Detective Harper and her team showed up at the cabin area with search dogs, ready to find any clue about Bella. As they stepped into the dense forest, they were met with a daunting sight: dozens of cabins scattered everywhere. It felt impossible to search them all, leaving them unsure where to start. It was like hunting for a needle in a haystack.
The officers shuffle from cabin to cabin, their faces tense and weary. With every ticking minute, hope for finding Bella slipped away. The dogs sniffed around, but it didn't seem to help. All the cabins looked the same, and despair settled in my chest with every step they took. How could they possibly find Bella in all of this?
Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Vincent Julian's house hid among the trees. It was big and old, cloaked in darkness, making it hard to find. But Bella was there, locked in the basement, tied to a chair. She couldn't see any sunlight; the only light came from a tiny crack in the wall, just enough to make out her surroundings. Alone and scared, she had no idea what was coming next.
The basement door creaked open, and Vincent walked in, a few of his men trailing behind. He wasn't smiling. His expression was cold, and the way he looked at Bella made her heart race with fear.
"Untie her," Vincent commanded one of his guys, his tone firm.
The enforcer stepped forward quickly and cut the ropes off Bella's wrists. She rubbed her sore hands, feeling the fresh sting. Trusting them felt impossible, but she didn't have a choice.
"Here," Vincent tossed her a plate of food. "Eat. You need your strength."
Bella stared at the food, her stomach growling, but she didn't want anything from him. Fear and anger swirled inside her. "You'll never get away with this," she whispered.
Vincent didn't flinch at her words. "This is your new home," he said with a chill in his voice. "You're never leaving here. Got it?"
That anger bubbled up in Bella. "This will never be my home," she shot back.
The men around her laughed, but it only made her feel smaller and powerless. Vincent turned and left the basement, his men following him.
Once again, Bella sat alone in the dark, her heart racing. Just then, footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Vincent's kids, Josh and Vanessa, walked into the basement, looking around. They froze when they saw Bella tied up.
"Who are you?" Josh asked softly.
Bella didn't answer right away. She wasn't sure if she could trust them. They looked young, maybe around ten or eleven, and their eyes were wide with curiosity, not fear. They didn't seem dangerous. In fact, they looked more surprised than anything else.
"I'm Bella," she finally said, her voice shaky.
Josh stepped a little closer while Vanessa hung back. "Why are you down here?" he asked.
Bella gave a weak smile. "Your dad… he brought me here. I don't know why."
Vanessa looked over her shoulder, clearly nervous. "We're not supposed to be here. Dad said we should never come to the basement."
Josh ignored her and sat down on the floor, right in front of Bella. "Are you a bad person?"
Bella shook her head quickly. "No. I promise I'm not."
Vanessa slowly joined them, kneeling beside her brother. "You look hungry," she said softly.
"I am," Bella admitted, lowering her gaze. "But I don't trust the food he gave me."
Josh frowned. "Dad always gives us weird rules. But we're not like him."
"We can bring you something better tomorrow," Vanessa added quickly, her voice just above a whisper. "Real food. From the kitchen."
Bella's smiled with emotion. "That would mean a lot. Thank you."
Josh gave a small smile. "Don't worry. We'll come back. We won't tell anyone."
Then, the sound of footsteps echoed from upstairs. The kids panicked.
"We have to go," Vanessa whispered.
Josh nodded. "Don't worry, we'll check on you again. Promise."
And with that, the two of them hurried up the stairs and disappeared.
Bella was left alone again, but this time, something felt different. There was a tiny spark of hope now. Maybe the kids could help her. Maybe they'd be the key to her escape.
Bella felt a mix of doubt and hope. She wasn't sure if she could really trust them, but they were the only nice faces she'd seen. They represented a way out of this place, and she needed to believe they would return.
But not far away, the police were working hard to find Bella. They combed through cabin after cabin, slowly zeroing in on their search. They didn't know just how near they were to Vincent Julian's hideout, but they were closing in with each moment.
Then my phone rang. I nearly dropped it when I saw the caller ID. It was Vincent.
I answered quickly, my hands unsteady. Where is she? Where's my daughter?
Vincent's voice was calm, but it sent chills down my spine. If you want to see your daughter again, bring $10 million in cash to the old train station at 4 p.m. If you don't show up, she dies.
I felt like I couldn't breathe. Ten million dollars? Okay, I'll do it. I knew I had no choice. Losing Bella was not an option, especially after everything we'd been through.
I didn't waste any time. I called Detective Harper, filled her in, and the police needed to move. Officers retreated, heading straight for the old train station to set up a covert operation. The plan was clear: have the money ready and keep the police hidden from Vincent.
The hours dragged on as Gabriel and I quietly made plans to get the cash. It felt like the walls were closing in on us. Each second felt like forever.
We had no clue what Vincent was plotting, but we had to brace ourselves for anything.
The search for Bella was getting urgent. With every passing moment, things were getting riskier.