Kiyara
The days passed in a blur of normalcy, and I began to believe that the threat from the unknown number was an empty one. Ezekiel's presence was a constant comfort, his strength and determination wrapping around me like an impenetrable shield. He was my rock, my anchor in a stormy sea, and I couldn't imagine my life without him.
However, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of my mind. It was as if a dark cloud hung over us, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash its fury. But for now, I focused on the positive, pushing away the nagging thoughts that threatened to consume me.
One morning, as I sipped my coffee and scrolled through my emails, I received a message from Ariel. She was on her way to the company and wanted to catch up over lunch. I smiled, looking forward to seeing her and hearing about her latest adventures. Little did I know, that day would take a dark and unexpected turn.
Hours passed, and Ariel didn't show up for our lunch. I texted her, but there was no response. Concern gnawed at me, and I decided to call her. The phone rang and rang, but she didn't answer. My worry grew into a knot of fear in my stomach. Something was wrong.
I called Ezekiel, my voice trembling. "Ezekiel, I can't reach Ariel. She was supposed to meet me for lunch, but she hasn't shown up, and she's not answering her phone."
Ezekiel's voice was calm but filled with a sense of urgency. "Stay where you are, Kiyara. I'll be there in a few minutes."
He arrived quickly, his expression tense. "We need to find her," he said, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll contact Mark and John. They'll help us."
We gathered our allies, forming a team to search for Ariel. Jasmin, Mark, John, Bella, and her boyfriend all joined us, their faces etched with worry and determination. We spread out, scouring the city for any sign of her. Hours turned into a nightmare as we searched, our hearts heavy with fear.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we found a lead. Mark had tracked Ariel's phone to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. We hurried there, our hearts pounding with a mix of hope and dread.
The warehouse was dark and foreboding, the air thick with tension. We moved cautiously, our footsteps echoing in the empty space. Suddenly, we heard a muffled cry. It was Ariel. We followed the sound, our hearts racing.
We found her tied to a chair, her face pale and her eyes filled with fear. Bella rushed forward, her hands shaking as she began to untie the ropes that bound Ariel. Just as she was about to free her, a gunshot rang out.
Bella fell to the ground, clutching her back. Blood pooled beneath her, and I screamed, my heart breaking at the sight of my friend in pain. Jasmine rushed to her side, trying to stop the bleeding.
Ezekiel's eyes blazed with fury as he scanned the room for the shooter. "Show yourself!" he demanded, his voice cold and deadly.
A man emerged from the shadows. "So, you thought you could ignore my warning, Kiyara? You should have stayed away from Ezekiel."
"Ezekiel," I said, my voice trembling. Ezekiel maintained his steely demeanor and slowly walked towards a large cement bag where the owner of the voice was hiding.
As soon as he felt the room grow silent, the man bolted through the back door. Ezekiel and Mark chased after him, but after two minutes, Mark returned, panting.
"We couldn't catch up," Mark said, breathing heavily.
"What about Ezekiel?" I asked, worried.
"He's still chasing him, but he'll be back soon," Mark said while John helped Jasmin, who was trying to tend to Bella's injury.
Police sirens wailed in the distance. The warehouse was soon filled with officers, their guns drawn. They asked Ariel to come with them for interrogation and any information about the man who kidnapped her.
When the police were done, I rushed to Ariel's side. She was free now, her eyes filled with gratitude and relief. Bella was being tended to by paramedics, her face pale but determined.
"Thank you," Ariel whispered, her voice trembling. "I was so scared."
I hugged her tightly, tears streaming down my face. "You're safe now. That's all that matters."
Ezekiel came to my side, his eyes softening as he looked at me. "We'll find out who did this, Kiyara. I promise you."
I nodded, my heart swelling with gratitude and love for the man who had risked everything to protect me and my friends. As we left the warehouse, I knew that our battle was far from over. But with Ezekiel by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came next.
Ezekiel
As we drove back home, the adrenaline from the confrontation still coursing through my veins, I glanced at Kiyara. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with the remnants of fear. I reached over and took her hand, squeezing it gently.
"We'll get through this, Kiyara. I won't let anything happen to you or our friends."
She nodded, her grip tightening on my hand. "I know. I just... I can't believe this is happening. Why would someone do this?"
I frowned, my mind racing with possibilities. "Someone wants to hurt us, to drive a wedge between us. But they underestimated us. They don't know who they're dealing with."
When we arrived home, we were met by a tearful Bella. Despite her injury, she was strong, refusing to let the pain overwhelm her. John was beside Jasmine, who looked really worried, his face a mask of concern.
"I'm so sorry, Bella," I said, my voice filled with regret. "This shouldn't have happened."
Bella shook her head, managing a weak smile. "It's not your fault, Ezekiel. We'll get through this together."
I nodded, my resolve hardening. "Yes, we will."
Later that night, as I held Kiyara in my arms, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. She was my everything, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safe. The threat was real, but so was my love for her. And that love was stronger than any enemy we faced.
Ariel
The next morning, I walked into the living room, finding Kiyara and Ezekiel deep in conversation. They looked up as I entered, their faces lighting up with relief.
"Ariel, how are you feeling?" Kiyara asked, her voice filled with concern.
