Heading back, Yaslyn and Xoan found Tyler and Zyra had sparked up a roaring fire with the twigs they had found."You two okay? What took so long?"Zyra rushed over, giving Yaslyn the once-over, relieved to see they were fine."Don't wander off too far for firewood next time. We've got plenty here.""Sure thing," Yaslyn replied with a smile.They added their twigs to the pile and joined the others by the fire. As the flames danced, they chatted and enjoyed their grilled fish.Xoan, beer in hand, nudged Tyler. "So, when are you two tying the knot?"Zyra blushed at the question. "Oh, marriage? That's a way off. I'm just getting my career off the ground, and Tyler's firm is brand new...""I never said we were rushing things," Tyler said with a dismissive edge to his voice."But I'm only twenty-two. Isn't it a bit early to think about marriage?" Zyra's voice betrayed her underlying fear. "Besides, I'm not ready.""Don't worry, I'll give you all the time you need." Tyler dropped th
Why was a cigarette butt in the ladies' room?Yaslyn's mind raced to a conclusion: Zyra's abductor had to be a man—or maybe several men.Xoan picked up the butt and inspected it closely, only to shake his head. "This brand's too common. Doubt we'll get anything from it."Yaslyn disagreed, wrapping the butt in a tissue with meticulous care. "But we can get DNA from this. I'll find out who he is."Xoan gave her an approving look. "So, we head back for the DNA test now?"Yaslyn's brow creased in thought. "No, that'll waste time. I'll call Wade. He can meet us and take the sample for analysis. We'll keep searching for Zyra."Xoan's eyes scanned the ground. The recent rain had left a slick of mud, and in it was a set of faint footprints."Could be our guy's tracks." Yaslyn crouched down and studied them. She had picked up a thing or two about tracking from an old detective abroad and felt confident in her hunch: Zyra's kidnappers were likely two tall men, both over 1.8 meters.After
Zyra stared at the treacherous mountain path ahead, and her mind was flooded with scenes from novels she had read. One story, in particular, haunted her: a college girl kidnapped to a remote village and was forced into marriage with a local man. She bore his children and lived a nightmare chained in a pigsty.A shiver ran down Zyra's spine. Could that be her fate?Beside her kidnapper, Zyra trembled with fear.However, the man escorting them only chuckled softly. "Relax, kiddo," he spoke in a deceptively calm tone. "I'm here. You have nothing to worry about." His words, however, did little to alleviate Zyra's anxiety. Instead, they highlighted the helplessness of her situation.She was powerless, and she only prayed that Yaslyn and the others would find her soon. As the danger grew, so did her longing for Tyler. Regret taunted her foolishness. Why had she insisted on separating from Yaslyn? If only they stayed together, none of this would have happened.The journey seemed endless.
Guided by Lila, Mr. Wafford's eyes slowly found their way to Zyra who stood to the far left."Look at her—those eyes and that nose. She's a beauty, no doubt about it. I'd bet her family's loaded, the way she's all soft and pampered," the old woman said, propping up her hand and leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Between you and me, she'd take you to heaven and back in the bedroom, and you'd never get enough."Zyra shuddered slightly at the introduction.Mr. Wafford gave a noncommittal nod, his expression unreadable, as still as a pond.The other men, watching the old woman fawn over Mr. Wafford while ignoring them, felt a twinge of jealousy. "Lila, we get that Mr. Wafford's your favorite, but come on, don't play favorites," they grumbled.They all noticed the stunning girl on the left. Without her, the other two girls would stand out more. Next to her, they paled in comparison.Lila shot a fierce look at the grumbling men behind her. "What are you on about? Mr. Wafford picks firs
"No, that won't be necessary. Just untie them. I'll take them back myself."Mr. Wafford barely finished speaking when his gaze landed on the girl passed out to his right, his brow creasing ever so slightly. "Actually, could you take the one on the right over for me?"Lila's smile widened as she nodded eagerly. "Sure, sure, whatever you say."Just like that, the ordeal seemed to fade away like a bad dream. Zyra's wrists and ankles were freed, and the girl next to her was likewise liberated. "Thank you," Zyra whispered, her voice barely above a breath.The other girl, however, barely reacted, her eyes void of any real gratitude. She simply stretched her wrists and stood motionless.With a sigh of relief, Zyra took the chance to really look at the girl before her. She had a short, practical haircut and a plain but pleasant face, exuding an air that felt oddly familiar to Zyra, though she could not quite understand why."Don't worry, you're all coming with me."Mr. Wafford was not o
