LOVE LIKE NO OTHER

A Race against time

Eric's POV:

The ambulance screeched to a halt, the doors swinging open with a sickening groan. I burst out, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. Eliza lay motionless on the stretcher, her face pale and lifeless. Panic surged through me as I knelt beside her, my hands trembling as I cradled her head.

"Eliza, please wake up," I pleaded, my voice a hoarse whisper.

The paramedics rushed to her side, their faces etched with grim determination. They hooked her up to a portable defibrillator, the rhythmic beeps filling the air. I watched helplessly as they fought to revive her, my mind a whirlwind of fear and despair.

Just as hope seemed to dwindle, the defibrillator gave a jolt, and Eliza's chest heaved. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped for air. Relief washed over me as I saw the flicker of life return to her face.

"Eliza," I breathed, my voice filled with emotion. "You're alive."

She tried to speak, but her voice was weak and raspy. "Eric... what happened?"

I recounted the events of the past hour, my voice trembling with anger and relief. As I spoke, I realized that the kidnappers had a motive beyond simply taking Eliza. They wanted to hurt me, to break me. And they had almost succeeded.

"We need to find out who did this," I said, my voice hardening. "They won't get away with it."

The paramedics loaded Eliza into an awaiting ambulance and rushed her to the hospital. I followed close behind, my mind racing with questions. Who were the kidnappers? Why had they targeted Eliza? And how could I protect her from them in the future?

As I sat in the hospital waiting room, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The nightmare was far from over.

THE NEXT DAY:

The hospital room was a blur of white, the soft hum of machines filling the air. Eliza lay in the bed, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow. I sat by her side, my hand gently holding hers.

"She's stable for now," the doctor said, his voice soft. "But she's still weak and needs rest."

I nodded, my heart aching with worry. I couldn't bear to lose her again.

As I sat there, lost in thought, a familiar face appeared in the doorway. It was Mr. Lincoln, the head of security.

"Eric," he said, his voice filled with concern. "I have something to tell you."

He pulled up a chair and sat down beside me. "We've managed to track down the kidnappers. They're part of a criminal organization known as the Syndicate."

My blood ran cold. I had heard rumors about the Syndicate, a ruthless group involved in everything from drug trafficking to human trafficking. But I had never imagined that they would target someone like Eliza.

"They're after something," Mr. Lincoln continued. "Something that Eliza has."

I shook my head, confused. "Eliza doesn't have anything valuable."

Mr. Lincoln shook his head. "Not in the traditional sense. It seems that Eliza's family has a long history with the Syndicate. They were involved in a deal that went bad years ago, and the Syndicate has been searching for a way to settle the score."

I was stunned. I had no idea about Eliza's family's past.

"They believe that Eliza knows something about the deal," Mr. Lincoln explained. "They kidnapped her to force her to talk."

My heart raced with fear. If the Syndicate was after Eliza, she was in grave danger. I knew I had to protect her, no matter what it took.

"I won't let them hurt her," I vowed, my voice filled with determination. "We have to find a way to stop them."