February 2001.
"Coop! Coop, I want t'get down! Coooop!" Blaine wailed, gripping the metal bars of the climbing frame with tiny fingers. He'd just turned six and, despite the dull weather, Cooper had promised him a fun filled day. They'd already been to see the animals at the zoo, where Cooper had treated Blaine to his second ice cream of the day, and now were playing hide and go seek in the near empty park. However, Blaine had been hiding for longer than he could remember and he couldn't see his big brother anywhere.
"Need some help, little one?"
With a gasp, Blaine spun round, finding a middle aged man stood beside the metal bars.
"I-I can't get down, too high," the little boy mumbled, a blush tickling his cheeks. "I-it's okay, though! My big brother, Coop, is coming to help me!"
"And do you know where he is? I can't see anyone else here, Champ."
Blaine frowned. His father called him champ and no one else was allowed. However, he found himself glancing around yet again – praying that Cooper would come jumping from behind a tree or a bush with a joyous grin, exclaiming he'd found Blaine. He wasn't having too much fun anymore.
"He-he's coming, it's okay," Blaine nodded.
"Why don't I help you down, huh? Then we can go look for your brother! How does that sound, buddy?" the man smiled. Without warning, he plucked Blaine from the edge of the frame and placed him against his hip. Blaine cried out, thrashing his limbs in an attempt to break free. He didn't enjoy being held like this.
"S-stop! Lemme go! Lemme go! I'm a b-big boy, I don' need to be carried!" he spat.
"And how old are you?" the man hummed.
"I'm six!" Blaine giggled, momentarily forgetting that this stranger, this man he'd never met, was slowly taking him further and further from his perfect hiding place. "It was my birthday the day jus' before yesterday! I gots lots of cool stuff. Cooper bought me a new truck and a baseball cap! An- an my daddy says that when I'm old enough , he's gonna teach me how to play so-so I can join a team! My mommy gots me some new games and a new teddy bear but I don' tell no one I sleep with him so you better keep hush!"
"I will, baby, don't you worry," the elder chuckled, unlocking his car. It was then Blaine realised Cooper still wasn't around and the man was lowering him into the seat of his car.
"No! No, I want Coop! You're n-not Cooper! Coop! Cooper! I want m-my brother!" the six year old cried, tiny fists beating against his kidnapper's chest
"Shhh, calm down, baby. I'll be your new daddy, okay? I'd never leave you alone in a big scary park! Shh, it's alright. You'll be alright, now."
Cooper came bustling from behind the bushes just moments later, pressing the end call button on his phone.
"Found you!" he screamed, expecting to hear his little brother's childish laughter but was met, however, with the cruel ring of silence. "Blaine? Blaine! Blainers, where are you?" he panicked. Blaine had been right there just moments ago. He'd seen his brother eagerly waiting for his brother to find him. The kid was six years old, his hiding places weren't the greatest. Cooper had stopped for just two minutes to answer a call, how could his brother just disappear?
"Blainey, we really need to head home now, buddy! Come on, where are you? Blaine, this isn't funny! Come out!"
He searched high and low, tears trickling along his cheekbones. With trembling hands, he dialled 911.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"I-I can't find my l-little brother! Please, he's-he's only s-six! He was there just a m-moment ago!"
Cooper couldn't stop searching. Despite the fact the police were on their way, he tore through bushes and ran through the trees. His brother had to be here.
He just had to be.
