CHAPTER 6

"What is this place?" I whispered aloud, my voice trembling with disbelief and fear. The noise of traffic hummed in the background, a stark contrast to the silence I had endured for so long. My mind raced, trying to grasp the enormity of my situation. Where was I supposed to begin in this unfamiliar city?

I wiped the tears from my face, steeling myself against the overwhelming sense of disorientation. Every passing car seemed like a potential threat, every pedestrian a possible informant. I needed to find safety to find help—but I had no idea where to start.

With a shaky breath, I began walking, keeping to the shadows and avoiding eye contact with anyone who passed. The city seemed endless, its streets winding and twisting like a labyrinth. I felt small and vulnerable amidst the towering buildings and bustling crowds.

As I walked, I searched for any sign of familiarity—a street name, a landmark, anything that could orient me. But every corner turned revealed more unfamiliar territory. The weight of my situation pressed down on me, threatening to crush my resolve.

I kept my head down, my eyes scanning for any sign of familiarity. But the towering buildings and endless sea of strangers only deepened my sense of isolation. Panic threatened to overtake me again, and I had to remind myself to keep moving, to find a police station for help.

As I turned a corner, a soft voice broke through the cacophony of city sounds. "Excuse me, are you alright?"

I looked up sharply, my heart pounding. A woman stood before me, holding the hand of a small girl. Her eyes were filled with concern, her expression kind.

I hesitated, taking a step back. Could she be trusted? What if she was one of them? But the child by her side gave me pause. She seemed harmless, a regular person just trying to help.

"Do you need help?" she asked gently, her gaze never wavering.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Yes," I managed to say, my voice trembling. "Can you tell me where I am? What city is this?"

She looked at me with a mix of confusion and concern. "This is Chicago," she said. "Are you lost?"

Chicago. The name hit me like a punch to the gut. I had no idea how far I was from home, but it was clear that I was in an entirely different world from the one I knew.

"Please, I need to make a phone call," I said, desperation creeping into my voice. "Can I use your phone?"

Without hesitation, she handed me her phone. The gesture felt almost surreal, a stark contrast to the hostility I’d been immersed in. I took it with shaky hands and quickly dialled Gabriel's number, my heart hammering in my chest.

The phone rang, each ring echoing louder in my ears. No answer. I tried again, but it was the same. The silence on the other end of the line felt like a void ready to swallow me whole.

Desperation clawed at me as I dialled Ethan's number. Again, there is no answer. My mind raced with terrifying possibilities. Why weren't they picking up? What had happened to them?

I dialled Matthew's number next. The phone rang once, twice, three times. Just as I was about to lose hope, the call connected.

"Matt!" I cried out, relief flooding through me. "It's Arianna. I need your help, please—"

Before I could continue, the line went dead. The abrupt end to the call sent a chill down my spine. Something was wrong. Someone else had made him end the call.

Tears filled my eyes as I handed the phone back to the woman. "Thank you," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "But I need to keep moving."

She looked at me with sympathy, clearly wanting to offer more assistance. "Are you sure? You look like you need serious help—possibly medical attention.”

I shook my head, forcing a weak smile. "I'll be fine."

As I took a step to continue, she gently grabbed my arm, her eyes now looking down at my bare feet and then up at my swollen belly.

"Wait," she said softly, her concern evident. "You can't walk around the city like this. Just give me one minute."

"I really need to keep moving," I began, but she cut me off.

"Please, let me help you. You can't walk around the city with bare feet in that condition," she said, gesturing to my belly.

Before I could protest further, she turned and hurried away, leaving me alone with her daughter. Who in the world leaves their child with strangers? I wondered.

In less than a minute, she returned, her arms laden with items. She handed me a pair of black sneakers, a warm throw, and a bottle of freshly squeezed juice.

"Here," she said, pressing the items into my hands. "Put these on and drink this. You'll need your strength."

I accepted the sneakers and the throw but held the juice out to her. "Thank you, but I really can't—"

She frowned, her concern deepening. "I bought the juice because you look like you haven't eaten anything. It's not safe for the baby."

I opened my mouth to insist I wasn't hungry, but my eyes instinctively turned to her daughter, who was looking at me warily. With a soft sigh, I uncapped the bottle and drank. As the cool liquid slid down my throat, I realized just how parched I was. The juice was sweet and refreshing, and before I knew it, I had finished the entire bottle.

"Thank you," I murmured. I quickly put on the shoes, which fit perfectly, and the warm throw around my shoulders. "I need to keep moving," I said, turning to leave.

I only took a few steps before thinking to ask her for directions to the police station, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. Before I knew it, I collapsed into what felt like a man's hands.

When I woke up, I found myself on a park bench. Blinking, I looked around at my surroundings and realized I was in my hometown. I jolted upright when I recognized the park, it's near my house. Uncertain, I pinched myself hard, but the pain confirmed I wasn't dreaming.

Without thinking of anything else, I bolted from the park bench, my only thought was to confide in my brothers. I sprinted through the familiar streets, the surroundings a blur as I focused on one destination: home. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my heart pounded in my chest. The world seemed to narrow down to the path before me, every step taking me closer to the one place I knew I’d be safe.

I reached my house, my vision blurry from tears and exhaustion. I knocked on the door frantically, my fists pounding against the wood. Seconds felt like hours, but finally, the door swung open to reveal Ethan standing there.

“Ethan!” I sobbed the sight of my brother overwhelming me. I threw myself into his arms, the relief of seeing him making my knees weak. “Ethan, I—” my words were cut short by him as he pulled me off him, his eyes dropping to my belly. Disappointment and disgust clouded his features, a look I had never seen directed at me before.

Before I could explain myself, Ethan turned and walked back inside as if he didn't want to see me or hear what I had to say. I followed, my heart pounding. I entered the living room and saw my other two brothers, Matthew and Gabriel. My relief was short-lived as my eyes landed on the man who had put me in this situation.

"Hello, wife," he said, rising from the couch and walking towards me with a smirk. "We've been waiting for you."