"Wait…" Paul's voice trembled as he processed the situation. "If you were the one who wanted to see her, then why did Alex save her? Or maybe... the ones who took her mother are the ones who want to kidnap her again. But why?"
His words hung in the air, unanswered, swirling in Paul's mind. The question gnawed at him, relentless, as if repeating it could somehow unlock the mystery. But no answers came, only silence.
A cold breeze cut through the trees, snapping Paul back to reality. He turned, walking briskly toward Uncle Timmy, who stood just a few feet away, his gaze distant, lost in thought. They both shared the same frustration. Their faces were mirrors of confusion and concern.
John and the man in black finally spoke, breaking the stillness. "If she's in danger…" The man's voice was rough, edged with urgency. "They'll strike again. But when?"
The tension in the air was thick, the frustration palpable in every gesture. Paul clenched his fists at his sides, his eyes narrowing with determination.
"They'll attack now," Paul muttered under his breath, the words sharp, cutting through the silence. His heart pounded faster, the weight of the realization settling heavily on his chest. "Mia…" His voice faltered as he whispered her name, a deep sense of dread filling him.
Meanwhile, Mia, inside the mansion, was already making her escape. She couldn't wait. She had to leave now, or the danger would catch up to her. Moving swiftly, she slipped through the back door of her room, her body tense, every step calculated. The cool night air hit her skin, sending a shiver down her spine, but she pressed on.
The trees swayed above her, their branches creaking as if warning her, but she ignored it. With practiced ease, she climbed down from the low-hanging branch of a nearby tree, her fingers gripping tightly. She moved gracefully, almost silently, landing softly on the ground. Her heart raced in her chest, her breath shallow, but she couldn't stop. Not now.
She glanced back at the mansion. The distant sound of the wind through the trees was the only thing that filled the quiet. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a fleeting sense of triumph. She had done it. But it wasn't over. Not yet.
Inside, Alex was unraveling. His body was shaking, his mind consumed by grief. He stood in his bathroom, his face buried in his hands, the weight of the world pressing down on him. The pain was unbearable. He tried to drown it out under the hot spray of the shower, but it did nothing to ease the ache in his heart. Mia's name echoed in his mind, over and over, a constant, maddening whisper. She was a part of him now, and he couldn't forget her.
"Mia!" he shouted, his voice raw, desperate. It felt as though the words were a lifeline, though he knew she couldn't hear him. His heart screamed her name, a desperate plea to the universe. But she was miles away, and no matter how loudly he called, she wouldn't answer.
Mia, outside in the yard, heard his cry, but she didn't respond. She couldn't. She stood frozen for a moment, facing his window, her chest tight, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She had to move. She turned away, forcing herself to take that first step. She couldn't risk being seen. The front gate was too dangerous. She'd have to find another way.
Her footsteps were light, almost silent as she moved through the shadows, weaving between trees and hedges. Every muscle in her body was on high alert. She couldn't afford to make a sound. But she wasn't aware of the figure standing in the doorway, watching her from the mansion's front. James stood frozen, lost in his thoughts.
His mind wandered to Mia, imagining her close, so close now. But just as he was about to lose himself in the thought of her, a sharp image of Sara flashed in his mind. He hated thinking about Sara—about her craziness, her unpredictability. He'd much rather focus on Mia. But the thought of Sara had already twisted his thoughts.
Out in the woods, Paul didn't hesitate. His heart hammered against his chest as he ran, every step pulling him closer to Mia. His breaths came in shallow bursts, his body pushing past the cold air, the biting wind. He knew these woods like the back of his hand, the trees and paths were familiar, but tonight, they felt foreign, threatening.
The rain began to fall, light at first, then heavier, the droplets hitting the leaves above and splashing onto the ground. But Paul didn't slow down. Nothing would stop him. His only focus was reaching Mia.
Inside her room, the blue curtains fluttered as the wind picked up, the rain now threatening to pour. Mia didn't care. She had made up her mind. She couldn't stay there any longer.
With one swift movement, she jumped over the fence, but as she landed, pain shot through her leg. A sharp, jagged nail had pierced her skin, and she bit her lip to stifle the gasp. She pressed a hand over her mouth, trying to stay silent. The pain was intense, but she couldn't let them hear. She couldn't risk it.
But Alex heard it. His heart skipped a beat as the sound of her stifled gasp reached him. His body tensed. He didn't hesitate. Without thinking, he leapt out of the bathroom window, his feet hitting the ground with a soft thud. His pulse thundered in his ears as he ran toward her, desperation fueling every step.
But when he reached her, he saw the shadows closing in around her. Five men surrounded her, their faces hidden in the dark. Mia, trapped. His heart clenched. He couldn't let them take her.
