PHOENIX

23| YOU'RE SAFE NOW

Jackson’s heart raced with worry as he stood outside Ethan’s school, scanning the crowded playground for any sign of his younger brother. It had been a long day at work, and he had arrived a few minutes later than usual to pick Ethan up. But as the minutes ticked by and he still didn’t see Ethan, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest.

He approached one of the teachers, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising panic. "Excuse me, have you seen my brother, Ethan? He’s in kindergarten, with Mrs. Johnson’s class."

The teacher’s brow furrowed in concern as she checked her attendance list. "I’m sorry, I don’t see him here. Let me check with the other teachers and see if anyone knows where he is."

Jackson’s heart pounded in his ears as he waited, the minutes dragging by like hours. Finally, the teacher returned, her expression grim. "We can’t find Ethan anywhere on the school grounds. We’ve checked with all the teachers, but no one has seen him."

Panic surged through Jackson’s veins, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Before he could even form a coherent thought, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from an unknown number: "Meet me at the park. Don’t involve the police."

His hands shook as he read the message, his heart pounding with dread. Without a second thought, he dashed out of the school and into his car, speeding towards the park with a single thought consuming his mind: Ethan was in danger, and he had to find him, no matter the cost.

When he arrived at the park, his eyes scanned the area frantically, searching for any sign of his brother. And then he saw her—Melissa, standing on the edge of the playground, Ethan’s hand clasped firmly in hers.

Relief flooded through Jackson as he rushed towards them, his heart still racing with fear. "Ethan!" he exclaimed, scooping his brother into his arms and holding him close.

Ethan looked up at him, his eyes wide with confusion. "Jackson, what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?"

Jackson’s relief quickly gave way to anger as he turned to face Melissa, his voice sharp with accusation. "What the hell, Melissa? What did you do with my brother?"

Melissa held up her hands in a placating gesture, her expression earnest. "Jackson, calm down. I found Ethan wandering near the park, all alone. He was lost and scared, so I brought him home."

Jackson’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, his mind still reeling with shock. "Thank you for bringing him back, Melissa. But you can’t just take him without letting me know."

Melissa nodded, her eyes filled with remorse. "I know, and I’m sorry. I should have called you sooner. I just... I panicked when I saw him alone like that."

Jackson’s grip on Ethan tightened, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. "It’s okay, Ethan. You’re safe now."

Ethan nodded, his small frame trembling slightly in Jackson’s arms. "I’m sorry, Jackson. I didn’t mean to get lost."

Jackson’s heart broke at the fear in Ethan’s voice, and he held him even closer, willing away the lingering sense of dread. "It’s okay, buddy. You’re home now, and that’s all that matters."

As they walked back to the car, Jackson couldn’t shake the feeling that Melissa’s presence had brought danger to their doorstep once again. But for now, he focused on comforting Ethan, on reassuring him that he was safe and loved.

Jackson’s heart raced with worry as he stood outside Ethan’s school, scanning the crowded playground for any sign of his younger brother. It had been a long day at work, and he had arrived a few minutes later than usual to pick Ethan up. But as the minutes ticked by and he still didn’t see Ethan, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest.

He approached one of the teachers, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising panic. "Excuse me, have you seen my brother, Ethan? He’s in kindergarten, with Mrs. Johnson’s class."

The teacher’s brow furrowed in concern as she checked her attendance list. "I’m sorry, I don’t see him here. Let me check with the other teachers and see if anyone knows where he is."

Jackson’s heart pounded in his ears as he waited, the minutes dragging by like hours. Finally, the teacher returned, her expression grim. "We can’t find Ethan anywhere on the school grounds. We’ve checked with all the teachers, but no one has seen him."

Panic surged through Jackson’s veins, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Before he could even form a coherent thought, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from an unknown number: "Meet me at the park. Don’t involve the police."

His hands shook as he read the message, his heart pounding with dread. Without a second thought, he dashed out of the school and into his car, speeding towards the park with a single thought consuming his mind: Ethan was in danger, and he had to find him, no matter the cost.

When he arrived at the park, his eyes scanned the area frantically, searching for any sign of his brother. And then he saw her—Melissa, standing on the edge of the playground, Ethan’s hand clasped firmly in hers.

Relief flooded through Jackson as he rushed towards them, his heart still racing with fear. "Ethan!" he exclaimed, scooping his brother into his arms and holding him close.

Ethan looked up at him, his eyes wide with confusion. "Jackson, what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?"

Jackson’s relief quickly gave way to anger as he turned to face Melissa, his voice sharp with accusation. "What the hell, Melissa? What did you do with my brother?"

Melissa held up her hands in a placating gesture, her expression earnest. "Jackson, calm down. I found Ethan wandering near the park, all alone. He was lost and scared, so I brought him home."

Jackson’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, his mind still reeling with shock. "Thank you for bringing him back, Melissa. But you can’t just take him without letting me know."

Melissa nodded, her eyes filled with remorse. "I know, and I’m sorry. I should have called you sooner. I just... I panicked when I saw him alone like that."

Jackson’s grip on Ethan tightened, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. "It’s okay, Ethan. You’re safe now."

Ethan nodded, his small frame trembling slightly in Jackson’s arms. "I’m sorry, Jackson. I didn’t mean to get lost."

Jackson’s heart broke at the fear in Ethan’s voice, and he held him even closer, willing away the lingering sense of dread. "It’s okay, buddy. You’re home now, and that’s all that matters."

As they walked back to the car, Jackson couldn’t shake the feeling that Melissa’s presence had brought danger to their doorstep once again. But for now, he focused on comforting Ethan, on reassuring him that he was safe and loved.

