Kidnapped to love

chapter 36

The room was heavy with tension, the air thick with worry. Crystal’s mother sobbed into her husband’s shoulder, her tears soaking the fabric of his shirt. Her body trembled with every breath, her grief spilling out into the quiet room where Elijah stood, watching his parents crumble under the weight of their fear. Others were there too, relatives and friends, but no one spoke. The silence was suffocating.

"He’s going to hurt our daughter," Crystal’s mother whispered, her voice broken. "He must be hurting her already. Please, bring my daughter back. Don’t let her become the target of this revenge."

Elijah’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "Mom, stop crying," he said, his voice calm but edged with barely contained anger. "I’ll bring her back. This time, I’ll bring her home, even if I have to kill him."

His father’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in warning. "No, Elijah. We can’t risk Crystal’s safety by acting rashly."

"Safety?" Elijah’s voice rose, incredulous. "She’s already not safe! You didn’t see her, Dad. I did." His eyes darkened as he recalled the image of his sister the last time he saw her. "She was limping. Her feet were covered in cuts—she could barely walk. He’s done something to her. He’s hurting her." His voice cracked as he fought the rage building inside him.

Crystal’s mother let out another heart-wrenching sob, her grip on her husband tightening. "He’s hurting her," she echoed, her voice trembling. "He’s hurting our baby."

Elijah’s heart twisted at the sound of his mother’s pain. He took a step forward, his voice softer now but no less determined. "Mom, I swear to you, I’ll bring her back. I won’t let him keep hurting her. I’ll stop him, no matter what it takes."

His father stood, placing a hand on Elijah’s shoulder, his expression weary but firm. "We need to think this through, son. Charging in recklessly could make things worse for her."

"I’m not going to stand here while he tortures her!" Elijah shot back, shrugging off his father’s hand. "You didn’t see what I saw. She was in pain, Dad. Real, physical pain. And it’s because of him."

The room was silent again, the gravity of the situation sinking into everyone present. Elijah’s mother, still crying, looked up at her son, her eyes filled with desperation. "Please, Elijah. Bring her back. Do whatever it takes, just bring my daughter home."

Elijah nodded, his resolve solidifying. "I will. I promise." He glanced at his father, whose expression had softened with understanding. "I can’t sit back and wait anymore. She needs us, and I won’t let her suffer another day under his control."

His father sighed deeply, knowing there was no stopping Elijah now. "Be careful, son."

"I will." Elijah’s voice was steady, but his heart was racing. He turned toward the door, his mind already working on how he’d get  Crystal back, how he’d stop the man responsible for her suffering.

As he left the room, Crystal’s mother’s sobs echoed in his ears, driving him forward with one thought burning in his mind: he would bring his sister back, no matter the cost.