The Escape Natalia's POV “What the heck is this place !” I screened as I ran with all my strength. Dashing down the corridors, my breath left me gasping for air. The corridors seemed endless as they twisted and bent on each turn. These turns Disoriented me, causing my confidence to fade away as raced down the pathways. The more bends I took, the more my anxiety and fear grew. I struggled to keep my bearings and sense of direction. The corridors were dark, allowing you to see a few meters away. Reed's voice echoed through the pathways. He didn't expect that I would be able to outsmart him and free myself from his restraints. “Natalia wait !” His voices tear through the darkness. He frantically searches for me, opening and banging on each door he comes across on his path. I maintained silence and focused on getting out of there. Every twist and turn I made felt like a gamble of life and death. I certainly knew that one wrong move would lead me right back into Reed's clutches. As I
The warehouse search Azek’s POV “Get ready we are going with them,” I said to Mia who was just looking at me confused. I still wasn’t sure why the tactical team wanted our presence. But I just wanted to see my boys. My body was giving out at this point, I hadn’t slept for two days. The tension of the boys missing deprived me and Mia of sleep. We couldn’t rest easy knowing our boys were somewhere being held captive. Mia was already a dried leaf clinging on to the last strand of hope she had left. She reluctantly walked upstairs to get dressed. The entire mansion was filled with police officers all moving and putting in their best. Most of them haven’t slept for hours too. This was all for the good of the case. We needed to find the boys fast before we all started losing our minds. The tactical team got ready as soon as Mia and I came downstairs. We drove to the location where the sergeant had given us, as we approached the building, the air wrecked with the smell of rust and dust.
The Construction siteMia’s POV“How can we trust you?” Azek yelled at the strange guy that suddenly emerged from the shadows. I took a glance at the strange man, he looked haggard but had this expression of remorse and sympathy on his face. Something inside me wanted to trust him and he had given us information we would have never found.I tugged on Azek’s shirt signaling him to relax and the man looked friendly. I stepped out from Azek’s back showing that I wasn’t scared and I was willing to listen to the man. He introduced himself as Daniel. “He might be telling the truth and he just told us something that we never knew,” I said to Azek. Before I could finish convincing Azek the tactical squad stormed in pinning the man to the ground. Azek relaxed and told them to leave him and let him talk.“Can you take us there?” Azek asked the man. He just nodded and promised to help us get to the bottom of the matter. I looked again into the eyes of the man searching for any slight signal of
False ShelterNatalia’s POV“Please can you help me?” I asked with the last breath I had. My heart is beating with so much vigor. I kept panting, I had indeed run a marathon. No one paid attention to me. The place was a bit noisy and my yells were nothing more than small puffs of breath. I felt the frustration creep on me like a snake coming to devour my peace.I tried to gather composure as I sat down at an empty table. My panting reduced as I caught my breath gradually. Even as my emotions and tension reduced, I knew the race wasn’t over and Reed wouldn't give up that easily. I looked around looking for who I could talk to but everybody was either too drunk, looked suspicious, or too busy having a good time. I needed someone who wasn't drunk or maybe a woman.Just as the thought of talking to a woman came to me, my eyes caught sight of a middle-aged woman at the bar stand. She looked like she worked here.“she’s a good option,” I thought to myselfI took a few moments to rehearse my
Mia’s POV“Isn’t this Natalia’s hair ?” I let out asking myself and everyone around me who knew Natalia. Azek’s face lit up in a puzzled expression. He was confused if I was referring to the Natalia he knew or another one. “How do you mean honey? Are you ok? ” His question felt offensive as he asked in a way that made me feel I was losing it. Or maybe I was going crazy. I won't blame him because it came suddenly. I couldn't comprehend what I just discovered. Azek walked towards me and he held me close to himself. “This is Natalia! I know! I am sure! Am not crazy” I yelled in protest of the false accusations placed on my sudden outburst. Azek still was convinced that I was right. He just nodded and tried to hug me. I pushed myself away and looked at him trying my best to tell him that I wasn't crazy. “Mia! Calm down. I know you're worried about Natalia but we have to find the boots first” Azek said, still doubting my impulsive gestures. I grew frustrated by the minute and I knew de
