Minutes later, the police stormed the building, quickly escorting the terrified students and staff to safety.
In the aftermath, the school descended into chaos - worried parents arriving, officers questioning witnesses, and paramedics checking for injuries.
But then came the devastating realization:
Aliana was missing.
The students from her class, still trembling but safe, tearfully told the officers and news reporters what happened - how their teacher bravely shielded them and fought back against the bandits, sacrificing herself so they could escape.
It didn't take long for the story to spread like wildfire.
By the evening, the news was everywhere - headlines flashing across every channel:
"High School Teacher Kidnapped After Heroic Act Saves Students from Armed Attack."
A photo of Aliana - her old yearbook picture - now filled the screens.
Her bravery was undeniable.
But now, she was gone.
Star's hands trembled as he gripped the remote, his eyes locked on the flashing news headline.
"High School Teacher Kidnapped After Heroic Act Saves Students from Armed Attack."
Aliana's face appeared on the screen, her old yearbook photo now a grim reminder of the reality unfolding.
His mind went blank.
His breath hitched.
He barely heard Luna gasp beside him or the shocked silence that fell over the room.
His fingers curled into a fist as he muttered, "That's... just how she is..." But he couldn't finish his sentence.
His voice cracked, the weight of the situation pressing down on him like a storm.
"Star, calm down-" Eric started, but Star was already on his feet, his heart pounding violently against his ribs.
"I can't just sit here!" he snapped, already moving towards the door.
"Star, wait! We need a plan-" Kade tried to reason, but Star wasn't listening.
Luna, Nia, Kade, and Jake exchanged glances. There was no stopping him.
"We're coming with you."
Without another word, they followed him outside. Star jumped into his luxurious car, hands gripping the wheel tighter than ever before.
With the city far away, the drive should have taken longer-but fueled by adrenaline and desperation, he pushed the car to its limits, cutting through the highways at a reckless speed.
Nobody dared to stop him.
The tension inside the car was suffocating.
Nia kept checking her phone for updates.
Kade clenched his fists, his usual carefree attitude completely gone.
Luna was gripping the seatbelt, her face pale, while Jake sat in heavy silence.
The journey blurred into a haze, and before they knew it-
They arrived.
As soon as the car screeched to a halt, Star jumped out, running through the crowded streets in desperation.
He had to find her.
He had to do something.
But in his blind rush, he suddenly crashed into someone.
The impact sent them both stumbling, but before Star could even mutter an apology, he froze.
The man in front of him looked just as frantic, his face pale with worry. His suit was slightly disheveled, something unusual for a man of his status.
It was Aliana's father.
For a moment, there was only silence. The two men stared at each other, their eyes reflecting the same desperation.
Aliana's father spoke first, his voice hoarse.
"You... You're Star, aren't you?"
Star barely managed a nod.
The older man exhaled sharply, his hands shaking as he ran them through his hair. "She... she's gone. They took her. I-" His voice cracked, something Star never thought he would witness from the once-proud businessman.
Star clenched his fists.
"Where?" His voice was deadly calm.
Aliana's father looked at him with hollow eyes. "No one knows."
Star's blood ran cold.
The friends, who had caught up, stood behind him, breathing heavily.
The reality hit them all at once.
Aliana was gone.
And they had no clue where to start looking.
Aliana's wrists ached from the tight ropes digging into her skin.
The room was dimly lit, reeking of sweat, smoke, and old blood. The walls were cold, the air heavy with an unshakable sense of dread.
The Black Wolf's base was exactly as the rumors described a lawless, hidden fortress run by the most dangerous criminals.
Guards with guns slung over their shoulders patrolled the area, their gazes predatory, while others stood nearby, exchanging cruel jokes about the failed kidnapping at the school.
Aliana sat on the cold floor, back against the wall, her breathing ragged. Bruises marked her arms from the "punishments" she'd already received - slaps, kicks, and threats - all because she had prevented them from getting a single student to ransom.
Still, despite the pain, she felt a strange sense of relief.
They didn't get the children.
That thought alone gave her some strength.
But it didn't last long.
The heavy, rusted door creaked open, and the room fell silent.
A man stepped inside - tall, dressed in an elegant white suit that felt completely out of place in this grimy hideout. His slicked-back hair, polished shoes, and signature arrogant smirk made Aliana's stomach twist.
Her heart sank as recognition hit her like a hammer.
Roger Raylor.
The same psychopathic ex-fiancé who had once pointed a gun at her, threatening her life if she refused their forced marriage six years ago.
He chuckled softly, his eyes lighting up with cruel satisfaction. "Well, well... look who we have here."
Aliana's jaw clenched. "What... what are you doing here?"
