Alex Summers was a 17-year-old boy whose life, in the eyes of many, was perfect. The son of one of the wealthiest families in Boston, he had access to everything any teenager could wish for: luxury cars, the latest technological gadgets, and a house that seemed straight out of a magazine. However, for Alex, wealth was just a facade that hid a lonely life full of unattainable expectations.
Instead of mingling with high society, Alex preferred to spend his afternoons immersed in fantasy worlds, reading novels and playing video games. Reading and gaming were his escapes, places where he didn't feel judged or pressured to be something he wasn't. His parents, Michael and Veronica Summers, disapproved of these interests. They considered them a waste of time and a deviation from his destiny as the heir to the family empire.
"Back to those video games, Alex? When are you going to do something productive?" his father would say almost daily. "Leave him alone, Michael. It seems he doesn't understand that he has responsibilities," his mother would add with a tone of disappointment.
Alex usually responded with a shrug and a sarcastic smile. He knew his parents wouldn't understand, and he had long since stopped trying to explain himself. Only his younger sister, Emily, seemed to see him as more than a disappointment. Emily, at just 15 years old, was already the star of the family, excelling in everything she did. Despite this, she and Alex had a close relationship.
That afternoon, after a long day at school, Alex received an unexpected invitation.
Jake, his friend, invited him to a party. Jake had been in Alex's life since the first year of high school.
"Come on, Alex, it's going to be fun. Everyone will be there," Jake insisted, his jovial tone hiding the true intention behind the invitation. Feeling lonelier than ever, Alex decided to accept the invitation. Maybe, just maybe, a different night could be what he needed.
The party was in full swing when Alex arrived, a little late. The music was blaring, and laughter filled the air. But something caught his attention in a nearby alley. He approached cautiously and heard familiar voices.
"Jake… What's he doing there?" he murmured to himself, hiding in the shadows. He watched Jake, surrounded by a group of guys, smoking something that looked suspicious. Jake's words cut through the air like a knife.
"Alex is a fool. He really believes I'm his friend. He's so naive," said Jake, followed by the laughter of the others. Alex's heart sank. The betrayal felt like a physical blow, a sharp stab that spread from his chest to his stomach. He felt betrayed and furious, but more than anything, a deep sadness enveloped him.
Without saying a word, he turned around and quickly walked away, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. As he walked home, the city lights blurred through the tears he couldn't hold back but didn't let fall.
"So that's it, huh? A useful idiot for Jake and a nuisance to my parents. Great," Alex thought bitterly.
"Well, to hell with all of them." Without warning, a white van stopped beside him. Three men quickly got out and grabbed him before he could react. They threw him into the van and slammed the door shut. Alex struggled, but his efforts were futile.
"Relax, rich kid. This is just business," one of the men said in a cold voice. The ride to the countryside was long and filled with fear. Alex's mind was full of questions and fears. Who were these men? What did they want with him? Could Jake have had something to do with this?
Finally, they arrived at an isolated area. The kidnappers dragged him out and sat him on the dirty ground. Alex looked around, desperate to find a way out. His thoughts returned to his family and the conversation he had with Emily that morning.
"You're the only one worth anything in this family, Em," Alex had said, half-jokingly. "And you're the only one who understands me, Alex," she had replied, smiling.
One of the men took out a phone and called his parents. "We have your son. We want 5 million dollars for his release. If you don't comply, we'll kill him," he said bluntly. After a few moments of silence, his father's voice resonated on the other end of the line.
"We're not going to pay. We've already decided that Emily is our priority. Alex… is a loss. We won't risk everything for him."
Alex listened in shock. The coldness of his father's words left him frozen. The kidnapper, incredulous at the response, tried again.
"Listen, this is not a game. If you don't pay, your son will die. Are you sure about this?"
"We're sure. Do what you want with him," his mother said, with a harshness Alex had never heard before. The kidnapper hung up the phone and looked at Alex with a mix of pity and contempt.
"Sorry, kid. Seems you're not worth much to them." Alex's eyes filled with terror as he saw one of the kidnappers pull out a gun. Before he could say anything, the shot rang out in the night. He felt a sharp and burning pain in his chest. The world began to darken, and the sounds became distant. His last thought was of Emily, the only person who had meant anything to him.
"Emily… I'm sorry," he thought, and everything went black.