Basement – dimly lit, suffocatingly silent.
Elena lay unconscious on the cold floor, blood dried at her hairline. Aira sat beside her, holding her tightly, trembling but refusing to cry. Don't break. You can't break now. Not in front of her…
One of the kidnappers stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. His eyes glinted with cruelty."Seems like the other one's no fun anymore. But you… you're still breathing just fine."
"Don't touch her. Please. She's hurt… she's unconscious… I'll do anything, just don't touch her." Aira shifted in front of Elena's limp body, her voice steady despite the fear pounding in her chest.
The man chuckled darkly. "Oh, don't worry. We're not interested in her anymore. But you? You've been acting too brave." He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up.
Aira screamed, struggling. "Please… please don't…"
Her heart thundered violently as he shoved her against the cold wall. Another man sneered from the corner."Take off your clothes."
Aira shook her head violently, tears spilling. "No! Please… don't do this…"
The man's grip tightened. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be." He slapped her—hard. She collapsed to the floor, lip split, body trembling.
Aira forced herself up on shaky arms, her eyes darting to Elena's unconscious body, then back to the predator looming over her. I'm scared. God, I'm so scared. But if I give in, if I scream, they win. I can't let that happen.
The man grabbed her again, hands roaming without mercy. She scratched, kicked, screamed."Leave me alone! Don't touch me!"
Elena stirred faintly, whispering through blood-cracked lips. "Please… stop… don't hurt her… I'll do anything… just stop…" Her weak voice was ignored.
The kidnapper pinned Aira, his filthy breath suffocating her as he forced her chin upward."Stop fighting. You're only making me harder—"
BANG!
The metal door BURST open.
A shadow stormed in—eyes blazing with fury.Alec.
"STEP. AWAY. FROM HER." His voice thundered, deeper and darker than they had ever heard. His gaze froze on Aira's torn sleeves, the bruises, the blood dripping from her lip. And the man pressing himself against her.
Alec didn't hesitate. He charged, tackling the bastard to the ground. His fists were merciless—each punch breaking bone, each hit fueled by rage. Blood splattered across the floor.
The second man bolted, but Alec seized a metal rod and hurled it across the room. It struck the man's leg with a sickening crack, sending him crashing to the ground, screaming.
"You. Sick. Bastard!" Alec roared, slamming his fists again and again into the first man's face until he was unrecognizable.
"Alec…" Aira's broken voice trembled as she hugged herself, eyes wide in terror.
Alec froze. He turned to her, chest heaving. Slowly, he dropped to his knees."Aira… look at me. It's over. I'm here now. No one will ever hurt you again."
Her defenses shattered. Aira crawled into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He held her like something fragile, something priceless, as though he could shield her from every horror in the world.
"I fought… I fought so hard… but he almost… I—" she choked.
Alec pressed her against his chest, voice trembling. "You're safe. I promise you. You're safe now." His eyes flickered to Elena's still form on the ground, her head bleeding.
"I'll get you both out. I swear."
Outside, sirens wailed closer and closer.
Mr. Langford and Mr. Brown stormed through the industrial maze with the police."Tell me they're alive, Alec!?📱" Mr. Langford barked into the phone.
Alec's voice cracked with relief and fury. "They're alive… but they're hurt. Bring help. Now.📱"