The rising sun cast a pale golden glow across the narrow dirt road leading toward Popeye Village. Sophie Myers, behind the wheel of her red convertible, gripped the steering wheel lightly as the car bounced along the uneven tarmac. Dust trailed behind them, swirling lazily in the warm morning breeze that tousled her long brown hair.

"Are we close to Popeye Village?" Ryo asked eagerly, leaning forward from the passenger seat. His camera rested on his lap, ready to capture the cliffs and the iconic theme park he'd been dying to see since arriving in Malta two weeks ago.

Sophie glanced over and smiled. "We're almost there, Ryo. This is Mellieha Bay. It's the biggest sandy beach on the island. Sweet haven - Popeye is just up ahead."

Ryo nodded enthusiastically, his eyes widening as he gazed at the shimmering coastline in the distance.

In the backseat, Annie, a French student, was snapping photos with her phone, her wide-brimmed hat tilted slightly to shield her face from the sun's first rays. Beside her, Josh, a Danish exchange student, slouched with his baseball cap pulled low, half-asleep and dozing in and out of consciousness.

The road ahead was quiet, almost eerily so. Sophie turned onto a narrower dirt road, slowing the car. "This is it," she said brightly. "We're on the final stretch to Popeye Village. Fun fact: Robin Williams starred in the movie they filmed here!"

"I can't wait to see it!" Annie exclaimed, her excitement spilling over into the morning air.

Sophie's cheerful expression faltered as they rounded a bend. An old white van sat parked diagonally across the road, blocking the way. The hood was up, and a man hunched over the engine, his back turned to them.

"Is the van broken down?" Josh mumbled groggily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"Looks like it," Sophie replied,but her tone lacked conviction.

Her gut twisted as she slowed the car. Something about the scene didn't sit right.

"Excuse me, do you need help?" Sophie called, her voice careful but polite.

The man didn't respond. He remained still, his figure motionless under the raised hood.

An uneasy silence fell over the group. The sense of foreboding grew, clawing at Sophie's nerves.

Then, the metallic screech of sliding doors shattered the stillness.

Sophie's heart stopped. From the van's side doors, three masked men leapt out, sprinting toward them with purpose.

"Go!" Ryo shouted, his voice sharp with panic.

Sophie's hands fumbled as she shifted into reverse, her pulse hammering in her ears. But just as she glanced over her shoulder, a black SUV roared up behind them, boxing them in.

Her stomach dropped. They were trapped.

The masked men reached the car in seconds, yanking the doors open with brutal force. Rough hands grabbed Sophie's arm, dragging her from the driver's seat.

"What do you want?" she cried, struggling against their grip. "Take our things - take everything! Just let us go!"

"Phones! Now!" one of the men barked.

Fear surged through her as she reached for her pocket. The others scrambled to comply, handing over their phones as the men shoved them toward the waiting van.

Ryo, Annie, and Josh were forced from the car, their faces pale with terror. Sophie fought back, clawing at her captor, but his grip was unrelenting.

Her mind raced as she was dragged toward the van. Mum, Rob - what can I leave for them to find?

Before she could act, she was shoved roughly inside. The doors slammed shut behind her, sealing them in darkness.

The cramped space reeked of sweat and gasoline. Sophie's heart pounded as the van jolted forward, the vibrations rattling through her body. She struggled to steady her breath, to stay calm, but onethought screamed in her mind:

This wasn't just a robbery. This was something else entirely.