Kindergarten Hostage Crisis

The entire kindergarten class was taken hostage.

The kidnappers voice boomed through a speaker: No cops! The kid whose parents pay the most gets released first!

In my last life, I paid double the ransom, desperate to get my daughter, Maria, out of danger first.

But my husband, Richard, the captain of the rescue team, insisted on avoiding any appearance of favoritism. He moved our daughter to the very end of the line.

The kidnappers, enraged by the delay and perceived trickery, killed her.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that moment. One of Richard's team members was bowing to me.

Maam, youre an inspiration. To avoid any conflict of interest, you willingly swapped your own childs spot with the one at the very end.

On the list, Marias name was crossed out.

Another name was written in its place.

Tears streamed down my face as I screamed, Change it back! Put my daughters name back!

Richard slapped me, his voice a vicious hiss. Im the captain of this team! I cant have people thinking Im using my position to save my own kid first!

1

I was on the verge of collapse. What if something happens to her?

He was unmoved. Nothing will happen. Stop being so dramatic.

I trembled with rage. Richard, you dont deserve to be Marias father!

Shes only five years old! Can you imagine how scared shell be, watching every other child get rescued while shes left for last?

If the kidnappers get agitated, have you even thought about what will happen to her?

The memory of her pleading eyes as she died in my last life made it hard to breathe.

But he was resolute. Im the rescue captain. Maria is my daughter. Its my duty to avoid favoritism.

If Maria walks out of there first, what will people say about me?

Richard! I tore my arm from his grasp and slapped him hard across the face. Our daughters life is on the line, and all you can think about is your reputation? Are you even human?

The sharp crack of the slap made his team members turn their heads.

It also ignited Richards fury. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and threw me to the ground.

You have no sense of the bigger picture! he roared. If we save Maria first, what happens to my reputation?

I froze.

For the first time, I saw the real man behind the mask.

From the very beginning, Marias life had never been as important to him as his own damn reputation.

I scrambled to my feet and turned to the other team members, my voice choked with sobs but every word clear.

I paid double the ransom! I did it so my daughter could be safe!

But my husband secretly changed the list. He swapped Marias place with the little boy whose parents paid the least!

Everyone stared, stunned.

After a moment of silence, an older team member finally spoke, his voice dripping with disappointment.

Maam, we really overestimated you.

The captain is doing this for the greater good!

Another man immediately chimed in, his brow furrowed. Hes sacrificing his own daughter for the honor of the team. Thats integrity. Why cant you understand that?

Yeah, seriously, a younger team member scoffed, his tone dismissive. Youre making a scene. If you piss off the kidnappers, its not just Maria whos in danger. Youll be risking all the other kids too! How can you be so selfish?

Selfish? I stared at them, my body shaking with disbelief. So Im supposed to be so noble that Ill let you use my daughters life to polish your reputation? Is that it?

Thats enough! Richard barked. Get her out of here! I dont want her causing a scene and interfering with the rescue!

His men immediately moved to obey, closing in to grab me.

2

Get off me! I fought back with everything I had. Richard, you cold-blooded monster! Youll pay for this!

The kidnappers heard the commotion. A rough voice crackled over the loudspeaker: Whats all that noise? You shut the hell up, or nobodys leaving here today!

Richards face paled. He clamped a hand over my mouth. Shut up! Are you trying to get everyone killed?

I was so consumed by rage that I bit down hard on his hand.

Bitch! He kicked me square in the stomach.

Ugh! You you actually hit me! I curled into a ball, pain radiating through me.

The man didnt hesitate for a second, looking down at me with cold eyes. Thats a lesson for you. If you cause any more trouble, dont expect me to show any mercy.

He then turned and shouted toward the loudspeaker, Sorry about that! My wifes just worried about our kid, shes not in her right mind! Im handling it now!

The kidnappers voice came back, laced with contempt. Well, handle it! If you dont, her kid gets moved to the back of the line!

His words sent a shockwave through the crowd of parents.

What is wrong with that woman, Amelia? Her kids life is precious, but ours arent?

Exactly! Shes delaying our childrens rescue! So selfish!

The accusations and insults flew at me like daggers, piercing my heart.

I tried to fight back, my voice desperate. No, the order is wrong! My daughter is supposed to be the first one released

Someone cut me off. They already announced the list! The highest bidder goes first. Its not up to you!

If you keep wasting time and piss off the kidnappers, what happens if they kill all the kids?

I tried to explain, but a large man grabbed me by the throat. Listen to me, bitch. If anything happens to my son, I will hunt you down and bury you.

I couldnt breathe. I looked to Richard, silently begging for help.

He stood there, completely unmoved, as if I werent his wife of six years but a total stranger.

A cold, bitter tear rolled down my cheek.

