LOS ANGELES, USA.
Ivy’s eyes was slightly opened. She could see her husband. She could make out his figure from her blurry vision.
“My love, I am glad that you are safe and the baby is fine too.” Ace held one of her hands as they moved into a private ward.
“Let me carry her.” Ace offered when the medical team wanted to transfer her to the bed. Gently he carried his wife in his arms and placed her on the bed.
Ivy winced. “I am sorry. You’ll be fine.” Ace whispered as he placed a kiss on her forehead.
The medical team exited the room after doing their jobs.
“My son.. have you found him?” Ivy breathed out through the oxygen tool trapped to her a part of her face.
Ace leaned up and held one of her free hands because fluid was being passed into her system through the other hand. He sat at the edge of the bed.
“Leroy is doing fine. Don’t worry just take care of yourself.” Mrs Clark replied before Ace could think of what to say.
“I want.. to see my son..” She whispered but they could still make out few of her words.
“Listen Ivy, I want you to be strong for the baby because if anything goes wrong with you then it would also put the baby’s life in great danger.” Mr Clark said in a gentle tone.
“I am fine.. I just want to see my son.” Ivy replied.
“My love, we already made a report to the police so be rest assured that-” Ace was interrupted by a beeping sound. It was his cellphone. He stood up and took it out of his pocket.
He exchanged glances with his father. “Excuse me, I have to pick this call.” Ace left the room. He met Ma’am Brenda and Riley still waiting outside while he walked away. The abductor is calling again.
“Hello, Mr Ace Clark. Why do you choose to keep me waiting?!” The masculine voice snarled over the phone.
“You didn’t give me a location to come meet you.” Ace replied.
“You didn’t show interest in meeting me when I called. Don’t you want to see your son?” The voice chuckled.
“I want to see him. Please don’t hurt my son. Just tell me what you want and I’ll give you any amount of money.” Panic was alive in his at the thought of the abductors hurting his son.
“I don’t need your money. I just want you! I want you!” The voice grimaced.
“Okay.. I’ll come to you but what assurance do I have that my son is safe?” Ace demanded.
“Hey boy.. talk to your father.” The abductor ordered.
“Dad.. dad.. is that you? Please don’t come to them. They are evil-”
Ace heard a sound over the phone. “Did you just hit my son?!” He shouted over the phone gaining the attention of sick passerby.
“Yes I did. And I’ll do worse things to him if you don’t come running down here to see me.” The voice replied.
“I swear it.. if anything happens to my son, I’ll destroy you!” Ace gritted.
The abductor chuckled. “Destroy me? You already destroyed me, Ace Clark.” The voice said before line went off.
“I destroyed him?”Ace wondered who it could be that he had destroyed but he couldn’t remember ruining anyone’s life. Ace ran his hand through his hair and when he turned to head back to the ward, he saw his dad.
“What do they want from you?” Mr Clark asked.
“He doesn’t want money but he wants me to come and save my son.” Ace replied.
“You can’t go to the abductors alone. Let us wait for the cops.” Mr Clark countered.
“No dad, I can’t wait for the cops. It might be too late. I’ll go to them and rescue my son.” Ace’s phone beeped again. A message stating the address of where he would meet the abductors.
“What if they hurt you and Leroy? How do we find you? Let us just wait for the cops to get here and they will take the lead in saving Leroy. Your wife needs you by her side.” Mr Clark had a worried look on his expression as he persuaded his son.
“The abductor warned me against bring the cops in this message. And dad, you know how much Ivy loves Leroy. He is just like the air that she breathes in. I am afraid that I might lose her and my baby too if anything goes wrong with Leroy. I’ll save him.” Ace was determined.
“Let me have the number that has been calling you.” Mr Clark requested.
Ace hesitated. “You won’t give him a call right?” He asked.
“The private investigator would be here soon with the cops. They would need it when they all get here. Please go ahead and save Leroy.” Mr Clark responded.
Ace collected his dad’s phone and punched in the abductor’s number before handling the phone back to him.
“Have you called Ivy’s family?” Mr Clark asked.
“Yes, Emily is on her way.” Ace replied.
Emily had promised to book the next available local flight from Winslow to Los Angeles.
“Please take care of Ivy.” Ace’s eyes pleaded with his father.
“Please be safe.” Mr Clark patted his shoulder before Ace walked off at a close run.
Ace ran to the parking lot, opened the car and pulled out of the driveway. He glanced down at his watch, he had just ten minutes to get to the location and save his son.
Ace tried to control his trembling body as he focused on the road ahead. He was prepared and determined to save him son even if I t would cost his own life. He heard siren as they passed by his car.
“Please hang on Leroy! Dad is on his way to save you.” Ace thought as he pressed on the gas pedal to increase his speed.
A sob rose in his throat but Ace couldn’t cry. Not now that he was on his way to meet the abductors. A quick glance at his watch had him hitting the horn for the other cars to make way for him on the highway. He was slowly loosing his mind at the thought of the abductors doing any harm to his son.
Ace tried to calm down. He tried to tell himself that Leroy would be safe. He tried to assure himself that nothing bad would happen to his family. Leroy, Ivy and the unborn child – his family, and they would all be together once everything is over.
But deep down in Ace’s heart, he also began to doubt his assurances. The abductors said he destroyed his life. How? In what way had he destroyed someone’s life without knowing? Ace pondered.
Ace loosened the few buttons on his shirt. He felt his stomach twist as he turned the car away from the usual road into a lone pathway leading to a large mass of land.
The time was 8:00 pm when he checked his wrist watch. Ace had made it to the location on time. Everywhere was dark as he drove further into the land until he sighted an enormous uncompleted building.