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Chapter 11 Lost And Found
Rachael stepped away from the noise, finding a quieter corner away from the laughter and splashing water. She pulled out her phone, dialing Damian’s number, and impatiently waited for him to pick up.
“Hey, babe,” Damian’s voice came through, slightly muffled but still warm and familiar.
Rachael let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Hey, you’ve been gone for a while. I was starting to worry. Everything okay?”
Damian chuckled, the sound easing some of her tension. “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just a little drama with a business partner trying to play smart. It got sorted, though. I’m wrapping things up here, and I’ll be back
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soon.”
Rachael smiled, relieved to hear his voice and that everything was under control. “Good. I miss you, she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Damian’s tone shifted, becoming more teasing and playful. “Oh, you miss me, huh? Well, I’ve been thinking about you too, baby. And when I get back tonight…” He paused, his voice dropping lower, “I’m gonna make sure you scream my name so loud, the whole neighborhood will know who you belong to.”
Rachael’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she glanced around, ensuring no one could hear the conversation. “Damian, stop it,” she giggled, trying to sound stern but failing miserably as his words sent a shiver down her spine.
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“Nope, not stopping. I’ve been thinking about how I’m gonna have you begging, saying my name over and over. Just wait till I get my hands on you tonight.” His voice dripped with promise, making her heart race.
“Damian, you’re terrible” she whispered, biting her lip to suppress a smile. Despite the playful reprimand, she couldn’t deny how his words made her feel.
He laughed, the sound deep and throaty. “You love it, and you know it. Just hold on, babe. I’ll be there before you know it.”
They exchanged a few more words before hanging up, the playful banter lingering in her mind. As Rachael put her phone away, she couldn’t help but smile, feeling lighter than before.
Damian had a way of making her feel
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desired, loved, and alive in the best possible way. With her heart still fluttering, she
rejoined Chloe by the pool, ready to enjoy the rest of the party.
Rachael’s heart plummeted as she rushed back to the poolside, spotting Chloe’s frantic expression. Her best friend looked like she’d lost all color in her face, her eyes darting around wildly. Rachael’s gaze snapped to the water, her stomach twisting into knots when she couldn’t see Jamal or Daniel. A cold dread gripped her chest, squeezing tight.
“Chloe!” Rachael’s voice was shrill, almost unrecognizable, echoing the terror rising in her. “Where are the kids?!”
Chloe turned to her, panic etched in every line of her face. She looked as if she might crumble any second. “That’s the thing, Rachael–I just closed my eyes for a few
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seconds, I swear! They were right there, and then… they were gone!”
“What?!” Rachael’s breath caught in her throat, her voice trembling as if she could barely keep it together. It felt like the ground had been ripped out from beneath her feet.
She whirled back to the pool, her vision blurring with unshed tears. Her heart
pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest.
Every horrible thought crashed into her mind at once. Jamal’s smile, his laugh, his little arms wrapped around her neck–it all flashed before her eyes as she stared desperately at the water, praying to see his curly head pop up. But there was nothing. Just the sun glinting off the still surface, mocking her.
“Jamal! Daniel!” she screamed, her voice
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cracking under the weight of her fear. “Where are you?!”
Rachael’s panic radiated off her in waves, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She felt like she was suffocating, the world around her tilting as if she were trapped in some kind of nightmare.
The sounds of the party faded into a distant buzz; all she could hear was the frantic beating of her heart and the rapid, shallow breaths she was struggling to take.
Parents and lifeguards quickly sprang into action, rushing to the pool’s edge, their voices a jumble of urgency and concern.
But to Rachael, it all felt like background noise, drowned out by the roar of her own fear. The minutes stretched painfully, every second without Jamal an eternity she
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couldn’t bear.
Rachael dropped to her knees by the pool, her eyes scanning every inch of water, her mind racing.
She reached into the cool, blue expanse, praying to feel the familiar touch of Jamal’s small hand, anything to reassure her that he was safe. Tears burned her eyes, blurring her vision as she felt the weight of helplessness pressing down on her.
This couldn’t be happening. Not Jamal. Not her baby.
*****
They both moved through the park with frantic energy, their steps quick and uneven.
“Jamal!” Rachael’s cry was ragged and raw,
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her voice hoarse from shouting and tears. Her breath came in short, sharp bursts, and her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest. Sweat dripped down her temples, mingling with her tears as she pushed through the dense crowd.
“Daniel!” Chloe’s voice was equally frantic, though it carried a tremor of anxiety. Her hands waved in the air, parting people as she moved.
Her face was flushed, eyes wide with fear, and her breath came in heavy, labored gasps. Sweat clung to her forehead, and she wiped it away with shaking hands, her fingers feeling clammy and slick.
“Jamal, where are you? Come to your mummy please!” Rachael’s voice wavered, each word a desperate plea. Her hands were trembling as she reached out, trying to grasp
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onto anything that might bring her closer to her son.
Her eyes darted from side to side, scanning every child who passed by, but each glance brought only more fear and uncertainty.
The park seemed endless, a sprawling expanse of colorful rides and crowded walkways.
