Elina felt the engine roar beneath her, but nothing in her mind told her where she was being taken. The outside world blurred past the tinted windows. Her hands rested on her knees, trembling. Adrien was safe with Liam; she had left him just minutes ago to buy something for the baby. Nothing more. A simple errand, she had thought naively. And now… she didn't know anything.
The car swerved sharply, each turn pitching her further into fear. Her heart hammered like a drum. She had always known the streets of the city could be unpredictable, but what she was experiencing now went beyond anything she had imagined. Every dark corner seemed to hold menacing figures. Every sound outside—a honk, an engine, footsteps—made her flinch. But it wasn't the outside that scared her the most. No. It was the unknown inside this situation.
Her phone, which she had still held moments ago, slipped between the seats when she was pushed inside. She had no way to call Liam. No connection. No signal. The feeling of helplessness and isolation engulfed her.
She pinched her arm. "This isn't real… it's not real…" she whispered, but her voice trembled. The silence inside the car felt suffocating. No one spoke. No one breathed loudly enough for her to know someone was there. Yet she knew she wasn't alone.
The car stopped suddenly. The brakes screeched, and Elina was thrown forward against her seatbelt. A metallic screech followed, then the engine shut off. Silence fell, heavy and thick. She listened. Not a sound outside. Not a movement. Just the distant hum of the city and the rapid beating of her own heart.
The car door opened, and a cold gust of air hit her face. Elina's stomach twisted. She finally noticed the shadow leaning over her, but the light was too poor to see a face. "Come with me," said a voice she didn't recognize.
The voice was neither high nor soft. It was firm, controlled. There was no hesitation, no sign of fear or uncertainty. Someone who knew exactly what they were doing.
Elina gasped, instinctively stepping back. "No… leave me… you…" Her voice faltered in the cold air, and her breath came in short bursts. But a swift, precise movement forced her to rise. She felt something secure around her ankles—ropes or straps binding her. Her mind raced: how had they known she would come alone? Who could have orchestrated this so quickly?
She was dragged out of the car, the biting wind slapping her face. Her heart pounded uncontrollably. Her eyes fixed on the shadow guiding her. Finally, she could see the location: a massive warehouse, abandoned—or at least hidden—in the industrial district. The facade was gray, walls marred by time and rust. No signs of life… except for the figure leading her.
Inside, it was dark. Only a few rays of light pierced through cracks in the roof and broken windows. The air smelled of cold metal, dampness, and something faintly acrid—a mix of oil and dust. Silence hung thick. Each step she took echoed like a drumbeat on concrete.
Elina tried to anchor herself in the moment. She had to stay calm, think. The kidnapper might be dangerous, but they couldn't read her mind. She had to think faster than him.
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Sit down." Still unknown, still hidden in shadow. She noticed no weapon was visible, but the tone left no room for negotiation.
Elina sat, her knees trembling. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" Her voice, though shaky, tried to sound firm. She wasn't a child to be frightened, and even in panic, her survival instincts kicked in.
No answer. Just the distant sound of a chair moving and shoes scraping on the concrete.
Her eyes scanned the warehouse. Stacked crates, pallets, chains hanging from the ceiling. Nothing that resembled an immediate exit. No windows within reach. But a hallway stretched off to another section—maybe leading outside, maybe just another room.
Her phone was still in the car, trapped under the seat, out of reach. Panic rose again. "Liam…" she murmured, almost in agony. Her husband and Greyson didn't know where she was yet. Every passing second without communication felt eternal.
A slight sound behind a crate caught her attention. Was it another person? No—it could be the wind. Maybe. But her senses were on high alert. Every shadow seemed threatening. She imagined every scenario: could she escape? Should she wait? What did they want? Who would benefit from kidnapping her?
Frustration surged. All she wanted was a simple purchase for Adrien. Just a moment to make sure her baby had what he needed. Nothing more. And now… here she was, powerless, and fear blending with anger. She muttered under her breath: "This is ridiculous… just for something I needed…"
She forced herself to breathe deeply. Inhale, exhale. Her hands still shook, but she needed to stay rational.
Observing the warehouse more closely, she noted the ceiling cables, the light crates, the unstable pallets. Maybe she could use something to create a distraction or mark a spot if someone came looking.
A subtle movement in the shadows drew her eye. The kidnapper? Someone leaned slightly, still hidden. No face yet. "I won't scream," she said, more to calm herself than to warn the other. "But you better listen."
Still no reply. Only the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. Her stomach tightened. Adrien. The baby. She had made sure he was safe with Liam, but her maternal instinct screamed that something could go wrong.
She sat firmer, trying to vanish into the darkness, hoping it would shield her. The seconds stretched endlessly. Every breath was a challenge. The cold floor, the concrete, the damp air—everything contributed to the oppressive atmosphere. She felt every second was critical.
Then, a faint light from a high window partially illuminated the space. Elina saw the stacked crates, the moving shadows, and the figure behind her, approaching, still hidden.
Liam will come… Greyson will come… she thought. She didn't know when exactly, but she knew they were assembling the pieces. That thought gave her a thin thread of courage. Even here, even in the unknown, she wasn't alone.
Her hands instinctively clutched her stomach. Adrien was the light in the darkness. She had to hold on. Wait. And prepare to use every ounce of her intelligence, strength, and determination to survive and regain her freedom.
And in the silence, she whispered to herself: "Whoever you are… you will not win."
The kidnapper froze suddenly, just a few feet away. Still in shadow. Still hidden. But Elina knew the game had begun.