chapter 2: Gone

Hazel's grip on her boss's arm tightened, her eyes widened in alarm. Mr Larry was watching her, a look of surprise on his face at first. He waited for her to pull back and say something but all she did was stare wide-eyed at him.

" What the...?" He suddenly exclaimed, shrugging off her grasp.

" Ms Hazel, what has gotten into you?"

His tone was stern, his expression disapproving.

Hazel's face flushed as she realized her mistake.

Oh no! She thought to herself.

"I...I'm sorry, sir. I… I thought you were someone else," she stammered.

Mr Larry's eyebrows shot up.

" Someone else? This is your workplace, not a meeting ground. You'd better explain yourself, Hazel. That's no way to behave in the office."

Hazel's anxiety spiked and her palms began to sweat. She knew she'd overreacted.

" I'm so sorry, sir. It's just… a lot has been going on and I'm just on edge.” She managed to say, her eyes locked on her shoes.

Mr Larry's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained firm.

" Whatever it is, Hazel, it's no excuse for acting this way in the office. You need to get your emotions under control. There's a lot to be done here and there's no space for a breakdown from anyone, especially not you.”

Hazel nodded, feeling embarrassed and ashamed.

"Yes, sir. It… it won't happen again, sir."

Mr Larry nodded curtly.

"See that it doesn't. Now, get back to work."

Hazel returned to her desk, her mind reeling.

She was sure she had seen someone staring at her through the mirror. She was very sure, that's why she chased. But who was it?

Who was following her?

And why?

The rest of the day passed in a blur, Hazel's anxiety getting into the way of everything she did. Coworkers cast curious glances her way, but Hazel avoided eye contact.

At lunchtime, she sat alone in the break room, her thoughts consuming her.

Why was this happening now?

Had she finally escaped her past, only to have it catch up with her?

As she mechanically ate her sandwich, Hazel's phone buzzed. Her heart skipped for a moment as she stared at the phone warily.

For a second, she thought to just ignore it but then, curiosity got the better part of her and she eventually picked it up after drawing in a heavy breath.

It was from Heather's school. The text they sent everyday to inform parents that their kids had been dropped at home and was safe.

She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She had very little left to do then she would make a stop at the supermarket before going home to her daughter. She tried to focus on this and shake away any feeling of vulnerability.

The workday drew to a close and Hazel hurriedly took her leave. The last thing she wanted was these curious coworkers gathering around her to ask questions that were none of their business.

Hazel wasn't the friendly type, as you should have guessed. She kept to herself and didn't relate with anyone if it didn't have to do with work or her daughter. The people around her concluded that she was too full of herself and that was why she behaved that way.

Little did they know all the things Hazel had been through!

As she stepped out of the office building, a chill ran down her spine. She knew without a doubt that the person from earlier had returned. She felt like screaming.

Why wouldn't he just show his face and tell her what he wanted from her? Or what they wanted? Why were they keeping her in so much suspense?

She would lose her mind from overthinking.

Hazel's grip on her handbag tightened as fear clawed its way up her throat. Her instincts screamed warning as she quickly scanned the surrounding area.

No familiar faces. Just strangers rushing to and fro.

Then her eyes caught sight of a figure standing by a lonely corner. Tall, imposing, and shrouded in shadows. She couldn't see his face but she saw that he was dressed in the same three piece suit that she had seen before.

Hazel's heart pounded in her chest.

This had to be the person that was trailing her!

She took a deep breath and started walking, not taking her eyes from the person. As she approached the crosswalk, the figure turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Hazel quickened her pace, her senses on high alert. She knew he wasn't gone. She had to get home quickly to make sure her daughter was safe. That was the only thing that mattered at the moment.

She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched even as she navigated through the crowded market. She entered stalls and purchased goods absentmindedly, her focus remained fixed on reaching home.

Every glance over her shoulder revealed nothing. But the feeling persisted. Every sound made her jump.

As she turned a corner, she collided with a stranger. Her goods fell all about her and Hazel was just a second away from crying out in frustration. The man apologized quietly, picking up her goods for her.

She didn't see his face as she was overwhelmed with her self-pity, it was only when he walked past her that she realised something.

He was dressed in a black suit, like the figure.

Hazel's heart began racing. She stood transfixed in place for a while, contemplating if to go after the man and get her answers or go home to her daughter.

Her love for her daughter and the need for her safety overthrew all the answers she needed. Hazel held on tighter to her goods and quickly hurried home.

Someone watching her would think she had lost her mind, with the way her face loomed with worry and her legs pattered across the street without pattern.

Finally, her apartment building came into view. Relief washed over her, momentarily.

Hazel pushed opened the door and that very instant, her heart stopped. The bags in her hand dropped to the floor, spilling across the room.

The one room apartment was torn apart. The curtains ripped, the bed overturned upside down. Heather's toys and books laid everywhere in the room, abandoned.

"Heather!" Hazel managed to mumble.

She was hoping against hope that her daughter would be in there somewhere, that despite this clear evidence that her room had been broken into, her two-year old daughter would have somehow escaped them and was hiding somewhere in the room, waiting to hear her mother's voice.

“Heather!" Hazel called again, a lump forming in her throat.

There was silence.

Hazel's heart began to pound in her chest as she fell to her knees.

“Heather!” She yelled louder, her voice filled with agony.

She didn't hear her daughter respond to her call. She didn't hear any sound apart from the breaking sound of her ragged breathing. There was still silence.

A tear dropped and then it began to pour.

“No! No!” She screamed wildly.

Her world was shattered. Her baby. They had taken her.

She was gone.