The Tipping pointMia’s POV“Sure I can. You would have to wait for a few minutes. I need to wrap up all the pending orders” the Bartender said with a smile on his face. Natalia’s life was on the line here, I just couldn't wait another minute. Azek And I sat at the empty table close to the bar stand. I threw a quick gaze at Azek, his countenance was pale. I just looked at him in pity. His confidence was giving out. I could feel his heart growing heavy from all the drama we had been experiencing for the past two days. Forty-eight hours had passed, and we were yet to see our boys or Natalia. The two most loved and important people in our lives. This was a total nightmare. As I closed my eyes to pray and hope that it would be over soon, Azek held my hand tightly, and I raised my gaze at him. His eyes sparkled with dwindling hope. The buzz and chatter from the people in the bar made me zone out more into my despair. This was nothing short of pure agony. My breath was visible in the col
Mia POV “Natalia please be in here” I prayed in anticipation and anxiety. Azek held my hand tightly, as the bartender knocked on the door. A haggard-looking woman opened the door. She exchanged greetings with the bartender and I just waited, anticipation made me sweat in the freezing temperature, and I just kept hoping and praying Natalia was there. “Who are they ?” the woman asked the bartender. Her suspicious gaze turned to us. Her gaze peered into my heart. Azek just looked at her with a stern look. Giving her the idea we were here on urgent and important business. “Good day ma’am, my name is Azek, and my wife is Mia. Your colleague informed us that my wife’s junior sister is in your custody. Please we plead that we see her. We've been searching for her hours now” Azek boldly interrupted the conversation the bartender was having with the woman. Azek had everything under control so I just stood at the sidelines and watched the discretion of the conversations. All I hoped was t
Mia's POV “What do I need to know !” I exclaimed, breaking the silence that followed Rachel's soft voice. The suspense was killing me, Azek too was growing impatient. She knew something we needed. I searched my head for a clue of what she wanted to say. Could it be the location of our kids? A name we could look for? What was it, I asked myself in the few seconds Natalie used to catch her weak breath. His life was hanging in the balance. She clung onto a tiny strand of life. What was she about to reveal? Natalie took some time to wet her throat. The second pause in her speech made it seem like an eternity before she spoke. “I heard them. …they were talking about the boys" Natalia continued her speech, still coming in a small burst of energy. After each word, she caught her breath like the breath was going to run away from her.They planned on changing the children's location and taking them to somewhere more dangerous. My heart sank as I heard her. My anxiety came back with full
Reed’s POV“You better cooperate with the police” the prison Warder yelled at me as he unlocked my cell. Since my arrival at the prison, he had always treated me like I was some hardened criminal. But deep down I felt immense remorse for all I had done. I allowed my emotions to push me into signing a deal with the devil without weighing the consequences. I sat on the bunk bed, soaking in the guilt that ate my sanity slowly. All I could think of was the people I had hurt in the course, of executing the will of Chloe. The prison warder informed me that I had an interrogation session with an inspector. Before this, I had undergone multiple interrogation sessions, each one more dreadful than the last. “Hey, step out of the cell and walk down the hallway to the last room on your left” the prison warder directed me like I didn't know the drill. He finished his sentence, but I didn't make any move, I just sat there burying myself in guilt and self-hate. I just wanted to be left alone. “Mo
Chloe's POV“What is wrong with Marcus?” I asked myself these questions expecting a vivid answer, but they remained floating around in my mind. All my efforts in contacting Marcus kept heating dead ends. The psychological pressure made me flutter, draining my confidence and gradually bringing me to the brink of anxiety and fear. Failure wasn't an option at this point, additionally I had come too far to give up now. My conversation with my mom led me to see the eruption of the concealed desperation she has been holding in. Over the course of days, my mom has been calling to pester me. Always questioning my next move, the more I listened to her, the depressed I became. Her alliance with Mr. and Mrs. Mendez made it difficult to think as they were constantly on my neck. Constantly reminding me of my failed past efforts. After some time of thinking about my messed up life, I got a call from the contact I requested to contact Marcus. My phone rang loudly, breaking the silence I sat in.
