Christina’s POV

"Christina! Christina!" I heard Priya’s panicked shouts just before the van door slammed shut and we sped away.Inside the van were several masked figures. The air felt cold and hostile, and fear began to claw its way up my throat."Fight back!" Akira snarled inside me."Who are you? What do you want?" I asked as I lunged forward, throwing punches at whoever I could reach. But there were too many of them.I managed to land a few hits before someone grabbed me from behind.A sharp blow to the back of my head made everything spin, and I crumpled forward, dazed.The man who’d dragged me in grabbed my hair and yanked me up from the floor.Slap.My head spun, ears ringing.Another blow landed.I tried to struggle, but men on either side pinned my arms down."Fuck! Let me go! Who the hell are you?" I shouted.Slap.A third hit, harder this time.It felt personal."You stupid bitch. You must know you’ve pissed someone off," a cold voice hissed.I didn’t recognize it. "Who are you?"Pissed someone off?Who?Genevieve?Franklin?Someone else entirely?"Why should I tell you?" The voice replied with contempt. He sounded like he genuinely hated me."What’s your connection to Genevieve?" I guessed blindly.But the slight tightening around his eyes told me I’d hit a nerve.Slap!Another stinging blow landed on my already sore cheek.I gritted my teeth against the pain, furious and helpless.I prayed Priya had called the police and Hudson. Maybe traffic cameras had caught the van’s license plate. Maybe help was already on the way."Hudson will find us," Akira growled, trying to comfort both of us. "He’ll tear them apart."For now, I decided it was better to stay quiet.

I couldn’t see outside; the windows were covered. The van sped recklessly, swerving and jolting until my stomach churned violently. I sat perfectly still, afraid that if I moved even slightly, I’d be sick.

Time stretched endlessly. I lost all sense of how long we’d been driving, every moment pure agony.

Then, finally, the van began to slow. It rolled to a stop, and the engine cut out.

The door was opened and as soon as I saw it swing wide, I rushed out and vomited violently onto the ground.

"Useless bitch." The same scornful voice.

When I was finally done, my whole body felt weak, but at least my stomach was somewhat relieved.

It was only then I realized it was already dark outside. Had I really been in the van for so long?

Where was I?

I looked around. We were outside a large house. It looked like a private residence, tucked away in what seemed like a wooded area far from Highrise City.

"If you’ve finished being sick, get your ass inside," the man’s cold voice cut through the night.

I dragged myself forward on heavy legs.

Once we were inside, he spoke again, just as coldly: "Take her upstairs."

Just like that, I was escorted up to a room.

Soon after, the man appeared in the doorway, his gaze still frozen. "Now you’ll get to experience what it’s like," he said.

Before I could untangle my frantic thoughts, I was hauled back downstairs, a hood was pulled over my head, and I was shoved into another car. We drove for nearly two hours, ending up somewhere completely unfamiliar. Wherever it was, it was a long way from Highrise City.

"What are you looking at?" the man asked coldly.

"Who are you?" I shot back. "What’s your connection to Genevieve?"

"That’s none of your business."

"You don’t strike me as one of her hired hands," I pressed. "You’re too angry. This is personal for you."

For just a second, he seemed caught off guard.

"Don’t get smart with me," he snapped.

"Are you her friend? Or just another pathetic admirer?"

"You talk too much. People who ask too many questions tend to disappear."

I stared harder. "I was right, wasn’t I? Genevieve didn’t hire you. This is personal for you. What’s your connection to her? And aren’t you terrified of what Hudson will do when he finds you?"

"Terrified?" His laugh was like broken glass. "Why the fuck would I be scared of him? If he knew who I was, he’d be the one pissing himself."

"I’d reconsider making Hudson your enemy. It won’t end well."

"Whatever. You should worry more about yourself. How are you so calm right now?" He sounded almost insulted.

I said nothing. My stomach twisted painfully with hunger, but I’d rather starve than beg this asshole for anything.

All I could do was hope Hudson would find me soon.

He must know I’d been taken by now. But could he trace who was behind it? Would he find this place before it was too late?

The man glared at me for what felt like forever before finally leaving.

When the door clicked shut, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

Truth was, I was scared shitless. How could I not be? I was just doing everything possible to hide it from my captor.

Once alone, I searched every inch of the room, including the bathroom. Windows nailed shut, door locked from outside, and the bathroom vent was barely big enough for a mouse.

No escape route. Great.

I slumped onto the bed.

My thoughts were a chaotic mess, none of them useful.

Outside, darkness fell completely. I didn’t turn on any lights, preferring to sit in the shadows.

As time dragged on, my nerves stretched tighter and tighter.

The silence was suffocating.

A bone-deep chill settled over me.

I huddled on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest.

Without my phone and no clock in sight, I had no idea what time it was.

The darkness magnified every fear until panic clogged my throat.

"Wait," Akira suddenly perked up. "Do you smell that?"

I paused, confused. I hadn’t been able to smell things properly since Niall’s rejection. But now... there was something.

A faint scent, unfamiliar yet somehow triggering alarm bells.

"Your senses are coming back,"Akira noted with surprise.

Before I could process this development, I heard movement outside.

My muscles tensed instantly.

The door creaked open. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The room remained pitch black, but I sensed someone approaching.

Before I could strike, a cloth pressed against my mouth and nose.

A sickly sweet smell overwhelmed me.

Everything faded to black.