Unsteady

Chapter Twenty-Five

Meanwhile, in the foyer, Regina paced anxiously, her heels clicking softly against the polished wooden floor. Her heart fluttered with anticipation as she glanced out the window, waiting for Eden and Ravenna to return home from school. The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass, casting warm golden hues across the room, but Regina's nerves dulled the warmth. She wrung her hands, her mind racing with thoughts about her daughters and the usual chaos that came with their days.

When the familiar black car finally pulled into the driveway, relief softened her tense expression, and a genuine smile spread across her face. She hurried toward the door, stepping out onto the porch to greet them. The crisp January air bit at her skin, but she didn't care; she was eager to see her girls. Her breath fogged in front of her as she watched William, their driver, park the car and prepare to let the girls out.

As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, the back door flung open, and Eden practically leaped out, her face pale and strained. Her voice, trembling with urgency, shattered the quiet afternoon.

"Mom!" she called, running toward Regina, her brown eyes wide with worry. "Mom, something happened!"

Regina's smile faltered, confusion and alarm flashing across her face. She instinctively reached out to steady Eden as she stumbled to a halt in front of her. "Eden, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Esme," Eden blurted, her voice cracking. "She got kidnapped yesterday after school! A bunch of kids saw it happen. They said a group of men grabbed her!"

"What?" Regina's voice was sharp, disbelief flooding her as the words sank in. Her heart lurched, and her pulse quickened. "Kidnapped?" Her voice trembled, her earlier warmth replaced by icy dread.

"No one had time to help her!" Ravenna's small, high-pitched voice rang out as she climbed down from the car, her green eyes round with fear. She clutched her backpack tightly against her chest as though for comfort, her little face pale beneath the winter sunlight. "They just took her! Right off the street!"

"Has she been found?" Regina demanded, her voice breaking. She knelt slightly, looking into Ravenna's frightened face before turning back to Eden.

Eden shook her head, her lips pressed tightly together as if holding back tears. "No," she said quietly, her words clipped. "It happened so fast, Mom. By the time anyone thought to call the police, they were already gone."

"And the men," Ravenna added, her voice quivering, "they wore masks. Nobody could see their faces."

Eden nodded grimly. "And their car didn't have a license plate. The windows were completely tinted—there's no way to identify them." Frustration colored her tone, her hands balling into fists at her sides.

Regina felt her stomach twist, her heart heavy as she tried to process what she was hearing. The chilling details painted a grim picture, and her maternal instincts screamed at her to do something—anything—but there was nothing she could do. She swallowed the lump rising in her throat. "That poor girl," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "She's been through so much already... and now this."

"I know," Eden replied, her voice softening with sadness. "First losing Bobby, and now being taken. It's not fair."

"I hope they find her," Ravenna whispered, her voice fragile, as if afraid speaking too loudly might make the hope disappear.

Eden's face hardened, her jaw tightening. "I doubt they will," she said bluntly, her tone cold with realism. "Even if they do, chances are she won't be alive."

"Eden!" Regina snapped, shooting her eldest daughter a sharp glare. "Don't say that!"

Eden met her gaze head-on, unflinching. "It's the truth, Mom," she said evenly, though there was a trace of bitterness in her voice. "Why should we get our hopes up? No one cares about foster kids—not really. The police will stop looking soon enough. They always do. Kids like Esme just... disappear."