My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 226: Who Took My Daughter?

(Zaylen)

I took a shower and then busied myself with a video game. I missed Arata, if she were here, she would play with me.

I was home for Winter break and wished she had come, but due to a storm, she got held back.

Finishing the game, I climbed into bed and checked my phone. Arata had sent me a text three hours ago.

Excitedly, I opened it, but horror gripped every limb I possessed when I finished reading it.

{Zaylen, there is a USB device inside the box of corn cereals. If I don’t return to Angel City by tomorrow, or you don’t hear from me, come get that device, and the contents will reveal what happened to me or who took me. I can’t say more, but I have told Stella too. Don’t tell Baba or Mom anything yet.}

What?

Instantly, I hit the call icon with shaky hands.

Was she in trouble? Was someone after my sister?

It better not be that asshole Andy or I would personally ensure he wouldn’t live to tell another tale.

But Arata’s phone was switched off. I tried again, and it went straight to voicemail.

My heart shuddered and disturbed thoughts birthed inside it.

I needed to go to Angel City. But what would I even tell Baba and Mom?

Speaking to Stella first seemed like a viable option. She might have Karsten’s number, too.

Because last time I spoke to Arata, she told me she had twisted her ankle and was staying with her boss.

Did he do something to her?

I left my bed and began to pace my room, trying to piece together a plan.

It was very late in the night, and I knew Stella must have slept and not even checked the message, or she would have definitely called me.

I was about to hit the call button to Stella when I heard a faint knock on my door.

"Yes," I answered, turning to see who it might be so late.

Dad entered, opening the door, and from his face, I sensed something was off. He quietly closed the door behind him and walked over with murder flashing in his eyes.

He was hardly suppressing the anger that was resting just below the surface.

"Zaylen, we need to talk. Your mother is sleeping, so I don’t want to tell her just yet," he spoke with such seriousness that my heart drowned.

"Dad? What’s wrong?"

He quietly extended his phone towards me and

said with a heartbreaking sigh.

"Some bastard just sent me this. I am afraid Arata has been kidnapped."

I grabbed the phone as my head went dizzy at his words. Literally, the ground seemed to have slipped from underneath my feet as I hit the play button. The video Dad was trying to show me began to play.

No doubt, it was Arata, tied to a chair with her hands and feet tied with rope and a gag stuffed into her mouth. She had been blindfolded with a black cloth.

She struggled against the blinds and ropes, and a distorted voice sounded.

"Awww! You are trying to talk. Well, why don’t we say hello to mommy and daddy? I am sure they will be thrilled to hear from their little princess."

Reaching out, whoever that person was, removed Arata’s blindfold. I noticed and watched in horror that the hand was also covered in a black glove.

She glared at the person recording her. Her spirit was still intact as the inhuman voice came again.

"Come on, Arata, smile. Why so grim? Say hi to Baba."

The heart-wrenching video lasted a few more seconds before ending, and I noticed the message that had been sent with the video.

{Your beloved daughter is in my hands. I will soon be sending souvenirs of her. She and you will feel all the anguish my father did. And when the time is right, you will confess to the heinous crime you committed and then covered up.}

The cellphone almost dropped from my hand. Someone had taken Arata, and now they were blackmailing Dad for whatever.

I had no clue what that deluded person was speaking about, but it boiled my blood over.

I clutched my hair in anguish as I faced my father.

"How? Wasn’t she living with Karsten?"

Dad stood silent, but his silence always spoke volumes, and I knew he must already be formulating a plan.

"That’s what I intend to find out. How did he let my daughter get kidnapped?"

With a profound seriousness, Dad took his phone back and scrolled until he found the desired number. Hitting the dial, he let it ring and put it on speaker so I could hear.

The phone was answered on the third bell.

"Hello!" A very heavy, masculine voice came from the other side. I knew it was Karsten.

"Mr Karsten, it’s Zyair Kincaid speaking. I would like to talk to my daughter, she is not answering her phone," Dad said with utmost calmness, but his jawline had locked, each tendon stood rigid.

"..."

Karsten took his time to reply, but his voice came rigid and almost drowned in guilt.

"She went to her apartment a few hours ago. I called her, and her number was switched off, so I came looking for her, but she is not in her apartment. Maybe she went out for dinner."

Dad closed his eyes at his answer and pinched the bridge of his nose. All the veins in his hand stood erect. I knew he was barely holding on, so I placed my hand on his shoulder, letting him know I was there for him and he wasn’t alone in this ordeal.

"She is not out for dinner, Mr Karsten. My daughter has been kidnapped. Someone sent me a video of hers, tied to a chair. I told you to protect her, and you failed. I am coming to Marica City right now to find my daughter. And if anything happened to her, then God help anyone involved, including you." Dad ended the call in rage and almost fell to the ground.

"Daddd?" I had to support him; the shock of the truth had gotten to him as he clung to me for support and began to cry.

I embraced him, staying strong for both of us, although my heart was so afraid for Arata.

"Arata is strong, and we will find her. It’s going to be fine."

"It’s better. Because I won’t be able to forgive myself or survive if something happens to my daughter," Dad whispered in a broken voice, and I worried how we were even going to tell Mom and Grandma.