Suddenly, Rachael spotted a child with Jamal’s hair color. Her heart leaped, hope flaring in her chest.
She rushed forward, her legs moving faster than they had all day, and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. Her fingers dug into his soft fabric, her desperation was clear in her voice. “Jamal!” she cried, turning him to face her, her eyes pleading.
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But as she looked into the child’s face, her hope shattered. The boy was not her son. The child’s mother rushed over, her face hardening with anger.
“Hands off my kid, lady!” she snapped, her voice sharp and protective. She pushed Rachael back with a force that made her stumble, nearly collapsing onto the pavement.
Rachael’s eyes filled with fresh tears as she stumbled backward, her breath coming in ragged, shuddering gasps. “I’m sorry,” she choked out, her voice a whisper of defeat.
Her shoulders heaved with the effort of trying to catch her breath, and she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing tears and sweat across her face.
Rachael’s hands were trembling as she
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But as she looked into the child’s face, her hope shattered. The boy was not her son. The child’s mother rushed over, her face hardening with anger.
“Hands off my kid, lady!” she snapped, her voice sharp and protective. She pushed Rachael back with a force that made her stumble, nearly collapsing onto the pavement.
Rachael’s eyes filled with fresh tears as she stumbled backward, her breath coming in ragged, shuddering gasps. “I’m sorry,” she choked out, her voice a whisper of defeat.
Her shoulders heaved with the effort of trying to catch her breath, and she wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing tears and sweat across her face.
Rachael’s hands were trembling as she
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pulled out her phone, desperately trying to call Damian. Her fingers felt numb and unsteady, the weight of her fear making it hard to focus.
She dialed his number, praying for him to pick up, but the line went straight to voicemail. Her heart sank further as she saw that his phone was switched off.
“Fuck!” she whispered, frustration and panic lacing her voice. The search had exhausted her, her body aching with the strain of running and calling out.
She knew that the best course of action now was to inform the police. They had the
resources and the experience to handle such situations effectively.
She turned to find Chloe, determined to head to the police station, when a familiar
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voice pierced through the chaos. “Mummy! Mummy! Mummy! I’m here! I’m coming!”
Rachael’s head whipped around, her heart leaping into her throat. Her eyes scanned the area, and then she saw him–her son, Jamal, running towards her with a broad, innocent smile on his face.
Her vision blurred with tears as she rushed forward, her legs feeling like they had a new burst of energy.
“Oh my baby,” she murmured, her voice breaking with emotion. She scooped Jamal into her arms, holding him tightly against her chest.
The relief that flooded through her was overwhelming, making her knees nearly buckle.
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Jamal giggled, his small hands resting on her shoulders as she showered his face with kisses. “Stop, Mummy,” he said, laughing with a mix of confusion and delight at her tearful affection.
Rachael’s tears fell freely now, mingling with her smiles as she continued to hug him tightly.
Her heart was pounding so fast it felt like it might burst, but the warmth of Jamal in her arms was a balm to her shattered nerves.
“I’m sorry for making you cry, Mummy” Jamal said, his small face full of regret as he looked up at her with wide, apologetic eyes. He reached out with his tiny hands, gently wiping away her tears with a tenderness that seemed far beyond his years.
Rachael’s heart melted at the sight. She
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cupped his small face in her hands, her own tears continuing to fall.
“Oh, my love,” she said softly, her voice choked with emotion. “You just made Mummy really worried, that’s all. I’m fine now, sweetheart. It’s okay.”
As they began to calm down, Chloe spotted Daniel running towards them.
The little boy’s face was flushed with both exhaustion and guilt as he approached his mother. “I’m sorry, Mummy,” he said, his voice trembling. “I didn’t mean to make you worried.”
Chloe knelt down, pulling Daniel into a tight embrace. Her eyes glistened with tears as she held him close. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said, her voice soothing despite the lingering strain. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”
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“Mummy, before I forget, it was a kind man who helped us trace your voice in this enormous crowd!” Jamal said, his tiny hands spreading out to illustrate the vastness of the park.
Rachael looked down at him, her heart still racing from the recent scare.
“Oh, that’s really great. He’s my guardian angel. Who is this kind man, and where is he? I’d like to thank him for helping you and for cleaning my tears.”
Jamal pointed towards a tall figure standing a short distance away. The man’s presence was commanding, and the bright sunlight made it difficult for Rachael to see his face clearly.
She squinted against the glare, her heart
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pounding as she took in his silhouette. When she finally managed to look up at him properly, she was struck dumb.
There he was, standing in front of her as if summoned from her past. Her breath caught in her throat, and she couldn’t believe her eyes.
The sight before her seemed surreal, as if she were trapped in a vivid dream. She pinched herself hard, wincing at the pain, but the man remained real, solid, and very much alive.
“Hello, Rachael. It’s been a while, the man said, his voice deep and husky, resonating with a familiarity that sent shivers down her spine.
Rachael’s mouth fell open in shock, her mind struggling to process the reality of the
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situation. “Victor?” she breathed, the name escaping her lips like a whisper of disbelief.
Chapter 12 Past Brought Into Present
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