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A girl who looked just like Ariana from behind walked away with a balding man in a jean jacket. She had the same blueish-green colored jacket. The same ponytail, too.
It was Ariana.
“No!” Alex burst into a run, terror seizing him.
What was Ari doing? Hadn’t anyone taught her to stay away from strangers?
“Ariana! Stop!” he called.
The man led her around a corner up ahead. It may as well have been miles away.
“Stop them!” Alex shouted.
No one noticed his yelling. Or the man walking away with Ariana.
His throat closed. He forced his legs to move faster. Everything moved too slowly, except for that man and Ariana.
Alex’s pulse raced, making it hard to breathe. He rounded the same corner they had, but now they were out of sight.They could have gone anywhere—the arcade, the food court, or even outside.
His stomach twisted in tight knots. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.
He ran over to the man selling tickets. “Did you see a little girl about this high,”—he held his hand to his side, just below his chest—“with dark brown hair full of sparkles?”
“Maybe.” He played with his goatee. “Not sure.”
Alex ran to the arcade and glanced around. No little girls.
He ran outside. Thankfully the bright overhead lights made it easy enough to scan the parking lot.
There they were.
At the far end of the parking lot, Ariana held up her phone as if showing him something on the screen.
“Ari!” he screamed, his voice cutting his throat. “Ariana!”
Neither seemed to hear him.
He burst into a run, his heart pounding against his ribcage. Alex had to dart around parked cars, but finally he neared them. He could see Ari’s profile—it was definitely her.
“Ariana!” He was so close, yet so far. He continued running.
She turned.
The man wrapped an arm around her.
“Help!” Ari called, fear in her eyes.
The man covered her mouth, hoisted her up, and ran.
Alex’s blood turned cold. “Stop!”
He didn’t. In fact, he ran around the corner of the building.
Alex caught up just in time to see the man stuff Ariana into a black SUV. The man jumped inside and slammed the door shut.
Pulse drumming in his ears, Alex ran faster. He got closer to the vehicle, and closer still.
He reached for the door.
The SUV squealed away just as his hand grasped air rather than the handle.
CONTINUE READING…
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