It's been more than 40 hours since Jessica Wan vanished into thin air. The police are desperately trying to find clues about her whereabouts. What they discovered is that she had recently been living in an apartment where, coincidentally, her university professor, Prof. Syed, also resides on the same floor.
Unbeknownst to the police, Prof. Syed had brought Jessica to this apartment after she was assaulted, intending to take care of her. This crucial piece of information remains hidden from the authorities.
The police have questioned everyone connected to Jessica—her classmates, professors, and friends—but they all had the same answer: they last contacted her two days ago. Jessica's home is in the rural area of Kampung Sungai Buloh, and she had been studying alone at Kuala Lumpur University. Her worried parents were the first to report her disappearance to the police after not hearing from her.
A shadow loomed over the investigation – the specter of Black Mamba....
Black Mamba, a merciless gang leader in his 50s from Kuala Lumpur, was the mastermind behind one of the most extensive and ruthless human trafficking networks on the continent. His criminal empire had spread beyond Malaysia, ensnaring victims from every corner of Asia.
His operation was a chillingly efficient machine of abduction and exploitation. His gang specialized in kidnapping young girls—those who were vulnerable, isolated, or alone or those without strong family ties. Jessica, as a university student living away from her rural home, could be the kind of target Black Mamba's network sought.
They tracked their movements, studied their routines, and identified the best opportunities for abduction. When the gang decided to abduct a girl, they moved quickly and quietly. The girls would often be drugged or knocked out to make the abduction easier. Once captured, they were transported to hidden locations—safe houses or temporary shelters—where they were held in isolation.
The locations where the girls were kept were typically secretive and well-guarded. The gang used these places to prepare the girls for their new lives. The girls would be stripped of their identities, forced into new clothes, and often given false documents to make it harder for anyone to trace them.
After being held for a short period, the girls were sold to various buyers. Black Mamba's network had connections with many illegal markets. The girls could end up in different parts of Asia, sold into forced labor, prostitution or any other forms of exploitation. They were frequently moved to avoid detection, making it nearly impossible for authorities to track them down.
The police had made several attempts to infiltrate Black Mamba's network, but these efforts ended in violence or betrayal. Officers who tried to get close to the gang were often met with deadly force. Informants who attempted to provide information were either silenced or found dead under mysterious circumstances. These failures only made the network more intimidating and harder to penetrate. Despite these challenges, the police knew they had to keep investigating. They couldn't let fear stop them from trying to rescue the missing girls.
Now, they were on edge, waiting for the one thing they feared most—the dark, twisted message that Black Mamba always sent when a girl had fallen into his hands. It was his way of announcing that she was no longer just missing but claimed by his brutal empire. The sign was as chilling: a severed thumb, still fresh with blood, and a few strands of the girl's hair, carefully packaged and delivered to the authorities.
This gruesome package would arrive without warning, often dropped off in a place where the police would easily find it—a reminder of how close the gang was, how untouchable they believed themselves to be. The thumb was sent to show that she was now part of Black Mamba's inventory, no longer a person but a product to be sold.
And the strands of hair were meant to taunt the police, to remind them of the girl's lost innocence and their own powerlessness. The bloody remnants were a declaration of ownership. Once it arrived, there was no hope left... and the case would officially shift from a missing person's investigation to something far darker.
...
The Kuala Lumpur Police Station was a hive of activity, a constant buzz of voices and the clatter of keyboards. Captain Hameem walked briskly through the maze of desks and stopped at Elara's desk, "Elara, call Aqil to come in immediately. We need him here as soon as possible. Jessica's phone has been switched on. We need to see if we can access it remotely, maybe hack into it or find some other way."
Elara's fingers froze over his keyboard. He looked up at Captain Hameem, "Sir, I think it would be better if we called another hacker. Aqil just became a father, and I don't want him to get caught up in this mess. We've already lost officers and informants in this case previously."
"I understand your concern. But Aqil is our go-to hacker. He's been with us for three years, and he's the best in the business. It would be a disservice to him to give this job to someone else."
Hameem paused, "And besides, this is his job. He can't just walk away because things get tough. If we give this job to someone else, it could cost him his position. We can't afford to lose a man like Aqil right now."
Elara's gaze dropped to his desk, his fingers drumming lightly on the keyboard, "But, sir, for this operation, we could contact someone else..."
"We don't have the luxury of time, Elara," Hameem shook his head, "Finding another hacker and coordinating with them would take precious hours. Aqil will be safe. Don't Panic."
Elara just nodded with heavy heart.
...
It was 2 in the afternoon, and the sky above the University of London was a heavy gray still, thick clouds hanging low as if they were about to burst into rain at any moment. The iconic university building on a cloudy day was a sight to behold. They stood tall with large windows lining the walls, and some had pointed towers reaching into the sky. The buildings were made of stone, giving them a timeless, solid look. The university's architecture was a blend of Gothic and Victorian styles, with intricate details.
The campus was less bustling than usual, as many students had gone home for the Christmas holidays. The few students who remained were scattered across the vast grounds, their footsteps echoing in the quiet. Some were huddled together, discussing their upcoming exams, while others were lost in their own thoughts. The air was cool, and there was a soft breeze that made the trees sway gently.
Ava had just stepped out of the main building, where the interview had taken place. The grand corridors were lined with tall windows, and from there, she spotted Ibrahim standing near the fountain, leaning casually against the railing, his black long coat making him stand out against the backdrop of lush greenery. The cold seemed to have little effect on him.
Why was he waiting for her out here in the cold? He could have easily stayed inside the building where it was warm. Ava paused for a moment. The cold air nipped at her skin, but her focus was solely on him. Did he think standing there in the cold would somehow make her feel sorry for him? Or was it some way of proving a point? Was he hoping to soften her with this act, making her think he cared? She wasn't so sure anymore. Ibrahim had a way of confusing her, pulling her thoughts in directions she didn't want to go.
Part of her wondered if he was trying to catch her sympathy, like a man lost in his own silent suffering, waiting for her to notice. But another part of her, the part still angry and resentful, wanted to see him endure this discomfort. Maybe she wanted to see him in pain, like he had put her through. Did that make her cruel, or just human?
She stood there longer than necessary, testing him, testing herself. Could he wait longer?
As Ava stood there lost in her thoughts, an elderly staff member from the interview hall walked up to her, holding a clipboard in his hand. His polite voice broke her trance, "Excuse me, miss. Could you please provide your last semester results for verification?"
She blinked and quickly snapped out of her daze, fumbling through her file. Ava handed him the paper. And the old man smiled warmly, offering her congratulations for getting the scholarship with a few kind words. But Ava wasn't listening. Her mind was elsewhere.
Her attention shifted when she overheard a conversation between a boy and a girl walking past. The girl asked the boy in a curious tone, "Did you see that man standing by the fountain? He's been standing there for almost two hours."
The boy responded with a laugh, "Dumb, didn't you notice? He's standing right across from the main hall where the international students are interviewing. I bet he's waiting to catch the first look of his partner when she comes out, to see her happy face."
The girl asked curiously, "How do you know he's waiting for his partner? It could be anyone."
The boy shrugged, "Who else would stand in this freezing cold for so long? It has to be for someone important. No one waits in this weather unless it's for someone special."
Their voices faded as they walked further away.
Did he truly want to see her first reaction....