The kidnapper groaned as his eyes slowly opened. His mind was foggy, his body stiff from sitting too long on the cold wooden floor. With half open eyes he looks around and realizes that he was in some sort of room. It was a little dusty, the lighting was dim and weak. The furniture was sparse—old, ragged, and worn from years of neglect.
It was in the same room where Star and Abyss had there conversation just a while ago. With no idea where to take him, Star just brought him here.
The kidnapper was about thirty-five years old. He pressed his hand against his forehead. His memories trickled back slowly—then all at once. The chase. The ice. The fainting. The boy. Terror struck him like a hammer blow.
The more he remembered the more he became scared of what was now going to happen to him. Since if the person chasing him was truly an apostle of the gods then then his fate would be sealed—and not kindly. Just the thought of what would happen to him shook him to his very core and gave him chills.
Frightened and worried. He looked around the room frantically, his wide open eyes, land on the window left to him as well as the door on to his right. He debates for a second on weather to go through the window or the door.
The door led downstairs. He could hear muffled voices and laughter beneath him make him realize that he was in some tavern, probably the same one he was at before. If he went that way, he would surely be seen and captured again. And he didn't even wanted to think what would happen to him if that happened. Since he was one hundred percent sure that the person who captured him was also down stairs.
That left the window. But he was on the second floor which was at least five to eight meters up. A fall like that could easily break a bone or two. Maybe more. But there was snow outside, and perhaps it would soften the landing.
He hesitated only a moment before steeling himself. He rose unsteadily to his feet but a few questions lingered on the back of his mind. Why was his hands not tied, if he was captured surly his hands would be tied. And not only that the window was completely open, why would a clear way for him to escape be open.
These questions which should have been paid more attention to were over shadowed by fear of what was to happen to him and six words which kept rolling in his mind " I want to see my daughter. "
He went to the end of the room opposite to the widow. He took a deep breath, then ran towards the window.
But before he could leap, his forehead cracked hard against something solid.
"Ouch… what was that?" he hissed, clutching his head in pain.
He instantly looked at the window But it still looked wide open. Confused, he approached cautiously, stretching out a hand—only to find it halted in midair. An invisible wall. Cold and unyielding. He pressed both palms against it, shoved with all his strength, but it refused to give.
This made him even more scared and made him certain that the man chasing him was infact an apostle of the gods.
With no other choice the kidnapper ran toward the door but before he could open it. The door swung open, smacking him square in the face. He collapsed back onto the floor with a groan, clutching his head once more.
Abyss who opened the door felt, something hitting it. He stepped halfway through the doorway, pausing as he saw the man sprawled on the ground. He blinked in mild surprise. "Huh."
Behind him, Star peeked in, then laughed a little while saying. "How much are you going to hurt him?"
Abyss groaned. "I didn't mean to do that."
The kidnapper lifted his gaze, and the moment he saw Abyss, he instantly recognized him. His body gave way to instinct. He dropped to his knees, bowing so hard and fast his forehead slammed against the wooden boards. His voice came out ragged, desperate, tumbling over itself.
"Please forgive me! I—I'll never kidnap a child again! I had no choice, I swear! Please, just… just let me go!"
Abyss looked toward Star with uncertainty, his eyes asking what do I do now?. Star only shrugged, giving him a helpless don't look at me expression.
Sighing, Abyss asks the kidnapper to rise his head up. The kidnapper hearing this instantly rose his head tears streaming down his face.
Abyss kneels down and puts his right hand on his shoulder, saying " Don't worry I wont do anything to you. I know your not a bad person. "
The kidnapper just stairs at Abyss's face in relief and gratitude, tear still pouring from his eyes. He says nothing but one word " Thank you. " Since if he die, She would also be killed.
" But " Abyss continues " I need you to tell me why are you kidnapping children and where are all the abducted children now. "
Only a few moments ago Star and Abyss were discussing, how to get the kidnapper to tell them where they are hiding all the abducted children.
Star had suggested we use intimidation and violence [ if necessary ] to get the information from him, " after all he is a kidnapper " he said. While saying this was harsh, Star wasn't in wrong the to suggest such a thing. And a part of Abyss didn't mind the idea.
Star may look like a kind and happy person. Which he truly is, but when it came to bad people his whole personality changes and he becomes angry, cold and harsh. But he is somewhat able to control his temper with Abyss's help.
Abyss was kinda the same but he was able control his temper and still act nice to them. Because he genuinely thought that even the worst of people could become good. Though it wasn't to say he didn't punish the ones who had gone to far.
But Abyss refused the idea and said " we will try to talk to him normally first since I don't want to hurt him-" " WHY❗ " Star interrupted " he is one of the people behind the abduction of the children, do you really don't want to punish him " he shouted.
" Calm down, let me complete my sentence first " Abyss said with a calm and controlled voice and then continued by saying " first, we will do things my way, and try to talk to him but if that doesn't work only then we will do things your way "
" Fine, " Star said " but Why are you being so nice to the kidnapper, I know you can can control your temper but even for you it is a lot. " Star said, now a little calmer. " It's because I saw it in the kidnapper's eyes that he him self was not happy of what he was doing. He wasn't doing it for money rather it was something along the line of his life depending on it or someone else's. " Abyss replied.
Abyss's long years had taught him things others often missed. Living for hundreds of thousands of years him a certain intuition. And in this case, his instincts screamed that this man carried a burden far beyond crime.
Star smiled and said " If that's the case then I won't do anything to him, I believe in you ". Star knew Abyss's intuition has always been accurate so he smiled though the smile wasn't genuine, it was stil a smile.
The kidnapper tries to answer Abyss's question but the words would just not come out. There was a sort of fear in his chest that made him unable to talk. " I-I--I " he tried to say but the words didn't come out.
His whole body stared shivering, more and more fear stared piling up his breathing getting heavy. " IF-I tell him ' he ' will kill her " he thought to him self.
But before his situation could become worse, Abyss put his hand on the kidnapper's hand tried to calm him down saying " don't worry nothing will happen to the person your thinking of. "
The kidnapper look at him with shock " how did you know " he said .
" Just a hunch " Abyss said with a smile.
The kidnapper looked at him and in that moment for a while his heart felt relaxed.