"Ouch! it hurts".... Pain searing through her body, Mila winced and gradually regained consciousness. Her head pounded relentlessly as she slowly pried open her eyes, struggling to focus through the blurriness. A dim light dangled above her, casting a feeble glow. With great effort, she attempted to shift, only to discover her hands tightly bound behind her back and her feet firmly secured to the chair she was confined to.
Fighting against her restraints, Mila strained to assess her surroundings. Raising her head, she found herself confronted by a dingy, eerie room. The air hung heavy with a sickening mixture of blood, urine, and rotting flesh. Across from the door, she noticed a small window allowing a sliver of sunlight to stream in.
As the memories of the previous day began to flood back, Mila felt a surge of panic welling up within her. Just as the fear threaten to overwhelm her, she let out a piercing scream. The sound echoed through the cramped space, causing two guards to rush into the room. Disorientated and desperate, Mila unleashed her, questions, demanding answers.
"Who are you? Where am I? And who is this bastard responsible for strapping me in this chair? I demand to speak with him!" she shouted, her voice laced with fury.
"Miss, please stay calm. the boss will be here soon and speak to you. one of the guards responded, his voice trying to sooth her. Mila quickly classified him as the sympathetic one, already formulating her plan in her mind.
Ignoring him Mila intensified her interrogation. "Tell me now, who are you working for?"
Frustrated and growing inpatient, the other guard snapped at her sharply. "Shut up you crazy bitch! Haven't you heard what Kyle said? I will repeat, he said the boss is on his way, do you understand that!? Or I will be more than happy to shut your mouth for you."
"Zane, control yourself. The boss instructed us to keep her safe and unharmed." Kyle explained.
Mila could see that Zane struggles to maintain his temper, "good" she thought, "I'm going to use that temper against him. Mila's heart raced with anticipation. She had already identified Kyle as her potential ally so she can escape this harrowing ordeal, but after she saw Zane's short tempered, she changed her mind, but she has to act swiftly and exploit any opportunity that present itself.
"Miss, please excuse my brother, he's bit on edge today. The boss will be here any moment and then you will understand everything, "Kyle hastily explained, his voice filled with urgency. He swiftly grabbed a glass of water and dropped a painkiller in it. "Please take this. It'll help with the headache."
Mila glared at him, and frustration etched across her face, she spat, "My hands are tied, you idiot! How am I supposed to take it?"
Realizing his mistake, Kyle rushed to find a solution. "Oh...yes, sorry. Open your mouth. I'll help you drink it, but I can't untie you."
Grateful for the offer, Mila muttered her thanks and obeyed his instructions, opening her mouth wide. Kyle brings the glass to her mouth, and he helped her to drink it.
"Assuming you two ae brothers," Mila continued the conversation, her mind already formulating a plan. "So, tell me, are you both Italian?"
Kyle shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry miss. We can't give you any more information. We'll leave you now, but we'll be right outside," he stated tinged with reassurance. As Zane followed Kyle out of the room, he winked at Mila and whispered, " Don't worry, we'll protect you."
As the door locked shut once again, Mila cursed in frustration. "Damn it!" she muttered aloud. Unsure of what to do next, her thoughts turned to Anna. " I hope Anna's still alive and that she's okay...please be okay, Anna," she murmured with her head bowed.
MEANWHILE AT MILA'S APPARTMENT....
"Tristan! Chad! come help me!" Phoenix yelled and dropped on his knees next to Anna. "Baby....please...open your eyes.... please baby just breath.... Anna....please!" Phoenix lifted Anna's head and put it on his knees as he held her face between his hands. "Someone calls the ambulance!!" Phoenix yelled again.
Chad and Tristan came running into the living room, where they found Phoenix with Anna on the ground.
"What happened? Why did you run away from us?" Chad asked.
"I just felt something was wrong, and turned and ran here, and I found her lying like this...please, do something, call the ambulance Phoenix pleaded once more.
"Shit, that means that they have Mila," Tristan said, rubbing his hand over his face. "There's no time to wait for an ambulance. Come, bring her, we'll drive her there. Is she still breathing?" Tristan asks Phoenix.
"I....don't know," Phoenix said, his hands visibly shaking. Chad leaned down to feel if Anna still had a pulse.
"Yes, there's still a pulse, but its weak. Come, bring her quick, Phoenix," Chad said, signaling Tristan to go.
