FROM FRIENDS TO MORE || Gavi x Pedri

Chapter 31 :: White van

The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, a welcome change from the stifling heat of the day. Gavi, his cleats slung over his shoulder, strolled down the quiet street, enjoying the solitude after a grueling training session. He hummed a tunelessly, his mind replaying the last play, the near-miss goal, the frustration of yet another missed opportunity. He needed to clear his head, to let the day's events fade into the background, to find the calm that would allow him to refocus.

A white van, parked haphazardly a few houses down, caught his eye. It looked out of place, a jarring note in the otherwise picturesque neighborhood. Gavi paused, his curiosity piqued. He wasn't one to be easily deterred, especially when it came to exploring the unknown. He took a few steps closer, his gaze drawn to the open back doors. He could see a shadowy figure inside, their face obscured by the darkness.

"Hey," Gavi called out, his voice a little too loud in the stillness. The figure turned, a flash of white teeth in the dim light. Gavi felt a chill run down his spine. Something felt off, wrong, and he knew he should turn back. But before he could even take a step, a hand clamped over his mouth, stifling his scream.

The world dissolved into a dizzying blur of movement and muffled sounds. He was being dragged, his feet stumbling on the uneven pavement, his body pulled forward by an unseen force. He struggled, kicking and flailing, but his efforts were futile. The men were strong, their grip firm and unrelenting. He was thrown into the back of the van, landing with a thud on the cold metal floor. The doors slammed shut, plunging him into darkness.

Panic clawed at his throat, a cold, icy grip that squeezed the air from his lungs. He thrashed against the confines of the van, his heart pounding against his ribs, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could hear muffled voices, the rumble of the engine, the sound of tires on asphalt. He was being taken somewhere, but where? And why?

The van lurched to a stop, the sudden silence amplifying the pounding of his heart. The doors creaked open, and a wave of stale air, thick with the smell of sweat and gasoline, washed over him. He was pulled out, his feet hitting the ground with a thud. He was dragged through a dark, narrow passageway, his head bumping against rough stone walls.

He was thrown into a small, windowless room, the air thick with the smell of mildew and something else, something metallic and sharp. The only light came from a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long, distorted shadows on the concrete walls. He was in a basement, a cold, damp cell.

He slumped to the floor, his body trembling with a mixture of fear and exhaustion. He was alone, trapped, with no way to know what awaited him. He tried to scream, to call for help, but his voice was a mere whisper, swallowed by the oppressive silence of the basement.

His mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Who had taken him? Why? What did they want? He couldn't think of anyone who would want to harm him, anyone who would hold him captive.

A wave of nausea washed over him, a sickening feeling that left him weak and trembling. He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the darkness, the fear, the uncertainty. He needed to stay strong, to keep his hope alive. He had to believe that someone would find him, that he would be rescued.

But as the minutes ticked by, the darkness seemed to close in on him, the silence pressing down on his chest, suffocating him.

***

The door creaked open, and two figures stepped into the dim light. They were tall and muscular, their faces etched with a mixture of arrogance and amusement. Gavi recognized them instantly – Vinicius Jr and Bellingham, the Real Madrid players who had humiliated Barcelona in the recent match.

"Well, well, well," Vinicius Jr sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who we have here. The little Barcelona prodigy."

Bellingham chuckled, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down Gavi's spine. "Too small, too young, too inexperienced. You're just a kid, Gavi. What are you doing in a club like Barcelona?"