"Mom … please—please save me. I don't want to die!" Clara's voice trembled.
The building stood like a skeleton against the seashore —half-constructed pillars, exposed steel rods and broken concrete floors.
From somewhere beyond, waves crashed relentlessly, their distant roars rising into the silence like a constant threat.
Charlotte, her mother, rushed forward instinctively. But her sons, Liam and Bryer, held her back before she could take another step forward.
"Mom, please … calm down," Liam said, his voice tight. "You're just scaring her."
"No …" Charlotte shook her head frantically, gripping his arm. " I just found her —I just got her back. I can't … I can't lose her again."
A gust of salty wind swept through the open space, carrying the sharp scent of the sea.
Liam saw the fear written on his mother's face. He pulled her into a firm embrace.
"We are not losing her, Mom." His gaze shifted past her.
Clara was tied to the chair in the centre of the cracked concrete floor. Her body trembled violently from cold and fear. Thick ropes bound her wrists and torso. It was tied so tightly it bruised her skin. Additionally, cold metal bands locked around her wrists.
Wires trailed from them —thin, almost invisible—snaking beneath the chair and disappearing into the debris below.
"She is our sister," he said, his voice steady. "We will rescue her and bring her home safe and sound."
Charlotte nodded quickly, clinging to his words.
"Exactly," Bryer added, his tone firm despite the tension in his jaw. "You need to remain calm, mother. For Clara."
Charlotte turned toward him.
He gave her a brief nod, then looked past her, staring at the tear-streaked face of his younger sister.
"We're here for her …" He was about to finish his words when a crucial missing element struck him.
His gaze shifted to her side, and his expression became tenser —as though realizing the fault that he had almost committed.
"... We won't let anything happen to them."
Them.
The word echoed louder than the crashing waves.
Charlotte froze.
Not because she didn't know, but because she had forgotten.
Her other daughter.
"Adelyn …"
Guilt struck her hard.
Her eyes moved slowly towards the chair beside Clara's. There was another girl sitting there.
Bound in the same way with ropes and chains. Same wires that trailed down, disappearing beneath the ground.
One wrong move.
One wrong step towards her—
And everything would end.
Yet —
She didn't move.
She didn't struggle.
She didn't even look afraid.
She sat upright, detached. As she had already accepted the future outcome of the chaos before her.
A flicker of unease crept into Charlotte's chest —one that she couldn't quite name.
But she pushed it down and made an assumption. Adelyn wasn't afraid, just confident. Confident that her family will save her.
After all, Adelyn knew them the best. She had always been close —trusted them without question.
Charlotte's lips curved faintly.
"Adelyn, sweetheart … don't worry," she said softly. "Your mother and brothers are here. We won't let anything happen to you or Clara. We will all leave this place together. Okay?"
The wind howled faintly through the hollow structure. But Adelyn didn't respond.
She didn't nod.
She didn't even blink.
She only looked at Charlotte —straight into her eyes —with a gaze devoid of everything.
No warmth.
No relief.
No belief.
Charlotte faltered. Her brows knitted slightly as she tried to read her daughter's expression. But there was nothing to read.
"Mom!"
Charlotte's attention snapped back to Clara instantly. Clara bit down on her trembling lip as the tears streamed down her cheeks. Her body shook against the restraints.
"Maybe… Maybe I'm not meant to be in this family."
"Clara," Charlotte frowned sharply. "That's absurd! What are you talking about? We are your family!"
Clara shook her head weakly.
"No … I was never meant to be part of this family. That's why I was separated from you. And that's why I'm here now. I —"
"Clara, that's enough."
Liam's voice cut through firmly.
"I told you not to panic. Trust us. Trust your brothers. You are our sister —meant to be cherished. We won't let anything happen to you."
Clara squinted her eyes closed as tears streamed down her cheeks. Before she could speak again, a laugh echoed through the unfinished building.
Low.
Mocking.
It bounced off the bare concrete pillars, stretching unnaturally in the open space.
"Meant to be cherished. How… interesting."
Liam turned sharply.
A man stepped out from the shadows between the pillars.
A mask covered his face.
Behind him, several men stood scattered across the floor —positioned carefully between the debris and exposed beams. Where they stood wasn't random, it was all planned.
It felt carefully staged.
"Who are you?" Bryer demanded, stepping forward.
The man ignored him. He gazed lazily towards the two women, briefly pausing on Adelyn. Just for a second longer than necessary.
But the moment Adelyn lifted her eyes to meet his, he looked away.
"Hey! I'm talking to you," Bryer snapped, anger tightening his fists. "Who are you, and why have you —"
"Shhh!!"
The man raised a finger to his lips.
The effect was immediate.
Even the wind seemed to quiet down.
A chill ran down the Scott brothers' spines. Charlotte flinched.
Clara squeezed her eyes shut.
"I don't recall owing you an answer," the man said calmly.
A faint smile curved his lips —cold and provocative.
Bryer stepped forward, but his brother caught his arm and pulled him back. Their eyes met, and Liam shook his head, refraining him from doing anything reckless.
The man noticed.
His smile deepened.
"Yes, listen to your elder brother," he mocked lightly, "and be obedient."
His gaze sharpened.
"I'm not a patient man, so I suggest you don't test me."
Bryer's fingers clenched painfully.
"Bryer …" Charlotte whispered, her hand trembling as she touched his arm. "Listen to your brother. Think about Clara and Adelyn. Cooperate with the man, please."
The words sounded like fear. Like sweet surrender.
Charlotte turned back to look at her two daughters. The sea roared faintly in the distance. Adelyn remained still, unchanged. Clara looked like she was about to fall apart.
"Clara …" Charlotte said softly. "Don't be afraid. We're here."
Clara nodded weakly, as if she was forcing herself to believe it.
Liam watched her for a moment.
Then, he turned to lock eyes with the masked man. Steady and cold.
"What do you want?"