AUTHOR NOTE: SORRY I COULDN'T POST SCHOOL AGAIN BUT EXPECT FIVE MASS RELEASE AND I AM FREE THESE COMING WEEK. IF I COULDN'T COMPLETE THE REMAINING CHAPTERS SEE YOU TONIGHT.
Charles car zoomed through the winding roads toward the outskirts of Valemont, its sleek black frame blending with the fading light of the evening. Charles sat in the back, his mind spiraling into darker thoughts. His son—his baby boy, the apple of his eye—was out there, lost, maybe hurt. The possibility of Lamia being tortured or worse made Charles' pulse quicken. He couldn't afford to waste any more time.
"Sir," Dominic, his driver, spoke, his voice trembling slightly. "I think we have to turn back. I know these people. They can explode our car for just venturing into their territory. These men… they're dangerous."
Charles' gaze flickered toward the dense woods, where shadows shifted, and the unmistakable figures of men, tattooed from head to toe, began creeping out of the darkness. He could feel their eyes on him, cold and murderous.
Despite the clear threat, Charles couldn't shake the image of Lamia—his sweet boy—possibly in the hands of monsters. He turned to Dominic, his voice steady but strained. "Stop the car."
"Sir, no." Dominic's eyes widened in fear as he tightened his grip on the wheel. "These men aren't like the others. You can't just reason with them. Please, let me go instead. I'll approach them on your behalf."
"No." Charles' tone was firm, unyielding. "These men only understand one thing—power. If I send someone else, it'll be a sign of weakness. I need to find my son. If that means walking into the lion's den, so be it. I'll pay whatever price they demand."
Dominic swallowed hard, knowing there was no convincing Charles once his mind was made up. "Very well, sir. But if things go wrong… give me a sign. I'll call for backup."
With that, Charles stepped out of the car and walked toward the thugs. The air was thick with tension, the silence heavy, broken only by the sound of crunching gravel beneath his polished shoes. The men stared him down, their eyes cold, calculating, like predators sizing up prey.
"Look," Charles began, raising his hands in a gesture of peace, "I know I'm trespassing, but I need your help. My son is missing, and my tracker led me here. If you help me find him, I'll compensate you generously for your trouble."
For a moment, the men exchanged glances, as if deliberating his offer. Then, one of them leaned toward his comrade, whispering just loud enough for Charles to hear.
"He's the one. Look at the picture. This is the man we're paid to kill."
Charles felt a chill crawl up his spine. They were being paid to kill him? His mouth went dry as he fought to remain calm. "If it's money you're after, I can triple the payment. Whatever you've been promised—"
One of the thugs cut him off with a slow, sinister smile. "Run."
"What?"
"You've got a head start. Run now, and maybe—just maybe—you'll make it out alive."
Panic set in. Charles turned on his heel and bolted toward the car, but the instant he did, knives flew through the air, aimed at his guards. One man went down, a blade lodged in his skull, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
"Get down!" Dominic shouted as he fired his gun, trying to hold the attackers off.
Charles ducked and dodged, his heart pounding in his chest as he sprinted toward the safety of the car. But just as he reached the door, two thugs appeared, each brandishing gleaming daggers. Their eyes were wild, and their smiles feral, like animals cornering their prey.
"Dominic!" Charles shouted, alerting his driver. But Dominic was pinned down, unable to come to his aid as the battle between his guards and the thugs raged on.
One of the attackers lunged at Charles, the dagger catching the side of his leg. A sharp, burning pain shot through him as blood gushed from the wound. Charles bit back a scream, shoving the thug away as best he could. His vision blurred, but adrenaline kept him moving.
With no other option, he staggered toward the woods, hoping the dense trees would provide some cover.
The forest was a labyrinth of thick trunks and twisted vines, each step more disorienting than the last. Charles' leg throbbed with pain, and every breath felt like fire in his lungs. Behind him, he could hear the goons laughing, their voices echoing through the trees.
"He's dead," one of them sneered. "No one survives this forest. It's a maze."
Charles gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to the fear clawing at his gut. He couldn't die here. Not when Lamia was still out there, waiting for him.
Stumbling forward, he pushed through the branches, his body heavy with exhaustion. Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead, crawling through the underbrush. Charles' heart stopped.
"Lamia?"
The boy's body was battered, his clothes torn, and blood dripped from a gash on his forehead. Charles' breath hitched as he rushed toward his son.
"Oh God, no. Lamia, baby, what happened? Who did this to you?" His voice broke as he knelt beside his son, pulling him into his arms.
Lamia's eyes fluttered open, his voice weak. "Dad…"
"Shh, it's okay. You're going to be fine. We'll get you out of here. You're strong. You're my son. You're going to survive this."
Charles knew they didn't have time. The thugs were closing in. He could hear their footsteps getting louder. He had to move, had to get Lamia to safety. But before he could stand, a cold blade pressed against his throat.
"Stand up," a voice hissed behind him. "Or we'll turn you into tonight's barbecue."
Charles froze, the cold steel biting into his skin. Slowly, he turned his head and saw the two thugs, their eyes gleaming with malice.
"Kill me," Charles whispered, his voice hoarse. "But spare him. Spare my son."
One of the thugs chuckled darkly, twirling his blade. "With pleasure."
Before Charles could react, the knife sliced through his neck, the pain sharp and immediate. Blood spurted from the wound, and he gagged, choking as his vision blurred. The last thing he saw was his son's tear-streaked face before darkness consumed him.
Dominic arrived just in time to see Charles collapse, blood pooling around his body. His heart dropped into his stomach as he rushed forward, gun drawn, firing off shots at the thugs. Their bodies fell with sickening thuds, their brains blown apart by Dominic's bullets.
Dropping to his knees beside his fallen boss, Dominic felt his chest tighten. "No… no…" he whispered, shaking Charles, hoping for some sign of life.
Charles' eyes fluttered open for a brief moment, his voice barely audible. "Protect Maxie… protect Lamia. Keep them safe. Tell Maxandra… I'm sorry. Tell her… I love her."
And then, he was gone.
Dominic sobbed, his hands trembling as he held Charles' lifeless body. There was no time for grief. Lamia was still gasping for breath, barely clinging to life. With one last glance at his fallen master, Dominic scooped Lamia into his arms and ran, determined to save the boy, no matter the cost.