The pressure on my neck tightened. I was about to pass out when I heard it. My daughters voice.

Mommy! Mommy, help me!

My eyes shot open. I saw Maria being pushed to the front of the line of children.

The lead kidnapper held up the loudspeaker, his face a mask of fury. Just in case any of you tried to call the cops, the kid at the end of the list is now our hostage!

It was just like last time. I could almost see the cold steel of the kidnappers knife slicing across my daughters pale throat

No!

3

A raw, agonizing scream tore from my throat as I fought free from the crowd.

The murmurs started again.

Oh, so shes the hostages mother. No wonder shes hysterical.

Tch. Serves her right for not paying enough. Just dont let her drag our kids down with her.

Her daughter dies, and our kids live? Id say thats a fair trade.

Shaking with fury, I lunged at the onlookers, clawing and scratching.

Suddenly, a sharp pain exploded across my back.

Richard, who had been watching with cold indifference, had finally decided to act. He struck me with a heavy baton, knocking me to the ground, then turned to the crowd with a somber apology.

Im so sorry, everyone. My wife is just overwrought. Ill take her away now.

The crowds anger seemed to subside.

At least her husband knows how to prioritize.

If your child really dies, well all be sure to send flowers.

Richard put on a mask of deep sorrow. If my daughters death can buy a chance for the other children to live, then her life will have had meaning.

I lay on the ground, my consciousness fading, silent tears tracking through the dirt on my face.

Tie her up, Richard commanded his men. Take her to the back room.

His team moved instantly to find rope.

I thrashed wildly, my voice a raw scream. Let me go! Richard, you bastard! Youll regret this! Maria is your daughter!

But what could I, a weak and broken woman, do against several strong men?

The rough rope bit into my wrists, the pain so sharp I nearly fainted.

Take her away!

Two men hooked their arms under mine and dragged me away like a broken doll. I stared at the closed kindergarten doors, imagining I could hear Marias heart-wrenching sobs.

Maria Mommys so sorry I choked out, the taste of blood filling my throat.

I was hauled into a dark room, and the door slammed shut. My wrists were raw and bleeding. I twisted my body, fighting against the ropes. Let me go! I have to save Maria! Richard, you monster!

The pressure on my wrists suddenly intensified. Richard himself stepped forward, snatched an electric stun baton from one of his men, and jammed it into my side without a moments hesitation.

Electricity convulsed through my body. Every bone felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles. I collapsed to the floor, twitching, foam bubbling at my lips. But my eyes remained fixed on the closed door, in the direction where Maria was being held.

4

Amelia, I suggest you cooperate, Richard said, his voice like ice. If you keep this up, you wont just fail to save Maria; youll destroy the entire teams reputation.

Reputation? I laughed, tears streaming down my face. Is your reputation worth my daughters life?

His eyes flashed with fury. He raised his hand and slapped me again, a vicious, stinging blow that made my cheek swell instantly.

Shut her up! he ordered his men. Beat her until she doesnt have the strength to make another sound!

The team members exchanged uneasy glances. They saw me, covered in blood, yet still glaring at Richard with pure hatred. A few of them instinctively took a step back.

Captain, if we keep going, she might

What are you waiting for? Richard snapped. Shes a madwoman! Im her husband. If anything happens, Ill take responsibility.

That was all they needed to hear. All hesitation vanished.

Fists rained down on my back, my legs, the pain so intense I almost blacked out. I bit down on my lip, my mind filled with the image from my past life: Maria, lying in a pool of her own blood.

I cant pass out. I cant! If I go down, there will be no one left to save my daughter.

I forced my head up and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the face of the man closest to me. Youre all accomplices! If Maria dies, Ill haunt every last one of you!

Enraged, they hit me harder.

Someone grabbed a steel pipe from the corner and brought it down hard on my knee.

A sickening crack echoed in the small room.

The pain was blinding. I saw black spots.

Richard stepped forward and grabbed my chin.

I summoned every last bit of my strength and bit down on his finger, hard enough to hear the bone snap.

Ahyou bitch! he screamed, clutching his hand and kicking me away.

Im telling you now, I gasped, I will make sure everyone knows what you did today. Ill show the world that this rescue team is nothing but a pack of animals.

Richard just sneered and turned to his men. Get it.

One of them pulled a glass bottle from a tool bag. It was filled with a pale yellow liquid that gave off a sharp, acrid stench.

My pupils contracted. A terrifying chill shot through me.

Richard! What are you doing?!

What am I doing? He laughed coldly, advancing on me. You love to scream, dont you? Lets see how you talk when your throat is burned out.

His men swarmed me, pinning my arms and legs, clamping a hand over my mouth.

I struggled, tears and blood mixing on my face, but my strength was pathetic against these men.