Roger's smile widened, his voice smooth but laced with venom. "You think I disappeared after that little... incident?" He gave a mock laugh. "No, Aliana. I simply learned to control myself."
Her heart pounded.
He continued, pacing slowly around her. "The police did take me in after your magician friend made a mess of things, but I learned something important..." He turned sharply to face her, his eyes dark. "Self-control."
Aliana stayed silent, her mind racing.
"I played their game," Roger said. "I behaved, I smiled, I became the perfect son. And now... I've inherited my father's company - a very successful one, I might add."
Her stomach churned.
"But you see, Aliana," his voice dropped to a whisper, "wealth and power are never enough. I wanted more. Which is why I found these lovely gentlemen."
He gestured to the Black Wolf members, who sneered and chuckled in the background.
"I give them protection," Roger explained, "so they can run their... little businesses without fear of getting caught. In return, I get a few favors."
Aliana's blood ran cold.
This was worse than she imagined.
Roger's voice sharpened. "And now, here you are... again. What a perfect opportunity."
She glared at him, her fear mixing with fury. "You're still the same disgusting, pathetic excuse of a man."
His smile faltered for a second - just a second - before his expression darkened.
"You haven't learned a thing," Roger hissed, unbuckling a whip from his side. "Let me remind you of what happens when you insult me."
Aliana's breath hitched.
She tensed, bracing herself as Roger raised the whip-
CRACK.
The sound echoed off the walls.
She bit her lip to hold back a cry, the pain burning through her shoulder.
Roger only smiled. "This time, there's no magician to save you."
The Black Wolf members laughed - a cruel, merciless sound.
Aliana's mind spiraled.
No escape.
No hope.
And Roger - a monster from her past - was back, with more power than ever.
Star was a mess - his heart racing, hands trembling, and his mind spiraling into dark thoughts with every second that passed. His usually composed demeanor was gone. He was no longer the calm, confident celebrity magician - he was just a desperate man searching for someone he couldn't bear to lose.
He darted through the streets of the city, his friends struggling to keep up with him.
"Star, wait! This isn't helping!" Kade called out, grabbing Star by the arm, but Star yanked free, his chest heaving.
"I can't stop! I can't just stand here and do nothing!" Star shouted. His voice cracked - a rare, raw display of fear that none of them had ever seen from him before.
Aliana's father, still worried and pacing, spoke firmly, "This is pointless. She's not going to be wandering around the streets. She's been taken - clearly hidden somewhere."
The weight of those words crushed Star even further, his mind screaming for a solution.
Then, suddenly, Jake's eyes lit up. "Wait - Star! What about your magic?"
Star blinked, his frantic breathing slowing just a bit.
"You can use black magic to find her!" Jake insisted.
Aliana's father's expression shifted - a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Black magic?" he repeated, looking sharply at Star. "I thought you were just a magician..."
Luna quickly stepped in, "He is - but he uses his magic to help people. It's never for harm. Trust us, sir."
Kade added, "He's done a lot of good with it. And more than that..." He paused, meeting Aliana's father's eyes. "He cares about your daughter. More than you realize."
Star's jaw tightened. "Shut up," he muttered, clearly not wanting this moment to turn into a discussion about his feelings.
But Aliana's father wasn't angry.
In fact, there was a flicker of relief in his stern gaze - a realization that the man standing in front of him wasn't just chasing Aliana out of duty or friendship - this was deeper.
Finally, after a brief silence, he reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a soft piece of clothing - a scarf of Aliana's. "If your magic can help... use this. It's hers."
Star took the scarf with a shaking hand, closing his eyes for a moment. He could feel a faint energy - a thread of Aliana's essence tied to the fabric.
He whispered an incantation, his black magic swirling around him like a soft shadow, unseen by ordinary eyes but sensed by those who knew what to look for.
Slowly, the scarf pulsed with a faint dark glow, the energy pointing in a direction - like an invisible path only Star could sense.
"I found it," Star said hoarsely. "I found her energy."
Without wasting a second, he bolted to his car, his friends following.
"Get in," Star told Aliana's father, his voice more controlled now - focused.
Though hesitant at first, Aliana's father climbed into the passenger seat, gripping the door handle tightly.
"Hold on," Star muttered, slamming the gas pedal.
The car roared to life, speeding down the road.
His friends' car followed close behind, and the chase to find Aliana began.
The car sped through the city streets, the air tense and silent except for the sound of the engine growling beneath them. Star's grip on the steering wheel was so tight his knuckles were white, his eyes fixed on the invisible path of energy only he could sense - a thread of Aliana's essence pulling him forward like a beacon.
