THE ENCHANTED ENFORCER

chapter-29 "kidnap"

♧Lucas pov♧

It had been a long, unsettling week since Ben had eaten a proper meal. He’d barricaded himself inside his room, shutting out the world and leaving the rest of us to wonder and worry. The house felt eerily quiet without the sound of his footsteps or his occasional sarcastic remarks.

I stood just outside his locked door, my fingers brushing against the wood as I hesitated. The door, once just a barrier, now felt like an impassable wall between us.

"Ben, come on. It’s been a week. Are you even alive in there?" My voice wavered, louder than I’d intended, the desperation slipping through despite my best efforts to sound calm. I pressed my ear against the door, hoping for any hint of movement a shuffle, a cough, anything to tell me he was still okay. 

Nothing. Just silence. 

I knocked again, this time harder, the echo through the quiet house. "Ben, please! At least say something." My words cracked under the weight of worry.

Since no response came from the other side, a knot of frustration tightened in my chest. My patience had run thin, and fear mingled with anger as I clenched my fists. "I can’t take this anymore," I muttered, my voice breaking under the strain. 

Then, louder, sharper, I yelled, "Boys!" My voice echoed down the hall, slicing through the silence. 

In mere moments, the bodyguards assembled in front of me, their faces stoic but alert. Their presence brought a flicker of hope, though my worry overshadowed it. 

"Break this door open," I ordered, my tone leaving no room for hesitation. 

They exchanged brief, understanding glances before springing into action. One of them tested the lock, jiggling it as if hoping it might miraculously give way. When it didn’t, they moved quickly, positioning themselves for brute force. 

The first kick landed hard against the wood, the sharp thud reverberating down the hallway. The door shuddered but held firm, its groan a resistance to the intrusion. Another kick followed, then another, each one louder than the last. Splinters began to fly, tiny fragments scattering onto the floor as the door's strength waned. 

I stood back, my breath catching in my throat with each strike, my nails digging into my palms as I braced myself for what we might find on the other side.

The door gave way with a resounding *thud*, the wood splintering and crashing inward. Dust rose in the air, swirling in the faint light from the hallway. The bodyguards immediately stepped aside, clearing a path for me. My heart pounded as I hesitated, unsure of what I might see. 

And there he was Ben. Curled up in the far corner of the dim room, his frame impossibly small, like he was trying to disappear into himself. His arms wrapped tightly around his knees, and his face was buried in them, his shoulders trembling ever so slightly. The sight hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Ben," I whispered, my voice cracking as tears threatened to spill.

My legs felt heavy as I took a shaky step forward, then another, until I reached him. I knelt beside him Slowly, I lowered myself onto my knees, my movements careful, as though he might shatter if I moved too quickly. 

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. His body was tense, unyielding at first, but I held him like he was my anchor in a storm. "Ben," I murmured again, my voice trembling. "I’m here. I’ve got you."