Tangled Shadows [COMPLETE]

chapter 17.

Author's pov-

The search had become a relentless obsession for Kian, a three days descent into hell fueled by desperation. Each hour dragged on like an eternity, his body ached from exhaustion, and his mind was a storm of anxiety and fury. He could hardly eat or sleep, haunted by the image of Sissy, trapped and suffering, while the world around him moved on obliviously. Every passing moment felt like a dagger twisting deeper into his gut. He haven't seen Eliana since that day, but she's under his protection. Safe.

By the third day, Kian had tracked down Jonathan, the man who should have shielded his daughters but instead had betrayed them to the darkness. The alley was a grim backdrop for what Kian was about to unleash. He found Jonathan propped against a grimy wall, the smell of alcohol reeking from him, his swagger deflated by the weight of impending doom.

Kian's fury ignited like a wildfire. Without a word, he lunged forward, his fist connecting with Jonathan's jaw in a sickening crunch. The older man staggered back, eyes wide in shock, his arrogance replaced by fear. Blood sprayed from Jonathan's mouth, and he managed a laugh, but it was shaky, barely masking the terror that crept into his eyes.

"Where is she?" Kian growled, his voice low and dangerous as he leaned closer, pressing Jonathan into the wall. "Tell me where Sissy is!"

Jonathan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, chuckling bitterly. "You think you can just intimidate me into talking? I don't have to-"

Kian slammed his fist into Jonathan's face again, the force sending him crashing to the ground. "You're going to tell me! You can't hide behind your lies any longer." Each punch came with a sense of urgency, a need to extract the truth before time ran out.

Jonathan's defiance crumbled with every brutal strike, but it took longer than Kian had hoped. Blood pooled on the pavement beneath him as Kian felt the rage boil over. With each hit, he felt the adrenaline course through him, a primal drive to uncover Sissy's fate.

"Where is she?" Kian demanded, his voice barely more than a growl as he loomed over Jonathan, panting heavily, his heart pounding in his ears.

"I'll never tell you!" Jonathan spat, his bravado flickering like a dying flame. "You can't make me-"

Kian stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "I will make you." With a roar, he delivered another blow, this time to Jonathan's gut, forcing the man to double over.

Jonathan gasped, pain wracking his body, and finally, he wheezed out, "Fuckk! She's... she's in the old basement by the river... It's where they took her!"

Kian felt a jolt of both relief and rage, quickly pushing past the victory. He left Jonathan gasping on the ground, broken and bruised, he call his guards and they took Jonathan to the police...

The drive to the basement felt like a blur, the world outside reduced to streaks of colour as he focused solely on the destination. His mind raced with the possibilities of what he might find within those walls. Every second that passed felt like an eternity, a relentless reminder of the stakes at hand.

When he finally arrived, the building loomed like a dark sentinel over the river, its windows shattered, its structure crumbling. He stormed inside, the door creaking ominously as he descended into the dank, musty darkness. The air was thick with an acrid scent, a nauseating blend of mold and decay that clawed at his throat.

Each step deeper into the basement sent a shiver of dread down his spine. Kian's heart raced as he flicked on his flashlight, the beam cutting through the oppressive darkness, illuminating the grim surroundings. The basement seemed to breathe, heavy with the weight of despair.

And then he saw them. The girls, sissy was not alone there, there were so many little girls curled in very corners of the basement.

Sissy, her clothes were torn, her skin marred with bruises and cuts, and her eyes once so vibrant were now vacant, filled with a fear that pierced Kian's heart. He felt the world around him fade as he knelt beside her, overwhelmed by a mix of fury and sorrow.

"Sissy!" he gasped, choking on the emotion that threatened to spill over. "It's me! Kian. I'm here! to bring you back to your sister"

But she didn't respond, her body trembling as she pressed herself against the wall, flinching at the sound of his voice. Kian's heart shattered at the sight of her so broken, so lost.

"Please, Sissy," he murmured, reaching out cautiously, not wanting to scare her further. "I'm going to get you out of here. You're safe now. I promise, you all are safe now, Eliana is missing you."

As he wrapped his arms around her, he felt her slight weight against him, the fragility of her being sending waves of protectiveness crashing over him. But he also felt the shadows of what had happened here each bruise, each scar a dark reminder of her suffering.

Kian's resolve hardened. He had found her, and other girls too but the nightmare wasn't over. Not yet. The darkness that had claimed her wouldn't let go easily, and he would burn it to the ground to ensure it never touched her again.

He laid her carefully in the back seat of his car, then pulled out his phone, dialing the number of Vincent.

“Hello, I need police and medical assistance at this location,” he said firmly, giving the address. “There are other girls here, too. They need to get home safely.”

He stayed by the entrance of the rundown building, watching as the police and paramedics arrived, swarming the area. Kian’s eyes remained sharp, assessing every movement as the authorities led the frightened girls out one by one.

“Make sure you find everyone involved in this,” Kian ordered one of the police officers, his voice cold with barely contained anger. “I want every last person behind this business brought to justice.”

The officer nodded, taking note of Kian's words. Satisfied that the police were doing their job, he asked Vincent about Jonathan, he told him that he's already being arrested, and hopefully he'll get his punishment, as Kian nod, leaving everything on Vincent to look after. Kian climbed back into his car and glanced at Sissy, offering a reassuring smile. “You’re safe now. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

As he drove away, he glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing the flashing lights fade in the distance, determined to make sure those responsible would pay.