Aliana's father sat stiffly in the passenger seat, clutching the scarf Star had used for the spell. He kept glancing at Star, a million thoughts swirling in his mind - confusion about the black magic, concern for his daughter, and a growing realization of how deeply this young man cared for her.
After several minutes of silence, the father finally spoke.
"This... magic of yours," he started, his voice low but steady. "Are you sure it can lead us to her?"
Star didn't take his eyes off the road.
"It's never been wrong," he replied flatly. "Not when the connection is this strong."
The father's gaze softened for a split second.
"You really do love her, don't you?"
Star's jaw clenched, his heart pounding at the question. He didn't answer.
But his silence spoke louder than words.
Behind them, Kade, Luna, Nia, and Jake were in the second car, keeping a close distance. Kade leaned forward, tapping his fingers anxiously against the dashboard.
"I've never seen him like this," Kade muttered, watching Star's car weave through traffic like a man possessed.
Luna nodded slowly. "Yeah... this is different."
Jake leaned back, rubbing his temples. "He's always been intense about his magic, but this... This is personal."
Suddenly, Star made a sharp turn, taking the car down a more isolated road leading out of the main city. It was an old, unpaved path, surrounded by thick trees - a place where no ordinary person would think to look.
Aliana's father's eyes widened. "Where are we going? There's nothing out here."
Star didn't answer. He just pressed the gas harder.
The scarf's glow pulsed faster, the black magic guiding him straight to a hidden base - a crumbling warehouse tucked away in the middle of nowhere.
Star slammed on the brakes, and the car skidded to a stop. Dust clouded the air as the second car parked right behind him.
They were here.
The base was heavily guarded, with bandits patrolling the perimeter - rough-looking men with guns strapped to their sides, moving in and out of the warehouse. The symbol of The Black Wolf gang was spray-painted across the building's entrance - a snarling black wolf with glowing red eyes.
Star's fists clenched at the sight.
Kade stepped up beside him. "We can't just storm in there. They're armed."
Aliana's father's face darkened. "And my daughter is in there with those monsters."
Luna bit her lip. "We need a plan."
But Star's voice was cold and firm.
"I'm going in."
Before anyone could stop him, a dark aura flickered around him - his black magic responding to his fury.
The air around him shifted, and for a brief moment, it wasn't the famous magician standing there.
It was something more dangerous - someone willing to do whatever it took to bring Aliana back.
"Stay behind me," Star ordered, his voice deadly calm.
And with that, he moved toward the base - his friends and Aliana's father following close behind.
The atmosphere was deadly silent as Star stepped out of the car, his dark aura pulsing like a heartbeat. His friends followed behind cautiously, Aliana's father still clutching his daughter's scarf, watching Star's every move with a mix of awe and apprehension.
Two bandit guards stood firm at the entrance of the warehouse, rifles at the ready. They sneered at Star, warning him to turn back - but he didn't even blink.
"Move," Star said, his voice calm but cold.
The guards didn't flinch. One even raised his gun, his finger twitching near the trigger.
In an instant, Star's black magic flared - his eyes darkened, and an eerie shadow wrapped around his hand. He muttered a quiet spell, and the guards' eyes immediately glazed over. Their bodies stiffened, and then, like puppets with their strings cut, they lowered their guns and stepped aside, allowing Star and the others to pass.
Aliana's father stared in shock. "What... what did you just do?"
Jake's eyes widened too. "Hypnotism... just like back then."
Nia, though familiar with Star's abilities, still found herself stunned by how effortlessly he controlled the guards.
"I told you," Luna whispered to Aliana's father. "He doesn't use black magic to hurt people - only to protect those he cares about."
But Star didn't stop there.
As they moved through the dimly lit warehouse, more bandits appeared - some shouting, some reaching for their weapons.
With each confrontation, Star swiftly hypnotized them one by one. His black magic danced through the air like invisible threads, wrapping around the bandits' minds and bending them to his will. The hypnotized men would either stand frozen or turn against their own comrades, creating chaos within their ranks.
Gunfire occasionally broke out, but every time a bullet was fired, a shimmering, dark magic barrier formed in front of Star and his group - deflecting the bullets away effortlessly.
Aliana's father flinched each time a shot rang out, but Star never wavered. His focus was razor-sharp, and his magic responded to his emotions - protective, powerful, and unrelenting.
"How is he this strong now?" Kade muttered, his voice a mix of concern and amazement.
"He's not just a magician anymore," Nia replied softly. "He's something more."
As they advanced deeper into the base, following the faint magical thread still connected to Aliana's scarf, Star's expression darkened even further.
He could feel her presence now - faint but steady.
She was here.