Rescued by Darkness

Taken

Alessia 

Alessia's heart raced as the black SUV sped through the narrow streets, each passing second filling her with dread. Luciana's cries echoed through the car, soft and pitiful, a sound Alessia would never forget. She tried to soothe her daughter, whispering calming words, but Luciana was too young to understand. The fear in her small, tear-streaked face shattered Alessia's heart into pieces.

The man holding Luciana kept the gun firmly pressed to the baby's head. "Keep quiet, or your baby girl pays for it," he sneered. His cold, emotionless eyes met hers, and she could see that he wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger if she made one wrong move.

Alessia's throat tightened with fear, her mind swirling with frantic thoughts of Lorenzo. She knew he was somewhere out there, searching for them. He would find them, she told herself. He always did. But how long would it take? How long could she keep Luciana safe?

They drove for what felt like an eternity, winding through unfamiliar streets before finally pulling into an abandoned warehouse district. The SUV screeched to a stop, and the man holding Luciana barked orders to his accomplice. The back doors swung open, and Alessia was roughly yanked out of the vehicle.

"Please... please don't hurt her!" Alessia cried, struggling against the man's grip as he pulled her from the car. Her voice was raw with desperation, her only thought to protect her baby.

"Shut your mouth," the man snapped, shoving her toward the door of the warehouse. "You're in no position to beg."

Alessia's cheek stung as she stumbled, barely catching herself from falling. Luciana's wails grew louder, the terror in her tiny cries nearly undoing Alessia's fragile composure. She could hardly breathe, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She was failing her daughter—her sweet, innocent daughter.

They entered the warehouse, its cold, musty air wrapping around them like a shroud. The dim lighting cast eerie shadows across the floor, and every creak of the metal beams sent chills down Alessia's spine. Her head pounded as she was forced through a series of winding hallways until they reached a small, cramped room. The taller man shoved her inside, but her gaze remained fixed on Luciana, who was still in the arms of one of the kidnappers.

"Please... please let me hold her," Alessia pleaded, her voice shaking. "She needs her mother. She's just a baby."

The man holding Luciana sneered, tightening his grip on the child. "She's fine where she is," he said coldly. "You don't call the shots here, lady."

Before Alessia could say another word, the taller man struck her hard across the face. Her world spun, the force of the blow sending her crashing to the floor. Pain radiated through her skull, and she tasted blood in her mouth. Her body trembled, but she forced herself to sit up, her vision blurred with tears and disorientation.

Luciana's cries cut through the fog of pain, and Alessia reached out toward her daughter, her voice breaking. "Please... let her go. Please..."

But the men ignored her, laughing as they dragged her deeper into the building. Alessia's mind was reeling, the pain in her head growing unbearable. All she could think about was Luciana—her sweet little girl, who was now in the hands of monsters. She had to protect her. She had to keep her safe, but her body felt weak, and she was quickly losing her grip on consciousness.

One of the men suddenly grabbed her by the hair, jerking her head back, and without warning, struck her again, this time even harder. Her world went black.---When Alessia slowly regained consciousness, she groaned in pain, her body aching from the blows she had endured. Her head throbbed, and she blinked groggily, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The room was dimly lit, the cold air chilling her to the bone. She was lying on a filthy mattress in a small, concrete cell, and her wrists were bound together with rough, abrasive rope.

Panic surged through her as she bolted upright, her heart hammering in her chest. "Luciana!" she called out, her voice trembling with fear.

But there was no response. No sign of her baby girl.Alessia's breathing quickened, her vision blurring as tears filled her eyes. She stumbled to her feet and rushed toward the door, pounding her fists against the metal with all her strength. 

"Where is my daughter?!" she screamed, her voice hoarse and desperate. "Luciana!"

But the only response was the oppressive silence of the cell.Alessia's legs gave out beneath her as she collapsed against the door, sobbing uncontrollably. 

Her entire body shook with fear and despair. The terror of not knowing where Luciana was, of not being able to hold her or protect her, was suffocating.

She curled up on the cold floor, wrapping her arms around herself as sobs wracked her body. "Please, God," she whispered through her tears. "Please don't let them hurt her."

For a moment, she let the fear consume her, but then, through the haze of panic, a thought pierced her despair—Lorenzo. He had to be looking for them by now. He had to. She knew the kind of man her husband was, knew the lengths he would go to protect his family. And if anyone hurt Luciana... if anyone dared harm their daughter, Lorenzo would rain hell upon them.

But as the minutes dragged on, her heart ached with fear. She had to hold on. She had to stay strong for Luciana.

The door to her cell suddenly creaked open, and one of the kidnappers stepped inside, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "You're awake," he said, his voice mocking. "Good. It's no fun if you're unconscious."

Alessia glared at him, her fear momentarily giving way to anger. "Where is my daughter?" she demanded, her voice trembling but strong.

The man's smile widened, and he stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement. "Don't worry, princess," he sneered. "She's in good hands. For now."

Alessia's blood ran cold at his words. She forced herself to stand tall, her fists clenched at her sides. "If you hurt her, my husband will—"

"Oh, we know exactly what your husband will do," the man interrupted with a chuckle. "That's the whole point. We want him to come. We're counting on it."

Alessia's heart sank as the realization hit her. This wasn't just about money or power. They were using Luciana to get to Lorenzo. They wanted to provoke him, to push him to the brink.

The man leaned in close, his breath hot against her cheek. "But don't worry," he whispered darkly. "You'll see your baby soon enough."

With that, he turned and walked out, slamming the door shut behind him. Alessia's body trembled with fury, her mind reeling. She had to get out of here. She had to find Luciana before it was too late.

Curling up on the mattress, Alessia tried to stay calm, but her thoughts raced with fear for her daughter. Lorenzo would come. She knew he would. But until then, she could only hope that Luciana was safe—and pray that her husband would find them before it was too late.