Found Obsession

Chapter 28: The Children's Case IV

Rose was momentarily paralyzed with shock as she scanned the fourth floor, her heart pounding in her chest. The oppressive silence only heightened her anxiety, and she felt a cold sweat break out on her skin.

Had it been her imagination?

Determined, she turned toward the hallway where the brutal scream had echoed. Each step felt heavier, a dread gnawing at her gut as she moved deeper into the darkness.

As she walked, she spotted an open room, and the sound of grunts pulled her attention from the end of the hallway.

Inside, she found Will, his hands bound above him, tethered to the ceiling like a rag doll. The sight of him sent a wave of panic coursing through her. He began to struggle, his eyes wide with desperation as he caught sight of her. Rose lifted a finger to her lips, urging him to stay silent. Relief washed over her as he stilled, his gaze locked onto hers with an unspoken plea for help.

He had been stripped, leaving his chest bare and vulnerable. His jeans and shoes remained, but they did little to mask the horror of his injuries. Jagged lines marred his skin, carved deep with a knife, the blood that had flowed before now congealed into dark crimson stains.

Greed.

Greed had been carved on his chest.

“Hold on, I’m going to get you out,” she whispered, moving closer. She glanced around the room for anything sharp. A piece of broken glass caught her eye on the floor, its edge glinting faintly in the dim light. She carefully bent down, keeping an eye on Will and the hallway behind her.

As she reached for the glass, she could hear the muffled sounds of struggle and desperation growing louder from the hallway. The grunts were closer, and her time was running out.

“Just a second, Will,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady as she grasped the shard of glass, its edges jagged and dangerous.

With swift movements, she began to saw through the ropes binding his wrists, glancing nervously towards the door. The sounds from the hallway were almost deafening now, punctuated by cries and the unmistakable sound of a struggle.

Will winced as she cut through the rope, but Rose pressed on, her heart racing. Finally, with one last, desperate tug, the bindings fell away, and he gasped as his arms dropped to his sides.

“Get the gag off,” she urged him, glancing over her shoulder again, panic creeping in.

Will quickly fumbled with the cloth, his breathing heavy with exertion and fear. “Rose, we need to get out of here,” he gasped, his voice low and urgent as he spat out the gag.

She trembled, each of Will’s selfish acts pushing her closer to breaking.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” she hissed, her voice sharp with anger. “Where are Paula, Richard, and the child?”

She could barely contain the tremor in her voice, the weight of everything threatening to crush her. But then she froze—her ears picking up the unmistakable sounds she hadn’t allowed herself to register before.

A man... grunting in pleasure.

Her body went cold as the reality of it all hit her like a truck. Without another word, Rose turned on her heel, her legs shaking beneath her as she moved toward the end of the hallway, following the disturbing sounds.

When she reached the room, the scene before her was like a living nightmare. Her breath caught in her throat, and she had to hold back the urge to scream.

A chubby, short man was atop Richard, his jeans around his ankles, pressing him face down onto a dirty mattress. Richard's jeans were partially pulled down, his body contorted in an attempt to escape, his screams guttural, filled with agony and desperation. Hands tied behind his back.