Chapter 1062:
“Yesterday…” The memory of a lurking figure flashed through Elyse’s mind—it was him. Before she could react, a blow to her head rendered her unconscious. When she came to, she was forced into a black vehicle. As they departed, the man hit a button, triggering a fourth explosion. A section of the music hall crumbled, engulfing the area in chaos and screams.
Elsewhere, Edward desperately searched for Elyse. After several rounds, he found no sign of her but encountered Darren. Grasping Darren’s shoulders, Edward’s voice was urgent. “Have you seen Elyse?”
Darren shook his head, his voice uncertain. “I got swept outside by the crowd. Wasn’t she on stage? She should’ve made it out, right?”
“No, she’s not out yet,” Edward replied gravely. “I just checked with the event coordinator. They confirmed everyone was evacuated; no deaths, only injuries. The injured are receiving medical care.” Anxiety washed over Darren. “You mean she might still be inside? But parts of the building have collapsed!”
Edward pondered briefly. “Could she have been abducted?”
“Abducted? By whom?” Darren’s confusion was palpable. Edward explained the hefty black market reward for capturing Elyse, leaving Darren dismayed. “These explosions are baffling. We’re just musicians; who’d want to blow us up? But if it’s about targeting Elyse, that changes everything. For some, eight million is a compelling enough reason to plant bombs and disrupt our performance. Amidst such chaos, it’d be easy to snatch Elyse.”
This realization struck Edward like a bolt of lightning. “This is horrendous. Elyse must have been taken by…”
Darren continued urgently, “We have to find her. If she’s fallen into the hands of villains, I dread to think what might happen to her.”
Finding her would be a challenge. Time was not on their side, and he feared it was slipping away.
That night, Elyse stirred from an uneasy sleep in the backseat of the car. Her head ached sharply. Touching the back of her skull, she discovered a pronounced bump; even a light touch sent a jolt of pain through her.
Bracing herself, she peered out the window. A vast river meandered nearby, reflecting the moonlight. The man who had abducted her stood vigil by a fire, his eyes fixed on the flames.
Confusion clouded Elyse’s mind. The location felt wrong for a mere holding spot—it had the eerie vibe of an illicit rendezvous point.