Smoke and Mirrors

𝕊𝕞𝕠𝕜𝕖 22

Lucian's

     I leaned back in my chair, my head spinning with a mixture of sickness and worry. I had been bedridden with a severe flu yesterday when I received a devastating news.

Hindi kasama ang dalawa nang umuwi sila Enzo. Umiiyak si Amanda at ang unang buka ng bibig niya sa akin ay nawawala sina Claude at si Skye.

I slammed my hands on the table, but quickly clutched my head as pain shot through my temples. I could feel the feverish heat coursing through my body. Sumasabay ang sakit ko sa problema ko ngayon.

"I can't wait for another hour. Do whatever it takes, even if it's unconventional, to get me that footage. Now!"

My heart's pounded as my thought of Skye and Claude out there, alone and possibly in danger.  Sa ganitong pagkakataon, bawat segundo at minuto ay mahalaga.

"Lucian, kailangan mong kumalma," pananalita ni Mama.

"Kumalma? Paano ako kakalma kung hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang dalawa!"

"May sakit ka. At kung bibigay ang katawan mo, mas mahihirapan kaming maghanap sa kanila," paliwanag ni Mama.

I paused to take a deep breath, waiting for updates from my team as they gathered information to help us and searched for potential locations where we might find them.

"This is my fault," I looked at Amanda. She was still crying. Mama comforting her by placing a hand on her back. "Kung hindi sana ako nagpumilit pa bumili ng gamit ni Skye, hindi mangyayari ito."

"It is not your fault. None of this is. We'll find Skye. Asvin, Lucian and his team are doing everything they can."

For now, I didn't want to blame anyone. I just wanted to focus on finding Skye and Claude. Their safety was my top priority.

"Any idea who could have done this, Lucian?" Dad asked.

Too many to mention. May kaaway akong pulis, abogado, politiko, at kung sino-sino pa dahil sa uri ng trabaho ko. If I accused anyone, I needed evidence to prove they were responsible of this situation.

I closed my eyes and think another reason who could have done this when I heard the sound of the front door of my office. I saw Kuya Asvin entered, his faced overshadowed by concern, but with determination.

"I got the surveillance footage," he said, wasting no time in setting up the laptop and pulling up the footage.