Saving Maribella

Chapter 2 : Abducted

“Hello, Ace? How is Bella? Is she looking for me? Thank you so much for agreeing to let her stay there with you, I promised after my work I will pick her up right away, ” Serene told Ace on the other line.

Today was her first day at work in the market. The sun had not yet risen when she left the apartment and took Bella to Ace's apartment, not far from theirs. The little girl was still asleep and did not even notice that she had left. That's why she knew that it immediately looked for her when she woke up.

“No problem, Serene. Bella is doing well, yes she was looking for you earlier when she woke up. But she didn’t cry. I spoke to her well and she seemed to understand.”

"Really?" Serene smiled at what Ace said. The truth is she has to get used to this kind of setup, In fact this is the first time that she’s been away from Bella.

“Don't worry too much, I will take good care of Bella. Just enjoy your first day at work. ”

Because of what she said, and thinking about how Bella. Now, Serene couldn't hold back her tears. If only she could always be with Bella, that they wouldn't be separated because she also wants to be with her. But she can't, she has to work for their future.

“I'm not used to being away from Bella. I realized that it's really hard. ”

Ace replied again from the other line. “I told you, if you're not ready yet, don't do it. It's really better to spend more time with Maribella until she's 5 years old. I told you Serene, I'm just here to help you, you don’t have to force yourself.”

“We can’t always depend on you. Soon, she’ll be going to school. And I have to pay for her tuition. Not only that, I know we will spend more when she goes to school. You know I can rely on you for that as well right? It is too much, Ace.”

“Come on! It;s nothing, as I have told you, you are a family to me. But it’s up to you. I can't stop you from making your own decisions.”

Serene smiled. “Okay, thank you again Ace, I will hang up now. The number of buyers here in the market is increasing.”

"You're not going to talk to Bella?" Ace asked.

Serene nodded. "No, I might cry and go home. Promise, right after my work I will go straight there.”

"Okay, Serene."

"Bye," Serene said, then hung up the phone.

She put her cell phone in her pocket and focused on the customers.

She noticed that a pair of eyes was looking at her, it was a little boy aged 8 or 9. But before she could ask him. The boy suddenly took a pack of meat, bread and vegetables on the store rack, and ran.

"Hey!!" he shouted at the child.

But it was running very fast and disappeared suddenly.

In fact, she had already considered the child's condition. Yes, it is bad to steal but it looks like it has not been eaten for a few days. Maybe that's why the child is stealing food. So Serene just let him go.

She noticed that every pair of eyes was fixed on her, which confused her. But it hit her when she noticed the owner of the store was behind her.

He didn't seem to like what she did. "I'll deduct that from your salary today." the owner said then turned away.

Her cheeks flushed with humiliation, and timidly apologized while looking down. This is her first day at work and this is what happened.

But suddenly, she glanced at the alley where the boy who had stolen the merchandise went. To her great surprise, the boy seemed to come back but he was still careful about his surroundings. Also, he is not holding the food that he stole lately.  

The boy opened the large bin and pulled something out. Looks like the boy was looking for something. Then she was shocked when the boy pulled a little girl. Looks like that the little girl was his younger sister.

The boy noticed that Serene was looking at him. Fear flashed through the boy's gentle eyes. Thinking maybe she will call the police and report the kid on what he has done.  But instead of doing that. Serene smiled at the child. Now, astonishment drew on the little boy’s face, which soon also smiled back at her and could not hold back his tears. The child bowed down, thanking her for what she did, then left with his little sister.

Somehow, she felt so much joy in her heart. But suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and saw a woman in her 40’s. She’s beautiful, with red curly hair and her skin is exquisite.

“What you did was very nice,” the woman said.

Her words made her flinch slightly. But she also immediately smiled.

“T-Thank you,” she said, stuttering at her words.

"Do you feel sorry for them?" she asked.

"Yes," she answered.

"It's okay even if they deducted it on your salary?"

Serene nodded. “It looks like the boy was hungry and wasn't eaten for days. And at least I helped,” she said shyly, tucking her loose brown hair behind her ear. "By the way, what can I do for you, Miss?"

"Sasha Watsons," she introduced. “You?”

"Umm-Se --- U-Umm Rene, just Rene," she said, shaking her hand with her. A lump formed in her throat when she was about to mention her real name. She realized that she had to be careful. 

