Chapter 57: Ridden with Guilt

Kent drove a black Chevrolet SUV into Ophix’s compound. However, it was just this one vehicle and no other convoys. He cut the engine after parking right and stepped out, making his way to the trunk.

Ophix emerged from the back seat, her dark robes rustling through the ground as she joined him at the rear of the vehicle.

Yaela lay unconscious in the trunk, her breathing shallow but steady, as Ophix extended her hand toward the girl, causing violet energy to shimmer around her fingers. The mystical force enveloped Yaela’s limp form, lifting her gently into the air where she floated behind Ophix.

The witch began walking toward her mansion. Kent, bold enough to break the silence, then asked, “What will you do to her?”

The black witch’s head tilted slightly backward toward him, and a cold smile spread across her lips. She said nothing in reply to him, before sstepping through the ornate doors of her house, Yaela’s floating form following behind her.

Kent sighed deeply, shaking his head as he watched the doors close. Then he returned to the driver’s seat, started the engine, and reversed out of the compound. Even he, had hoped for a better outcome than this, but hope was a luxury none of them could afford anymore.

…

Back at USOV headquarters, Liam’s dramatic entrance and equally mysterious departure was all anyone in the facility talked about this morning. The entire Team C had gathered in the cafeteria, and had spent the last hour briefing each other on what little they knew.

“I hate that this is happening right when we just finished having such a good time,” Sarah said, her frustration evident as she clicked her tongue in annoyance. ’Tsk’.

Silas leaned forward, with genuine across his face. “And no one knows why he came in like that? Or why he stormed into Grey’s office looking like he wanted to kill someone?”

“Nope,” Elaine replied, there was worry clear in her voice. “He walked in absolutely furious, nothing like we’ve ever seen before. And when he left the organization, nobody actually saw him go. He never came back down those stairs.”

Silas stood up decisively. “You know what? I’m going to get more information from the Director himself.” Then he left the cafeteria and made his way through the facility’s corridors, then eventually, continued his way upstairs towards the director’s office.

Within minutes, he was standing outside Grey’s office, raising his hand to knock on the door. “Come in,” came Grey’s voice from within.

Silas stepped inside and greeted first. “Good day, Director.”

“Yes, Silas?” Grey’s response was curt, his frustration visible in every line of his face. He was clearly not in the mood for small talk or unnecessary interruptions.

Silas chose his words carefully, trying not to sound insubordinate. “I came to find out what happened with Liam this morning. The team is concerned.”

Grey sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “His sister was kidnapped yesterday.”

“What?!” Silas exclaimed, shock washing over his face. “By whom?”

“That’s what we’re working on,” Grey replied tersely, then gestured toward the door. “You may go now.”

Silas nodded, understanding the dismissal. He left the office with a heavy heart, shaking his head as he made his way back to rejoin his teammates.

The moment he entered the cafeteria, Sarah was the first to speak. “What was it? What happened?” Her face was tight with concern as she looked up at him.

“Yeah, what did you find out?” Elaine added, while Amir looked up expectantly, waiting for answers.

Silas took a deep breath before delivering the devastating news. “Yaela has been kidnapped.”

“What?!” Elaine exclaimed, while Sarah’s reaction was more colorful: “No fucking way!” She turned her head to the side, unable to process the information.

Amir slammed his hand on the table. “Fuck!”

Elaine immediately followed up, her tone anxious and troubled. “Any idea who took her?”

“Right now, it doesn’t seem like USOV knows,” Silas said, his disappointment evident.

“When did this happen?” Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t get those details, but we can safely assume it was probably yesterday,” Silas replied.

A gnawing feeling began to settle in their minds, particularly affecting Sarah, Elaine, and Amir. They had been the ones who convinced Liam to come with them to the restaurant last night and they had been very persuasive with their voice.

“That was probably why we got that look from him,” Amir said, banging the table again, this time even harder, that the woman over the counter moved her head towards the sound. He hated this feeling, the terrible thought that maybe if Liam had stayed home as he’d originally planned, none of this would have happened.

Elaine voiced what they were all thinking, her words heavy with guilt and determination. “I can’t help but think this is all our fault. We have to help Liam find his sister.”

Every single member of Team C agreed with that statement, their resolve strengthening in the face of their collective guilt. They had to find a way to make this right.

…

Meanwhile, Liam sat alone in his living room, his eyes red with a rage so intense it bordered on tears. Lucien’s words kept coming back at his mind relentlessly: “For all we know, your sister might already be dead.” And that thought only ignited his fury even more, which made things worse.

In one explosive motion, he grabbed the small coffee table in front of him and hurled it toward the television screen. The impact shattered TV’s screen. Both TV and the table crashed to the floor in a violent symphony of shattering glass and splintering wood.

“No,” Liam said aloud, “Not until I know for certain.” He stared at the wreckage he had created, his chest heaving with each labored breath. He had to believe that his sister was not dead, as it was the only motivation he needed right now to keep going.

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