Phoenix carried Anna in his arms all the way down to the car. Chad opened the back door, and Phoenix climbed in with Anna still in his arms. Tristan jumps behind the wheel, and Chad closed the back door, then he ran around to the front passenger side and jump in. Tristan fired up the engine of the black BMW, stepping on the gas. He drove as fast as he could to the nearest hospital.
They stop right in front of the emergency entrance, and Phoenix ran inside with Anna in his arms, screaming "Help, please! She's been shot!"
Nurses came running from every direction towards Phoenix to help. He put Anna on the bed the one nurse brought, and they immediately attend to her, pushing her towards the emergency unit. Phoenix ran after them, but the nurse stopped him, saying, "Please, sir, wait here. We will do everything we can to save her, I will keep you informed of what's going on." The nurse reassured him and quickly rushed to where they took Anna.
Tristan and Chad came from outside and found Phoenix sitting in a chair in the waiting room, his clothes covered in Anna's blood, his foot tapping on the floor.
"They took her to that room," Phoenix pointed to the theatre. " And they said I need to wait here.... but how do I do that, Chad? She's the love of my life. I need to be with her," Phoenix said, dropping his head onto both of his hands.
Chad, composed as ever, tightened his grip on Phoenix's shoulder. "I know Phoenix, but they will do what they can to help her," he reassured but his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Tristan paced back and forth in the waiting room, anxiety coursing through his veins like a wildfire. Every step he took, every hand that ran through his hair, further fueled his frustration. "Shit," he muttered, feeling the weight of responsibility bearing down on him. His determination to find Mila surged within him, overriding any sense of reason.
Unfazed by Tristan's restlessness, Chad confronted him, halting his hasty retreat. "Where do you think you're going?" Chad inquired, his voice sharp with concern.
"I'm going to find Mila," Tristan declared, his voice laced with determination, ready to charge into the unknown.
Chad, quick to react, gripped Tristan's arm firmly, refusing to let him slip away. "We all want to find Mila, Tristan but do you have any idea where she could be or who took her? Have you contacted Mila's family about her or Anna's situation?"
Tristan frustration boiled over, his voice raised in exasperation. "Are you insane? I cannot call her dad! They think I'm dead!" The weight of their complicated past threatens to suffocate him.
Chad's gaze hardened. "Then I have to call them. Who are they, and where can I find them? His voice carried a hint of urgency, demanding answers in the face of desperation.
A flicker of fear danced in Tristan's eyes, his words laced with trepidation. "Listen, bro. If you want to start World War III, you do just that. Her father is the biggest and most ruthless mafia leader in Italy...And this place, right here, is my father's territory. He's the head of the Chinese Triad. They are arch enemies. Nobody must know they are here, and I have to find her before my father does because he will kill her." Tristan's words hung heavily in the air, exposing the dire consequences they faced.
Chads realization hit him like a wave, crashing over him with a force he couldn't comprehend. "What the hell did I get myself into? So basically, we can do absolutely nothing?" he muttered, lifting his gaze to the ceiling, his sigh heavy with defeat. They were caught in a web of power struggles and bloodshed, their options narrowing.
"Not entirely, I have my own little network that's not under anyone's radar. I'm going to find her, bro, and bring her back to us. You stay here and keep an eye on Anna and him," Tristan nodded towards Phoenix, urgency burning in his eyes.
"But wait...how sure are you that it's not your father that has Mila?" Chad asked.
"Because if it were my father who had Mila, none of us would be alive right now." With those chilling words, Tristan turned his back on the hospital, leaving Chad behind with a heavy heart and a sinking feeling of helplessness.
BACK TO MILA....
"Show your face you bastard! Or are you afraid I will beat it up..." Mila screamed at the figure standing in the dark corner of the room.
"Hahaha feisty little angel aren't you. Beat my face up? You can try but good luck with that Angel."
"I'm not your Angel you bastard! Untie me so that I can show you what I can do to your face," Mila spit once again.
"Oh, I know exactly what you're capable of Angel, that's why you're tied down that way, and if you are a good little Angle, I might just give you information about your sister."
"Anna....,"Mila whisper, "please tell me if she is okay.... please I beg you."
"Not so fast my little Angel, I first need you to behave."
"Your voice....it sounds familiar" Mila said to the man in the corner, "you.... you're family!"
"Maybe....maybe not," the man said, and he stepped out of the corner into the light.
"You!" Mila said with shock. "Why?"
"Did you forget about the prophecy Angel?"