Captivated Desires

36

As days stretched into a week, the tension in the house reached a breaking point. The team had been working tirelessly, following every lead, every whisper in the underworld. But they were no closer to finding me.

Reign, meanwhile, was unravelling. His usual composed facade was beginning to crack, his worry and anger starting to show in his every move and expression. He barely slept, and barely ate, his mind consumed by the fear of the unknown.

The kids were constantly asking for me, their young faces full of worry and confusion. They sensed something was wrong, but no one had the heart to tell them the truth. They were all in limbo, waiting for news, for a sign, or anything that could bring me back safe.

The team had exhausted nearly every lead, every possible hideout or location where they might be keeping me. But it was like I had vanished into thin air. Each dead end only further fueled Reign's anxiety and the team's frustration.

One evening, as they were all gathered for yet another brainstorming session, Azar spoke up. "We need to think outside the box," he said, his tone grave. "Whoever took Reina clearly planned this out meticulously. They wouldn't risk staying in a known hideaway. We need to think like them."

The others nodded, their expressions grim. They knew he was right, but it felt like a near-impossible task. The underworld was vast and complex. Thinking like a criminal mastermind, especially one with no clear motive or face, was daunting.

On the other part of town, the room was dark, a single dim light from a dirty bulb the only source of illumination. There was no furniture, no windows, nothing to indicate where I was. The only sound was the steady drip of water, echoing through the cold, bare space.

My wrists and ankles were bound with rope, and my clothes seemed a little more dishevelled than usual. There was a faint bruise on my cheek and a few other signs that I had been through something traumatic.

I was left alone for what felt like hours, the silence only broken by the occasional sound of footsteps or voices from outside the room. It was impossible to guess how long I'd been there or what would happen next. The uncertainty was almost as terrifying as the situation itself. 

The door to the room suddenly creaked open, and a man entered, the light from the hallway behind him casting dark shadows on his face. He was tall and bulky, his expression hard and unfeeling. He approached me and squatted in front of me, studying me with a cold, calculating gaze. "Awake, are we?" he said, his voice rough and unpleasant.

"No I'm asleep," I answered sharply. The man chuckled, a menacing, predatory sound. "Smart mouth, I see," he said, grabbing my chin roughly and forcing me to look at him. "You'll be more cooperative soon enough," he continued, leaning in close to my face, his breath warm against my cheek. "Or we'll see how long that attitude of yours lasts."

He held me like that for another few seconds, his eyes searching my face as if looking for something. Then he pushed me back, standing up again. "For now, be a good girl and stay put," he said, his tone mocking.

"Untie my wrists,". The man smirked at my request, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And why should I do that?" he said, his voice silky smooth. 

"Then I'll be good," I replied. The man considered my words for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then he shrugged. "Alright," he said, "But you make one move, try to run or shout, and things will get a whole lot more unpleasant. Understood?"

"Understood,". He knelt next to me again, pulling a knife from a sheath on his belt. He grabbed one of my wrists, holding it still so he could cut through the rope bindings with the knife. The rope fell away, and I felt immediate relief from the tightness of the binding. However, the man didn't let go, his fingers still wrapped around my wrist. "Remember," he said, his tone dangerous, "No funny business."

He untied the other rope, and then grabbed my shoulders, helping me to stand up. The movement sent a jolt of pain through my legs, and I stumbled slightly. The man chuckled softly, clearly amused by my discomfort. "Careful, princess," he said, steadying me. "Don't go falling on me now, we're just getting started."

He held onto my arm, steering me over towards the door. The corridor outside was dark, with only a few bare light bulbs spaced out along the low ceiling. He led me out of the room, closing and locking the door behind me. 

The corridor seemed to stretch on endlessly. There were other doors along it, each shut and giving no clue as to what was behind it. My captor began walking, his grip on my arms firm, keeping me by his side.

There was no sound apart from my footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. The air was cold and damp, the atmosphere making me tense. I had no idea where he was taking me or what he had planned.

As I and the ominous man walked down the corridor, I managed to discreetly press down on my necklace. Despite my captor's firm grip on my arm and his hawk-like gaze on me, he remained unaware of the silent signal I'd sent out.

Meanwhile, far away, the signal was received by Reign. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what it meant. I was sending my location. This small flicker of hope was enough to reignite the fire within him. He had been on edge for days, his mind consumed with worry and frustration. But now, he had something concrete, something to act on. A location.

Azar had been talking with the rest of the team, discussing potential leads. They were all tense, their faces etched with worry. But suddenly, Reign's expression changed, his eyes going wide as a look of hope and determination flashed across his face.