Chapter 31

Mikayla's POV
I kept running, hoping for a little luck. No matter what, I had to find a way to save her. No matter how far she went, there was no stopping me. Finally, I pulled out my phone and tried to call Rudolf, holding on to the hope that my husband would help us deal with this unexpected situation.
“Rudolf, come back!” I yelled as I dialed the numbers on my phone rapidly, trying to keep my cool amidst the panic.
But as I waited for my call to connect, I would never give up. Emma needed me, and I would not let anyone take her away from me. This was a lifelong struggle—a struggle to save my child from this evil person.
I felt like I never had any real enemies, but now, I wondered why anyone would kidnap my little child. Pain and fear began to creep into my soul, and uncontrollable tears flowed down my cheeks.
Daniel, even though he was still very young, saw my condition and tried to wipe away the tears that fell. His loving instinct made me feel a little better. I hugged him tightly, trying to find comfort amidst my panic.
“I’m here, honey. Everything will be okay,” I said, even though my heart was filled with deep worry.
In this situation, I wanted to give Daniel as much encouragement as possible.
However, my mind remained focused on the emergency situation. I tried to call Rudolf again, but his phone was still disconnected. “Come on, pick up my phone,” I muttered to myself, full of hope. “This is really urgent, Rudolf. We need you now.”
As I held Daniel in my arms, my anxiety and despair grew stronger.
What should I do?
Filled with uncertainty, I realized that I had to think fast. We couldn’t wait around without doing something.
Inevitably, I started to think.
Who is this person? What is his purpose in kidnapping Emma? And where was he taking him? There was a sense that this might not just be about me, but maybe something bigger—a warning to my family, and this was a fight to get my son back.
“Daniel, we need to get help,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll check outside. Maybe I can find a lead or follow their trail.”
Carefully, I set Daniel down and stood, my fear burning inside me ironically. I slowly stepped outside, hoping for a clue, or maybe Emma’s voice.
Every second felt like an eternity, and my fingers clenched tightly around my phone. If Rudolf didn’t answer, I would have to find another way to call for help. Was there a way to report this kidnapping?
Praying for Emma’s safety, I tried to clear my mind. This was a time that tested all my abilities and courage as a mother. I would not stop fighting for my children—no matter how bitter and difficult this journey was. And with all my strength, I would do whatever it took to find and bring Emma back.
Damn it. Rudolf was still unreachable, and anxiety began to spread throughout my body. The situation was getting increasingly tense, and time seemed to be moving at an incredibly slow pace.
I tried to leave the house, but my mind was spinning. If I left, it would be too dangerous. Daniel was here, and he could be next.
Then, should I just stay silent?
With unsettling uncertainty, I tried to look outside the house. The atmosphere outside seemed very quiet, and even though I felt trapped inside a wall of helplessness, my mind still tried to remind myself to stay alert.
"Oh my God, why did this have to happen?" I thought, my heart overflowing with sadness. Courage and alertness must come together to keep us both safe.
I looked at Daniel, who was still in my arms, showing his innocent face that looked confused. I couldn't leave him alone, and I definitely couldn't make a reckless decision that could have fatal consequences.
My breath slowed down, trying to calm myself down. In my heart, I knew I needed to do something. Waiting for Rudolf wouldn't solve this problem. However, leaving with Daniel also felt high risk.
"What should I do, God?" I said softly, praying for guidance. I decided to rush to the table and look for alternatives. Maybe there was another way to get help.
I looked at my phone again, trying to contact close friends who might be able to help me. Stay and believe that someone will answer me.
"Who can help me now?" I thought. If there are friends nearby, at least they can come or call for help.
Despite all the panic that was raging inside, I experienced a wind of hope. The strength to take care of Daniel and look for Emma must continue. In this situation full of uncertainty, I hope to find a glimmer of light that will guide our steps in this dark night.
Getting ready, I held my phone while making sure Daniel was still safe in my arms. "We will not give up. We will find a way," I said to myself.
It turned out that exhaustion defeated me and I didn't realize that I fell asleep in a sitting position, with Daniel still in my arms.
When I woke up, the morning light penetrated the window and the surroundings of my house began to look brighter.
My heart trembled when I realized that time had passed and Emma still hadn't returned. "Emma, where are you, honey? This is the first time I've been separated from Emma," I thought, anxiety gripping me again. I hope someone can take care of Emma until I find her again.
As I thought about all the possibilities, a familiar voice suddenly snapped me to attention. “Mikayla, what happened?” The voice came from the doorway. I saw Rudolf standing there with a worried expression on his face.
“Why did you just come?” I asked, my voice wavering between relief and frustration. “Emma was kidnapped, and I couldn’t reach you.”
Rudolf looked surprised and quickly approached me. “I couldn’t answer your call last night. I’m sorry. What happened?” he asked in a worried tone.