Jackson’s heart raced with worry as he stood outside Ethan’s school, scanning the crowded playground for any sign of his younger brother. It had been a long day at work, and he had arrived a few minutes later than usual to pick Ethan up. But as the minutes ticked by and he still didn’t see Ethan, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest.

He approached one of the teachers, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising panic. "Excuse me, have you seen my brother, Ethan? He’s in kindergarten, with Mrs. Johnson’s class."

The teacher’s brow furrowed in concern as she checked her attendance list. "I’m sorry, I don’t see him here. Let me check with the other teachers and see if anyone knows where he is."

Jackson’s heart pounded in his ears as he waited, the minutes dragging by like hours. Finally, the teacher returned, her expression grim. "We can’t find Ethan anywhere on the school grounds. We’ve checked with all the teachers, but no one has seen him."

Panic surged through Jackson’s veins, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Before he could even form a coherent thought, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from an unknown number: "Meet me at the park. Don’t involve the police."

His hands shook as he read the message, his heart pounding with dread. Without a second thought, he dashed out of the school and into his car, speeding towards the park with a single thought consuming his mind: Ethan was in danger, and he had to find him, no matter the cost.

When he arrived at the park, his eyes scanned the area frantically, searching for any sign of his brother. And then he saw her—Melissa, standing on the edge of the playground, Ethan’s hand clasped firmly in hers.

Relief flooded through Jackson as he rushed towards them, his heart still racing with fear. "Ethan!" he exclaimed, scooping his brother into his arms and holding him close.

Ethan looked up at him, his eyes wide with confusion. "Jackson, what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?"

Jackson’s relief quickly gave way to anger as he turned to face Melissa, his voice sharp with accusation. "What the hell, Melissa? What did you do with my brother?"

Melissa held up her hands in a placating gesture, her expression earnest. "Jackson, calm down. I found Ethan wandering near the park, all alone. He was lost and scared, so I brought him home."

Jackson’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, his mind still reeling with shock. "Thank you for bringing him back, Melissa. But you can’t just take him without letting me know."

Melissa nodded, her eyes filled with remorse. "I know, and I’m sorry. I should have called you sooner. I just... I panicked when I saw him alone like that."

Jackson’s grip on Ethan tightened, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. "It’s okay, Ethan. You’re safe now."

Ethan nodded, his small frame trembling slightly in Jackson’s arms. "I’m sorry, Jackson. I didn’t mean to get lost."

Jackson’s heart broke at the fear in Ethan’s voice, and he held him even closer, willing away the lingering sense of dread. "It’s okay, buddy. You’re home now, and that’s all that matters."

As they walked back to the car, Jackson couldn’t shake the feeling that Melissa’s presence had brought danger to their doorstep once again. But for now, he focused on comforting Ethan, on reassuring him that he was safe and loved.

Jackson’s heart raced with worry as he stood outside Ethan’s school, scanning the crowded playground for any sign of his younger brother. It had been a long day at work, and he had arrived a few minutes later than usual to pick Ethan up. But as the minutes ticked by and he still didn’t see Ethan, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest.

He approached one of the teachers, trying to keep his voice steady despite the rising panic. "Excuse me, have you seen my brother, Ethan? He’s in kindergarten, with Mrs. Johnson’s class."

The teacher’s brow furrowed in concern as she checked her attendance list. "I’m sorry, I don’t see him here. Let me check with the other teachers and see if anyone knows where he is."

Jackson’s heart pounded in his ears as he waited, the minutes dragging by like hours. Finally, the teacher returned, her expression grim. "We can’t find Ethan anywhere on the school grounds. We’ve checked with all the teachers, but no one has seen him."

Panic surged through Jackson’s veins, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Before he could even form a coherent thought, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from an unknown number: "Meet me at the park. Don’t involve the police."

His hands shook as he read the message, his heart pounding with dread. Without a second thought, he dashed out of the school and into his car, speeding towards the park with a single thought consuming his mind: Ethan was in danger, and he had to find him, no matter the cost.

When he arrived at the park, his eyes scanned the area frantically, searching for any sign of his brother. And then he saw her—Melissa, standing on the edge of the playground, Ethan’s hand clasped firmly in hers.

Relief flooded through Jackson as he rushed towards them, his heart still racing with fear. "Ethan!" he exclaimed, scooping his brother into his arms and holding him close.

Ethan looked up at him, his eyes wide with confusion. "Jackson, what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?"

Jackson’s relief quickly gave way to anger as he turned to face Melissa, his voice sharp with accusation. "What the hell, Melissa? What did you do with my brother?"

Melissa held up her hands in a placating gesture, her expression earnest. "Jackson, calm down. I found Ethan wandering near the park, all alone. He was lost and scared, so I brought him home."

Jackson’s anger simmered beneath the surface, but he forced himself to take a deep breath, his mind still reeling with shock. "Thank you for bringing him back, Melissa. But you can’t just take him without letting me know."

Melissa nodded, her eyes filled with remorse. "I know, and I’m sorry. I should have called you sooner. I just... I panicked when I saw him alone like that."

Jackson’s grip on Ethan tightened, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. "It’s okay, Ethan. You’re safe now."

Ethan nodded, his small frame trembling slightly in Jackson’s arms. "I’m sorry, Jackson. I didn’t mean to get lost."

Jackson’s heart broke at the fear in Ethan’s voice, and he held him even closer, willing away the lingering sense of dread. "It’s okay, buddy. You’re home now, and that’s all that matters."

As they walked back to the car, Jackson couldn’t shake the feeling that Melissa’s presence had brought danger to their doorstep once again. But for now, he focused on comforting Ethan, on reassuring him that he was safe and loved.