Chapter 159

The village was small, with only a few outsiders passing through. How could a child just disappear like that? Unless… he’d been taken.
Felicia quickly made her way to Charles for more information. Despite his elderly age, years of hard work had kept him strong and calm under pressure. But now, he was anxious. As soon as he saw Felicia, he revealed all he knew.
“Lucas went missing in the afternoon. The kids he was playing with said they saw Shawn nearby and ran off. Afterward, they kept playing and didn’t think to look for Lucas. When I got word, I had everyone search the whole area, but we haven’t found a trace of him! “I’m beside myself, Felicia. Lucas is gone, and that no-good Shawn is missing too. What if… What if…” he explained, his voice trembling.
Charles didn’t finish, but Felicia understood. He feared Shawn had taken Lucas. A five-year-old child in Shawn’s hands… Anything could happen.
Felicia hadn’t expected this either. If Shawn had really kidnapped Lucas, he’d likely show up soon, using the child to threaten her. She tried to reassure Charles, saying, “Don’t worry. We have enough people here. If I call on my classmates, we’ll have even more. We’ll search every corner of this mountain if we have to. We’ll find Lucas!”
“Okay…” Charles mumbled and nodded tearfully. Felicia briefed the vice principal, who immediately agreed.
They gathered the students who had just returned into pairs to help search. Every able-bodied person in the village, young and old, joined the effort too.
It was getting dark, and every household brought out flashlights and phone lights to aid the search. Though they had just spent the whole afternoon carrying supplies, everyone went back out without even stopping for a meal. Just then, Shawn himself staggered into the village.
The moment Charles saw him, he rushed forward and grabbed Shawn by the collar. “You scoundrel! Where is my grandson? What did you do to him? He’s just a little boy! If you have a grudge, take it out on me!”
Shawn wobbled, then belched
loudly. The smell of alcohol was heavy on his breath. With a grin, he slurred, “What are you talking about, Charles? I don’t know where your grandson is. Don’t go accusing me without reason!”
Charles was suspicious but kept pressing, “Don’t lie! The kids saw you take him! Where is he? Give him back to me!”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Shawn replied, unfazed. “I did see Lucas playing marbles with some kids earlier, but then I left. If your grandson’s missing, what’s that got to do with me?”
“If it’s not you, then who else?” Charles, desperate and furious, was ready to strangle him.
Shawn was the most obvious
suspect, yet he denied everything. Without evidence, there wasn’t much they could do, especially with night falling in. The priority was to find Lucas. Charles’ frustration grew, and his eyes welled up with tears.
Felicia cut through the tension. “If you didn’t take Lucas, then where were you all afternoon?”
Shawn’s eyes flickered, but he
quickly regained composure. “I had a few drinks and ended up falling asleep at the west fields. I just woke up to all this commotion. When heard Lucas was missing, I came to help look.”
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