“Your face doesn’t look familiar, are you new to this store?” the woman asked curiously.

“Yes, today is my first day. Wait, are you a regular customer here? ”

"Oh yes. This store is selling fresh meat and vegetables. I always get my produce here,” the lady gladly said. Then unexpectedly she handed her a piece of card with its name.

“What’s this?” Serene asked.

“With that face, and that heart. You shouldn't be in this kind of place. So, I am offering you something, a job that is more profitable than selling meat at this store. ” she offered.

Serene looked at the calling card. “Sorry, but .. I don’t have any documents. I can’t work for big jobs that are more profitable than this.”

The woman smiled and whispered in her ear. “So you are not really from here? Don’t worry about the documents, I can handle it. Our company is giving opportunities for people like you here in Acropolis.

Her forehead frowned. "I'm not selling my body," she said.

The woman laughed, “Silly! Don’t worry I’m just offering you a work as a cashier in my grocery, ”

“You have a grocery? How come you are buying produce here, if you already have a grocery? ”

The woman just stared at her so Serene returned her calling card. "Thank you for your offer, but I'm fine just working here," she said before turning away.

If you want to work in the Acropolis with a large income, just like working in a company or large establishments you need to have documents. Identification obtained from the Municipality of Acropolis where the personal information of the residents of the Acropolis are kept. And when it is found that you are an unidentified person, you will be taken to the National Acropolis Military Office to be investigated there. There, they background check you to make sure that you are not from Polaris, and if so you will not be able to leave until they are sure that you will be a threat in Acropolis.

And she can't do that. Because surely when she did that she would be immediately picked up by the military force of the Acropolis.

She knows that the job that the woman was offering to her, is illegal or worst, it might lead to human trafficking. That’s why she has to be mindful of her surroundings, especially that she is now working in the streets of Acropolis.

Later that day, she received her paycheck despite the fact that the owner had to deduct the cost of the products that the kid had stolen from the store. She only received 200 Acropolis dollars and went to an ice cream shop to buy some from Bella.

She took her phone from her pocket to call Ace, to inform her that she’s going to pick Bella. 

"Low battery," said on the screen on her phone. 

Her cellphone is old so the battery can be drained quickly. Maybe she'll just go straight to Ace.

When she got to Ace's apartment, she saw her just outside the apartment door.

She smiled and immediately approached her.

"Ace!" she waved and looked behind Ace, maybe Bella was there. “Where’s Maribella?”

Ace looked at her,  shock was written on her face. “Serene… I've been calling you for a while. Why are you not answering?"

Serene winced at the question. “My cellphone is dead, why? Where is Bella now? ”

"I thought you picked her up already?"

She was even more surprised by what she said. “Huh? How? I arrived just now,”

“Oh, no.” Ace said and her hands were shaking.

Serene wondered about that. "Ace, what is happening?"

“I left her in the living room for a while, to get her snacks. Then when I came back she was gone. So I thought you picked her up already. Bella can't open the door, so it's impossible for her to get out by herself,” said Ace. Her hands continued shaking in fear.

Serene dropped her belongings. He quickly entered Ace's apartment and tried to find Maribella. Thinking that she might just be playing around or just hiding.

“Bella? Baby? Mama’s here! ” she shouted, then looked under the bed.

"Serene, I've looked all over the apartment but there's really nothing."

Even when Ace said that Serene didn't hold back. She searched Ace's entire apartment but the little girl wasn't there. She searched the whole floor, the whole building, even outside the apartment but they didn't see Bella.

"Maribella!" Serene shouted. She could not hold back her tears.

Ace came over and hugged her. "Serene, I'm so sorry."

“I can’t find her Ace. I can’t find my Maribella. ”

"I called the security office of the building to review all the CCTV's."

Serene nodded and they both headed to the security Office. They reviewed the CCTVs on that floor and there they saw a woman with whom Bella came out of the building and boarded a white SUV.

"Do you know that person?" said the security personnel.

She can’t see the face of the woman clearly.

“I don’t know who that woman is. I have no friends here other than Ace. And I know my daughter, she doesn't go with someone she doesn't know, ” Serene said, almost crying.

“Miss, we think that your daughter was abducted,”