chapter 75

The dim light of dawn filtered through the heavy drapes, casting a soft glow on the worn faces of five men who hadn't slept properly in weeks. Kelsey, Xender, Chris, Tony, and Austin sat around a wooden table, the silence thick with unspoken words and the weight of their decision. They had been searching for their sister, Emily, tirelessly, but the endless cycle of dead ends and false hopes had taken its toll.

Kelsey broke the silence, his voice hoarse. "We need to talk about the next steps."

Tony looked up from his coffee, dark circles under his eyes. "Next steps? We've tried everything, Kelsey. Every lead, every contact. Maybe..." He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "Maybe it's time to accept that she's gone."

Chris shook his head vigorously. "No, we can't give up on her. She's our sister."

"We're not giving up," Xender said quietly, his tone calm but firm. "But we have to face the reality that Emily might be better off wherever she is now."

Austin, who had been starin