Stockholm Syndrome

23. Reunited

A bit emotional chapter.🥺

           THIRD PERSON'S POV:

Alexander and Sophia held each other's hands tightly as Hades's bodyguard opened the door of the room. Sophia gasped loudly as she looked at the frail figure of her daughter laid on top of blankets. She was asleep and breathing softly. Her face looked sunkened as if she had been starved for weeks. It had been more than three months since they had last seen her and she was almost unrecognisable now.

"Our daughter...", She whispered in a broken voice and Alexander nodded crying softly. Their little princess was there in front of them and they couldn't be happier.

They hurriedly went towards her and kissed her head and sighed when they realised it wasn't a dream and they had found their daughter. They were dying everyday without her and no one was helping them. The helplessness they had felt at that time was something that they won't even wish for their worst enemies.

"Aria...p--rincess. Daddy is here baby. He will p--protect you.", He cried holding her hands and soon found her eyes opening. They both sobbed as their daughter looked at them in bewilderment.

"M-ommy....daddy.", she whispered shocked and they both nodded hugging her tightly.

"Y--you're here? You found me?", She cried hugging them even tighter incase they disappear.

"Yes, baby. We are here and w-we aren't leaving you again for a second.", Sophia sobbed rubbing her back.

"Mum..please take me w--ith you..I d---don't like it here..please.", she cried holding their hands.

"Yes, yes, baby...shh stop crying...", Alexander cooed picking her up and onto his lap just like he used to when she was a little girl.

"Daddy...", She sobbed pushing her face into his neck as he rocked her slowly.

"Yes, sweetheart.. I'm here now. I'm not leaving you here princess.", He promised patting her back as she hiccuped.

"When did you eat last Ari?", Her mother asked worried touching her forehead making her sniffle.

"Are you hurt baby? You can tell us.", She whispered kissing her head but she just shook her head and hugged her father more firmly. What if Hades hurt her parents? She won't let him do that.

Her inner self mocked her hearing it. How could she save them when she couldn't save herself?

"Shhh stop crying, my baby.", Sophia cooed rubbing her back as tears escaped her eyes. They held each other talking when the knock at the door separated them. Helen was standing there with a tray full of food. She slowly put the tray on the side table and looked at the parents of the sweet girl. She didn't even want to think what might have happened to her.

"Here's some food for you sweetheart. I've made some extra for your parents so start eating quickly.", She said smiling making Aria nod stiffly while Sophia thanked her.

Alexander picked up a spoon and fed her some soup. Her eyes stayed teary as her parents made her eat slowly while peppering her with kisses and sweet words. At that moment, she realised their importance in her life. She was almost dead without them but now everything seem to be fine.

Hades looked at the camera recording and relaxed once Aria started eating. Even if it was a few bites, it was still better than her starving. He could hear them talking about their plans of going on a vacation away from him but could he let her go? Maybe for a few days?

He wanted to go and feel her warmth around himself. But he didn't want to trigger her so he just sat and watched her through his laptop.

"How is Ryan?", Aria asked with a small smile over her face. He must be missing her too. They were each other's best friends and loved each other to no bounds.

"He misses you and talks about you every second. We had gone to the police so many times that we lost the count and then suddenly, a few days ago, they said that your kidnapper was found. When we reached the police station, you weren't there and they lied to us saying that they couldn't find you.", Her father said as his nose flared in anger. His hands trembled and Aria clutched his hand and rubbed its back.

"It's okay daddy. I'm okay.", She said in a not so convincing tone making him frown. His daughter had gone through so much and still she was as strong as he remembered. She was the sunshine of their home, always smiling and always chirping.

Sophia smiled and looked for a comb to detangle her daughter's hair. She knew that she loved getting her hair done by her.

"Just a second hun.", She whispered before taking her hand out of aria's tight grip. She picked up a comb and came back to bed making Aria smile. Her eyes were getting closed due to exhaustion so she quickly did her hair and put them into braids while humming a soft tune. Aria fought the sleep that was trying to consume her. She didn't want to wake up and found her parents gone leaving her in this hellhole.

"Sleep princess. We will be here when you wake up.", Her father said laying her down and kissing her forehead lovingly followed by her mother. She was safe in her parents arms and that was all she needed to go to a peaceful sleep after so many days.

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Hello!!!!!

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Love
Himanshi ❣️