Chapter 3: Sienna Intervenes
It was almost midnight, but Sienna couldn’t sit still. Her fingers twitched, and every instinct in her body told her to get up and find Garner. The visions had been far too real—she couldn’t just ignore them. The sense of dread weighed down on her chest, refusing to let her rest.
Finally, she grabbed her jacket, threw her phone in her pocket, and slipped out her bedroom window as quietly as she could. Her parents were asleep, and the quiet of the house seemed ominous against the worry buzzing in her head.
“I have to make sure he’s okay,” she murmured, glancing up and down the empty street. She took off at a fast walk, heading in the direction of Garner’s neighborhood, hoping her gut would lead her the rest of the way.
---
Meanwhile, Garner was running through the dimly lit streets, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He was exhausted, but fear kept him moving. Every shadow felt like it hid a new threat, every creak or rustle echoed in his mind as a warning. He knew he couldn’t keep up this pace for much longer.
The men had spread out to search for him, their sinister voices lingering in the silence. Garner glanced over his shoulder, only to see two figures emerging from the shadows, scanning the area with piercing eyes.
“Where’d he go? He couldn’t have gotten far,” one of them muttered.
“He’s a smart kid, but he won’t stay hidden for long,” the other man replied.
Garner bit his lip, pushing himself forward, but his legs were heavy. Just when he thought he was running out of options, he heard a voice in a loud whisper from the shadows nearby.
“Psst! Garner!”
He whipped around, his heart jumping. Standing half-hidden behind a large oak tree, Sienna waved him over frantically, her eyes wide with urgency.
“Sienna?” he gasped, nearly stumbling in his surprise.
“Get over here, quick!” she hissed, beckoning him.
He didn’t need to be told twice. Ducking low, he darted toward her, his pulse pounding as he crouched beside her. They stayed perfectly still, hardly daring to breathe as the two men continued their search, their flashlights sweeping the area mere feet from where they hid.
After what felt like an eternity, the men finally moved on, disappearing down the street.
Garner let out a shaky breath, his whole body trembling.
“Sienna, what…what are you doing here?”
“I knew something was wrong,” she whispered, her voice urgent but reassuring.
“And don’t ask me how, but I just knew you’d be here. I saw it all in the crystal ball earlier—it wasn’t just some joke. What I saw actually happened, Garner.”
Garner looked at her, disbelieving.
“You…you actually saw it? Everything?”
“Yes!” Sienna’s voice was fierce, her expression filled with a strange certainty. “I saw your family, your house, those men barging in. Everything! I thought I was just imagining it, but it was too real, too vivid. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I had to come check on you.”
Garner leaned back, his eyes wide as he absorbed her words.
“I…I didn’t believe you before. I thought it was all part of the act.” He swallowed hard, his voice breaking.
“But now…I don’t know what to think. It’s all happening, Sienna—everything you said!”
Sienna reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“I know it sounds crazy, Garner, but right now, the important thing is getting you somewhere safe. Do you have any idea who those guys were?”
He shook his head, his face pale.
“No, but they went after my family…they took my sister, Farrah.”
Sienna’s heart sank.
“Oh, Garner, I’m so sorry. This is horrible.”
He clenched his fists, his jaw tight.
“I don’t know why they’re after us. They just barged in, demanding something from my dad. He tried to fight them off, but…they…”
Sienna saw the pain in his eyes, and without thinking, she pulled him into a hug. Garner tensed for a second, then relaxed, letting out a shuddering breath as he hugged her back.
“I don’t know what to do, Sienna,” he whispered.
“My parents…they’re gone, and Farrah…I couldn’t protect her.”
Sienna tightened her arms around him, trying to offer some comfort. “We’ll find her, Garner. I promise. But first, we need to get to my brother, Anjo. He’s a police investigator—he’ll know what to do.”
Garner pulled back, wiping his eyes.
“Your brother? Do you think he’d believe us?”
Sienna nodded firmly.
“If I explain the vision to him, he’ll listen. He’s always believed in me, even when things didn’t make sense.”
Garner took a deep breath, nodding.
“All right. Lead the way.”
---
They moved cautiously through the neighborhood, staying to the shadows as they headed for Sienna’s house. The streets were eerily quiet, and every sound seemed to echo, making them flinch at every creak or rustle.
As they walked, Garner looked at her, his expression conflicted. “Sienna…why did you come after me? I mean, what if something had happened to you?”
Sienna shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. “I couldn’t just sit at home and ignore what I saw. You looked like you needed help.”
He looked down, a bit embarrassed but clearly grateful. “Thank you. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
“Hey, it’s no big deal,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “Besides, I wouldn’t miss a chance to play the hero.”
They shared a quiet laugh, and for a brief moment, some of the tension lifted.
---
When they reached Sienna’s house, they carefully climbed back through her window, and she grabbed her phone to text her brother, explaining that it was an emergency and she needed him home immediately.
Minutes later, they heard a car pulling up outside. Sienna and Garner peeked out to see Anjo stepping out of his car, his expression serious. He entered quietly, and Sienna quickly led Garner downstairs to meet him in the living room.
Anjo looked between the two of them, his brow furrowed. “Sienna, what’s going on? You said it was urgent.”
Sienna nodded, taking a deep breath. “Anjo, I need you to believe me. I…I had a vision.”
“A vision?” he repeated, looking skeptical.
“Just listen,” she pleaded, glancing at Garner. “During the school fair, I had this strange, intense vision while I was acting as the fortune teller. I saw Garner’s family in danger…and everything I saw actually happened tonight. His parents were attacked, and his little sister was kidnapped. And the men are still after him.”
Anjo’s face grew more serious as he listened, his eyes flicking over to Garner, who nodded in confirmation.
“It’s true,” Garner said, his voice steady but strained. “Those men…they killed my parents. They took Farrah. And they were chasing me through the neighborhood when Sienna found me.”
Anjo studied both of them, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “All right, Sienna. As unbelievable as this sounds, I trust you.”
Relief flooded Sienna’s face, and she squeezed Garner’s hand.
Anjo looked at Garner, his tone gentle. “Garner, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. But we need to act fast if we’re going to find your sister and stop these guys.”
Garner nodded, his jaw set. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Anjo placed a hand on his shoulder. “For now, you’re staying with us. We can’t risk you going back out there alone.”
Sienna smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, you’re safe here.”
---
As the night wore on, Sienna and Garner stayed close, talking quietly. Garner told her about the last moments with his family, his voice thick with grief. Sienna listened, offering comfort where she could, her heart aching for him.
At one point, Garner looked at her, his expression soft. “Thank you, Sienna. Really. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
She smiled, her hand resting on his. “We’re in this together. You’re not alone.”
He looked down, his hand tightening around hers. “I don’t deserve your kindness, but…I’m grateful for it.”
Sienna blushed slightly, but she just squeezed his hand back. “Well, you’re stuck with me now,” she said, grinning.
He chuckled softly, some of the weight lifting from his eyes. For the first time that night, he felt a glimmer of hope—and he owed it all to the girl who’d seen his nightmare before it happened.
In that moment, Garner realized that he could trust Sienna. And somehow, deep down, he knew they’d find a way to save Farrah, together.