all.