Chapter 81

The cold, damp air of the warehouse chilled me to the bone as I blinked into the light. My wrists were raw from the ropes. binding them tightly behind my back, and every breath felt shallow, labored.

My mind raced, jumping from one terrifying thought to another, Ethan and Emma. My heart clenched painfully at the thought of their faces, their innocent similes. I closed my eyes, willing myself not to cry, not to give in to the fear that threatened to consume me. I had to stay strong for them, but I felt so small, so powerless in this vast, empty space.

Footsteps echoed from somewhere in the distance. 1 jerked my head toward the sound, straining to see through the darkness. The kidnappers had been quiet since they’d brought me here, their faces masked, their voices low. I hadn’t seen their faces. Maybe that was a good thing, or maybe it was worse,

Who could have done this? My thoughts spiraled. I had no enemies, or none that I knew of. My mind darted back to recent weeks, wondering if there had been signs I missed, people watching me without my knowing. Or was this about Alex? Could someone be using me to get to him? The uncertainty ate at me, making the fear more unbearable.

My breathing quickened as the footsteps grew louder. The door creaked open, and the light from the hallway was shown across the floor. I held my breath, every muscle in my body tensed. A tall figure emerged, dressed in black from head to toe. The mask covering his face hid any expression, but his eyes were cold, calculating.

“Who are you?” I whispered, my voice cracking from the strain.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked toward me slowly, deliberately, like a predator circling its prey. I could hear my heartbeat thudding in my ears, my pulse quickening as the silence stretched between us. The longer he said nothing, the more my panic rose, tightening like a noose around my chest.

“Please, just let me go. You don’t have to do this.” My voice was weak, desperate. “I have children… they need me.”

He crouched down in front of me, his dark eyes locking onto mine. I couldn’t read anything from his expression, only the coldness, the emptiness. It was terrifying. Then, without a word, he reached out and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look directly at him. His grip was firm, but not painful. The silence between us was deafening.

“What do you want from me?” I whispered again, fighting back tears. My voice trembled, barely holding together. “Please..”

slowly, turning his back to me. The fear twisted deeper inside me, clawing at my insides. I couldn’t stop the tears now, couldn’t keep myself from thinking of Ethan and Emma.

fight the darkness threatening to swallow me whole. But the thoughts of Alex crept in too. Was he looking for me? Would he even know where to start? I had pushed him away, had forced him to give me space. And now.. now I might never get the chance

had no idea who was behind this. Was it someone from work, someone with

and steady my racing heart. But every time I thought of my kids, my heart shattered a little more. I couldn’t leave them. Not like this. I had to survive this.

me, I wasn’t

cold, dark room, waking me up from my slumber and jerking my head to the side. My cheek burned, the pain sharp and relentless. My heart pounded to loudly I could hear it in my ears, but I refused to cry out. 1 bit down on my lip, tasting the

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18:13 Fri, Oct 18

Chapter 81

me, their faces hidden behind masks, their expressions invisible. One of them stepped closer, his hand raised again, the same hand that had hit me twice now. My body braced, even though I knew it

Smack

force of it sent a fresh wave of pain through my face, my vision blurring for a second. I could hear the faint sound of my breath hitching, fighting the urge to sobs. My hands were

form the word through the haze of pain. “Why are you doing

didn’t say a word. No questions. No threats. Just silence and

spiraling back to my kids. Ethan. Emma, I had to

Smack

this time harder. My head snapped back violently, and the chair I was tied to wobbled on its legs. I

a jumbled mess of fear and confusion. Who were these people? Why weren’t they saying anything? The silence was suffocating, and the unpredictability of it all made it

Was this it?

panic, forcing myself to breathe through the pain, to stay present. I couldn’t afford to lose myself to fear, Not now.

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