Zyra's voice had risen too high on the word 'cop,' and panic flickered across Sabina's face."Shh, not so loud!"Zyra caught herself, remembering they were still in the heart of the village where walls could have ears."Can you fill me in on your plan?"The realization that Mr. Wafford was the key ally working on both sides bolstered Zyra's spirits."I can't share the details of the plan with you just yet. You figured out that I'm a cop and already threw a wrench in my work."Sabina trusted that the genuine girl before her would not mess up her plans. However, secrets were secrets, not to be shared lightly.Zyra got the hint and kept quiet.Moments later, Mr. Wafford swung the door open and stepped in. He caught the knowing looks between the two and let out a surprised chuckle."Mr. Wafford, this girl figured out I'm a cop."Mr. Wafford was not taken aback. "She's always had a sharp mind. It's no shock she figured it out."Zyra shivered at his words. "What do you mean 'alway
"Life imitates art, doesn't it? This story's got to be drawn from reality." Yaslyn ran her fingers along the bark of a roadside poplar, convinced. "Your buddy must've been here."Xoan's brow furrowed with concern. "Haven't spoken to him in ages. Let's see if I can still get through."He fished out his phone, but the mountain signal was a lost cause. They moved closer to a signal tower before finally snagging a connection.Staring at the number he knew all too well, Xoan made the call.A moment passed before a voice answered. "Hey, Xoan. What's up?" The voice was steady, detached.Xoan's brow furrowed. "That book of yours, 'Village Wilderness'—where did the idea come from?"The question caught the person across from him off-guard, a flicker of confusion crossing their face. "What made you think to ask about that?""A friend of ours was taken to a mountain village that's the spitting image of the one in your story."The revelation seemed to drain the color from the voice on the o
It was a very tricky situation they had to deal with.Colt could not risk Zyra's life on a hunch, so he shelved the plan.Amid their conversation, Zyra's eyes fluttered open. Rising, she stepped outside to a sight that overwhelmed her. Xoan and Yaslyn were here!Tears streamed down her cheeks. "How did you all get here?!"She had expected Yaslyn to find her eventually, but not this quickly."We're here to bring you home," Yaslyn said, affectionately tousling Zyra's hair. "You've been okay here?""I'm all good. Colt's been decent to me." Zyra offered a tentative smile. "So, we're heading back today?"Yaslyn was about to confirm when Colt's earlier words echoed in her mind, leaving her momentarily tongue-tied.Zyra's sharp eyes caught the flicker of hesitation. "Something's up, isn't it?"Yaslyn gave her a troubled look. "Colt mentioned he needs your help, but it's risky. We're not sure if we should even ask."Zyra blinked, surprised, then brushed it off with a light-hearted re
Whitey glanced back and forth between them, shaking her head. "You two are a mystery."Suddenly, Doniel stood and waved Whitey over. "Hey, Whitey. Come here for a second."Confused but compliant, Whitey walked over.In a swift move, Doniel took her hand. With a smug look at Matheo, he announced, "I'm taking Whitey off your hands for a bit."Matheo's expression turned steely. "What's your game?""Don't sweat it, she'll be back soon."With that, Doniel led Whitey out.They reached a more secluded spot before Doniel finally released her hand. "Whitey, you're not hurt, right?"Whitey shook her head, twirling in front of him to prove her point. "See? I'm totally fine."Doniel reached out and gently tapped her forehead. "Someone hit you, didn't they? Your face is still swollen, and here you are, telling me it's nothing."Whitey playfully stuck out her tongue. "I just didn't want you to worry. Besides, I'm not the one who got seriously hurt. It was Matheo.""I know. Matheo really d
"Don't make that call!" Whitey screamed in a panic.A harsh slap struck her face as the ringleader yelled, "Shut it, woman! Who said you could talk?"The man, not satisfied after hitting her, gave in to his fury and kicked her. However, before he knew it, Matheo, who was standing nearby, had silently moved behind him. Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed as Matheo snapped the man's fingers with raw force.Matheo wrapped his arms around Whitey and quickly retreated."I can't take it! I'm done. I don't want anything else. Just do it!"The ringleader was seething with rage, the throbbing in his fingers ruining his will to fight Matheo.A few thugs had been itching for a reason to go after Matheo, and they wasted no time grabbing their weapons and launching an assault.Matheo fought back while dragging Whitey out of harm's way, but as the fight dragged on, he started losing ground.A vicious knife cut to Matheo's leg sent him tumbling down with a grunt."Matheo!"Whitey crouched beside
Whitey shook her head. She did not have a clue, and even if she could guess, she did not know what to do about it."I was actually about to..."Before Matheo could finish, a deafening crash rang out.Startled, Whitey clapped her hands over her ears. Matheo wrapped her in his arms and glanced at the rear window.A random stone had shattered the car's back glass, leaving a gaping hole.The chaos erupted out of nowhere, catching both of them off guard. They had been deep in conversation when suddenly, a line of cars barricaded the road, trapping them.Matheo gently patted her head, a silent plea for calm.Whitey, frantic, nodded and fumbled for her phone, only to find it had mysteriously powered down."Stay put in the car and don't worry," Matheo said, handing her his phone."If things go south, call the cops, call anyone."He was ready to step out and face the unknown threat head-on.Whitey protested. "Matheo, we don't know what we're dealing with. Don't just rush out there."
