Chapter Eight:
The scream echoed through the dark mansion.Lily's heart nearly stopped.
"That's her! That's my mom!" she cried.
Emergency lights flickered red across the walls, turning everything into shadows. The guards hesitated, confused. Even Victoria Blackwood looked unsettled. Ethan didn't wait,He shoved past the guards and grabbed the basement door handle and it was locked, He kicked the door once and twice Then the lock snapped ,and the door burst open ,ethan rushed up from below.
Lily ran after him, her legs were shaking.
The staircase was dim, only emergency lights blinking. Every step felt heavier than the last.Then they reached at the bottom of the basement.
The basement was large… but Completely empty,Lily froze.
"No… she was here…"Ethan scanned the room,Metal chains hung from a chair and Rope on the floor,A glass of water still half full,Someone had been there recently.But now… gone,Her knees weakened.
"They moved her…" Ethan clenched his fists."They knew we were coming."
Footsteps sounded behind them, Victoria walked down calmly,she said "You see? No one is here." Ethan turned sharply and told her, "You're lying mum."She crossed her arms then said to him,"You broke into my basement for nothing."Lily's voice trembled.
"She was here… I heard her…"
Victoria looked at her coldly. "You're imagining things."
Ethan crouched near the chair Still warm.
He touched the rope and noticed that it was Recently cut, His eyes darkened,
"They moved her minutes ago."he said"
Victoria didn't respond.That silence said everything "said Ethan ",Suddenly, Daniel called Ethan.He answered immediately.
"Talk I'm listening." Ethan said to Daniel"
"Security grid just went offline five minutes ago." Daniel replied"
Ethan frowned."What?"
"Someone inside the estate disabled cameras."Ethan's eyes lifted slowly toward Victoria and said to her, "You're covering this."? She smirked slightly then he said to Ethan"You're accusing me again."
Daniel continued."One vehicle left the estate through the back road."
Ethan's voice sharpened. "What vehicle?"
"Black SUV. No plates." Lily's heart dropped and she said ."They took her again…"
Ethan turned and ran upstairs.Lily followed him immediately.They both rushed outside and saw Headlights in the distance.
A black SUV speeding away down the long driveway. "That's them!" Lily cried.
Ethan jumped into his car."Get in lily!"
Then she went in immediately.He floored the accelerator and The chase began.
The road twisted through hills.
The SUV ahead tried to outrun them.
Lily gripped the seat."They're getting away!"
But Ethan told her"Not for long."Ethan pushed faster and the distance shrank. Suddenly—The SUV swerved sharply.
It turned onto a dirt road and Ethan followed,Dust filled the air the road narrowed.Then…The SUV stopped suddenly.Ethan slammed the brakes And there was silence. The doors of the SUV opened. Three masked men stepped out.
But… Lily's mother was not inside the car.
Lily's stomach dropped."Where is she then?!" One of the men laughed and told them"You're too late." Ethan stepped out.
"Where is she?"The man tossed something toward him,it was a phone and Ethan caught it.The screen lit up and it was a live video call.Lily grabbed his arm.
"Answer it!"and he did.
The screen showed a dark room where
her mother was tied again.But this time… someone stood behind her Unmasked.
Lily gasped.Her heart stopped.
It was a woman,Elegant,Beautiful and familiar.Ethan froze.
"…Sophia?"
The woman smiled slowly.
"Hello, Ethan."
Lily looked between them."You know her?"
His voice tightened and he replied "She's my ex-fiancée."Lily's world tilted.
Sophia smirked on screen. "You didn't think I'd let you move on so easily… did you?"
Lily's hands trembled. "You're doing this… because of him?"Sophia tilted her head.
"No. I'm doing this because of you."
Lily froze. "Me?"Sophia's eyes turned cold.
"You took what belonged to me."
Ethan's voice hardened."Sophia, stop this."
She laughed softly.
"You always loved telling me what to do."
Lily's mother whimpered."Please…"
Sophia placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Quiet." Lily cried ," please don't hurt her!"
Sophia smiled. "That depends on you."
Her heart pounded. "What do you want?"
Sophia leaned closer to the camera.
"I want you to disappear from Ethan's life forever."Lily said "I already tried!"
But Sophia said"Not enough."And there was silence.Then Sophia said something chilling."Come alone… and I'll trade her for you." Lily's breathing stopped.
"No."Ethan spoke immediately.
"Absolutely not."Sophia ignored him.
"Come alone… no police… no Ethan."
Lily's voice shook."And then you'll release her?"Sophia smiled and said"Maybe."
Ethan grabbed the phone.
"This is between you and me. Let her go."
Sophia's expression hardened."No. I want her."Lily's heart raced.Sophia continued—
"You have one hour to decide. After that…"
She pulled something into view. A gun.
Pressed gently against Lily's mother's shoulder. Lily screamed. "NO!"
Sophia smiled calmly.
"One hour." The screen went black.
Silence filled the night.Lily's legs weakened.
"I have to go…"Ethan shook his head.
"No." "She'll kill her."but Ethan said "She'll take you." "I don't care."said lily
Ethan told her that "he do." Tears streamed down lily 's face"She's my mom…"
He grabbed her shoulders and said."I'm not losing you too."She looked at him,Pain was in their eyes.her phone buzzed.it was a new message.She opened it and Her face turned pale.She whispered to Ethan --
"She sent the address…"Ethan's jaw tightened,he told her to delete it." but she shook her head slowly "No… I'm going."
He stepped in front of her. "I won't let you go."Her voice broke and she told him ,"You can't stop me."Then she whispered—
"I'm going… even if I have to leave you behind." And she turned…
But when Ethan reached for her—
A car suddenly sped out of the darkness behind them. And slammed straight toward Lily.