CHAPTER 2: The Bullies

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Iz arrived at Hugos, her bike parked outside, and rushed inside to find Sarah and David huddled together. Sarah's smile faltered as she took in Iz's frantic expression.

"Hey," Sarah said, her voice laced with concern.

David's eyes widened in alarm. "Where's Charles?" he asked, his voice tinged with panic.

Iz's confusion deepened. "He left Browns 30 minutes ago," she replied, her brow furrowed. "I thought he was heading here."

Sarah's eyes scanned the room, as if hoping Charles would magically appear. "Where would he possibly be, then?" she wondered aloud.

Meanwhile, in a car parked nearby, Frank and Maria were engrossed in a heated conversation.

"How dare that little brat snitch on us?" Frank spat, his anger simmering just below the surface.

Maria's grin was cold and calculating. "Don't bother, I'll show him how to play dirty," she said, her eyes glinting with malice.

Maria's smile matched his.

As the morning wore on, the news of Charles' disappearance spread like wildfire through Hamlet. Newspapers were plastered with headlines about the missing student, and the atmosphere was thick with worry and speculation.

Owen's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie. "Apollo, do you copy?"

Apollo's response was immediate. "Yes, what's up? Have you heard about Charles?"

Owen's voice was laced with concern. "Yes, just get here ASAP."

As Owen hung up, he exchanged a worried glance. The tension was palpable as he made his way to Hamlet Middle School.

Upon arrival, they spotted Frank, Maria, Rebecca, Jordan, and Jason loitering near the entrance. Iz's eyes narrowed as she watched them, her instincts screaming warning.

Maria tried to intervene, but they refused to listen. Frank, still fuming, blocked their path.

"Hey freaks, where do you think you're going?" he sneered, his eyes flashing with malice.

Owen, his anger boiling over, shot back, "Go to hell, Frank!"

Before he could react, Frank's fist connected with Owen's jaw, sending him stumbling backward. Iz stepped forward, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Stop this, please," she begged, her voice shaking.

As they left, laughing and jeering, Maria lingered behind, her expression a mixture of guilt and calculation. She approached Iz and Owen, her voice low and menacing.

"I warned you, so don't be a snitch again," she hissed, before turning and walking away.

As Maria disappeared into the crowd, Rose rushed over to Iz and Owen.

"What happened?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Iz and Owen exchanged a glance before walking away without a word. Apollo, however, stayed behind, his anger simmering.

"Those punks did it again," he muttered to Rose.

Rose's eyes narrowed. "Why is she doing this to her brother?"

Apollo shrugged. "I don't know, hatred?"

Meanwhile, Maria stormed over to Frank, her anger boiling over.

"I told you to let him be, I'd handle him," she snapped.

Jordan chuckled. "I don't think so."

Frank's expression was unyielding. "No, Maria, we have to do this. Plus, if not—"

Maria cut him off, her voice rising. "Enough! I had a very good plan to take my revenge on them, but you've ruined it!"

Rebecca's curiosity was piqued. "Really?"

Frank turned to Maria, his eyes questioning. "How?"

Maria's smile was cold and calculating. "No need for revenge now."

Frank's expression softened, and he wrapped his arms around Maria. "Please, Ria."

Maria's voice dropped to a whisper as she revealed her plan to them.

The door to Chief of Police Johnson Hopper's office burst open, and Sarah stormed in, her anger and worry palpable.

"Sarah?" John Hopper's voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of concern.

Sarah's eyes flashed with anger. "No need to talk, John. Are you ignoring me because of our differences in the past?" she demanded, her voice laced with accusation.

John's expression softened. "No, Sarah, of course not. We'll find your son, don't worry."

Sarah's frustration boiled over. "You're not doing anything about it! Can't you go investigate or search for him?"

John's expression turned somber. "Sarah, you know the rules. A person can't be declared missing until after 48 hours."

Sarah's face crumpled, and she sank into the chair, tears streaming down her face. "Please, John. I know my son is missing, and he's in trouble."

Just then, John's phone rang, shattering the tense silence. He hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello?" he said, his voice firm.

A voice on the other end spoke, its tone cold and menacing. "Hey, Police. If you want your boy Charles Hugo, pay one million dollars."

Sarah's eyes widened in horror as she listened to the conversation. Charles' friends, who were eavesdropping outside the office, exchanged shocked glances.

John's face turned stern. "One million? Are you mad?"

But Sarah was beyond reason. "Okay, okay, I'll pay you. Please don't hurt him," she begged, her voice shaking with fear.

The kidnapper's voice was cold and detached as he delivered his demands. "You have 30 minutes to bring the ransom to the woods. And remember, don't come with this police guy."

As the line went dead, Sarah sprang into action. She tried to rush out of the office, but John Hopper blocked her path.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice firm but worried.

"Getting my son, of course," Sarah replied, her determination evident in her voice.

John's expression turned stern. "Sarah, you can't go alone. It's not safe."

But Sarah was beyond reason. She pushed past John and stormed out of the office, determined to save her son.

As she drove away, Charles' friends - Apollo, Owen, and Iz - watched her go, their faces set with determination.

"I knew he was kidnapped," Apollo said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But why?" Owen asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "We have to do something."

Iz's eyes flashed with determination. "Yes, I don't trust them. We have to be with Mrs. Hugo."

The three friends quickly made their way to Owen's basement, where they gathered an assortment of makeshift weapons - kitchen knives, staplers, and forks.

"What are we doing with this?" Apollo asked, eyeing the arsenal.

Owen's expression was resolute. "We're going to fight the bad guys, of course."

Apollo's smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "I know you don't want to do this, but you have to."

Owen's eyes clouded over, and he looked away, his jaw set.

Meanwhile, in the woods, Frank and his gang were waiting anxiously for the ransom. Maria smiled, her eyes glinting with triumph.

"Wow, babe, I never knew you were this smart," Frank said, his voice filled with admiration.

Maria's smile grew wider. "Now Sarah will do anything for her boy."

Rebecca's voice was laced with sarcasm. "I hope so, even though we're just gangsters."

Jordan's expression turned dry. "Very funny. How can she think her boy he's kidnapped, this is Hamlet,no crimes here"

Laura turned to Maria, panic rising in her voice. “Maria, this is wrong.”

Maria, calm and unbothered, replied coldly, “Chill out, Lau. This is an opportunity to be rich.”

Frank stepped forward, his tone sharp. “Look, if you have a problem with this, then leave.”

Laura looked between them, disbelief on her face. “Yeah, I’ll leave. But Maria… this isn’t you.”

Without another word, Laura turned and walked away, her footsteps heavy with disappointment. Frank leaned toward Maria, ready to manipulate her once again.

Sarah arrived, visibly worried. She parked and waited, unaware that John had been silently following her.

She stepped out, carefully placing the bag of money on the ground, then returned to the car. Moments later, Frank and Jordan approached the scene wearing masks, ready to collect the ransom.

Suddenly, John stepped out from the shadows, gun raised.

“Hands in the air! Now, or you’re dead,” he barked.

Caught off guard, Frank and Jordan froze. John swiftly arrested them and pulled off their masks just as Sarah and David rushed over.

Tears streamed down Sarah’s cheeks as she cried, “Where’s my boy? You monster!”

Frank trembled, his voice cracking. “I swear I don’t know where he is! We just wanted to get the money and run!”

Sarah dropped to her knees in tears, shattered.

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