Lina zipped up the last of Davis's bags and sat on the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath. The guest room was quiet, but her mind was busy with all the things she still had to do before catching their flight.
"Is this everything, Mama?" Davis asked, walking in, his curious eyes looking at the suitcase.
"Yes, sweetheart. Just what we need for now," she said, fixing his shirt collar and gently brushing his curly hair.
Davis paused and looked at her belly, now flat under her loose blouse. "But… where's the baby?"
Lina's heart sank. She had known this question would come, but not this soon.
She smiled weakly. "Babies," she said softly. "There were two."
"Two? Twins?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes," she said, looking into his eyes. "But they're not mine, Davis. I was just helping someone else have their babies. Like when you carry something for someone and give it back when they need it."
"But they were inside you," he said, confused.
"I know," she whispered, holding his hand. "It's hard to understand now, but you will when you're older. What matters is, we're leaving. We're going somewhere new. You'll go to a good school, and I'll have a real job. No more hiding. No more struggles."
Davis nodded slowly. "Okay, Mama. As long as we're together."
She smiled and hugged him. "Always."
A few minutes later, Lina walked into the living room. Uzo stood there with her arms folded, trying not to cry.
"I don't understand why you have to leave so soon," Uzo said, wiping her tears.
Lina smiled at her. "You've done so much for me, Uzo. Thank you for looking after Davis when I couldn't."
"You don't owe me anything," Uzo said. "Just promise you'll stay safe."
"I will. I promise."
They hugged tightly. Lina picked up Davis's backpack and her passport, took one last look around, and stepped outside.
Her eyes went straight to the car parked in front of the house.
It was a black SUV. New. Tinted windows. And the driver? Not the one she usually used.
Something felt wrong.
She hesitated, then smiled at Davis and opened the door. They got in.
As the car drove off, Lina reached into her bag and quickly typed a message to Eric.
"Different driver. Not the same car. Something feels off. We're on the way. – L"
She hit send.
Then she leaned back, her arm around Davis. She looked calm, but inside, she was on high alert.
***
The nursery was beautiful. Gold and ivory walls, star-shaped lights, soft lullabies playing, and two cribs carved from fine wood. Everything looked perfect.
But it wasn't.
The twins, Marvin and Marius, had been crying all morning. Loud and nonstop.
The nanny, an experienced woman in her forties looked exhausted.
Mara stood in the doorway, her silk robe tight around her body, watching with a cold expression.
Ken walked in, dressed in a sharp navy suit, ready for work. The cries had pulled him in. "What's going on?"
The nanny looked up. "They won't take the formula. I've tried three kinds. They need breast milk."
Mara's face tightened. "What are you saying?"
"It's normal, ma'am. Some newborns, especially twins, need their mother's milk at first. It helps calm them."
Mara snapped, "How do you expect me to get breast milk? Should I call that girl and beg?"
Ken sighed. "You could've let her stay a few more days. Just until they got used to the formula…"
"Don't say that!" Mara shouted. "She did her job and got paid. End of story."
"But the babies are suffering," Ken said.
"She is not staying in this house!" Mara yelled. Her voice was sharp and final.
She turned to the nanny. "Do your job. Make them eat."
The nanny nodded shakily and tried again with a new bottle.
Mara grabbed Ken's arm and pulled him out of the room. "I won't let her come back. I won't let her bond with those babies."
Ken said nothing, his jaw tight. Behind them, the cries grew louder.
The nursery looked perfect but inside, nothing was right.
***
The road ahead was quiet, too quiet. The farther they drove from the city, the more nervous Lina became. Davis had fallen asleep beside her, holding his backpack tightly.
She stared out the window. Trees. Empty buildings. A broken-down truck. No other cars. This wasn't the usual way to the airport.
Her phone buzzed.
Eric: "I'm tracking you. Hold tight. Something's not right."
She held the phone tightly.
Just then, the car began to slow down.
No traffic light. No checkpoint. Just slowing… for no reason.
She looked at the driver. Still silent. Still no expression.
She held Davis's hand.
The car stopped in the middle of a quiet road. Dust swirled in the air.
"Hey!" Lina called. "Why are we stopping?"
No answer.
The driver stepped out of the car.
Her heart raced.
Two hooded men appeared ahead, walking fast toward the car.
Lina's breath caught. "Davis, lie down," she whispered. "Don't move."
Davis obeyed, curling up on the seat.
Lina searched for help. Nothing. Nowhere to run.
A loud knock on the window. A gun.
"Open the door!" one of them shouted.
She froze.
Then…tires screeched. A car raced in, headlights blinding.
Voices.
"Don't move!" Eric shouted.
Gunshots rang out.
Lina ducked, shielding Davis. Glass shattered behind them. Davis whimpered.
Chaos. Screams. Then…
The car door flew open…
And everything went black.