The stranger

Ava's house at the bay.

It was late afternoon and Nina was playing piano at home. As Ava and Daniel have been busy with the opening of the academy, they hardly could spend time with the little girl for the last few days. Nina wanted to go to the opening but Daniel thought as there won't be any children, Nina would be bored besides they also have a wine party later which was not suitable for children, and moreover, Ava and Daniel didn't want to expose their daughter in front of the Media yet. Since at the inauguration there will be a lot of reporters who might raise questions about Nina's birth, they both decided to let her stay at home with sister Li.

"Auntie Li, I am bored, can I play outside with Radish?" Nina asked jumping off the piano bench. She liked to play piano but these few days her parents were very busy which made her a bit moody at times.

"But Nina, it's late. Soon it will be dark outside; I don't think you should play outside at this hour." Sister Li said in a gentle voice.

"But Auntie Li, I have been inside the whole day, I am bored, please let me play outside just for a little while. We still have time for the sunset, I promise I will stay at the yard and won't go anywhere else." Nina said looking at sister Li with pleading eyes.

Sister Li sighed and finally nodded her head. "OK, I'll take you outside but not for long. Ok!"

They both got outside in the front yard in the garden area. Ava and Daniel's house was in a posh area so the yard in this area was all open without any fences to separate the houses but some small plants or trees were there which acted as boundaries of the properties. Besides the houses were all at distance from one another. The whole neighborhood was surrounded by gardens, trees, and bushes. The sun was still at the west spreading its soothing warm lights. Nina let out her little friend from its cage. It's a white rabbit, a gift from Ava and Daniel on her last birthday. Nina named it radish.

Nina took the white fluffy rabbit in her small hand and asked in a sweet voice, "Radish do you want to have some carrots?"

The little rabbit sniffed and looked at the carrots that were sitting beside Nina on a small basket. The rabbit jumped out of Nina's hand and picked up a carrot by its mouth then it started to run. Nina was so shocked by the naughty rabbit, she also start running after it without thinking, afraid of losing it.

Looking at Nina running after the rabbit in a carefree manner sister Li laughed but didn't follow her. She knew this neighborhood was safe and secured and Nina often run around and played with her rabbit, like this so she decided to wait for the little girl to come back. However, after almost 10 minutes when she still didn't see the girl come back she started to get worried. Sister Li stood up and started to look for Nina.

on the other side, when Nina ran after the rabbit she didn't notice and bumped into a strong man a little bit far from her house. The bump was a little hand and she was about to fall to the ground when two strong hands held her and kept her from falling. Nina looked at the man, he was in a complete suit and shiny shoes, wearing sunglasses, and his face was covered with a mask. The man looked like a gentleman to her but she was still a bit scared seeing him. She quickly bowed her head and said in a timid voice, "I am sorry sir I did not see you there."

"It's ok little girl, but you should not run far away from home. Anyway is your name Nina?"

Nina's eyes widen thinking how did he know her name? She didn't seem to know this man. She asked curiously, "Yes sir. But how did you know?"

"I know because your parents sent me to pick you up. They asked me to take you to the ice crème parlor."

Nina was only two years, even though she was smart and a bit suspicious but she thought the uncle in front of her didn't look like a bad man although a bit scary but she believed her parents sent him. Ava always told Nina to stay away from strangers but when she heard her parents were waiting for her at the ice crème parlor she happily agreed to go with him and she said, "OK, I will come with you just let me inform Auntie Li or she will be worried. "

"Oh don't worry little girl your parents have already informed her and we should hurry because they are waiting and they will be angry if we are late, don't you think?"

Nina hesitated for a while then agreed and got on the SUV that was parked beside the man.

The man got into the car and locked the car then he took out his phone and dialed a number. "I picked up the girl and heading toward the place now." He said and disconnected the call as he speed up the car.