Mia's POV “Lewis! Liam! Can you both come downstairs and have your breakfast ?” I yelled from the sitting room to the boys who were upstairs playing in their rooms. It was a bright morning, and the light from the sun cast a Golden hue on the house. The tension I and the boys felt on our arrival, had faded into a more comfortable feeling. It was indeed a safe house. As I prepared breakfast, my thoughts drifted into the trauma I experienced at the hospital. Flashbacks of Azek surrounded by nurses and doctors trying to save his life, replayed in my mind. These thoughts drained me emotionally. I had done so many things trying to get my mind off my anxiety, but all my efforts to achieve peace of mind proved fruitless. I guess being the soul Bond between family at critical times was exhausting. Despite the settled feeling of comfort and safety, my mind was still roaming, my heart pounding with anxiety about Azek’s condition. I wasn't sure if he had been moved or if he was still at
Azek's POV “Daniel ?” I asked more to myself than him. I tried to sit upright but the intense pain that surged through my body made it difficult to move. My memory will still foggy, the headache intensified, and my stomach twisted with worry. The young man, who had introduced himself as Daniel was a familiar face. But my current mental State didn't allow me to think. According to his introduction, he knew me and my family, so I decided to ask him about Mia. “Where is Mia ?” I asked him, my voice slightly elevated and strained, “you have to tell me where she is”.Daniel gave a loud sigh before answering me and his face laced with worry and concern. “Stop bothering your mind” he said, “you have to be calm” “Why were they hiding Mia's location from me” I asked myself. Everybody kept telling me to be calm. I was gradually getting to the limit of my patience, as all my efforts to get to Mia proved fruitless. Daniel noticed my anger. He glanced at me with hesitation and concern, she
Azek’s POV“What happened to me” was the question I had been asking myself for several days. I tried shaking off the foggy feeling I felt in my head as I woke up. I blinked countless times, but the haze didn’t clear up. My memory was cloudy, making it difficult to remember anything. The more I tried to think, the more intense this throbbing pain I felt at the back of my head. “Where am I” I finally forced some words out of my mouth after what felt like days of being mute. I have never felt such disorientation in my life. I was blind mentally. I opened my eyes and scanned the room. It was dimply lit, and I could barely hear any sound, except the sound of the heart rate monitor attached to me. “Was I in the hospital?” I blinked countless more times, forcing my articulation to come alive. I knew I was still alive, but a part of my brain felt dead. After a couple of minutes of laying still on the bed, my memories started coming in blurred fragments. Faces and actions of different peop
Mia's POV “Mummy, where are we going?” Lewis asked as we began our drive in the car. I sat there, sandwiched between Liam and Lewis. They both stared at me with confused faces. I couldn't bring myself to explain what was happening. I didn't understand fully. All I knew was Chloe intended to take my life. The more I gave the situation some thought, the more I felt a void form in my guts. Daniel had hurriedly whisked us away from the hospital, leaving Azek without any word of explanation and this was unfortunate for him. What if he started looking for us? His condition might worsen due to our absence. “We are going to someplace safe for now, it's not for long. We will see Daddy soon" I explained what was left of my shattered mind to Lewis. The drive was awkwardly quiet, the only dominant sound was the soft humming of the car engine. Liam on the other side of the car was quietly scanning the road Intensely. He behaved like he could sense that something was wrong. I could see him glan
Mia's POV Daniel’s sudden appearance made the room grow in tension. His shaky hands, widened eyes, and standing hair all have off the unnerving heaviness that filled the room. “You all have to leave now !, like immediately move” Daniel exclaimed, breaking the awakened silence that accompanied his entrance. He puffed like he sprinted all the way here. “What do you mean?” I asked Daniel, my voice filled with dread and fear. I'm a split second, my mind raced through the worst scenarios. Daniel's urgency was about Chloe, but he was too unsettled to explain. “Calm down, breathe, and explain to us what you mean,” Natalia said, she was confused by his unusual behavior and words. Daniel took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He closed his eyes and took some time to breathe. He shortly opened his eyes and spoke, this time a bit calmer. “I went to talk with someone who knew Chloe very well – Marcus, he said Chloe is planning something huge and would strike anytime soon. She might com
Mia’s POV “Hey boys, you both need to stop playing around. There are a lot of things you would rather not break in here” I said to Liam and Lewis. They both were playing happily in the wardroom where Azek lay on his sick bed. The tension in the hospital had reduced after the news of the brain scans and Azek’s response to treatment and overall improvement in his health. They seemed a bit happier after they spent some days with Natalia back at the mansion. I watched them play and smile despite the traumatic situation we found ourselves. I glanced at Azek; he, too, was enjoying the sight of the boys playing; I could see him wish he could stand up and join them to play. His eyes were fixed on the boys, and gradually a wide and bright smile grew on his face. It’s been a few days and I still haven’t gotten any word from Daniel. He told me about his plan to look for someone who had valid information about Chloe’s whereabouts. Well, maybe he hasn’t found someone yet. I said to myself, tryi
Daniel's POV I exclaimed out of excitement in my mind, but I held my composure. I couldn't afford to celebrate too Early. We still had bigger fish to fry. “ I need everything! Where is she hiding, who is her possible alias, and what's her next move? I need it all Marcus !" I exclaimed! He leaned forward resting his cuffs on the metal table. I immediately brought out a small jotter and a pen ready to take notes. “ She's been lying low in an abandoned penthouse in the East of town. And as for her next move she's currently spying on Mia and her family at the hospital. She might have sent someone to poison Mia already. She has been talking about me for weeks, and if that doesn't work, she plans to go to the hospital herself,” he revealed. As he spoke, I wrote down every detail I deemed useful. My stomach twisted, and my ears hurt from listening to him. “So how do we get to her, storm the penthouse? Or do we wait for her to show face at the hospital? And how soon do you think she wou