Whitey was back to her usual routine—classes by day, radio station by night. However, she had a luxury she did not have previously. A private car service, ensuring her safety was never in question.Doniel's lips were sealed, not breathing a word of her injury to anyone. Except for Matheo, who had somehow stumbled upon the secret.That night, after her radio gig, Whitey stepped out expecting to see the familiar pink sports car tucked away in its usual spot. However, it was nowhere in sight.Moreover, he had not even bothered to call her. A knot of worry formed in her stomach. Did something happen to him?Whitey had called his number three, maybe four times, but got nothing.As she was wrestling with her thoughts, a familiar yet unsettling figure approached her.Matheo.Why was he there?Nobody knew about Whitey's job at the radio station except Doniel."Doniel's tied up today, so I'm your ride," Matheo said.Alarm bells rang in Whitey's head. How did Matheo know about Doniel
The nurse nodded, gesturing for Doniel to give them some space.Once the bandaging was complete, Doniel returned with a treat—Whitey's beloved chocolate cupcakes."For you. Why didn't you say it hurt? He was so rough, and yet you asked me not to hold it against him."Whitey, her mouth full of frosting, mumbled a reply. "It's not that bad. Besides, you two are usually on good terms. Why fight over pointless things because of me?"Doniel tapped her head gently. "You're such a goof. What are you even talking about? Meaningless things?""I just thought that you two grew up together, so it'd be a shame to fall out over something so small, right?"Doniel huffed, "I never really cared for him, you know.""Okay, let's figure out a plan B. This mess means I might be stuck in the hospital longer, so I'm counting on you to smooth things over back home."Doniel looked at her with a teasing grin. "Relax, I've got this."Somehow, Whitey could always pick up a strange vibe from his smile, an
Whitey was injured, and Doniel rushed her to the hospital that very night. It was just a slash on her arm, but Doniel was beside himself with worry.Watching Whitey grit her teeth through the stitching, Doniel's face turned a shade of stormy gray. "I'll track down that driver's family if it's the last thing I do!"Whitey winced in pain, but seeing Doniel's fury, she tried to soothe him. "Really, it's not so bad."Doniel looked at her bandaged arm. "Thirteen stitches, Whitey. If you're not in pain, I'm in pain for both of us."Whitey was always the center of attention—a princess who was doted on from the day she was born. She had never experienced an injury as severe as that. As Doniel reached for his phone to call Whitey's parents, she quickly stopped him with a hand gesture, wincing as she accidentally grazed her wound, "Please don't call them. They'll just scold me again if they find out.""I told you to let me drive you home. Now, look at what happened because you didn't li
Whitey gripped the edge of her skirt, a new kind of worry blooming in her chest.'What if Matheo was…'She shuddered at the thought, her mind a garden where fears grew into giant oaks, so tall and dark that they scared her.Looking up again, Whitey's eyes widened as she noticed the taxi had taken a wrong turn, heading into unfamiliar territory.In the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of the driver's unsettling smirk.Taking a cab late at night was proving to be a bad idea, her heart racing with fear. If only she had accepted a ride from Doniel, none of that would happen. Regret washed over her as she scrambled for her phone, desperate to call for help.Sensing her panic, the driver floored it to a secluded spot and then abruptly stopped the car.Whitey's head snapped forward, hitting the seat, and as the world spun, her phone slipped from her grasp. Then, the driver was toying with her phone, his grin wide and wicked."Planning to call the cops or a friend, sweetheart?""
As time swiftly marched on, three years went by.Whitey nailed her entrance exam into the top university in Jefferson City—Jefferson City University.As for the others, Caleb turned 30, tied the knot, had kids, and took control of Sheldon's international ventures. He and his family packed up and moved overseas, while the rest stayed back."Thanks for tuning into 'Moonlit Wishes,' your go-to spot for all things heartfelt. I'm your host, Macie."At the stroke of ten, Macie's soothing voice filled the evening airwaves."Let's hear from our first caller tonight. Hey there, sir, what's on your mind?"Macie's voice was soothing, soft yet strong enough to coax secrets from the most guarded of hearts."Here's the thing, Macie. I've been head over heels for this girl, but she's always kept me at arm's length, saying I haven't done enough. However, today, I caught her in another guy's arms. What gives?"The man's voice quivered with barely concealed tears, slurred slightly by alcohol.M
"So, just because you're into him, you decide to set me up? How does that make any sense?"Whitey could not help but find her logic almost laughable."Because I noticed he always had a soft spot for you, jealousy clouded my judgment, and that's why I..."Jade inhaled deeply, as if bracing herself for what was to come. "Well, you've uncovered the truth, so there's no point in hiding anything. Punish me however you see fit."What was the point in pleading guilty then?Jade stood there, a mix of defiance and dignity, stubborn even in the face of her mistake.Whitey was not looking to lay blame. "I'm not going to take this to the principal, and I won't breathe a word of it to anyone else. However, as of today, our friendship is done. I'll find a new place to sit when we get back."Whitey let out a tired sigh. "There's something else you should know. He's got a girlfriend now."Jade's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, are you two an item now?""No, I'm not the one he's dating."Wi