Yaw was jolted awake by Mr. Akrobeto's gentle yet urgent voice. "Yaw, wake up. We need to go now. There's business to attend to, and we must start early."

Yaw rubbed the sleep from his eyes, disoriented. It was only 3 a.m., and he was surprised by the unusual timing. Still, he didn't think much of it, attributing it to Mr. Akrobeto's usual diligence. He quickly dressed and headed to the dining area, where he was further surprised to find breakfast already prepared by Mrs. Vivian. The smell of freshly brewed tea and buttered bread filled the room.

Everyone in the Akrobeto household was unusually friendly that morning. Vivian greeted Yaw with a warm smile, something he was not accustomed to, and even offered him an expensive piece of jewelry, saying, "This is for your mother, Yaw. A token of appreciation for everything you’ve done."

Yaw hesitated, surprised by the sudden generosity, but he accepted the gift, thinking perhaps the Akrobetos had finally come to respect him after learning of his modest wealth.

Mr. Akrobeto then informed Yaw that his personal driver would take him to visit his parents. "It’s a small gesture for your family, Yaw. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the news and the gift."

Yaw smiled, touched by the gesture, and soon found himself in the backseat of a luxurious car, speeding through the quiet, early morning streets. The city lights faded as they drove into a more secluded area surrounded by thick forests. The silence of the journey began to make Yaw uneasy, but he dismissed the feeling, trusting Mr. Akrobeto completely.

As they entered a particularly dense part of the forest, the driver suddenly pulled over. "Nature calls," he said casually, stepping out of the car to relieve himself. He whistled a strange tune as he walked away, disappearing into the bushes.

Yaw was alone in the car when, out of nowhere, three large, muscular men appeared. Before he could react, they yanked the car door open, grabbed him, and dragged him into the forest. Yaw screamed, struggling desperately, but his cries were muffled by the thick foliage around them.

The driver returned to the car just as Yaw was being dragged away, a twisted grin on his face. He waited a few minutes before driving back to report that he had done his part.

Yaw was pulled deeper into the forest, his heart pounding with terror. He was forced into a wooden hut hidden in the wilderness, where the sight that greeted him made his blood run cold. Inside, he saw several young children and pregnant women, all huddled together in fear.

He heard one of the men speaking into a phone. "We’ve got fresh goods," the man said with chilling nonchalance. "Meet us at the usual spot."

Realization hit Yaw like a thunderbolt—they intended to harvest his organs. Panic gripped him as he began to plead, his voice cracking with fear. "Please, I’m just a student at Pinamang International School, JSS 1A. Let me go, please!"

One of the men, a hulking figure with a scar running down his face, stepped forward. "What’s your name, boy?"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Yaw," he stammered, tears streaming down his face. "Yaw Boakye."

The man’s expression softened for a moment. "So you’re the boy who’s always first in Class 1A," he muttered, recognizing Yaw from stories he’d heard.

Seizing this glimmer of hope, Yaw pleaded with the man, "Please, if you know me, help me. Don’t let them do this to me!"

But his hopes were crushed when the man, known as Blackie, responded with a harsh slap across Yaw’s face. "Shut up!" he barked, his voice cold and menacing.

That night, Blackie returned to the hut. Yaw braced himself for more abuse, but instead, Blackie began to beat him with calculated force. However, as he landed a punch, he leaned in close and whispered urgently, "I’m Salim’s elder brother. I know you’re friends with him. I’m doing this to keep them from suspecting me. In thirty minutes, I’ll distract them—run, and don’t look back."

The beating continued for what felt like an eternity, but true to his word, Blackie eventually loosened Yaw’s bonds just enough for him to escape. Thirty minutes later, after Blackie had successfully drawn the other men’s attention elsewhere, Yaw fled the hut, sprinting into the night with every ounce of strength he had left.

The kidnappers didn’t notice his absence until it was too late. By the time they realized Yaw was gone, he was already deep into the forest, running blindly through the darkness, driven by sheer terror and the will to survive.

Meanwhile, back at the Akrobeto residence, the family was in high spirits. Mr. Akrobeto, Vivian, Suzie, and Jacqy toasted to their success, believing they had secured a fortune by getting rid of Yaw. They had even arranged for Yaw’s family to be "taken care of," ensuring no loose ends were left. An arsonist had been hired to burn down Yaw’s family home, and news had just come in that the job was done—no one had made it out alive.

Mr. Akrobeto’s phone rang, interrupting the celebration. He answered, expecting to hear that Yaw was dead. Instead, the caller, one of the kidnappers, informed him that the boy had escaped.

Fury overtook Mr. Akrobeto as he slammed the phone down. "That brat got away!" he roared, his face red with anger.

Vivian, ever quick to adapt, suggested, "Announce that Yaw has stolen your money and run away. If he’s found, he’ll be caught dead or alive. No one will believe a ten-year-old could outsmart us."

Mr. Akrobeto quickly made the calls, spreading the false story to the regional police commander. Within hours, Yaw’s picture was circulated to every checkpoint, with strict orders to capture him, dead or alive.

Yaw, exhausted and near collapse, finally stumbled upon a police checkpoint. Relief washed over him as he approached the officers, thinking he was safe. But as he neared, he overheard the officer’s radio crackle with a description that matched him perfectly—"Be on the lookout for a young boy, about ten years old, dark complexion, wearing a plain yellow shirt and black shorts. He’s stolen a significant amount from Mr. Akrobeto."

Panic surged through Yaw as he realized he was being hunted. Without a second thought, he turned and fled again, his legs barely able to carry him any further. He ran until he reached the outskirts of the city, collapsing in a slum just a few miles from his home.

Yaw’s world went dark.

When he opened his eyes, the first faces he saw were those of Mariam and Queenstar, their expressions filled with concern and disbelief. Queenstar had found him lying unconscious in the slum early that morning and had immediately rushed to get her sister.

"Yaw!" Mariam whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "What happened to you?"

They carefully carried him into their small, humble room, a stark contrast to the luxury Yaw had known in the Akrobeto household. The sisters had heard the announcement branding Yaw a thief and were torn about what to do next. Should they turn him in and save themselves from any potential trouble, or should they protect him, knowing the danger he faced?

Yaw, weak and barely able to speak, could see the conflict in their eyes. But as he lay there, battered and betrayed, he knew his life depended on their decision