happy never after

Chapter seven

Now

Jaden

I retrieve my phone with practiced ease, fingers dancing across the screen as I craft a message to my father, a terse missive that skirts the edges of deception. "She's not here," the words materialize on the digital canvas, a delicate interplay of half-truths and evasions. Yet, concealed within the fib lies a kernel of truth—Madelyn's true destination lies far beyond the confines of our current location. 

Prague. The word lingers in the recesses of my mind, I saw it in her eyes when i brought it up. Despite my efforts to shield her from harm, her response was not one of gratitude, but of aggression—a betrayal that left me reeling in its wake. 

But I refuse to play the role of the martyr, sacrificing my own safety for the sake of her fleeting affections. If she seeks to dance upon the precipice of danger, then she'll do so alone. I'm done shielding her from the consequences of her actions. From this moment on, she'll find herself in the crosshairs of my vigilance, she has underestimated the lengths to which I will go to ensure my own survival.

Prague had a way of swallowing you whole if you weren't careful. Its cobblestone streets whispered secrets of centuries past, and its ancient buildings held stories untold. But for me, Jaden, and my dad, it wasn't about the charm of the city. We were here for one reason only: to find Madelyn.

Dad and I had been on the road for what felt like forever, chasing leads and following whispers across Europe, We arrived in the city under the cover of darkness, slipping into our rented apartment in the heart of the old town. Dad insisted on keeping a low profile, blending in with the crowds, and avoiding any unnecessary attention.

For the next four days, we combed the streets of Prague, our eyes scanning faces in the hope of catching a glimpse of Madelyn. We visited cafes and parks, shadowed alleyways, and bustling markets. But each lead turned out to be a dead end, each sighting a false alarm.

As the days passed, frustration gnawed at me. I could see the weariness in Dad's eyes too, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. But he never wavered, never lost hope. And I tried to hold on to that, even when it felt like we were chasing ghosts. Though we both wanted to find her for different reasons, we still had a common goal. 

On the fifth day, I hit a breaking point. We were standing in the square, surrounded by tourists snapping photos and vendors hawking their wares, and I couldn't shake the feeling of hopelessness. I turned to Dad, ready to suggest calling it quits, but the look in his eyes stopped me.

"We can't give up, Jaden," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Not yet. We owe it to the agency to keep looking."

His words struck a chord deep within me, reigniting the fire of determination that had begun to flicker. With a nod, I squared my shoulders and forced myself to focus. We had come too far to give up now.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      For the next week, we doubled down on our efforts, exploring every corner of Prague with renewed fervor. I lost track of time as we followed leads and chased down rumors, the days blurring together into a haze of anticipation and exhaustion.

And then, just when I was beginning to lose hope once again, I saw her. Madelyn. She was walking down a narrow alley, her head bowed and her shoulders tense. My heart leaped into my throat as I watched her disappear around a corner, and without thinking, I took off after her.