Wren

S. Part 9

Sophie opened her eyes slowly, her head spinning and her body trembling uncontrollably. It was so dark she couldn't see anything, but she felt that she was lying on cold concrete floor and her wrists were bound roughly behind her back. 

She heard a whimper from somewhere in the room, then a tentative, shaky whisper.

"Sophie?"

Eden? What the hell?

"I'm here, baby. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" Sophie pushed herself up and moved towards where the voice was coming from, shuffling her feet slowly so she didn't kick Eden. 

"No, I'm fine-- I'm a little dizzy." 

Sophie found where Eden was sitting against the back wall. She sank down beside her, and Eden rested her head on Sophie's shoulder. 

"Where are we?" Eden's voice was a shaky whisper; Sophie could tell she was terrified.

"I don't know. But it's okay. I'm going to keep you safe."

Sophie meant every word. As long as Eden stayed close to her, she would keep her safe.

* * * 

 A while later, a loud clang startled them from their hushed conversation. There was a rattling sound on the other side of the room, and a door opened and light flooded in. A woman's silhouette stood poised in the doorframe. 

Lights flicked on and Sophie and Eden squeezed their eyes shut as the woman entered the room.

"Well well, what's this?" The woman stalked closer, crouching and roughly grabbing Eden under the chin. 

"Let go of her," Sophie growled, unable to push the woman away with her hands bound behind her back.

The woman tilted her head, releasing Eden as she turned to look at Sophie. "They told me you were a fighter. . ." she mused. "You're just like your father."

Sophie froze. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"As for you, Eden, you weren't supposed to be here, but I'll put you to good use." The woman stood and whisked her way out the door, the lights flipped off and the door slammed closed and locked. 

A few moments of tense silence followed. . .

"How'd she know my name?" Sophie could hear the tears in Eden's voice as she leaned closer, seeking comfort.

"I don't know. But you'll be fine. I won't let her hurt you."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Matteo," Wren called as he stood near the door of their room.

"I'm coming, puppy. I'm coming." Matteo laughed as he jogged over from the closet, his bathrobe flapping. He jammed his feet into his slippers and gave Wren a cheesy smile. "Let's go!"

Wren laughed and smacked his arm. They were going to tell Sophie goodnight, like they always did. But when they got to her room, it was dark and empty. Wren immediately got the feeling that something was wrong, but he dismissed it as paranoia from his trauma. 

Matteo sensed his anxiety and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "It's fine, puppy. Nothing is wrong. . . let's just call her."

Wren nodded and dug out his phone, trying to calm his racing heart. He moved to sit on the edge of Sophie's bed as Matteo flipped on the lights, then sat next to him.

The phone rang and rang. . . Sophie didn't answer. This wasn't like her. Wren called three more times, his heart aching more with each replay of her voicemail. He glanced over to Matteo, his eyes pleading with him to tell him what to do.

Matteo leaned down and kissed Wren's forehead, his lips brushing up against his skin as he comforted him. "It's okay. I'll go see what I can find out about where she might be, okay? You go ahead to bed."

Wren didn't want to, but he obeyed. His feet drug as he walked back; he didn't like being alone and he was worried about Sophie now, too. He closed the door to their room behind him, sighing deeply as he walked towards the bed. But he couldn't lay down like Matteo had suggested. He paced the room for what must have been at least half an hour before he heard footsteps coming down the hall.

He turned to the door, a hopeful expression on his face. 

Matteo came in slowly, his face pale and his eyes red. 

"No," Wren whispered. "She's fine. Tell me she's okay." He sank to his knees, tears starting to slip from his eyes. Matteo took a few steps forward, but Wren backed away, hands out to keep Matteo at bay. He didn't want to be held; he wanted to know what was going on and where Sophie was. . . she was fine. . . she was just late. . .

"Puppy," Matteo choked down a sob that threatened to escape his lips.

"No!" Wren crumpled over, clutching his heart. "Bring her home! She's out somewhere and she just needs to come home--"

Matteo kneeled beside Wren, trying to keep him from completely panicking. "Wren, listen. She-- she's been-- taken--" 

Wren sobbed and pushed away Matteo's hands. He didn't want to be touched. "Why!? Where is she!?" 

Matteo didn't want to make things worse-- Wren deserved to know where their daughter was, but he didn't want Wren to relapse at thinking about all of this and being reminded of his own capture. "Puppy, she'll be okay. We'll find her--"

"Matteo--" Wren was sobbing so hard he couldn't talk. Matteo pulled him into his lap, wrapping his strong arms around him to shield him from everything else. 

"I promise I'll bring her home." Matteo whispered in his ear.

              Part 10 Coming Soon

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ugh sorry this one is bad lol. But the next will be better!