It All Started With The Kidnapping

Chapter 27-The Lost Twin's Return

Luna's Pov

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as Luna, Sara, and Renee arrived at the grand estate of Elijah and Theo's family. The house loomed large, a testament to old money and long-standing power. As they approached the front door, Luna couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that she couldn't quite place.

Sara squeezed Luna's hand reassuringly. "It'll be fine, Luna. We're here together."

Before Luna could respond, the large wooden door creaked open, revealing a tall, imposing man with graying hair and piercing eyes—Theo's father. He had the kind of presence that demanded respect without needing to utter a word.

"Good evening, ladies," he greeted them with a warm smile that contrasted sharply with his intimidating appearance. "Come in, come in. Theo and Elijah are expecting you."

Luna hesitated for a brief moment before stepping inside, her heart pounding in her chest. The interior of the house was just as grand as the exterior, with high ceilings, elaborate chandeliers, and walls adorned with paintings that looked like they belonged in a museum.

As they made their way into the spacious living room, Theo appeared from around the corner. His expression softened the moment he saw Luna. Without a word, he crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug, holding her as if she might slip away.

"Luna," Theo murmured into her hair, "I missed you."

Luna melted into his embrace, feeling a sense of calm she hadn't felt all day. "I missed you too, Theo."

He pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes scanning her face and then drifting to her hair. "You dyed it back," he noted, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I like it. It suits you."

Luna ran a hand through her now dark brown hair, the color it had been before she'd started experimenting with dyes. "Yeah, it's... it's my real hair now. I thought it was time to stop hiding."

Theo's gaze softened further, and he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's beautiful, just like you."

Before Luna could respond, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Elijah walked in, his eyes immediately landing on Luna. The moment he saw her, he froze. His usually cool and composed demeanor cracked, revealing a storm of emotions that flashed across his face—shock, disbelief, and then anger.

"Luna?" Elijah's voice was sharp, almost accusing. "What... what the hell is this?"

Luna recoiled at the intensity in his voice, confusion swirling in her mind. "Elijah, what's wrong?"

But Elijah didn't answer. His eyes were locked on Luna, his fists clenching at his sides. "You look just like her..." he whispered, almost to himself.

Sara, sensing the rising tension, quickly moved to Elijah's side, trying to calm him down. "Elijah, please, it's okay. There's no need to be upset."

But Elijah was beyond reasoning. "No, Sara, it's not okay!" His voice was rising, filled with anguish. "She looks exactly like Catalina... my sister. The sister who's been dead for over twenty years!"

Theo immediately stepped in front of Luna, his protective instincts kicking in. "Elijah, calm down. You're scaring her."

Before the situation could escalate further, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Theo's mother entered the room. Her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying, and the moment she saw Luna, fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

"Oh my God..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "It's her... It's really her."

Luna's anxiety skyrocketed. She took a step back, her body trembling. "I-I think I should leave," she stammered, looking for an exit.

But Theo's mother moved forward, her voice gentle but firm. "No, please, don't go. We need to explain something to you. Please, sit down."

Luna glanced at Theo, who nodded reassuringly, and then at Sara, who gave her a supportive smile. Reluctantly, Luna took a seat on the plush sofa, her mind racing with confusion and fear.

As she sat down, Luna's eyes fell on a framed photograph on the mantle. It was a picture of two children, a little boy and a little girl, both smiling brightly. The boy was unmistakably a young Elijah, but the girl... the girl looked just like Luna.

Theo's father took a deep breath before he began to speak. "That little girl in the picture... her name was Catalina. And you, Luna... you are Catalina."

Luna's heart skipped a beat, and she felt like the world had just tilted on its axis. "What? No, that can't be right. My name is Luna. I'm not... I'm not her."

Theo's father continued, his voice heavy with emotion. "Twenty-one years ago, we had twins—Elijah and Catalina. They were inseparable, did everything together. They were more than just siblings; they were best friends."

He paused, his eyes distant as he recalled the past. "One day, when they were five, they were playing hide and seek. Catalina was hiding, and after an hour, Elijah couldn't find her. We searched everywhere, but she was gone. We involved the police, formed search parties, but there was no trace of her. After four months, we received a mysterious note. It said that if we continued looking for her, we would never find her. So we stopped, praying that somehow, she would come back to us."

Tears filled Luna's eyes as she listened, her mind reeling. "But... but how could I be her? My name is Luna. I don't remember any of this."

Theo's mother, who had been silently crying, spoke up. "You were taken from us, given a new name, a new life. But you are our Catalina. We've found you, and we're not letting you go again."

Luna's head was spinning, the weight of this revelation crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She had always known there was something different about her, a part of her past that was shrouded in mystery. But to learn that she had a twin brother, a family who had been searching for her all these years... it was too much to process.

"I... I don't know what to say," Luna whispered, her voice trembling. "I never knew... I never knew any of this."

Theo reached out and took her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "You don't have to say anything right now, Luna. Just know that we're here for you, all of us."

Elijah, who had been silent for the past few minutes, finally spoke. His voice was hoarse with emotion. "I never stopped looking for you, Catalina... Luna. I never gave up hope."

Luna looked into his eyes, seeing the pain and longing there. "I'm sorry," she said softly, not knowing what else to say.

Theo's father stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to apologize for anything. We're just so grateful that you're here, that you're alive."

Luna's mind was a whirlwind of emotions—shock, confusion, fear, and a glimmer of hope. She had found her family, the family she never knew she had. But with that revelation came the harsh reality of her past, the trauma she had endured, and the life she had been forced to live.

She glanced around the room at the faces of the people who were now her family. They looked at her with love, with hope, with a longing that she hadn't experienced in years.

Finally, Luna found her voice. "This... this is so much to take in. But... I want to know more. I want to understand."

Theo's father nodded, his expression one of relief and determination. "And we'll tell you everything, Luna. Everything you need to know."

Luna looked at Theo, who gave her a reassuring smile. She squeezed his hand, drawing strength from his presence.

And for the first time in a long time, Luna felt like she was beginning to find her way home.