His instincts kicked in. He moved silently, stepping carefully through the shadows, positioning himself between Mia and the men. He couldn't risk being seen. Not yet. But his eyes locked on Mia, even in the dark, even with all the chaos. He knew where she was.
Across the road, a voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Get her now, you good-for-nothing idiots!"
The woman's voice cut through the night like a knife, but Alex didn't care who it belonged to. All that mattered was protecting Mia.
In a flash, he rushed forward, tackling the men one by one. No words were spoken. He fought with a fury that came from deep within, using every ounce of strength he had. He pulled Mia into his arms, shielding her with his body, his focus laser-sharp.
Another three men emerged from the car, but Alex didn't hesitate. He took them on, pushing past the pain, throwing punches, each one more calculated than the last.
The car sped away, but not before one of the men stumbled, falling behind in the chaos.
Alex's breathing was ragged, but he didn't stop. He turned to the last man, who was still standing. Without a word, he charged, kicking the man hard, sending him crashing to the ground. As the man lay unconscious, the rain began to pour, the heavens opening up in a torrent.
Mia stood, her leg throbbing, watching Alex as he walked past her, his clothes drenched. Her heart clenched. She hated feeling so helpless, like she was always the one in need of saving. But with Alex, it was different. She felt safe, even though she didn't know him fully.
She stood there, trembling in the rain, as Alex walked past her, his back turned. He didn't look at her, but she knew he was the one who had come to her rescue.
The rain blurred her vision as she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
Across the yard, Paul reached her first. He ran toward her, his eyes scanning for any sign of the men who had attacked. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle but urgent.
Paul's heart pounded as he ran, his legs burning with urgency. He'd heard that the others had reached Mia's location, and now he was racing back, adrenaline coursing through him. When he returned, he was dragging an unconscious man, his hands tightly bound, his body limp.
James, hearing the commotion, immediately bolted toward them. His face was twisted with frustration and anger, his fists clenched at his sides. He rushed over to Nawe, Nicky, and Jake, but just as he reached them, he saw Mia's body collapse to the ground.
"I'm alone!" Paul shouted, his voice strained with panic. "She's out cold. We need to move!"
Mia's fragile, gasping breath was the only sound as she murmured, "No… no…" Her voice was weak, barely a whisper before she fell completely unconscious. Her body went limp, and Nawe barely managed to catch her in time, his arms tightening around her as if holding on to the last bit of hope.
Anger surged through Paul. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. He was furious—not at Mia, but at the situation, at the attackers, at everything that had led them here. How could they let this happen to her? How had they failed her? His frustration was overwhelming, but he didn't have time for self-blame.
The group quickly scanned the area, eyes darting for any sign of Alex, but there was no trace of him. James' eyes flashed with frustration as he growled under his breath, clearly seething. "Where the hell is he?" he snapped, his body tense with unspoken rage. "We need to find him!"
Nawe smirked, blinked slowly, trying to focus. Her eyes glazed over as she searched for a familiar face, but then—nothing. A quiet realization spread across her features, and her breath caught. She knew without a doubt. Alex had already gone back to his room. He had pulled away, pretending to care less, but Mia understood. She knew the truth.
A weak, sad smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Despite the storm raging inside her, she found solace in that one thought—he cared. Even if he hid it behind walls of indifference, she could feel it. Her heart ached, but she smiled, even in her sad state, knowing that Alex's actions, his silence, spoke volumes.
"Alex, brother… you saved her. Thank you," Nawe said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "I hope you won't be sad. Love her the way you want to."
Nawe's words hung in the air, fragile and full of sorrow. His heart ached, and Uncle Timmy noticed. He understood the quiet pain in Nawe's face, the longing for something more that was never quite spoken.
Uncle Timmy's gaze shifted toward Alex's room. Through the heavy rain tapping against the windows, he could see the faint silhouette of Alex, lying motionless on his bed. The storm outside mirrored the turmoil inside the room—the flashes of lightning illuminating the darkness, casting long shadows across the walls.
Alex was staring at the ceiling, his eyes hollow, as if lost in a world that no one could reach. The soft patter of rain against the glass was the only sound, a rhythm that matched the aching thump of his heart. He had saved Mia, but the weight of what he felt for her—what he could never fully express—was tearing him apart. The love he held for her was quiet, hidden beneath layers of guilt and fear, but it burned within him, an intense ache he didn't know how to bear.
The darkness outside seemed to stretch endlessly, the rain pouring down like a veil that separated Alex from the rest of the world. His room, dimly lit by the occasional flicker of lightning, felt cold and distant, as if the storm had seeped into his very soul. He didn't move. Didn't speak. Just lay there, drowning in thoughts of her.