The rusted gates of the abandoned factory creaked open, the sound echoing through the empty, dilapidated building. Inside, the cold, dimly lit space was filled with a sense of dread. Vivian Darlington's black sedan pulled up to the entrance, followed by another vehicle carrying her bodyguards and the three terrified women-Selena, Lily, and Neomi. The women's hands were tied, and their mouths were sealed with duct tape, preventing them from crying out for help.
As they were roughly pulled from the car and dragged into the factory, tears streamed down their faces. They had heard the rumors about the Darlington family-whispers of their cruelty and their reputation for making people disappear. Now, those terrifying stories felt all too real.
Vivian walked ahead of her captives, her heels clicking against the cracked concrete floor, her expression one of cold satisfaction. The power she wielded over them was intoxicating, and she savored every moment of their fear. The three women were pleading with their eyes, desperately hoping for mercy, but Vivian's heart was unmoved. To her, they were nothing more than insects to be crushed underfoot.
Meanwhile, back at the Rogers estate, Lucas was sitting in his study, deep in thought. He glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. It had been nine hours since Selena, Lily, and Neomi had left, and they hadn't returned. It wasn't like Selena to be gone for so long without checking in.
Concerned, Lucas decided to call Selena, but his concern deepened when he heard the automated message saying her phone was switched off. A sinking feeling settled in his gut-something was wrong. He immediately picked up his phone and called Dominic.
"Warlord," Dominic answered promptly.
Dominic, I need you to track Selena's last known location," Lucas ordered, his voice tense.
There was a brief pause as Dominic relayed the order to his team. "I'll get back to you as soon as I have it," Dominic said before hanging up.
Lucas waited impatiently, pacing the room. It wasn't long before his phone buzzed with Dominic's call. "Warlord,Miss Selena's last location was at Parlext Mall."
Without wasting a moment, Lucas grabbed his keys and rushed out to his car. The drive to Parlext Mall felt like an eternity, though he sped through the streets as fast as he could. His mind raced with possibilities, each one worse than the last.
When he arrived at the massive shopping complex, he immediately approached a security guard stationed near the entrance. "Excuse me, have you seen this woman?" Lucas asked, showing him a picture of Selena on his phone.
The guard's eyes widened in recognition, but he quickly masked his reaction. "No, I haven't seen anyone like that," he lied, though his nervousness was evident.
Lucas's suspicion grew. The guard was hiding something, but Lucas decided to pursue another lead. He entered the mall and began asking around, eventually making his way to the manager's office. He knocked on the door and entered, finding a middle-aged man sitting behind the desk, sipping tea. The man looked up as Lucas entered, his expression one of annoyance.
"Can I help you?" the manager asked, his tone curt.
Lucas didn't waste any time with pleasantries. "I'm looking for someone. Her name is Selena, and she was here earlier today with two other women. Do you know anything about that?"
The manager, Malcolm, froze, the cup slipping from his hand and shattering on the floor. His face paled, and his eyes darted nervously as he realized the gravity of the situation. It was clear that he knew something, but instead of answering, he straightened up and glared at Lucas.
"Who do you think you are, coming in here and demanding answers?" Malcolm snapped, trying to regain his composure. "This is my mall, and I don't have to answer to you. Get out before I call security."
Lucas's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. He stepped forward and slapped Malcolm across the face, the force of the blow echoing through the small office. "I'm not leaving until you tell me what happened to Selena," Lucas said, his voice deadly calm.
Malcolm, now enraged and humiliated, grabbed the phone on his desk and called security. Within moments, several security guards stormed into the office, surrounding Lucas. Malcolm, emboldened by their presence, sneered at Lucas. "You think you can come in here and threaten me? Break his legs and chop his arms off."
The guards moved to carry out the order, but before they could lay a hand on Lucas, a commanding voice rang out. "Stop!"
Everyone in the room froze and turned to see an elderly man entering the office, dressed in a suit so fine it screamed wealth and power. The man's very presence seemed to command respect, and Lucas immediately recognized that this was no ordinary person.
"Who are you?" Lucas asked, his curiosity piqued.
The old man smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "My name is John Parlext, and I own this shopping complex," he said with a chuckle. "Now, what's going on here?"
Malcolm's face went from red to white in an instant. "M-Mr. Parlext, I-"
John silenced him with a sharp look. "You've done enough, Malcolm. Leave us."
The security guards, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly filed out of the room, leaving Lucas and John alone. Malcolm hesitated, still seething from the slap, but he knew better than to disobey John. He scurried out, his head hung low in defeat.
John turned back to Lucas, his expression now more serious. "Now, young man, what is it you're looking for? I have a feeling it's something important."
Lucas, sensing that John might actually be able to help, showed him the picture of Selena again. "She's my wife, and she's missing. She was last seen here, in your mall."
John examined the picture, his expression thoughtful. "Come with me," he said finally, motioning for Lucas to follow him. "There's something you need to see."
The chapter ends with Lucas following John through the quiet corridors of the mall, wondering what new revelations were about to unfold. With John's help, Lucas hoped to uncover the truth and find Selena before it was too late.