Sorry for late update guys ,,
Actually I needed some time to write and also some rest due to continuous travelling and then NCC Camp....
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Keifer's POV
The warehouse door groaned, a rusty hinge protesting as Percy shouldered it open.
The moment I stepped inside the warehouse, something inside me snapped.
The air was cold. Still. Heavy.
And then I saw her.
Eces.
She was tied to a metal chair in the center, her head lowered, her hair falling over her face. Her shoulders rose and fell slowly. She was awake… barely.
My chest tightened.
Angelo stopped beside me. Percy and Aries froze behind us.
No one spoke.
A figure detached itself from the deeper shadows, a smirk spreading across his face. Dylan. Kaizer's shadow. He held a plastic water bottle, its contents glinting. He strolled to Eces, his movements unnervingly casual.
"Wakey, wakey," his voice, smooth as polished glass, echoed in the cavernous space.
He tipped the bottle. A cold stream splashed across Eces's face. She gasped, a ragged sound, her head snapping back against the chair. Her eyes fluttered, then locked onto Dylan, confusion warring with a dawning horror.
"See?" Dylan's smirk widened, his gaze lingering on her. "Much better." He reached out, his fingers tracing a path along her jawline, dipping lower towards her neck.
A growl ripped from my throat, a primal sound I barely recognized as my own. Percy moved, a blur of motion at my side, his fists clenching.
"Get your hands off her," I snarled, my voice rough, strained.
Dylan chuckled, a low, guttural sound. He ignored us, his eyes still fixed on Eces. His fingers brushed her collarbone, then started to descend towards the taut fabric of her shirt.
Eces flinched, a tremor running through her. Her eyes, wide and wild, darted between Dylan's encroaching hand and our frozen forms. A flicker of something dangerous ignited within them. The air crackled, thick with unspoken threats.
"Don't," she whispered, her voice raw, barely audible.
Dylan's hand paused, a fraction of an inch from her breast. "Or what, little bird?"
That was it.
Something changed.
Eces froze.
Not like someone weak.
Like someone remembering something they wished they could forget.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her fingers curled into fists.
Her jaw clenched tightly.
I noticed it immediately.
Her trauma was triggering.
Her hands trembled.
Not from fear.
From pressure.
From memories.
Dylan noticed too.
He laughed. "Looks like she's scared."
He shouldn't have said that.
Eces suddenly moved.
She pushed her weight forward and slammed the chair sideways into the man holding her. He stumbled in surprise. Using that moment, she twisted her wrists against the loosened rope, ignoring the pain.
She wasn't thinking anymore.
She was reacting.
Fighting.
Surviving.
"Stop her!" Dylan shouted.
One of the men rushed toward her.
But she kicked him hard in the leg, throwing him off balance even while half-tied.
That was enough.
Percy moved first.
He grabbed one man and shoved him back violently.
Aries followed instantly, blocking another.
Angelo stepped forward with terrifying calm, disabling one attacker with precise force.
I walked straight toward Dylan.
He tried to step back.
I grabbed his collar and slammed him into the wall.
Hard.
"Wrong choice," I said quietly.
Behind me, Ci-n and David untied the rest of Eces's restraints.
She stood up slowly.
Her breathing was still heavy.
Her hands were shaking.
Her eyes looked distant.
Not fully present.
She wasn't seeing the warehouse.
She was seeing something else.
Something from her past.
I walked to her carefully.
"Eces," I said calmly.
She didn't respond.
Her fists were still clenched.
Her hands slightly red.
I lowered my voice.
"You're safe."
Her eyes shifted.
Focused.
On me.
On reality.
Her breathing slowly steadied.
She blinked once.
Then nodded.
Behind us, Dylan stayed silent.
Defeated.
Powerless.
Angelo gave him one last cold look.
"We're done here."
I didn't even look back.
My focus stayed on Eces as we walked out.
She didn't say anything.
But she stayed close.
And as we stepped outside into the open air, one truth settled deep inside me—
Kaizer hadn't just attacked Jay.
He had touched my family.
And I was going to make sure he never got the chance again.
The drive to the hospital was quiet.
Not calm.
Heavy.
Eces sat between me and Aries in the back seat. Angelo was driving, Percy beside him, while Ci-n , Yuri and David followed us in another car.
No one spoke.
I kept looking at her.
Her head leaned lightly against the seat, her eyes open but distant. Her wrist was red and slightly swollen. There was a faint bruise near her collarbone where one of those men had grabbed her.
My hands clenched into fists.
I should've reached her sooner.
Aries noticed my expression. His jaw was tight too. He leaned forward slightly and spoke softly to her.
"Eces," he said gently. "We're almost there."
She blinked and looked at him.
Then nodded faintly.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
We understood.
At the hospital, I opened the car door and helped her out. Aries immediately moved to her other side, steadying her carefully.
She didn't resist.
Didn't argue.
We walked beside her like a shield.
Inside, the doctor examined her.
Bruised wrists.
Minor swelling.
Surface injuries.
Exhaustion.
No fractures.
No internal damage.
"She's physically stable," the doctor said. "But she needs rest. And she shouldn't be alone."
"She won't be," Aries said firmly.
I nodded in agreement.
The nurse applied ointment and wrapped her wrist carefully. Eces watched silently, her expression calm, but I knew her mind wasn't at peace yet.
When she stood up, she swayed slightly.
Both Percy and I reached for her at the same time.
She gave a small, tired smile.
"I'm okay," she whispered.
Neither of us believed it completely.
But we stayed quiet.
We stayed beside her.
When we reached home, Section E was already there.
The moment they saw her, the entire room froze.
Then relief hit all at once.
"Eces!" Felix said, standing up.
"Are you okay?" Eman asked.
Ci-n quickly cleared space on the couch.
"Sit," he said gently.
She sat down slowly.
Aries stayed standing beside her, his arms crossed, his protective gaze scanning the room like he was still ready to fight.
I stood on her other side.
No one was leaving her alone.
Then hurried footsteps came from upstairs.
Jay.
Keiren.
Keigan.
Jay saw Eces and immediately ran to her.
"Eces!"
She dropped beside her and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
Eces froze for a moment.
Then slowly hugged her back.
Jay pulled away and cupped her face, her hands trembling slightly.
"Are you hurt?" Jay asked, her voice breaking. "Tell me the truth."
"I'm okay, Ate," Eces replied softly.
Jay looked at her bandaged wrist, her eyes filling with tears.
Keigan stood behind Jay, guilt written all over his face.
"I should've gone with you," he said quietly.
Eces shook her head gently.
"No."
Keiren stepped forward next, his usual energy gone.
"Does it hurt?" he asked softly.
Eces looked at him.
Then she smiled faintly.
"It's okay."
Angelo placed his hand gently on her head.
A rare gesture.
Protective.
"You're safe now," he said quietly.
She nodded.
Jay hugged her again.
Keigan sat beside her.
Keiren stayed close.
And I stood there, watching all of them.
My family.
Safe.
For now.
But inside me, something had changed forever.
Kaizer had crossed the line.
And I wasn't going to forgive that.
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I know that this chapter can be a bit boring but it was needed to write Kaizer's threat....
But I didn't want Jay to face that this before.....
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