Enchanted

Prologue

One year can change a lot.

Everyone knows this. But none of them could have imagined that this year would be so brutal, so unforgiving. Everything is out of balance now, and no one knows how to keep the pieces from falling apart.

Arabella's family is like a tower of building blocks—once stacked high with strength and love—now shattered across the floor, scattered and unable to come back together.

Vincent has lost his youngest child. Again. And he can't stop blaming himself. He didn't put enough protection on her. He should've known better, should've been more cautious—especially after what happened in the past. He told himself he learned his lesson back then. But now, looking at the empty chair she once filled, he realizes he didn't learn fast enough.

Alejandro works like hell to get his baby sister back, but somewhere along the way, the weight begins to crush him too. Maybe it's not just losing Arabella. Maybe it's the pressure of everything—years of responsibility, grief, and guilt finally choking the life out of him. And in the middle of it all, there's a line of white dust across his desk. A temptation. An escape. He stares at it for a moment before leaning down and breathing in its cold, numbing relief.

Lorenzo and Antonio are no better. In trying to hold what's left of the family together, they throw themselves into the needs of others, always answering every call, always showing up. But in doing so, they forget themselves. They stop eating. They stop sleeping. Just in case someone needs them. Lorenzo notices Antonio fading and pulls him back from the edge, forcing his little brother to take care of himself. But he forgets his own limits, doesn't care when he collapses in the hallway, or mid-activity, or in the solace of his room—his body shutting down from neglect, the only reminder that he'd forgotten to eat, yet again. As though he believes, he doesn't matter as long as everyone else is okay.

Then there's Xavier and Luca—the two brothers known for their light, their humor, their ability to brighten any room. But now, it's like someone flipped a switch. The laughter is gone. What's left is rage, cold and unforgiving. They aren't here to joke anymore. They're here to fight. To go to war against the Russians who took their baby sister. So they train. Constantly. Even in their sleep, their minds are wired to react, to listen for any sound that doesn't belong.

Xander chooses a different path. While the others change or break, he goes silent. He used to avoid the pills—they made him numb, stripped away the feelings he clung to so tightly. But now, he embraces them. Not because he wants to feel nothing, but because he hates feeling everything. Without Arabella—his tether, his mirror, his reason—what's the point of letting anything in? The pain is too much, too loud. So he swallows the numbness, day after day, until even the silence inside his chest feels better than the ache.

And the worst part is... that's still not everyone.

Arabella's friends—the ones she loved like family—they're unraveling too. A year has passed, and somehow, they graduate. But barely. Dominic, once at the top of every game, barely scrapes by. School doesn't matter anymore. Nothing matters but finding Arabella. He misses assignments, misses tests—he even misses graduation day. Never walks the stage. Never hears his name called. Because all he can hear, all he can think, is her name.

Vivian sees him fading. She watches her brother spiral—alcohol replacing sleep, misery choking every word. She tries to help. Tries to reach him. But he won't listen. He won't talk. The only things he ever says anymore are about Arabella. Or a quiet, cold "fuck you."

Arabella is gone.

But not for long.

They'll get her back. No matter what it costs.

Author's Note

The prologue! Yes, this is a one year time jump. I wanted to change things up a little. And I wanted the characters to have a different sort of contrast than from earlier due to Arabella's kidnapping.

It was heartbreaking to write this brief description of how everyone's struggling but I want to go into more depth throughout the story of these challenges that people face everyday. Alcohol, drugs, and even ignoring your own feelings are different ways people cope though some cane be more harmful than others.

This is why I thought it would be important to include that as well and give each character more to them that others may or may not be able to relate to.

Next chapter will be posted as well.

Bye baes