Chapter 1

From previous book:

Just then, Zahira got a sms. It said, “Help! Help!!! I’ve been captured! They are going to torture me! Come quickly to Naboo, Tatooine Desert”. They all just stared at each other, shocked. It was from their classmate Shafiq. Surprisingly, they started grinning at each other with a cheeky smile. “Why bother?” they said in unison. He was a naughty boy anywhere…..’

Chapter 1

Though they all just sat down together like nothing had happened, the sms was disturbing their minds. “Maybe we should you know…” Nisa said. “…Ya, after all, he’s our friend. We can’t just…leave him” Zahira added on. Then, her handphone vibrated again. “Quick quick! Maybe it’s Shafiq again!” Nadera cried out. It read, “If you got frightened by the message, it means you care for me! Send this to all your friends to see if they care for you”. SHAFIQ!!! They all cried out in anger. “What an idiot! He scared us so much!” Nadera shouted. “Hey Deb, you seem to be the only one who is very calm…and you’re…smiling??!!” Firdaus commented. “I knew it could not have been real. He had the time to type out the whole message…and further more…add 3 exclamation marks after his word ‘help’. Someone who’s been kidnapped, like you for an example, would not have the time to add 3 exclamation marks and repeat the word ‘help’ twice…and etc ”she replied with glee. “That’s my smart girl” commented Firdaus and gave her a peck on her forehead.

The gang had plenty of fun during the holidays, playing games and going out together. But fun never lasts long. School holidays ended quickly and it was time for them to go back to school to study hard for their final year exam. Once the bell rang for end of school, the girls made their way to Tampines Mall to meet up with the guys.

“Ghazali and Senthil didn’t come to school today.” Nisa told Legolas. “Yup, they have been locked up in the Boys Home for good” said Vikram. “But…it’s kinda sad. I mean…the exams are coming…and just for a small matter of love…such a big punishment…” Nadera said. Then Deborah stared at Nadera and said, “Small matter? SMALL? Kidnapping a person and keeping him in a cave to kill him is small??!!. Then Baihakki chuckled and said, “By right, you should be the one to worry. He did all this for you”. Immediately Deborah jumped off her seat and ran to Baihakki and started strangling him. “Why you little…!!!” “Hey Deb! Stop it! He was just joking!” cried Zahira, pushing Deb away. “Woah woah…cool off you two. You can’t get tensed at Ben and Jerry’s. Just sit down and enjoy your ice-cream” Legolas joked. Even Deborah stared laughing. “Hey, but Shafiq didn’t come to school today. He is rarely absent from school…” Nadera informed the guys. “Oh, he didn’t?” Baihakki asked, massaging his neck. “Did you try calling or smsing him?” Vikram suggested. “Ya, we tried both. No reply. We called his home. There was also no reply” Nisa said.

“Hello, Firdaus speaking” replied Firdaus on his handphone. “Firdaus, this is Mr. Philip speaking. The two boys, Ghazali and Senthil, were not found in the cave you mentioned. We are sorry for informing you late because investigations are still going on and we wanted to confirm before informing you. Furthermore, even if we did find them in the cave, unless they admit it themselves, there is no evidence or proof that they are the ones who kidnapped you. It could be assumed that you and your friends planned this to frame them. Things have been made more difficult as they were not found in the caves” he said. “So you think Vikram purposely poisoned himself just to frame a bunch of idiots?!” Firdaus said with anger in his voice. “Firdaus, we are not saying that. But we cannot proof you and your friend’s innocence either. We cannot assume anything. We can explain more in detail if you could come by the Neighbourhood Police Post at Tampines. I am there now with the other officers.

Firdaus hung up his handphone in rage. The rest looked at him, frightened. Firdaus explained the issue to them.