Chapter 1 It's been seven days since my daughter vanished , and I just took an entire preschool hostage . All twenty - seven kids and two teachers are locked in this classroom with me . I told the cops that if they can't find my daughter , I'll kill one kid every thirty minutes . The principal's bawling her eyes out , crawling on her knees in front of me . " Your kid going missing has nothing to do with me ! Why the hell should other kids have to pay for it ? " I just glance at my watch . " Twenty - nine minutes left . Better hurry up and find my daughter . " I know she's somewhere in this damn preschool ! I'm leaning against the door while the kids inside keep playing their games , totally clueless . Only the two female teachers are staring at me with pure terror in their eyes . Outside , the principal's still banging on the door , getting all pissy . " What the hell do you want ? Your daughter disappearing is none of my damn business ! Open the door ! " I frown and pull a P365 from my pocket , waving it at the window in the door . The principal shuts up instantly , stumbling backward . " You ... you're serious ? Listen here , I've already called the cops ! You will get you a bullet in the head ! " I let out a bitter laugh , stroking my gun . " Perfect . That's exactly what I want . " Three minutes later , sirens are wailing outside . A gentle male voice calls out - I know him , Officer Williams from the local precinct . He met me once before over other matters . So he knows what kind of person I an and that if I do this - there have to be a reason . That's why he didn't just charge in directly , but instead tries to reason with me : " Peach , don't do anything crazy . We're doing everything we can to investigate your daughter's disappearance . Let the kids go first , and we'll talk this through , okay ? " I grip my gun tighter , fighting the urge to laugh . Ale Times Oranges " -Come Now ! 11.0 % Chapter 1 Talk ? My daughter Luna's been missing for SEVEN whole days without a trace ! What's there to talk about if I go out there now ? How many years I'll be locked up ? I shout back , " I only want to see my daughter ! If I don't see her in thirty minutes , you'll be seeing the other kids ' dead bodies ! " The courtyard is already wrapped in police tape , and parents who get word are crying their hearts out beyond the barrier , some so worked up they try to force their way in . Officer Williams's sweating bullets . This is way above his pay grade - SWAT and tactical units are on their way . Until then , his main job is to keep me calm . " Peach , we get how you're feeling , but these kids are innocent . You're their teacher - can you really hurt them ? " Being a teacher at this preschool is the biggest regret of my life . If I'd never come here , Luna wouldn't have disappeared ! I check the time and say coldly , " Twenty - eight minutes left . You don't want casualties either , right ? " Officer Williams says nervously , " We're doing everything we can , but how can we find her in such a short time ? " I scream , " I told you - she never left this preschool ! NEVER ! " Rainbow Kids is a private preschool that's not very big . Three two - story buildings with front and back courtyards for the kids to play in . The day Luna disappeared , I searched every inch of this place but couldn't find any trace of her . When I asked the principal to check the security footage , she claimed the cameras were broken . What are the odds ? So , I suspect Luna's disappearance is connected to the principal . Later I had to sneak into the guard's surveillance room and carefully watch the entrance footage over and over again . I finally confirmed - my daughter never left this preschool at all ! But where in this place could she be ? I'm completely stumped . " Aloe Times Oranges Come Now ! 11.2 % Chapter 1 Officer Williams's trying to calm me down from outside . " We've got people searching . You need to trust the police . " But I know clearly he doesn't believe me . Because the cops searched this preschool several times initially and didn't find a trace of Luna . The parents outside are losing control , some screaming at me , others begging . " Your kid disappearing has nothing to do with us ! If you've got guts , kidnap the principal , not the kids ! " " Please , let my daughter go . She's really timid. I'm begging you ... " A mother's on her knees outside the police tape , looking absolutely pitiful . The crowd's getting angrier , shouting for the police to shoot me . I grab the megaphone so everyone can hear me . " I don't want to kill anyone . I just want to know where my daughter is . " I check the time - twenty - five minutes left . SWAT and tactical teams have arrived , probably with snipers in position . I take a deep breath . " Principal , you know , right ? Where's my daughter ? Just tell me . " All eyes turn to the principal outside the door . She grits her teeth and snaps back , " How the hell would I know ? Ms. Reed , stop talking nonsense ! " " Your daughter probably ran away on her own . Maybe she went to find her dad ... " Then she has a realization . " That ex - con father of hers should be out of prison by now . I bet he took your daughter ! "