The warm afternoon sun streamed through the windows of Dave's villa, casting a soft glow across the pristine living room. Despite the beautiful setting, a thick tension hung in the air as Dave paced back and forth, preparing himself for the difficult conversation ahead. He had just done something he never imagined—he called his parents to visit his new home, something he'd kept secret until now. The sound of the doorbell finally pulled him out of his anxious thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, Dave walked to the door and opened it. His mother, Linda, stood there, her face a mix of confusion and concern. His father, John, was right beside her, his expression tight with tension.
"David," Linda said softly, stepping forward and immediately wrapping her arms around him. "What's going on? You… you said you found them… is it true?"
John's brow furrowed deeply as he placed a hand on Dave's shoulder. "Son, you really found them? We've been worried sick since the kidnapping. We thought we'd lost them forever."
Dave stepped back, nodding as he gestured for them to come inside. "Yes, Mom, Dad… I found them. Emily and Sarah are here, in the guest bedroom."
Linda let out a shuddering breath, her hands trembling. "How? David, how did you do it? The police searched for weeks and found nothing… yet you managed to find them?"
"Let's sit down," Dave suggested gently. "I'll explain everything as best as I can."
He led them through the grand foyer and into the living room, where they took a seat on the plush, cream-colored couches. Dave's eyes darted briefly toward the hallway where Emily and Sarah were resting. The room was quiet for a moment as his parents tried to process what he'd just told them.
"David," his mother urged, breaking the silence. "How did you do it? What happened?"
Dave took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "It's… hard to explain. But I've changed a lot since I last saw you. I have abilities now, abilities that I used to track down the people responsible for taking them."
"Abilities?" John echoed, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about, son? What kind of abilities?"
Dave met their eyes steadily. "Superhuman abilities. I'm not the same person I was before. I can do things—extraordinary things—that helped me find them when no one else could."
"Superhuman?" Linda whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "Are you saying you're one of those… those superhumans we hear about on the news?"
"Yes," Dave confirmed quietly. "I'm stronger, faster, and I have powers that let me protect the people I care about. That's why I was able to find Emily and Sarah."
John looked at him as if he were seeing his son for the first time. "Superhuman… What kind of abilities are we talking about?"
"I can teleport," Dave began, watching the surprise on their faces. "And I have powers that let me control objects, read minds, and a few other things."
Linda's eyes widened. "Teleport? Read minds? David, how… when did this happen?"
"It's complicated, Mom. But I need you to trust me. I used these abilities to find them and bring them back. That's the important part."
John's shoulders sagged, his expression torn between confusion and relief. "You really found them… after everything… you found them."
"Yes, Dad," Dave said firmly. "They're resting now, but they're safe. It's going to take time for them to recover from what they went through, but they're going to be okay."
Linda sniffed, wiping away the tears that welled up in her eyes. "Thank you, David. Thank you for bringing them back to us. But what about the people who took them? Did you…?"
"I took care of them," Dave said, his voice dropping to a colder tone. "They won't ever hurt anyone again."
His father nodded slowly, understanding the unspoken words. "Good. That's good."
Linda swallowed hard, her voice shaking. "What about Emily and Sarah? Are they… are they hurt?"
Dave hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment. "Physically, no. They weren't hurt like that. But mentally… they went through a lot. It's going to take time for them to heal."
"Can we see them?" John asked, his voice thick with emotion. "Just to know they're really okay?"
Dave nodded. "Yes, of course. Come with me."
He led them down the hallway to the guest bedroom, where Emily and Sarah lay side by side on two beds, their faces pale but peaceful. Linda rushed forward, her hands trembling as she gently touched their faces, brushing hair away from their foreheads.
"Emily… Sarah…" she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "My babies…"
John stayed back for a moment, his gaze fixed on his daughters' faces, a mixture of grief and relief clouding his eyes. "They look so… different. So… fragile."
"They went through a lot," Dave said softly, his heart aching for them. "But they're here now. They're safe."
Linda turned to look at him, tears shining in her eyes. "What happens now, David? What do we do?"
"They need time," Dave replied gently. "Time to rest and recover. I'm going to stay with them, make sure they get everything they need. And I'll take care of the people responsible. All of them."
John's gaze sharpened. "There's more of them?"
"Yes," Dave said, his voice hardening. "There's a network of people like the ones who took Emily and Sarah. But I'm going to find them all. I'm going to make sure they pay for what they did."
"But David," Linda pleaded, "you can't do this alone! It's dangerous!"
"I have to, Mom," Dave said quietly but firmly. "I'm the only one who can. And I won't rest until every last one of them is gone."
There was a long silence as Linda and John looked at their son, absorbing the weight of his words. Finally, John nodded slowly.
"Just… promise us one thing, son," he said softly. "Promise us you'll come back to us. That you won't get yourself killed."
"I promise," Dave said, meeting his father's gaze. "I won't let anything happen to me. And I'll always come back."
As they stood together, watching over Emily and Sarah, a soft murmur filled the room. Emily's eyes fluttered open, blinking as she tried to focus.
"Mom? Dad?" she whispered weakly.
Linda gasped, her face lighting up with joy. "Yes, baby, we're here. We're all here."
Emily turned her head slowly, her gaze landing on Dave. "D-Dave… You… found us?"
Dave stepped closer, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, Em. I found you. You're safe now."
Emily's lips trembled, and she nodded slightly before closing her eyes again, exhaustion overtaking her. A moment later, Sarah's eyes opened as well, a confused frown on her face.
"Where… are we?" she murmured.
"You're home, Sarah," Dave said softly. "You're safe. And I'll never let anyone hurt you again."
As his family gathered around the girls, whispering words of comfort, Dave stepped back, watching the scene with a sense of peace. They were together again, safe and sound.
And that was all that mattered right now.
But the battle was far from over. Dave knew he'd have to continue his fight, but for now, he'd take a moment to cherish the fact that his family was reunited.