The War.

Chapter 48: Desperation.

Mia's mind raced. She didn't want to go back, but those voices, it was Ella's voice.

Mia took a deep breath, bracing herself against the biting wind as she trudged toward home, her heart heavy with regret. She was desperate to apologize, to make things right.

But as she reached the house, something felt wrong. The usual warmth and chatter were absent, replaced by a chilling silence. She froze on the porch, staring at the closed door, a strange sense of dread creeping over her.

Is anyone here?

She pushed open the door slowly, her footsteps echoing eerily as she entered. The rooms were empty, untouched, like everyone had vanished without a trace.

Mia's heart raced as she scanned every corner of the house, desperately searching for any sign of her family. But it was empty—eerily silent, as if they'd vanished without a trace. Her eyes caught a note, taped to the living room door.

"Your family is at this address. Do you want to save them? Blackwood Towers , 1 Sovereign Avenue, Kensington , London SW7 4QR"

She froze, the words sinking in slowly. What the fuck? Her eyes widened, uncertain if this was some twisted prank or a genuine threat. She stood there, heart pounding, for what felt like an eternity before deciding.

Taking a deep breath, she went to her room, slipping into her thick fighting clothes and tying her hair up in a messy bun. She looked around her room one last time before stepping out, determined to save them—or at least convince herself she could.

As Mia left, determined and focused, she overlooked a small note, barely visible, left on the edge of her bed. Written in a hasty scrawl, it read:

"I always come back. You can't escape me."

But Mia, oblivious, had already stepped out the door..

The journey to the address felt endless. When she arrived, Mia stared up at the imposing Blackwood Towers, a chill running down her spine.

"What the fuck is this?" she muttered, approaching the glass doors. Everything about the building seemed... normal. Too normal. She stepped inside, taking in the polished marble floors and bustling atmosphere that felt no different from any other corporate office.

The receptionist looked up as Mia approached the desk. "Name?"

Mia hesitated, taken aback. Why was this place so ordinary? Hadn't been effected by the war at all? "Amelia," she finally replied.

The receptionist nodded, barely looking at her as she typed. "You're expected. Take the lift to the 7th floor."

Mia's unease only grew as she stepped into the lift. The calm felt surreal, unnatural, as if the normalcy was just a thin veil over something far darker.

Mia stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the 7th floor with a shaky finger. Her unease built as the numbers lit up one by one, her mind racing with what might be waiting at the top. When the doors slid open, her stomach dropped. She barely had a moment to react before two men lunged forward, grabbing her arms in a bruising grip.

"Let me go!" she screamed, reaching for her gun, but one of them wrenched it away, tossing it across the floor before she could even try to fight back. She struggled, twisting against their grip, but their hold was like iron. Then, suddenly, her vision swam, her strength draining as her knees buckled, and the world went black.

---

When she came to, she was lying on a cold, hard floor, her body aching. Her head throbbed, and she felt a cold trickle of blood running down her face, her fingers stiff as she reached up to touch it. The room was small and barren, with only a single dim light flickering overhead, casting eerie shadows across the cement walls. She was shivering, the chill biting into her skin as she tried to sit up, her thoughts still hazy from whatever had knocked her out.

As her eyes adjusted, she scanned the room, trying to piece together where she was—and, more urgently, how she could escape.

-

"Boss?" the receptionist called, hesitant to step too far into the office. She cleared her throat. "Amelia has arrived."

Stella raised an eyebrow, pausing only for a moment before responding. "Okay," she said calmly, a trace of satisfaction in her voice.

Turning back to her desk, Stella dismissed the receptionist with a simple wave of her hand, then picked up her phone and dialed her assistant. "She's secured, yes?" Stella asked, her tone controlled but expectant.

"Yes, boss," the assistant confirmed, her voice slightly shaky on the other end.

"Good," Stella replied, her voice icy with determination. She leaned back, considering her next move. "Keep her isolated. I'll deal with her myself later." Hanging up, she allowed herself a brief smile. Things were finally falling into place.

Ella's panic grew with each second, her lips trembling as she struggled to find her voice. "S...Stella?" she called out hesitantly, feeling her throat tighten.

"Yes?" Stella's voice was calm, almost too calm, and Ella froze, the words caught somewhere between her racing mind and her fear-stricken heart.

"Speak." Stella commanded firmly.

Ella swallowed, the cogs in her mind spinning wildly as she finally stammered, "Is there... any possible way for you to not... kill her? Like, what if she gives back whatever she took from you...?"

Stella's expression remained unyielding. "No. That's not an option," she replied coldly.

"Please," Ella whispered, a desperate plea.

"I said no." Stella's voice rose suddenly, startling Ella, who flinched, her heart pounding.

A tense silence followed before Ella gathered the courage to ask, "Can I... can I see my mum? Just for a minute?"

Stella eyed her carefully, then nodded. "Fine. Follow me."

They walked to a dimly lit hallway, where Stella opened a door leading to the room where Charlotte was held. But as Ella moved forward, an invisible barrier rose between the doorway and the room, blocking her from reaching Charlotte. Ella pressed her hands against it, straining to move forward, her heart sinking as she realized the distance would remain.

Ella pressed against the barrier, her voice growing frantic. "Please, Stella. Just let me hug her, just once—please, I'm begging you."

Stella's gaze was ice-cold, unwavering. "No, Ella. That's not part of our agreement."

"Just for a second!" Ella's voice cracked as she pleaded, her hands pressing harder against the invisible wall. "I haven't seen her in so long—I just want to feel like... like she's safe."

Stella merely crossed her arms, unimpressed. "I said no."

Anger and desperation mixed in Ella's chest, and she finally snapped. "You're heartless!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the hallway. "You don't know what this feels like! To have someone you love locked up, helpless, and there's nothing you can do!" Tears streamed down her face as she turned and bolted down the hall, shouting, "You don't know anything!"

Two of Stella's workers stepped in to block her path, ready to restrain her, but Stella raised a hand. "Let her go," she commanded, her voice chillingly calm. "Send her back to my office." she paused, smirking. "I'll deal with her later."

-~•***•~-

okay gang even i cant defend stella here. (jk i can i love her)

i have sm chapters pre written so js yall wait. (i could js post them all at once but yk me)

this one was a bit shorter than usual

hope you enjoyed

bye loveliess !!

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