A Close Call

Finally, the timekeeper rang the bell, signaling the end of the day. He was two minutes late to the normal time he was supposed to ring the bell. Clara held her little brother's hand tightly as they walked out of the school gate to wait for either their father or Emilia.

Clement was joyfully talking to her sister about his performance in the art exercise. He can't wait to get home and tell Emilia about the improvement he made in the drawing.

"Did you see my rocket ship, Clara? Mrs. B said it was the best one in class!"

"I saw it, Clement," Clara said with a proud smile. "It was awesome. Maybe you'll be an astronaut someday."

Clement's eyes widened. "Really? I can go to space?"

"Of course," Clara replied. "You just have to study hard."

They were almost at their usual pickup spot when a black van pulled up beside them. The window automatically rolled down, and a man with an enticing smile gestured toward Clara and Clement.

"Hey there, kids," the man said. "Your dad sent me to pick you up. He is running late today, he had a meeting to attend."

Clara immediately pulled Clement closer, her instincts flaring. "Our dad always calls if he's late," she said firmly.

The man chuckled nervously. "He must've forgotten this time. Come on, I'll take you home."

Clement focused his attention on the man like he wanted to read his mind, but Clara held his hand tightly. "We're not supposed to talk to strangers," she said, her voice trembling.

The man's smile instantly faded. "I'm not a stranger. Your dad knows me. Just get in the van, okay?"

Before Clara could respond, the back door of the van slid open, and another man stepped out, reaching for Clement. Clara screamed, pulling her brother back.

"Run, Clement!" she yelled, dragging him toward the school gates.

The commotion drew the attention of a teacher who was still on duty. Mrs. Grant, an older woman with a melancholy trait, rushed over.

"What's going on here?" she demanded.

The men became afraid, realizing they had been caught. Without a word, they quickly jumped back into the van and sped off.

"Clara, Clement, are you all right?" Mrs. Grant asked, kneeling to their level.

Clara was shaking but nodded. "They… they tried to take us."

Mrs. Grant immediately ushered them back into the school, her face pale. "Let's get inside. We'll call your father right away."

Michael arrived at the school within minutes, his face a mask of worry. Emilia was right behind him, her hands clenched into fists.

"Where are they?" Michael asked as he stormed into the principal's office.

"They're safe," Mrs. Grant assured him. Clara and Clement were sitting on a couch, both looking shaken. Michael rushed to them, pulling them into a tight embrace, kissing and cuddling them simultaneously.

"Daddy," Clara said, her voice trembling vigorously, "They tried to take us."

Michael's heart ached as he held them closer. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry this happened."

Emilia crouched down beside them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Are you both okay? Did they hurt you?"

Clara shook her head. "No. Mrs. Grant scared them away."

Emilia reached out and gently brushed Clara's hair back. "You were so brave, Clara. You protected your brother."

Clement chimed in, his voice small. "Clara told me to run. She saved me."

Michael kissed Clara's forehead two times, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so proud of you, Clara. You're so strong."

Mrs. Grant cleared her throat, drawing their attention. "We've already contacted the police. They'll be here shortly to take your statements."

Michael nodded, his jaw clenched. "Thank you, Madam, for coming to their rescue. I don't know what could have happened to them if you hadn't been there."

Mrs. Grant placed a comforting hand on Clara's shoulder. "Your children are very lucky, Mr. Michael. But this is a serious matter. You'll need to take extra precautions and watch out for them more than before."

A few minutes later, the police came to the school. They already knew that Mrs. Grant witnessed the scene, one of them was interrogating her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Grant! Can you describe the car those men were in and what the men looked like?"

Mrs. Grant took her time to explain how everything happened to the police; they appreciated her and told her they might come back to the school if there was a need for further investigation.

"If we need any other information, we will get back to you madam." "All right, there would not be a problem," she answered the policemen.

Later that evening, after leaving the school premises, the family sat in the living room. The air was heavy with unspoken fear.

"I'm not sending them back to that school," Michael said abruptly, breaking the silence.

"Michael," Emilia began, "we can't let fear control us. The school is safe, and they'll increase security now."

Michael shook his head. "Safe? Emilia, they were almost taken today. Right outside the gates. I can't risk this happening again."

Clara spoke up hesitantly. "Daddy, I like my school. I don't want to leave."

Michael's conclusion faltered, He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'll figure something out, Clara. I just need to make sure you're both safe."

Emilia placed a hand on his arm. "We can talk to the school about additional measures. Maybe even hire someone to pick them up every day."

Michael looked at her, his expression softening. "You're right. I just… I can't lose them, Emilia."

"You won't," she said firmly. "Together we'll do everything we can to keep them safe."

Clement, who had been quietly listening, crawled into Michael's lap. "Daddy, are the bad guys gone now?"

Michael hugged him tightly. "Yes, buddy. They're gone. Look at my face, kids; I promise they won't come near you again."

That night, Michael lay on the bed, but he seemed to lose his sleep; he stayed awake in bed for hours, and he couldn't shake the fear that gripped his heart. Emilia's reassuring words echoed in his mind, but so did Clara's scream and the sight of his children's frightened faces.

"I must take action," Michael whispered to himself.

The safety of his children was non-negotiable, and whoever was behind this wouldn't get a second chance.