Chapter 124. Abduction
Chapter Nineteen: Into the Unknown
Maria stood frozen in place, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. Dust still lingered in the air like a dense fog, clouding the vision of the elders who coughed and stumbled about in confusion. Yet strangely, she could see everything clearly.
Her eyes darted around as she clutched the staff of office tightly against her chest. Panic clawed at her throat, but she remembered Mr. Frederick’s words: Stay calm, no matter what happens.
Cries rang out from the elders, pleading for help, their voices desperate and frantic. Then, like shadows slipping through the mist, a group of men emerged. They wore plain black suits and masks that concealed their faces, revealing only their eyes—sharp, steady, and unreadable.
The leader among them, a tall man with broad shoulders and commanding presence, stepped forward. "Maria, please come with us," he said, his voice oddly polite.
Maria hesitated, uncertainty written all over her face, but something about his tone—calm and firm—made her believe they weren’t there to hurt her. She took a cautious step forward, then another, and followed them without resistance.
Still holding tightly to the staff, she wondered why the dust had not affected her as it had the elders. It felt like she was watching everything unfold in slow motion, as if caught in a dream she couldn’t wake up from.
Within seconds, she was ushered into a dark van. One man slid in beside her while another closed the door behind them. The van sped off almost immediately, leaving the confused elders behind in the swirling dust.
Maria sat rigid, her heart pounding against her ribs like a drum. Every part of her body was on alert, every nerve screaming with questions. Unable to hold back any longer, she turned to the man who had spoken to her.
"Hello, sir... are you from Mr. Frederick?" Her voice trembled, but she forced herself to meet his eyes.
He turned slowly to face her, locking his gaze with hers. His eyes were like steel, unreadable and emotionless. He didn’t answer. Instead, he turned away again, as if her question hadn’t been asked.