Deprived Love - Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Third person's pov
Fear
A feeling Chris hasn't felt for a long time. A person who has nothing to lose is the most dangerous one. Chris was like that before he met Bella.
He had absolutely nothing to lose, maybe that's why he came such a long way in a short time. He had no weakness because he already lost everything including himself.
But right now he had something very precious he can't bear to lose, a big weakness but he had strength too.
In between the group of men who surrounded them, sweat glistening on his forehead and his love breathing heavily behind him, he glanced at the sky questioning whoever the god of the universe is, that was it so wrong of him to love someone? Was it wrong for him to finally relax? Was it wrong of him wanting a single day in his life apart from the chaos? Was it wrong to feel happy once… just once? Does he don't deserve to stay happy?
What did he do that extreme to not be able to deserve a single day with peace. Why everyone he loves is snatched away by the universe.
Never in his life did he feel so weak… so tired of living life.
The group of men dressed in black approaches the couple with stealth, but there's an underlying tension, like a storm brewing. Bella, sensing something wrong, looks up just in time to see the men closing in.
Chris stood, instinctively shielding her, but the men were too fast.
They grab him forcefully, dragging him towards the van. Bella screamed in panic, reaching out to him, but one of the kidnappers shoved her aside, she fell on the ground and before she could stand, they forced Chris into the van.
It was so chaotic and intense, Bella was left in shock and fear as the van sped away, leaving the once peaceful moment shattered by the sudden violence.
Bella felt empty, and she couldn't think of anything she could do at that moment. She wasn't able to register, what just happened...
She watched the van disappear, her eyes fell on the van’s number plate and she memorised it. She was in no right mind to remember something, but forgetting this piece of information can take someone precious away from her.
She dialled a number and rang a call.
“Yes?” The voice appeared from the other side after some rings.
“They took Chris away… a group of men kidnapped him, Liam.” Bella uttered in a breath.
“What!? What exactly happened? Tell me everything!” Liam shouted from the other side but Bella didn't even flinch.
She explained everything to Liam from the moment they entered the garden which was a paradise for Bella but now she could only think of how the evil men snatched her man in front of her and she couldn't even protect him.
She couldn't even wonder in her scariest dream that Chris could be kidnapped away in front of her after some minutes...after they had a magical day.
She sat still leaning on the tree where she was sitting in Chris's embrace some moment ago. She glanced at the dark sky and wondered, was she cursed, that she can't be happy longer.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, thinking what could she possibly do to bring Chris back.
A piece of cloth caught her attention after she opened her eyes, a tear escaped from her brown eyes. It was the handkerchief Chris handed her to wipe her face after they got drenched in rain. She thought of the warmth in his hands when he was wiping her smudged makeup, her hands trembling as she clutched the piece of cloth. Tears stream down her face, unchecked, as she stares blankly at the garden, her mind replaying the horrific event.
She tried to hold it together, taking deep, shaky breaths, but the weight of the situation overwhelms her. She begins to sob uncontrollably, her body wracked with grief and fear. The silence of the dark evening contrasts sharply with the storm of emotions inside her—anger, guilt, helplessness.
Her hands grip the fabric tighter, knuckles white, as she whispers his name, her voice breaking. She blames herself, feeling that she shouldn't have asked Chris for a date. The overwhelming sense of loss and fear for his safety crushes her, and she curls up hugging her knees, clutching the fabric close to her chest, as if it’s the only thing keeping her connected to him.
The world outside moves on, but for her, time has come to a standstill, consumed by the agony of his absence.
And she didn't even know why she felt this way, it was just a date. They were just going out as normal couples who met on dating apps meet up for the first time, no strings attached but why does it hurt so much?
Bella didn't realise when she got up from the garden, picked a taxi and now she is standing in front of her father's mansion.
This was the only way she could think of to free Chris from God knows whom.
She was about to ring the bell but her phone rang, an unknown number.
She shakily picked up the call and pressed the phone next to her ear.
An unfamiliar voice appeared.
“Ms. Butterfly!”
“Who is this?” Bella questioned confusingly.
“Me… who just kidnapped your mafia boyfriend!” He said laughing.
Bella's breath hitched, the man seemed a psychopath. She could sense the paranoia.
“W-who are you?” She asked gulping.
“You can come to take your man and to find out who I am, he's with me.” He said letting out a dark chuckle.
“You have two options, Ms. Butterfly. Either you come here to get your man or I will torture the shit out of him till he begs me to let him die and then I'll kill him and parcel his body to you. If you ask me I'll suggest you choose the second one, that motherfucker deserves this don't you think? But if you choose the first one you'll be putting yourself in danger.”
Bella took a deep breath, she didn't have to even consider the options. She had already chosen it.
“I'll choose the first. I'll go wherever you want.” Bella uttered sternly.
“Fine. But only one of you will be able to get out of here alive.”
He let out a dark chuckle again.
Bella sighed, living with the guilt of Chris's death is much… much worse than dying.
“Fine.” She uttered blankly.
The mam opposite the line laughed out loud,
“You both are exactly the same, that bastard is shouting his lungs out attempting to tell you that you should choose the second. See I am so kind I conveyed his message, ain't I?”
“Please…” Bella uttered, trying to suppress her sobs.
“Hmm?”
“Please don't hurt him.” Bella begged.
“I'll send you the address and time.”