I shrugged, forcing a smile. "I'm okay. Just a little shaken up, but I'll be fine."
Ezekiel stood, his expression serious. "We need to figure out who sent that man. Until then, we have to be extra careful."
I nodded, knowing he was right. But as I sat down, I couldn't help but think about Shawn. The news of my kidnapping had spread quickly, and he had broken up with me without a second thought. On the surface, I felt fine, but deep down, the pain lingered.
"Kiyara, Ezekiel," I began, my voice steady. "I need to tell you something."
They looked at me, their expressions attentive. "What is it, Ariel?" Kiyara asked gently.
Keeping my emotions in check, I said, "When Shawn broke up with me, I was really hurt. I guess I should have seen it coming. But it still hurts, you know? I didn't want you to find out because you are going through a lot, but I just don't have the strength to keep it in any longer."
Ezekiel looked at me with no expression. "You're strong, Ariel. You'll get through this. And we're here for you, no matter what."
I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Thank you. That means a lot."
As the days went by, we continued our search for answers. Ezekiel, Mark, and John worked tirelessly, following every lead and uncovering new information. But Bella hadn't recovered from her injury. The doctor said that the injury was really bad, and I could feel Kiyara losing hope. I was really saddened; I really wanted to do something, but I felt powerless.
Kiyara
I understood the fact that Ezekiel was trying his best and all, but I think things are getting worse because of me. Now, who will be next? Jasmine? Mark? John? Me?
Ezekiel tried to calm me down, but everything was a mess. I was losing hope; I didn't know what to do. My hemophobia almost kicked in when I saw Bella injured, but I decided to be helpful.
The decision weighed heavily on my heart, but I knew it was the only way to protect everyone I loved. I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling as I rehearsed the words in my mind. It felt like a cruel irony—breaking the heart of the man who had fought so fiercely to protect mine.
When Ezekiel entered the room, his eyes softened at the sight of me. He walked over and knelt before me, taking my hands in his. "Kiyara, what's wrong? You've been distant."
I swallowed hard, feeling the tears welling up. "Ezekiel, we need to talk."
His face grew serious, his grip tightening on my hands. "What is it?"
I took a deep breath, forcing the words out. "I think... I think we need to break up."
His eyes widened in shock, and he stood up, shaking his head. "No, Kiyara Don't say that. We can get through this. Whatever it is, we can handle it together."
I stood up, my heart breaking as I looked into his eyes. "Ezekiel, people are getting hurt because of me. Bella, Ariel... I can't let this continue. I can't be the reason you or anyone else gets hurt."
He took a step forward, his voice filled with desperation. "Kiyara, you can't do this. I love you. We can find a way to keep everyone safe."
I shook my head. " Ezekiel this is the only way. You can protect me because ever since you came into my laugh everything as been going all wrong."
He reached for me, his eyes pleading. "Kiyara, please. Don't do this.not now."
I stepped back, my resolve firm. "I'm sorry, Ezekiel. This is goodbye."
Before he could respond, I turned and walked out of the room, my heart shattering with each step. I knew it was the right decision, but that didn't make it any less painful. As I closed the door behind me, I heard Ezekiel's anguished cry, and it took every ounce of strength I had not to turn back.
One evening, as we sat in the living room, Ariel spoke up. "Kiyara, are you okay? You haven't been yourself lately."
I forced a smile. "I'm fine, Ariel. Just... trying to move on."
Bella frowned, wincing slightly as she adjusted her position on the couch. "We all know that's not true. You love Ezekiel. Why did you push him away?"
Tears welled up in my eyes. "I had to. He's dangerous. Being with him puts all of you at risk. I can't let that happen."
Ariel reached over and took my hand. "We can take care of ourselves, Kiyara. We don't blame Ezekiel for what happened. We know he's trying to protect you and so far all he has been doing is helping you, and if you guys look deeper you will know that Ezekiel is also affected by this, people call him name's too on social media but he doesn't talk about it."
" what ?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "I didn't realize,i have been so selfish." Tears fell from my eyes
Bella squeezed my other hand, her eyes filled with understanding. "We get it, Kiyara. But you need to do what's right for you. If being with Ezekiel makes you happy, then you should be with him."
Their words were a balm to my wounded heart, but the fear remained. I didn't know if I had the strength to face the darkness that came with loving Ezekiel.
Ezekiel
The warehouse was dark and silent as we approached, the only sound the crunch of gravel under our boots. Mark, John, and I moved swiftly, our guns drawn, ready for anything. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for.
We burst through the doors, John looking frustrated and annoyed, expressing it with a slight frown, Mark with a smirk, and I with a cold look.
As the dust settled, we found nothing. The fucker had left, knowing we were on our way. I clenched my jaw and went out and punched my car's front glass, blood dripping from my fist.
"Uhh... I think I will call my driver to bring a new car," Mark said, looking a little bit intimidated.
Kiyara
Days turned into weeks, and the pain of losing Ezekiel didn't lessen. I tried to focus on my work, my friends, anything to fill the void he had left. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face, heard his voice. I couldn't escape him.
One evening, as I sat in my apartment, staring at the empty space where Ezekiel used to sit, I received a message. It was from an unknown number, but the words made my heart stop.
"I'm coming for you."
My hands trembled as I read it again. He wasn't done with us yet.