Just who are you?

15

Back in the basement, Maloi sat quietly, her mind racing. Chie’s words echoed in her mind, replaying over and over again. Her father’s empire wasn’t built without sacrifices—she knew that.

But hearing the pain in Chie’s voice, the raw anger at what had happened to her family, it made Maloi realize just how far-reaching her father’s actions had been.

But none of that mattered now. What mattered was getting out. She couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t let these people destroy her life, her family, just to get back at her father.

Her mind worked quickly. There had to be a way out. She wasn’t going to let them win.

==========

The air in the dimly lit room felt thick, heavy with tension. Colet and her friends had been waiting for what felt like hours, watching the door, listening for any sound that might indicate a breakthrough.

They had been chasing every lead, every possible clue, but nothing had brought them closer to Maloi. Until now.

Colet leaned against the table, her arms crossed, mind racing with fear and uncertainty. Where is she? she thought, eyes glinting with frustration. How much longer do we wait?

Her friends, Jhoanna, Aiah, Sheena, Stacey, Mikha, and Gwen, sat around her, all just as restless. Their expressions were a mirror of her own: worried, anxious, waiting for some shred of hope.

Gwen, who had been pacing back and forth, suddenly stopped and pulled out her phone. "Guys," she said, her voice a little shaky, but laced with excitement. "We got news."

Colet snapped her head up, heart skipping a beat. "What? What did you find?" she asked, moving toward Gwen quickly.

Colet’s heart dropped in her chest. “What? Where?”

Gwen shook her head. “Not the exact location yet, but they’ve pinpointed it. Chie... Chie is the one who took her.”

“Chie,” Aiah muttered, the name heavy with bitterness. “I knew it. She’s been behind this whole thing.”

Colet took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she processed the information. Maloi’s father had found her. That was good. But it also meant they were running out of time.

She turned to the rest of the group. "We need to move fast. We need to get to her before they do anything to her." Her voice was steady, but there was an undeniable edge of urgency in it.

Sheena stood up, determination written all over her face. "What about her dad? Are we working with him?"

Colet paused for a moment. Maloi's father—Renato De Vera—wasn't someone they had expected to become involved with.

He was powerful, influential, but also a man of secrets. However, this was about Maloi, and if he had found her, they had no choice but to work together.

“I spoke with him earlier,” Colet said, her eyes narrowing. "He’s sending a team to rescue her, but we need to get there first. We can’t wait for them to make their move. Maloi’s safety is our responsibility now."

Jhoanna nodded, her hands tightening into fists. "Colet’s right. We need to get in there and make sure we bring her home."

Stacey, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "But we can't just walk in there. Chie and her people are dangerous. We need a plan."

Colet’s gaze flickered to her friends, her heart swelling with gratitude. They were all so willing to fight for Maloi. She had never been more proud of them.