Chapter 07 — Missing Freedom

AVA 

“Is it true?” Fallon, one of my friends and classmates asked, falling into steps beside me as we made our way to class.

“I heard. Everyone is talking about it.” Our other friend, Avery interjects, joining the conversation. 

“Really? Words travel fast around here.” I sighed, feigning innocence, like that isn’t exactly the effect I was hoping for. 

We were about to enter the classroom, same time as Maddie. One would think she would pause for us to walk through, seeing that we got to the entrance first. 

She squeezed between us, forcefully creating a space for herself. Fallon attempted to go after her. I pulled her back, shaking my head.

I couldn’t bring myself to care about her passiveness. Maybe it had something to do with how happy I am. Besides, she’s a senior, we only have to tolerate her for one period of class. 

By the time it was lunch hour, I wanted people to forget about my broken betrothal. They approached and offered consolations, one would think someone died with how they  were acting. 

“If one more person comes to me to offer their consolation or whatever. I am screaming,” I told my friends, preparing them for what’s to come.

Avery laughed, pausing on the verge of saying something in response. I soon came to realize she was distracted by Asher's appearance. 

He sat next to me, panting like he was chased over here. Although that didn’t stop him from reaching to steal one of Avery’s fries. She tried to smack it from him, but he dodged it out of her reach. 

“I assumed you weren’t coming to school today.” I remarked, curiously. 

“I was late.” 

“Shocking!” Fallon retorted sarcastically, earning her a flirty wink from Asher. 

“This time though, I legit have a reason for being late. Caden is missing, the entire household is currently in a state of panic.” 

“Missing?” I echoed, “are you sure about that? Your Dad did tell him to take a few days off after everything. I think it makes sense for him not to be in school.” 

“It’s not about him not being in school, Caden has never left the premises before. It’s been hours since we found out he’s missing. Dad sent out some of our men to search for him…” 

“And last time I checked in with them, I was told grandma thinks he’s been abducted  by one of the family rivals." He concluded, his voice laced with worries. 

I blinked at him, nodding in agreement about the former. It’s possible that Caden left the house for once to clear his head, and he got kidnapped. 

My heart skipped, even if he isn’t kidnapped, the second people find out he’s a Tuhka. Not just any Tuhka, but the heir? He would be killed instantly. 

Although, he’s no longer the heir. It hasn’t been made public yet, so to everyone out  there. He is Thane Tuhka’s nephew, the heir to the Tuhka’s empire. 

My hand dropped on Asher’s shoulder, comforting him. 

“Don’t worry, no harm will come to him. He will be found in no time.” 

“Ava is right. As much as we want to theorise that he’s been abducted. Do you think anyone has the balls to mess with the Tuhka’s family? Think about it, and stop aiming for Avery’s fries.” Fallon adds her two cents, unintentionally changing the atmosphere with her sarcastic comment. 

The rest of us laugh. Looking at Asher, my smile widened seeing the tension leave his body. He stuck with us for the rest of the day. 

Even when the cheerleaders came to lure him away, he refused them. Something I never thought I’d ever see. 

Unlike Henshel, Asher was close to Caden. So while it might look to others that he was overreacting since it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours, I understood. 

I was also worried for his safety. Despite his recent actions, Caden isn’t built for the outdoors. For years, people have questioned the Tuhka’s family decisions to make him the heir. 

People don’t get tough overnight— but his recent behaviour has me doubting that.

Asher and I walk home together for the first time in months, just in case we come across Caden.

My house was quiet when I strode in a couple minutes later. That was until the ice was broken by Dad’s angry voice. 

Dread filled me as I followed the sound of his voice. Walking into the living room just as he ended his phone call, and flung his phone across the room. 

“Dagger!” Mom hissed, motioning her head in my direction, to let him know the phone almost hit me. 

Regret flashes across his face for a second. He turned away, muttering something under his breath and then storming out. 

“Your father is simply under stress. Asher told you about Caden missing right? How are you feeling?” She inquired, closing the distance between us. 

I shrugged, confused. 

“Worried, just like everyone. We weren’t close, but he’s family hence it’s natural for me to be worried about him. Do you think I hate him or something?” I raised my eyes at her, not wanting to believe my own mother would think that about me. 

“Of course not,” she responded without hesitation. “Everyone is taking his disappearance hard. I don’t want you to blame yourself or anything. This is not on you, you did the right thing by reporting him to us. Don’t ever doubt it.” 

Relieved washed over me at her words, causing me to collapse against her. Deep down, I was worried about receiving the blame. After all, if I didn’t report him, he would still have his title, and not be missing.

“Thank you so much, Mom. Deep down, I started thinking I was to blame. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that.” I gave her a squeeze, before pulling away completely. 

“I’m going to see how Asher is doing.” 

Mom nodded in agreement. Using the connecting passageway that was now filled with armed men. I didn’t realize security had tightened until I crossed over to the mansion. 

Fear gripped me as the gravitation of the situation started to sink in. No wonder Dad has been so stressed. 

Gripping the edge of my dress nervously, I made my way to Asher’s room. The door was open, revealing a typical teenage boy’s bedroom. 

Half of the walls were covered in sport posters, and the others, pictures of women in bikinis at the beach. Perhaps it isn’t a typical teenage boy’s room—It’s just Asher Tuhka’s room. 

My eyes went to the picture frame on his desk. It was a picture of me, him, Henshel, Beth, Sophie, and Caden at the park. 

“Hey,” I announced my presence. 

His head jerked to mine, his eyes teary. 

“He still hasn’t been found. If he’s abducted, don’t you think the captors would have called by now to make their demands?” He asked, straightening up a little. 

“I didn’t want to say this earlier, because I didn’t think much of it. He came to me last night—Caden… I mean.” I paused as Asher jerked to his feet. 

“What happened?” He demanded. 

“He told me he was leaving.” 

“Leaving? As in running away?” He echoes, puzzled. 

“I don’t know, he said some words that I couldn’t make out. But I vividly recall him telling me he was leaving. Do you think Caden ran away from home?” 

“I don’t know, I’m more puzzled by the fact that he came to you instead of me. I thought we were close, best friends even.” He retorted, sounding hurt. 

“Maybe he was still upset about you beating him up at the cafeteria.” I offered, and seeing reasoning in my response, he nodded. 

“I better go tell them about it, so they will know where to look before rival members get a hold of him.” He declared, walking out. 

Left alone in his room, I took a step closer to the picture to look at it. My eyes strained longer on Caden. 

I whisper a small prayer, wishing he will be found soon…