Chapter 44:No Cops, No Heroes
The gym was quiet that morning—too quiet.
Alex was checking the weights when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen.
Alya's Mom.
"Hey, ma'am. Everything okay?" Alex answered casually.
But her voice trembled.
"Alex… is Alya with you?"
He froze. "No. She's not here. Didn't she come home last night?"
Silence.
"She never did."
Alex stood still, then bolted toward the locker room, switching to speakerphone. "Don't worry! I'll ask around. Maybe she's with someone. She's probably safe."
His heart, though, told him otherwise.
---
Within minutes, Jake was by his side, towel still around his neck. Other gym members gathered as the news spread.
Jake's voice was sharp. "What do you mean she didn't come home?"
Alex shook his head. "Her mom called me. She never made it back."
They called Lisa.
They called Jacob.
They even checked every alleyway near the gym and the cake shop.
No sign of Alya.
Then, just as panic began to spread, the front door of the gym burst open.
A neighborhood teen ran in, panting, eyes wide.
"Jake! Alex! The girl you hang out with—Alya! She got taken! I saw it!"
Jake grabbed him by the shoulders. "Taken? By who?"
"The five punks! The ones who trashed the cake shop! Kram and the others—they grabbed her last night! I—I didn't know what to do!"
Alex clenched his fists. Jake's face darkened.
"We're going." Jake said.
But the boy held up his hand, panic rising in his voice.
"Wait! You don't understand— they're not alone. They've got an entire gang backing them up now. Dozens. I heard them talk about it. They planned it!"
The gym fell silent.
Lisa and Jacob arrived just then, Jacob's face pale. "You mean… they kidnapped her? Really?"
Everyone's thoughts spiraled toward the worst.
Jake pulled out his phone, his thumb trembling slightly.
"I'm calling the police."
But just then—
Riiiiiing.
Jake's phone buzzed. Unknown number.
He answered.
"Jake speaking—"
The voice on the other end was ice.
"Jake."
Kram.
His voice was calm. Too calm.
"We've got your little baker girl. You want her back? Don't get the cops involved. Or you'll get a box of broken smiles instead of a reunion."
Jake gritted his teeth, his heart hammering.
"What do you want?"
Kram chuckled. "You know what we want. You and Alex. Alone. We'll tell you where. And don't be a hero, gym boy."
Click.
The call ended.
Jake stood there, phone still to his ear, his expression unreadable.
Alex approached him slowly. "Jake?"
Jake turned, eyes burning.
"They have her. And they want us to come."
Everyone stood still. The air felt like it had stopped moving.
Jacob said softly, "We need to plan this. If they have a gang, we can't just walk in there."
Alex nodded. "We'll need help. We'll train, prepare… and bring everyone willing."
Jake whispered, "But no cops."
Lisa clenched her fists. "Then we do this… together."